There are some cars you just want to see modified. I realize this is a subjective opinion, but the Chevrolet Laguna S3 is one of those vehicles for me. I feel its styling and proportions just make an incredibly versatile platform for enhancements of both the cosmetic and performance kind, and clearly, the owner of this heavily-modified example listed here on the Mecum Auctions website agrees with me. Not a stone has been left unturned on this Laguna, which features a fuel-injected 454 engine and staggered BBS wheels among many other upgrades. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Larry D. for the find.
This build represents a frame-off restoration, according to the listing, and incorporated a fresh paint job in the factory GM color of Frost Green Metallic. The bodywork appears to be in excellent condition, and while it’s impossible to determine the paint quality from these photos, what we can see looks to be of a decent quality. The BBS wheels are a totally different look for a 70s GM product and I believe it shows just how attractive some of GM’s big-body coupes were from this era. If they can pull off a set of modern, European-inspired wheels, they can pull off anything. The suspension features rear air shocks and front and rear sway bars.
Swivel seats are a must-have in a Laguna, and of course, the cabin wears fresh upholstery throughout. The listing notes that the custom touches continue throughout the cockpit, including the dash which features a sweet gauge installation incorporating Auto Meter fuel level, water temperature, oil pressure, and voltmeter displays. The automatic transmission has been made to look like a manual gearbox, which is one of those take-it-or-leave-it enhancements, and the listing curiously states that “….clutch pedal and brake pedal are welded together and function as one large pedal.” I am not sure what that means, especially since it doesn’t actually have a clutch given it’s equipped with a rebuilt Turbo 350 transmission.
The 454 isn’t a modern crate engine; the listing notes that it is a date-coded mill from 1974. The seller could have easily found a more modern engine swap candidate but chose to keep it as period-correct as possible under the hood, which is a level of detail we can all appreciate. The listing notes numerous other custom tweaks that could not have been easy to execute, including a “….custom made stock appearing rear bumper which has been both narrowed and drawn closer to the body for a more uniform appearance.” Wow! Someone spent a lot of nights and weekends dreaming up this one-off Laguna S3, and no matter where this muscle car restomod goes after the auction, it will be a showstopper for sure.
How nice is this? A whole lot of quality work displayed here.
I had one of these. Died from terminal cancer on the quarter panels. IMHO the fender scoops do nothing for the car, and nothing cries “I’m cheap” like Autometer gauges that don’t flow with the rest of the interior. From the factory a full compliment of gauges was available if I recall. Dunno.. a full restoration on a basic Chevelle with GM’s face lift. To each their own.
A 73-77 A-body wasnt ‘basic’ even with a 250ci.
The car was designed with intention resulting from years of development and competition.
Further, Rick, its not a ‘face lift’, its clearly beyond your comprehension; and to be fair to you, these cars escaped most main stream car guys, so, typical.
Personally i have to say WOW, niiice, welll done and on a very under rated and worthy chassis.
As an obvious S3 fan, i can assure the new owner will enjoy the ride.
If your tall, the strato buckets dont go back or low enough, but a lil fabrication to the seat frame fixes that.
454 fi with upgrades, puuurrrfect !
The later ’70s z28s also had fender scoops – different than these. A true Chevy guy would have used them instead to customize.
very cool touches, but that trans/clutch thing is abominable.
Great car with excellent craftsmanship – I like all of the resto-mods (except the Trans Am vents).
That is one pretty car. The fact that it’s a late 70’s Laguna S3, and not another 70 Chevelle, 69 Camaro, or 68 GTO, just adds to the cool factor of this build. The choice of that green color, instead of another red, black or blue, just takes it all over the top for me!
I agree about the TA fender vents, they look out of place to me. I’m not real fond of the hood pins either. If we’re going to nitpick, I think I might have done a white vinyl or white painted top, to go with the interior, but I could live with the black.
That is pretty close to a factory color for a Laguna. A guy in my neighborhood had one in this color in the mid 1980’s. I like it.
I’m so confused. Do I hand out cigars or stick my head into the oven????
Nice car but that transmission fakery has got to go…4-speed or NOTHING!
Pushing clutches sucks, not ergonomic, and actually slows lauch times, thats why these cars came with slap shifters
I’m fine with an auto paired with a big block, but it’s just dumb looking to fake it like that.
Cool car no doubt and I can see that those must have swivel seats would be just fantastic on date nights.
Just sayin’
Yeah, I am a bit conflicted on this one as well. Of the colonnade body GMs, the 76-77s were definitely improved over the prior years, and this Laguna and the Pontiac varieties were the sleekest. Under hood – awesome. Paint color…. I agree resell red and black are over-done, but not sure this is the color I would choose. The Pontiac fender vents to me are tacky on an non-Pontiac. The gauges are OK to me. GM gauges of this vintage are so glitchy and temperamental, if I am not doing a full stock restoration, I’d change gauges (I used Dakota Digital analog gauges in my own 79 Cutlass resto-mod). But the fake manual shifter and clutch pedal welded onto the brake pedal falls into WTH?? category.
The fender vents, though appearing on a TA as well as others dating back for decades are not for looks/form, they are for function, for ANY car with high speed potential. As an owner of an S3 i can say the vents are a smart modification on this chassis, there is ALOT of underhood pressure and heat, especially a big block with headers, that those vents serve a very functional purpose.
This isnt a toy for boys, this is all man and machine, out of most peoples league.
I cant defend it enough, just a excellent build.
Color combo is personal preference.
Ok, ive chimed in enough here.
Then why aren’t they connected to the engine compartment?
Blyndgesser, the post states that the vents are functional.
Even if theyre not, the concept/intension still is works because theres openepings between the inner fender frame and the outter skin.
Yes, thanks Larry D
Love it. I’ll take it.
That and the black Sema Special Laguna.
Oops I’m day dreaming again.
Great color and the T/A fender vents look like they “could have been a factory option”
Chip Foose style 😉
While some of the details (fender vents or the fake manual transmission) aren’t what I would have chosen, the overall build is damn impressive. Who knew some of these mid-70s cars would have such potential?
My vanity plate for this would be “MALAISE”, just for the irony.
I love it and hate it all at the same time.
I love these things! Most were made into local Street Stock Saturday night specials, back in the day. It’s great to see one that escaped!
The fake 4 speed just made me throw up in my mouth. Why would anyone take a 3 pedal car and make a sissy wagon out of it.
2 pic dont show for me. The 1st, either here on the write-up page or the group of 18 on face page, and #2 here (so 3, sorta). Those R the only ones this whole ‘issue’.
I’m probably the only one (just special I guess)…
Personally, I would have put a five speed in it, left off the vinyl top and not added the fender vents, they throw off the otherwise very nice bodywork imo. The color is nice, a relief from red or black. It will probably bring good money as it is well done.
The Deaks gather to piss and moan.
T/A vents and wheel tire combo suck way mucho.
This S3 is Deak-O-Licious. The Deaks can’t help themselves, it’s a trap.
had an s3 in79 400 small block white with red interior it would flat out run and drove great i really dig the car shone
Quality workmanship all the way! I build Resto-mods for a living and all I can say is wow! Beautiful job. GLWS
Did the passenger seat swivel also, or just the driver’s?