NASCAR Looks: 1976 Chevrolet Laguna Type S-3

In the mid 1970’s the high-banked heroes of NASCAR was not the Corvette or the Camaro. It was the GM Colonnade body style. Specifically, the aerodynamic nose of the Chevrolet Laguna Type S-3 drew a lot of attention. Built as a homologation style-leader to dominate the super speedways of the Winston Cup, the Laguna S-3 combined NASCAR-bred aerodynamics with peak 1970s street cruiser luxury. Today, finding a solid survivor of this short-lived breed is a treat for any vintage collector. This white-on-white 1976 Laguna S-3 is located in New Braunfels, Texas just north of San Antonio. It is listed here on Facebook Marketplace and sports a small-block 400 and those legendary swivel bucket seats. The seller is a dealer asking a healthy $27,900.

Step inside, and you’re treated to the ultimate 1970s cabin featuring white vinyl swivel bucket seats. Designed to swing out 90 degrees to help drivers slide in and out of the low-slung cabin, these seats are separated by a center console, wood-grain interior trim, a factory-style gauge cluster, and a tilt steering column. Outside, the classic Antique White paint is accented by a sharp black side stripe, riding proudly on 15-inch Chevrolet Rally wheels. 1976 would be the final year of the Laguna. The lack of performance and a shift toward smaller cars by Chevrolet sealed its fate. Chevrolet produced only approximately 9,200 Laguna Type S-3 models in 1976.

This 1976 Laguna S-3 boasts a powertrain that is highly desirable for the era. Under the hood is a 400 cubic-inch Chevrolet Small Block V8 carrying the classic casting #330817, paired with a Turbo Hydramatic 350 automatic transmission and a solid 10-bolt rear end. In 1976, burdened by primitive catalytic converters and strict emissions regulations, the factory “U-code” 400 V8 was rated at a modest 175 net horsepower, but it backed that up with an impressive, low-end-focused 290 lb-ft of torque. Fed by a 4-barrel carburetor and breathing through aftermarket headers and Xlerator dual mufflers, this small block probably sounds pretty good.

The defining characteristic of the 1975–1976 Laguna S-3 was its striking polyurethane front end. Designed by Chevrolet to slice through the air, this resilient, body-colored nose replaced the massive chrome bumpers of standard Chevelles. Complemented by unique, louvered rear-quarter windows, the S-3 was built to be aerodynamic but the street version didn’t have the punch of the race car. Under the stewardship of legendary drivers like Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, and Benny Parsons, the Laguna S-3 dominated NASCAR, racking up multiple championships during its short production run.