H-body and the European U-body platforms, the latter being a stretched version of the original rear-wheel drive T-body. The J-body was marketed as a world car, with GM brands selling versions of the platform in North America, Europe, Australia, and Japan; in markets outside of North America, the model line was packaged as a mid-size car
.
Outside North America, the use of the J platform was phased out after the 1980s in favor of the Opel-based
Saturn S-Series
would lead to the consolidation of the J-body to the Chevrolet and Pontiac brands.
Following several major revisions, the J platform remained in use into the 21st century; in June 2005, the final example (a Pontiac Sunfire) was produced. Introduced by Saturn for 2003, the
GM Delta platform
is the fourth generation of compact cars from General Motors.
Background
The design of the J-car began in 1976.
badge engineering or platform-sharing. In November 1979, subsequent to the second fuel crisis and only 14 months before the cars introduction, it was decided to create a Cadillac derivative as well. Aside from a hefty price tag, the hastily developed Cimarron had little to distinguish it from the other J-car offerings.[1]
In continental Europe, the car was sold as the
GM Family II engines installed in J-body cars manufactured worldwide, and also the station wagon
bodywork for the Camira was supplied to Vauxhall in the UK for its estate version of the Cavalier II.
The fourth character in the
Vehicle Identification Number
for a J-body car is "J".
MSRP North America (1982 top trim package sedan before optional equipment)[5]
The platform received two major cosmetic redesigns, in 1988 and a more thorough makeover in 1995, along with major powertrain revisions. The 1995 makeover was only sold in North America, as General Motors subsidiaries in other countries had replaced it (mainly with cars based on the GM2900 platform). This makeover had originally been planned for the 1992 model year when work begain in 1988, but General Motors' bad finances forced them to postpone it twice.[7]
A variety of convertible versions were developed as well, from fully official to purely aftermarket. In all cases, final assembly of convertibles was subcontracted by General Motors; in North America by American Sunroof Corporation (ASC); in Brazil by Envemo and Sulam, and in Europe by Keinath and Hammond & Thiede [de]. Hammond & Thiede's version originated with the Karosseriefabrik Voll, which was taken over by H&T in 1985.[8]
Models
Over its 24-year production run, the GM J platform would be sold under 16 different nameplates (five under the Pontiac brand alone). During the 1980s, a version of the J platform would be marketed by every division of General Motors in North America (with the exception of GMC).
Over 5.8 million of the original (pre-1995 facelift) J-cars were sold in North America.
Vauxhall:
2-door sedan 2-door convertible 4-door sedan 5-door hatchback 5-door station wagon
The Ascona/Cavalier are badge-engineered vehicles, with the Opel sold in continental Europe and the Vauxhall sold in Great Britain. Station wagon body panels are derived from the Holden Camira produced in Australia.
Toyota Cavalier
1995–2000
2-door coupe 4-door sedan
In a trade agreement between Toyota and GM, the Cavalier was imported into Japan in return for the USDM Geo-division cars for Chevrolet. Toyota Cavaliers are right-hand drive with other detail changes to meet Japanese regulations.
References
^ abcKeenan, Tim; Smith, David C. (October 1994). "Anatomy of a car launch: GM's J-cars: New in '82... and alive in '95". Ward's Auto World. 30 (10). Ward's Communications: 38.
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