- GM J platform
Infobox Automobile platform
name = J-body
manufacturer =General Motors
production = 1982–2005
predecessor = H-body
successor = Delta
class =Compact car Mid-size car
layout =FF layout
body_style = 2-doorconvertible
2-doorcoupe
2-door sedan
3-doorhatchback
4-door sedan
5-doorstation wagon
5-doorhatchback
similar=Chrysler K platform Ford CE14 platform The J platform, or J-body, was General Motors' inexpensive
front-wheel drive automobile platform from the 1980s and 1990s. The platform replaced theGM H platform . The first J-body car was theChevrolet Cavalier, which was released onMarch 21 ,1981 as a 1982 model. The Cavalier was phased out at the end of 2004 in favor of the newChevrolet Cobalt . The last surviving J-body car, the Mexican-builtPontiac Sunfire , ended production in June 2005. There are three generations of the J-body: 1982 to 1987 (or until 1988 or 1989 depending on the model), 1988 to 1994, and 1995 to 2005.Except for cosmetic differences, engine upgrades and the discontinuation of certain models, the platform remained largely unchanged throughout the years.
Design of the J-body dated back to the mid-1970s. At that time, GM-controlled divisions in different parts of the world manufactured totally different
rear-wheel drive C-segment cars - theChevrolet Vega in America, theVauxhall Cavalier /Opel Ascona in Europe, theHolden Torana in Australia and theIsuzu Florian in Japan. Some of them were not particularly competitive, so it was decided that a common replacement would be developed to eliminate duplication of engineering effort and ensure parts interchangeability. When theArab Oil Embargo forced CAFE mandates, and the fear of US$3.00 for a gallon ofgasoline , the J-body was practically produced straight off the drawing board.The fourth character in the
Vehicle Identification Number for a J-body car is "J".Many vehicles used this platform including the following American nameplates:
* 1982Pontiac J2000
* 1982–1988Cadillac Cimarron
* 1982–1988Oldsmobile Firenza
* 1982–1989Buick Skyhawk
* 1982–2005Chevrolet Cavalier
* 1983Pontiac 2000
* 1984 Pontiac 2000 Sunbird
* 1985–1994Pontiac Sunbird
* 1995–2005Pontiac Sunfire International J-bodies include:
* 1982–1988Opel Ascona C (Europe and South Africa)
* 1982–1988Vauxhall Cavalier Mk II (United Kingdom)
* 1983–1989Isuzu Aska (Japan) (originally called Florian Aska)
* 1982–1989Holden Camira (Australia and New Zealand)
* 1982–1996Chevrolet Monza (Brazil)
* 1995–2000Toyota Cavalier (Japan)
* 1990-1997Daewoo Espero (South Korea)Bodystyles included;
* 2-door sedan - North America (until 1987), Brazil, Europe
* 2-doorcoupé - North America (from 1988)
* 4-door sedan - all markets
* 3-doorhatchback - North America (until 1987)
* 3-door hatchback - Brazil "(NOTE: these are two different bodies, the Brazilian version had a more upright roofline than the USDM one)"
* 5-door hatchback - Europe
* 5-doorstation wagon - North America (until 1994), Australia (exported to the UK)
* 2-doorconvertible - subcontracted to American Sunroof Corporation in North America andBaur in Europe; German market convertibles made by two different coachbuilders:Keinath andHammond & Thiede . Brazilian convertibles made by Envemo and SulamExternal links
* http://www.j-body.org
* http://www.j-body.com
* http://www.jbok.org
* http://www.v6z24.com
* http://www.jbodysource.org/wiki/
* http://www.clubcav.com
* http://www.jbodystreet.com
* http://www.durhamjbodies.com
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