Always learning something

Here I am 70 years old and everyday I learn something new. Yesterday I learned the differance between a 1962 Impala 2 door hardtop and a 1962 Bel Air hardtop. The differance is the Impala has the formal roofline and the Bel Air has the bubble top roof line. I did not even know the 62 bubble tops existed until about 10 years ago. They did not sell any of them around here. Today I learned that in 1974 they had 2 seperate models of 2 door greenhouse, they are dependant on the style of the side/back window. See picture for details. JB [img][/img]

Yes, in 74, all base Malibu's had the full triangle, and Malibu Classic had the coach winders!

Yup. Pretty much what I've been preaching for years. All 73 models & all 74-77 base models got the larger rear quarter window. All 74-76 Lagunas & 74-77 Classics got the opera window. Also ONLY 76-77 Classics received quad headlights. The base models still sported single round ones like mine & Badtemper's cars.

I have seen a few 75-77 base Malibu's with opera winders. Maybe the header panels were changed? Maybe a factory flub? Mmm...

Maybe. They weren't supposed to be though. My first 76 had a Malibu Classic dash & I purchased it from an old lady that bought it new. That dash was blue like the rest of the interior & definitely in poor shape so I doubt it had been changed out. I think GM was at a point in the 70's that they would throw anything onto anything as long as it got the car down the assembly line. Like I said though, Opera windows weren't supposed to be on base models.

Though I do like Malibu Classics and the opera windows, I like the base Malibus and full windows much better.

74MonteCarlo wrote:Though I do like Malibu Classics and the opera windows, I like the base Malibus and full windows much better.

X2!!

Rago wrote: I think GM was at a point in the 70's that they would throw anything onto anything as long as it got the car down the assembly line.

Very true. The Olds rear end assembly in my 74 Elky (bought new by my dad) proves that. JB

A few base Malibus with coach winders.


From the dealer brochure.
Which, aren't 100% right...ask me how I know.

Brochures not always correct? SURELY NOT!

I have a book with a 75 Elky brochure at home that shows 74 headlight bezels, but until I get it scanned tell me if there's something wrong with the green Laguna:

74 Monte Carlo brochure states you CANNOT get 15x7 Rally Wheels on a Landau. Came up in discussion before on another forum, until I scanned in a picture of my build sheet showing ZO3 MC Landau and ZJ7 Special Wheel option. ZJ7 is 1974 RPO code 15x7 Rallys(except Chevelles, Camaros and Novas). Then they shut up about Rallys not being available on a Landau

Better, Rago? Lol.

Uhhhh........ well actually....... here's RPO ZJ7 on a 74 Malibu. Maybe ZJ7 stood for something else on Monte Carlo, but this is what you got with that RPO on Chevelle, Nova, & Camaro:

We already hashed this out, remember? Lol.

Just giving you crap buddy. It's all good, but would kind of make sense if the Monte had 15" Rally wheels. I mean, it was the premium intermediate car classified as a "Personal Luxury Vehicle" so having :cough: :cough: premium wheels vs what all of the others were running sounds about right.