1990 General Motors W-Body Sedans

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By 1990 General Motors was on its path from industry dominance to bankruptcy.  Ford's aerodynamically influenced 1986 Taurus was a marketing success that required a response from GM.  That response was in the form of its new W Platform.  Coupes appeared for the 1988 model year, sedans following for 1990.

The present post deals with the sedans.  These were the Chevrolet Lumina, Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Buick Regal.

Shamed by the lookalike 1982 A Body line, GM made an effort to have W Body cars for each brand look distinctive.  Some details are discussed below.

Gallery

Chevrolet Lumina Euro
I owned one of these during my time as demographic forecast supplier to GM.  The basic Lumina had a different grille and no trunk lid spoiler.

Pontiac Grand Prix
This car had a slightly higher beltline and six-window passenger greenhouse.  Rear door cutlines differ.

Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
The basic body here is similar to the Lumina's with the same rear door aft cutline.  But the beltline is more like the Pontiac's.

Buick Regal
A six-window greenhouse like the Grand Prix, its beltline is distinctly curved.

Chevrolet Lumina Euro
Lumina aft windows (backlights) were not fully wraparound.  Note the low beltline and tall side windows.

Pontiac Grand Prix
Showing the aft window treatment.

Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
The Olds, Like the Chevy, was a four-window car.  But the backlight was a full wraparound.

Buick Regal
Its backlight is the same as the Pontiac's.

Aside from beltline treatments, what we see here in terms of major passenger compartment differnces, is that the Chevrlet and Oldsmobile were paired as were the Pontiac and Buick.

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