For 1977, big changes came to Chevrolet in the form of a much smaller car.
When the 1977 Chevrolet and Caprice were introduced in September of 1976, General Motors was the largest carmaker in the world, and Chevrolet was its largest division. GM was an aircraft carrier of a company, where changes were usually cautious and incremental. But for ’77, Chevrolet made arguably the biggest change to its full-size cars since 1955. Mainly, they were now a lot smaller.
As part of GM’s B-body family, which included Buick LeSabre, Olds 88, and Pontiac Catalina, the Impala/Caprice was given a dramatic downsizing, largely in response to tighter fuel economy standards. A reported $600 million was invested in Project 77, a four-year GM program to shrink all the full-size passenger cars down to a more efficient size.
The ’77 package was nearly a foot shorter and a full 700 lbs lighter than the ’76 full-sized Chevys. In fact, the new B-car shared the same wheelbase as the intermediate-size Chevelle at 116 inches, and it was actually a bit shorter overall than the Monte Carlo. The Chevelle and Monte Carlo would get their own downsizing the following year.
The new package was actually slightly taller to maximize interior room, but the exterior design was clean and crisp with a minimum of ornamentation. There were no more pillarless hardops; the body styles were limited to a two-door post coupe, a four-door sedan, and a wagon. All three were available in Impala or Caprice Classic trim levels, with the latter offering an upgraded interior, a little more trim, and a fancier front end treatment. One winning feature on the coupes (above) was a distinctive backlite with folded glass using the PPG Hot Bent Wire process, which was also employed on the Olds Toronado XS (featured here).
While the ’77 Impala/Caprice retained GM’s traditional body-on-frame construction and conventional coil-spring suspension on all four corners, the chassis tuning was remarkably improved, and the critics raved about the ride and handling. (The major weight reduction no doubt helped, too.) Car and Driver gave special praise to the optional F41 handling package, while Motor Trend named the Caprice Classic its Car of the Year.
As if to seal the deal for car buyers, Chevrolet offered its familiar range of trusty sixes and V8s, topped by a 350 CID small-block V8 with 170 hp. The Chevy division surely got something right, as full-sized sales for ’77 increased 38 percent over the previous year. And the same basic platform and package were successfully continued through 1990, and with new exterior sheet metal, all the way through 1996.
In the early 90’s I bought, from a friends parents, a 79 4 door Impala,305, 61K miles IIRC. They ordered the car and it had next to no options. cloth interior, AC and bumper overiders was it. Gentleman told me he was shocked that the automatic trans was standard and no manual was available.I put 100K on the car over the next 5 years and sold it for more than I payed as donks were starting to become a thing at the time.
It was a dang good car, rode good and could eat up the miles on the Interstate. Even got decent fuel mileage.
Hi, D.D. I also had a good experience with a 305 ’79 Impala sedan. One problem was the 2.41 rear end, which made sluggish. Liked it so much I replaced it with an 305 ’88 Caprice which had a 4 speed automatic with OD and a 3.08 axle. Better performance and the same good gas mileage.
I had a ‘78 Impala sedan as a company vehicle. It was plain looking with the hubcaps. The car was a virtual match for the Maine State Police cruisers. My CB antenna was similar to theirs. I traveled in Maine a lot and a lot of people slowed down as I drove along. It would go anywhere in snow with all my tools in the trunk and studded snow tires.
Bought it from the company for $1200 in ‘82. Resold it several years later to a friend for $1800. He drove it for a few more years.
I have owned my 79 Chevrolet Caprice Landau two door for the past 15 years. The vehicle is loaded, and powered by a 350 four barrel with 163,000 miles.Duel exhaust was added along with the Chevy rally wheels. The two tone paint with landau top and special back window makes this a rare vehicle. I’m proud to say that this vehicle is a multiple show award winner and magazine article car.
I had the good fortune to have a very early (November, 1976) “loaded” ’77 Caprice four door sedan in solid Glacier(?) Blue, not “tone on tone” with a powder blue interior. Whenever my wife and I took it on a Sunday drive using I-94, it would attract a lot of attention. So much so that other drivers would “circle” around the car to see it from all angles. I was so pleased with this car that I had a friend finish the interior of the trunk with the same fabric as was on the package shelf behind the rear seat. The finished product looked like a living room…
I own a 1978 Chevy Caprice Classic 2Door with 27k orignal miles, tripple green, love my car!!! I am happy the 77-79 full size Chevy getting its due!! 🙂