E-Body...

[balthazar]

The question: What cars & when used the E-Body?

Don't start typing yet....

I believe a huge degree of confusion comes from those who confuse body designations with chassis designations, which are usually the same folk who want to call all BOF chassis' "platforms" as if they were unibodies. Chassis's, or frames, were NOT designated by the same body letter codes. The B-Body Buick rode a completely different chassis/frame than a B-Body Pontiac in 1960, for example. And FRAMES ARE NOT 'PLATFORMS' !!!

"Buick introduces the prestige, E-body based, Riviera, as a 1963 model." --( http://www.gm.com/company/corp_info/history/gmhis1960.html )

"There was styling, of course: distinctly Cadillac, beautifully masterminded by GM design chief William L. Mitchell -- and so different from both the Toro and the second-generation 1966 Buick Riviera that some observers wondered whether they all really used the same new GM E-body." --( http://www.100megsfree4.com/cadillac/cad1960/cad67e.htm )

"This platform {E-Body} was the basis for the following vehicles: 1967–2002 Cadillac Eldorado, 1966–1992 Oldsmobile Toronado, 1966–1976 (RWD), 1979–1993 (FWD) Buick Riviera (the 1977-1978 Riviera was made on the B platform) --( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_E_platform )

EDIT- just revised the E-Body entry @ wiki, tho there are still unanswered questions.

In fact, the entire earlier body designation list is not firmly established in the hobbyist circle: conflicting information has abounded for decades on some of them.

The wiki entry for B-Body claimed B-Body production started in 1962... where the author picked that blueberry from, I have no idea. I took it back to 1959, when a major re-engineering took place, but the A-, B-, C- and D-Body designations go back to the 1940s.

Anyone know of an accurate historical book on Fisher Body??

[Robert Hall]

Interesting trivia..

[Sixty8panther]

As always Balthy you are a fountain of knowledge.

I've always foudn the '77 '78 Rivieras a bit strange looking.

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

As always Balthy you are a fountain of knowledge.

I've always foudn the '77 '78 Rivieras a bit strange looking.

Agreed. They look like LeSabres that are dressed up!

[Robert Hall]

I seem to recall somewhere reading that the '63-65 Riv was on a shorted B-body (it had the wierd X-frame like Chevy and Buick B's, didn't it?)

[XP715]

That article on the '67 Eldorado makes no mention of the optional rear window defogger in the list of options and accessories at the bottom. Makes me wonder how rare it is. Also makes me happy to have gotten the complete setup out of my parts car to be put into the one I'm restoring

[balthazar]

Collectible Automobile has a great 15-page cover feature on the 1st gen Riv in it's 5/85 issue, but there's not a single mention as to the body shell code other than it was unique and had a number of first-time advanced features that required special handling & engineering to solve. Buick, a Complete History does not mention a body code, neither does the 10/62 Car Life feature.

Undoubtedly, engineering began with the B-Body, but it's its own animal from there. Yes: it's an X-frame like the big Buicks, but unique. It's not 'weird', moltar, just different.