Did you notice?

General Motors has always been an innovator when it came to classic car styling starting way back from the 1940s all the way up until now. In the 1940s and 1950s General Motors had many designs with distinguishing factors that make them similar but, yet also different. 

General Motors used a lot of the same structural parts and inner shells while building their cars so it’s hard to notice the difference when looking at the main structure of each of their cars.

In the 1950s bodies had been revised and many body parts were interchangeable such as the steel floors the rocker panels and the cowl. There were also things such as the roof rails and how they boxed in the bracing. There were all types of safety braces and header assemblies that were also the same. They did this to cut costs because there were worries about a recession so cost savings were a major concern. So, what would they have to do? While saving money on using the vehicle structures General Motors had to do something to make these cars different. They needed to restyle the exterior panels to give each car a uniqueness.

How would they do this and would they be successful?

They had to focus on new and different designs and began the restyling process of mostly all exterior panels for each build. They redesigned fenders, hoods, front, and rear light assemblies, and let’s not forget the massive chrome bumpers. They made these major design changes while at the same time leaving the inter structures the same.

Let’s review a few examples and the designs that General Motors rolled out and let’s see if you can notice the differences or at the same time the similarities.

If you look at a 1961 Chevrolet Impala and compare it to the 1961 Buick Invicta you will see many similarities on the roof line, door, and quarter glass as well as the wheel well openings. So, if you have a 1961 Impala that you are building, and you need interior parts or windows or door glass a 1961 Buick Invicta could be a great parts car for you to work with.

Another car that has very similarities is a 1957 Chevy Bel Air and the 1957 Pontiac Chieftain. When comparing these two cars you will notice the roof line, door glass even the door shells themselves are the same. Be alert even when the door shells are the same the holes drilled for the side trim might be quite different. If you are restoring a Bel Air and you are in a jam trying to find Chevrolet parts you might have a better chance and success rate locating a Pontiac door shell and just fill in the holes. You can easily re-drill them for the Chevrolet trim. You’ll also notice the front windshield and the rear glass, trim and the roof line on these cars all are matching. If you had a 1957 Pontiac Chieftain and eeded some interior parts for your build a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air might have the parts you need.

Everybody loves the Tri-5 Chevy Nomads. With the two-door wagon styling and rear hatch, they are favorites among all classic car guys. But another rare and cool option was the Pontiac Safari. This is where General Motors took the Nomad platform and added a ton of chrome trim. As you view these different cars you will obviously notice that the doors are the same along with the same glass and window trim.

Let’s take an even closer look at some additional similarities and differences between these two classic wagons.

As you study the 1955 Chevrolet Nomad and a 1956 Pontiac Safari you will obviously notice which parts are similar or even the same. At the same time, you will also notice that the wheel well openings and rear quarter panels are different but oddly enough the rear tailgate the quarter glass, the side glass, the roof line, and the front and rear glass are all the same parts and are very much interchangeable.

Let’s not forget about the 1950s trucks that General Motors built. They built two different brands, Chevrolet and GMC which even today as they were in the 1950s, are mechanically identical. When you have a chance look at the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado and the 2023 GMC Sierra. General Motors has followed the same designs and build processes for many decades. This confirms the old saying “if it’s not broken don’t try to fix it”!

I consider myself a true car guy I think General Motors has always set the bar when it comes to designing and restyling of their cars and trucks.

Among all other things, don’t forget to love each other and never forget to hug your car.
Gregg Ovist
geezzup.com

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Similarities

noun,
plural sim•i•lar•i•ties.

(1)  the state of being similar; likeness; resemblance.

(2)  an aspect, trait, or feature like or resembling another or another’s: a similarity of diction.

Different

adjective
dif•fer•ent

(1)  not alike in character or quality; distinct in nature; dissimilar: 

(2)  not identical; separate or distinct: 

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