What was the reason for them to get rid of the B-body? They totally left out the whole public service industry and everything. Why did they let Ford take that part of the industry as well?

 

SUV's. I hear there should be B-Body-like cars in a few years again hopefully.

 

The cash cow that are trucks. I believe GM wanted the B-body plant in Texas for Silverado (or was it Tahoe/Suburban?) production.

If only the plans continued for an LS1 powered B-body.....

 

Ya, its all about the money. Suvs, trucks, and Holden models killed the b-body. All i can say is that my USA made Caprice will never die as long as i'm alive. Built in Arlington Texas by Texans

 

I wouldn't say Holden killed the B-body. Holden makes about as many cars annually as GM makes Corvettes, while B-bodies were selling +/- over 200,000 per year.

Holden did step in taking over for the B-bodies in the Middle East, which oddly enough have a insatiable taste for full sized cars. Since Holdens are built to handle the occasionally unfriendly enviroment (massive understatement) of a great portion of Austraila, the cars have done exceptionally well in the hot, dry middle east (driving long distances at ridiculous speeds in 120+ degree tempreatures without any problems!).

Annihilatorx, you are 100% correct about the rest of your post.

Here's a quick rundown:

* In 1995 or 96, GM certified LS1 B-bodies for the 1997 model year.
* GM needed extra capacity for Suburbans & Tahoes, but rightfully didn't want to build a new factory for it.
* GM decided to move the B-body production to Mexico.
* In the middle of the change over, GM for whatever reason decided to simply kill off the B-body all together.

GM didn't want to kill the B-body since they spent money for the LS1 conversion, but somehow the move to Mexico went wrong (don't remember the details) & it didn't happen. The machinery was actually still available for some time afterwards, so the B bodies could have come back after a year or so hiatus.

 

Right, i should have said it differently. Holden did not kill it directly, but since GM offed the B, G and F bodies, they have since decided to replace them with trash, and some Holdens. Like the GTO and the '07 F-body replacement.

 

FYI, it's still in production - in ARABIA!

http://www.gmarabia.com/content_data...caprice_ss.htm

 

WRONG!!

That's made by GM-Holden in Austraila, produced outside Melbourne at the Fishermans Bend plant, to be exact.

It's a version of the Holden Statesman, rebadged & exported under the Chevrolet Caprice name (continuing the name from the old B-bodies we used to export to the Middle East).
http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/...w?modelid=8000
http://www.southgate.com.au/statesman.htm



BTW: Where exactly on the map is the country of "ARABIA"?

 

 

GM-ARABIA - I just used their abbreviation .

Yea I know it's a Holden, I just wanted to post a link for those that are interested...

BTW, it may not be the "classic" B-platform, but it's a RWD V8 sedan......

Thanks for the clarification!

MRK