Lovely Laguna S-3! 1975 Chevrolet Chevelle
So, we went from a 450 HP, SS454 Chevelle in ’70 to a Laguna S-3, such as our subject car in ’75? That’s a big change in only five years! But the ’70 Chevelle gets covered to death, we all know what it is, and what it can do, but a Laguna S-3? I bet there are those with no familiarity with what was really a NASCAR homologation model. Assuming that may be the case, let’s look this 1975 Laguna S-3 over closely. It’s located in Trevose, Pennsylvania and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $9,200, reserve not yet met. Thanks to Larry D for this discovery!
The seller states that the Laguna S-3 replaced the Chevelle SS for the ’74 model year and that’s basically correct. There was a “Laguna” in ’73 but it was more of an upscale Malibu as the Super Sport performance-oriented model was still on the order sheet. With the SS’s demise for model-year ’74, the Laguna S-3 (’74-76) occupied the former SS’s slot in the Chevelle lineup. The slant-nose piece was not introduced until ’75 and it proved to be just the wind-cheating design that Chevrolet needed to make a stand in NASCAR Winston-Cup racing. With the engine cap of 358 CI max. being mandated for NASCAR racing in ’74, Chevrolet had the engine, but not the necessary low-drag coefficient body. This new nose piece accomplished two things, it provided a unique-looking Chevelle to replace the departed SS and allowed a production model to exist that could be copied for deployment on NASCAR high-banks and satisfy the ruling body’s production volume requirements.
Interestingly, the thing that would have made sense in a production version of the Laguna S-3, would have been Chevrolet’s top-dog 454 CI V8 – especially because it was envisioned as a model with sporting intentions. By ’75, however, that was not meant to be. It was allowed in the ’73 Laguna and ’74 Laguna S-3 but the ’75- and ’76 Laguna S-3 had to make do with a 400 CI small-block V8 as the top engine selection. In our subject’s case, the standard 145 net HP, 350 CI V8 is what’s under the hood. The seller claims that this 80K mile Laguna “runs great“. A Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission was the only gearbox available.
Full disclosure, I have never been a fan of GM’s colonnade (’73-’77) intermediates but this car, with its distinctive S-3 nose piece, looks fantastic! It’s a repaint, in the original hue, and in magnificent condition. This rust-free Chevy’s body panels are straight and appear to be free of crash damage or other mayhem. And the big surprise of all is the rarely encountered power sunroof, or as the seller states, “Sky Roof” in Chevrolet parlance. Holding up the four corners are Chevrolet’s ubiquitous rally wheels, which by ’75 had made an appearance, at one time or another, on every Chevrolet model except light trucks and the Vega.
We are told that the interior is a ten out of ten with the only demerit being given for two small cracks in the dash pad near the radio speaker – a common problem with Colennade vintage cars. The red velour upholstery is in like-new condition and probably looks much like it did 46 years ago. Interestingly, while swivel bucket seats are in place, there is no center console – the shift selector is steering column-mounted.
This vintage Chevelle, like many cars of the malaise era, doesn’t get a lot of respect or show much in terms of valuation from a collectability perspective. Hopefully, this Laguna S-3, with its spectacular presence, will change attitudes a bit, right?
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Comments
Take the $9200 and run! That’s twice what it cost brand new.
Interior is a proclaimed “10” by the seller – because it is new(er). Cowl tag says it was vinyl from the factory. Now, the “What is that, Velvet?” seats are close to the factory pattern – but not quite. Missing two buttons per bucket, the correct ‘ribbed’ material, and other details. Door panels would have the same material.
Speaking of panels, that tail light panel needs addressed!
Not true, chevelle had two buttons, monte carlo ad 4. Interior is from a 1976 chevelle/laguna
That pic is a different car Jeff…read closer. Big Fun is TOTALLY correct.
He’s over 12k now with over 3 days left, so why would he take $9,200 and run? Anyway, I bet it breaks 15k. Unheard of for a Colonnade just a short year ago.
Sunroof is a nice option. I had a ’76 until it died of terminal cancer. Mine was all power – this has the manual windows. I don’t recall if mine had the center console with the floor shift.. I don’t think it did. Regardless, this one says no rust.. how much repair was done to the rear quarters to warrant that statement? Fresh paint hides a myriad of sins… I loved my ’76… but not enough to take the plunge on this one. Trevose is only an hour from me if anyone wants an eyeball on it for an inspection.
Saw an S-3 exactly like this car at the Hershey, PA AACA Fall meet this year. They were asking 18K. Possibly the same car.
