There are some cars you can forgive for potentially under-delivering on high expectations. We see plenty of muscle cars that make try exceedingly hard via stickers and wings to make you think it’s something it’s not. The Chevrolet Laguna S-3 had a formidable task when it came to market, which was at a time when concerns over poor fuel economy and skyrocketing insurance costs had effectively kneecapped the muscle car industry, or what was left of it. While it wasn’t trying to be the second coming of the Corvette, it did introduce some clever innovations to make it more sporting. Find this preserved 1975 Chevrolet Laguna S-3 here on craigslist for $18,500.
While we all know by now my preferences tend to skew towards weird European cars and trucks, I’ve always liked the Laguna. It has that underdog vibe about it, and it’s also somewhat rare with less than 35,000 made. One of the underlying aspects of the demise of the muscle car in the 1970s that I often forget to acknowledge is how insurance costs and road safety also factored into manufacturers shifting their focus to more fuel efficient cars and trucks. That being said, there was still some racing culture left in the U.S.A., and even when dealing with a crumbling muscle car culture, Chevy still wanted to build a car that could compete on a NASCAR circuit.
The nose panel of the Laguna is the most notable feature (well, that and the swivel bucket seats, as seen here) because it helped with aerodynamics. The Laguna was effectively built for racing, and the sleek nose helped Chevy notch a few Winston Cup wins before racing regulators caught on to the model’s aerodynamic advantage. However, the manufacturer wasn’t actually funding a factory-backed racing team, so it seemed like the Laguna was more allowing Chevy to keep a toe in the water of the racing pool. Of course, any car used for racing in this era was merely a shell of its factory self, so the car shown here is far tamer given it was the civilian version.
The S-3 badging was subtle – not in your face – and that’s another detail I love about it. While it still could be fitted with window louvers and other junk, it left the factory with some level of discretion. Chevy wanted buyers to know it was a special model, even with a seriously underwhelming 350 V8 under the hood (a 400 was optional, but the seller doesn’t confirm which engine his Laguna is equipped with.) The seller confirms he never drives it in the rain, and even avoids nighttime cruising! This Chevy looks quite tidy and all the details seem right, but it’d be helpful to know what mix of preservation versus restoration it represents before assessing whether the asking price is fair. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip.
A little too stealthy in looks for me, I’d prefer to add the factory stripe package (as on the supplied picture); the vinyl top looks good as well, but I don’t really care for them! Really good looking car, GLWTS!! :-)
This is my car back in 2015 after I added the wheels. It still had the original white interior after I brought it home from Marietta Georgia in late December of 2014. Since then, I’ve added black swivel buckets/ console with original slap shifter, Dakota Digital guages, QA1 tube A arms with coilovers and lowered 2½ inches front and rear. I have NOS quarters, front fenders, door skins, a pair of Arizona doors, misc. NOS emblems, switches, several pair of Louvers, grilles, complete Laguna nose, etc. Car will be for sale in the spring.
Id like to buy a few of those goodies, ill figure out how to get you my info.. do you have any red interior ?
Had a white w/burgundy striped 75 Laguna. It was very slow…
The seller answered a question nobody asked. Maybe it isn’t driven in the rain, but after dark, ever? Why include that information, which is trivial, compared to what would be gained by writing a more detailed description as well as including more and better pictures.
Steve R
Perhaps they never drove it on, say, Thursdays either. The low quantity and quality of pictures make you wonder, “do they really want to sell the car?”
Perhaps the headlights don’t work, and he’s using artistic license to mention it.
Its likely light humour, the car is blacked out and hense hard to see at night :)
As for more info, a buyer either knows what it is and contacts for details or moves on; no need to entertain the ‘gallery’
But did anybody ever cough or sneeze in it?
Heaven forbid, fart with the windows up.
