GM H platform (FWD)

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GM H Platform (FWD)
A 1986 Buick LeSabre 4-door H-body sedan. After 1987, all H-body sedans had headlights with lenses over them, unlike as seen here.
Manufacturer General Motors
Production 1986–present
Predecessor GM G platform (RWD)
Class Full-size
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
2-door coupe
Vehicles Buick LeSabre
Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight
Buick Lucerne
Pontiac Bonneville
See also: GM H platform (RWD)

The H platform, or H-body, name has been used twice by General Motors. It was part of the successor to the mid-size G-body, which was used by the pre-1986 Pontiac Bonneville. The 1970s H-body was an inexpensive rear-wheel drive subcompact automobile platform from the 1970s. The 1980s H-body was a front-wheel drive full-size car platform.

The 1980s H-bodies were full-size front-wheel drive cars with a 110.8 inch wheelbase. Most H-bodies used GM's large 3800 V6, and supercharged versions were introduced in 1991. They came in both 2-door and 4-door versions, but the four door sedans were dramatically more popular.

According to one source(1), the H-Body sedans were the next "big thing" for GM, and development cost more than $3 billion, which is on par with roughly how much Ford invested in the Ford Taurus. Both the H-body sedans and the Taurus (based on the D186 platform) were launched fully in 1986.


In the 2000s the H-body chassis is currently used by the Buick Lucerne and also was used for the Pontiac Bonneville. The chassis identification can be found on the 4th letter of the VIN.

[edit] Vehicles

Years Wheelbase Model Previous platform Next platform
1986-2005 110.8 in Buick LeSabre GM B platform GM G platform (FWD)
1986-1988 110.8 in Delta 88 GM B platform Retired
1992-1996 110.8 in Oldsmobile 88 Royale Retired
1989-1999 110.8 in Oldsmobile 88 Retired
1996-1999 110.8 in Oldsmobile LSS Retired
1997-1998 110.8 in Oldsmobile Regency Retired
1987-2005 110.8 in - 112.2 in Pontiac Bonneville GM G platform (RWD) Retired
2006-present 115.6 in Buick Lucerne

[edit] See also

[edit] Sources

1 - Taub, Eric (Nov 1991). Taurus: The Making of the Car That Saved Ford. E. P. Dutton. ISBN 0-525-93372-7.

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