18K ? I wonder why it didn’t sell?
I’m with you. The Colonnades never did anything for me. I’ll raise you one though…that “distinctive nose piece” looks like just a big Vega to me
I’m a Colonnade fan but really only of the four-doors, El Caminos and those coupes (unfortunately generally just the base models across all divisions) with the large triangular quarter windows they were clearly originally meant to have.
Vega nose? Good one.I will call you and say these behemoths rusted as bad as a Vega
No they didnt
“Rust-free” and mid-70’s Chevrolet are mutually exclusive terms.
The days of ” a la carte” ordering, or weirdly optioned cars is well represented here. S-3 with power sunroof, but manual windows, swivel buckets, a clock, but no console, column shifter, no full gauge package, only idiot lights! Still, a nice example of the period. GLWTA!! :-)
Correct.
This was my car. Owned it for over 35 years. My brother in law father ordered it new and we bought it from him after 2 years of his ownership.
Always Garaged no rust.
hi,
do you know where it is now, id love to buy it ..
I’ve had an irrational attraction to these and owned 2 different 1975 S-3’s on Instagram….
#projecttalladega in Atlanta now
#projectwhythehellnot in New York now
Man I had this exact car. Gun metal/ox blood color scheme. I have also owned numerous more “classic” hot rods… first gen Camaros and birds, 70, 78 & 87 elcominos and some other fun stuff but I honestly miss the Laguna the most. It was far from fast but it was happy burning tires in front of the girls and for some reason I ended meeting the most interesting car peeps when I drove it. I want another bad. Maybe not 18k bad but I don’t blame anyone for paying so much. I’m sure they will enjoy it. I always thought it looked like a Camaro raped a Cadillac with the sloped nose. Ugly but cool
A prime candidate for a crate motor.
Exactly what I was thinking. I’m a numbers matching type of guy, but by the mid-70’s, it’s more important to have a car that will get out of it’s own way.
nice cars. Ordered one for my demo when I worked in the chevrolet dealership. Bad thing is the seats are the most uncomfortable seat I ever sat in. Especially when going some distance
Jim, as you said the ’70 Chevelles have been covered to death in print form and have been shown to death in car shows.
Our town has an annual cruise-in for cars of ’72 and older model years. It’s a gigantic deal around here. They close off all the streets in town to all other cars. Their owners have their pride and joy on display from around 8 AM till 6 PM at which time, they begin cruising just like they did in this town when these cars were fairly new.
A couple of years ago, a man slipped one by the guys at the gate who are supposed to make sure all the cars entering are ’72 or older. He had a bright red ’76 Laguna S-3 that his dad bought new. It was a newly restored, beautiful example of these cars. And instead of settling for the meager 350, they had installed a healthy-sounding 454 Chevrolet big block. And tailing that big block was a Muncie 4-speed.
And the reason I mention this car is that the event I speak of usually has around 600 cars. And when the owner of this S-3 came rolling in, all eyes were on his awesome car. And the crowd began migrating toward it. And when he opened the hood and we all saw that 454, the questions began.
That car was the hit of the cars on display and later on when they began cruising. You can’t beat the sound of a Big Block with a healthy camshaft hitting a lick, exiting its sound thru Flow Master mufflers. Wonderful!
In 75 I was selling Chevrolets and had one as a demo. It was a nice driving car but nothing special.
A senior citizen ride with those Diner swivel seats. It was a big deal back then and I do not recall any other manufacturer doing Diner swivel seats.
@Frank
Sure they did! Chrysler products had them back in the 50s.
I have a couple of these, loved the 75 since a teen and couldnt afford a 67 GTO. Now a dayz, id rather an S3. Sure less crome and factory HP, but, for those of us that know how to build power, these cars were detuned, but the car itself was designed for performance. Better handling and stopping than a ’70 Chevelle, nicer interior too.
Its a full frame, rear wheel drive, 2 door, 8 cylinder thats easy to modify; one of the greatest muscle cars of all time.
So, to have a special option skyroof ?!, heck ya, why not; plus AC.
The buckets with the fuzzy fabric is ok, fresh upolstery, but the ‘strato buckets’ came with a console slap shifter, so this car is not a buckets/console car. The silver color is also rare, and this is. Worth the money, of course !
Also, to be critical, the bumper rubber is supposed to be color coded, these are black. Still a very clean back bumper and nose, but whered the red rubber go.
I was excited to see it pop up on ebay, good pics and thorough description.
Someone is gonna be happy with it.
I have the big block 69 and other toys, but love driving my S3.