These were handsome cars,a run of the mill Malibu converted into something worth looking at. Its sleek body is pretty much wasted though, being powered by a woefully weak 350 or almost-as-bad 400 parasitized in ’75 with mandatory unleaded fuel and catalytic converters. Bad timing by Chevy because the Laguna arrived with the malaise era.
This is the nose piece Chevy used in NASCAR, I would bet they wouldn’t have used it if it weren’t for that reason. Oldsmobile also used an aerodynamic nose in that era.
Steve R
All Chevelles and SSs where Malibus ‘coverted’
As were Impalas, Cutlasses to 442, Mustangs to GTs, Galaxies to 7 litres, 3 series to M3s.. and on an on
Actually, its not just the nose of this car that served the race car purpose, the whole body was designed for the track.
Even those ‘louvers’ were for air flow direction..
This car is over most peoples heads and out of their league.
For those who know what theyre doing, the base 350ci is plenty motor, the 400 was awesome. Hot Rods werent bought, they were built. Greasers werent rich dads sons, they were poor boys with skills.
Why do you think Summit Racing celebrated their 50th and Jegs their 65th ??
Never driven at night….because the lights don’t work..
That’s the first thing I thought… a stealthy nod to an unreliable electrical system perhaps?!
That means it never went cruising after 9pm – the best time to go, like in u know what movie. Maybe cause of that styling?
Who ever dreamed back then (I was 13) that a Malibu would be as worth as much or more than a Corvette in 2026? This is a nice looking laguna, all the way through the wheels and tires, and I like the stealthy black appearance. If I owned this would have to tear that engine and transmission down and add some goodies so it goes as well as it looks.
All GM A body cars from 73 to 77 suffered from door sag a year after they were built. Nothing good about these years. Sad it even got worse with the 78 to 88 A body cars. Frame rot so bad rear bumpers would fall off with the frame still bolted to them.There were a few lookers in those years but many
Yep, changed many A-body door pins and bushings back in the day. If you waited long enough, the B pillar would develop stress cracks around the striker pin.
I’d beg to differ. For a while, I was fortunate to own the police (9C1) example of an ’83. Sway bars the size of my wrist, it was a 4dr. Z28! W/it’s cop car LG4 305HO, it was a bad moto-scooter! W/earlier examples having the LM1 350 as a police option, they were not to be underestimated!
No 1/4 vinyl roof! Excellent.
Clean Chevelle here needs way more pictures if it wants to sell!
They came with choked out 454 option. No clue what this guy is trying to do, it’s certainly not trying to sell the car. On top of that he’s afraid of the dark
another C/L ad short on pics and details. what happens if it’s driven @ night? does it fall apart? this listing need way more pics and info to get buyer wanting to see it for 18k. it needs the factory stripe kit for sure way too dark. i prefer this model with the flatter looking nose myself. this is a cool ride but needs TLC
Looks like a sweet ride. This is the last year that the 454 was available in the A body. I had a 75 El Camino with the 400 small block and it was a great runner. Plenty of power. I now have a 75 Camino with a 454. More grunt than the 400 but not as spirited.
your Camino would look great with this S-3 nose on it. Perfect fit.
Engine? Mileage? Numbers matching? Location?
You can click the link right the first paragraph for all the details.
One of the guys at the local speedway came out with one of these as a late model stock car. Great looking runner but the nose piece came off pretty quickly, it was heavy. That helped to get rid of the push.
The hemming seam at the bottom of the door skin suggests perhaps it was driven in the rain at some point.
Well let me add to the craziness. My 66 ‘ Mustang was restored 6/24 and since it was rained on once while outside at a repair shop,when I got it back and washed it and that was the last time for both.It hardly ever rains in Phoenix, now as for driving at night….nope.Its bad enough here in the retirement during the day let alone at night.Stop sign and red light runners non- stop.
Had a Laguna S-3 for sale locally about 6 or 7 years ago. It was that bright iridescent lime green with white stripes, white bucket seat interior. Had minimal rust. Always liked these cars. Wish I looked at it. Was priced under $4k.