The ’70s Muscle Car That Slipped Through The Cracks

At first blush, it’s easy to dismiss the entire decade of the 1970s as a muscle car dead zone, with inevitable images of Pintos and small Japanese hatchbacks stuck in bumper-to-bumper, smog-choked traffic somewhere on the West Coast. The 1960s may have been the heyday of the muscle era, as conventional enthusiast wisdom suggests, and once the decade ended, so did many storied performance nameplates amid downsizing, increasing government regulations, bolt-on smog equipment, and the 1973 Oil Embargo that set the tone for the rest of the decade.

But even amid this admittedly Malaise-drenched time, a few cars did try to serve up much-needed performance, though some of them remain relatively obscure footnotes in the chronicles of domestic performance machines, and were often overlooked by buyers of the era.

The Laguna S-3 Was An Overlooked Piece Of ’70s Muscle Car History

The Chevrolet Laguna S-3 was one such muscle car that slipped through the cracks. Largely seen as a spiritual successor to the Chevy Malibu SS, the Laguna S-3 combined a reliable chassis with small- and big-block V8 power, aerodynamic design, trendy graphics, and plenty of options for later customization.

Overall, only 7,500 to 8,000 units ever left the factory for the 1976 model year, and between 9,000 and 10,000 during its final 1976 model year, making it a somewhat overlooked muscle car. The reason for that is definitely not its lack of muscle. When it hit the market in 1974, it offered the massive Chevy 454 LS5 big block V8 and packed respectable – albeit already emissions-choked – power. Something else was missing from the overall recipe that is a little less obvious, and more difficult to pin down, even with half a century of hindsight.

The origin story of this muscle machine is a little unusual for those familiar with the typical development cycles of the prior decade. The Laguna S-3 evolved from the “Colonnade” A-body after GM had gotten rid of convertibles and pillarless hardtops in one fell swoop. Descending from the third-generation Chevelle lineage in 1973, the early Laguna models offered upright front fascias, chunky bumpers, and body-colour noses, with this model targeting a more upscale but not necessarily performance-focused buyer of Chevy’s mid-size models.

But almost immediately, in 1974, the Laguna was quickly handed the task of also being the performance-flavored model in the sprawling Chevelle lineup, keeping its distinctive front fascia while kicking things off with a 350 cubic-inch two-barrel small-block good for 145 hp in base form. But beefier options were also on the menu, including the 454-cubic-inch big-block V8 that pumped out 235 hp, with this top variant offering the option of an automatic or a four-speed manual transmission.

The S-3 sold well enough during its first year of availability, and the addition of a new slanted urethane nosepiece early in 1975 gave the Laguna S-3 a much more distinctive and aerodynamic look. But the Laguna S-3 left the stage as suddenly as it appeared after 1976, due to shifting priorities at GM and quickly changing emissions regulations, in addition to a heavier focus on smaller family cars.

V8 Options In The Era Of Downsizing

Quite a few engines were on the menu for 1975 as well, ranging from a modest two-barreled 350 good for 145 hp to the four-barreled 400 V8 with 175 hp on tap. But the main event was still the 454-cubic-inch big-block LS5 V8, downtuned to 235 hp, even though it would not appear on the menu again in this model after 1975.

With up to 235 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque on tap courtesy of a 454 cubic-inch (7.4-liter) big-block V8 during its short three-model-year run, the Laguna Type S-3 could still hold its own against an admittedly limited cast of competitors, while also offering a futuristic exterior thanks to its aerodynamic NASCAR-homologated nosepiece.

In top form, the 454 cubic-inch V8 could serve up 0-60 launches from 7.5 to 8.5 seconds, and quarter-mile times in the mid 15-second range. These weren’t hair-raising figures by the standards of the greater muscle car universe, but they were good enough for the day to earn the Laguna S-3 a nod from performance enthusiasts.

1976 was the year that things got a little interesting, with the base engine being switched out for a 305 cubic-inch small-block V8 good for 140 hp. And a 400 cubic-inch V8 was also on the menu, offering 175 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm, but was paired solely with a three-speed automatic. So some trade-offs certainly occurred between the 1975 and 1976 model years, making the latter just a bit less exciting performance-wise.

The NASCAR Connection

What makes the last two years of the Laguna S-3 so cool and unique is the NASCAR connection, with this model serving as the homologation car for Chevy’s racing efforts. The futuristic, aerodynamic nose was noticed by grassroots and big-name racers of the time, with this Chevy model offering plenty of go with the right setup underhood.

But coupled with the relative scarcity of the S-3 in any configuration, especially the top 454-engined manual transmission cars, the Laguna S-3 largely sailed under the radar of most buyers, except those who appreciated the NASCAR-style look first and foremost.

Picking the Right One

If there are any sour notes to the three-year Laguna run, it’s the fact that not all years offered the beefy 454 cubic-inch V8, and the fact that the manual transmission packed up and left after 1975. So the very top variants performance-wise, equipped with manual transmissions, are rare in a sea of automatics and remain more valued to this day, and the top engine was absent in the final model year.

The flip side, of course, is that more easygoing automatic examples from 1976 can be obtained as relative bargains today, requiring only a minimal budget if red-lining a Laguna S-3 on your morning commute isn’t a priority. But given the interchangeability of engines and transmissions from Chevys of this era, it’s not too difficult to mix and match the top powerplant with the desirable four-speed manual if you’re not too concerned about originality in your particular example. This makes picking years and transmissions a bit tricky, and would be based on your priorities: Would you prefer the Laguna S-3 as a chill weekend cruiser, or a machine to take to the drag strip for some retro fun?

Concours-grade examples of the 1976 Laguna S-3 are somewhat rare to begin with, so it’s difficult to find yourself in a position where you’d be overpaying for an example that’s too nice to be driven and enjoyed, as quite a few surviving examples are driver-grade or club-concours cars at best.

Cooler Than The Competition

Even though the Laguna S-3 arrived at a seemingly barren point in the muscle car world, it still faced a few scattered competitors, including GM’s own Olds Cutlass 442 and Pontiac LeMans, in addition to Ford’s Gran Torino.

But the Laguna stood out thanks to its aerodynamic shape, and as these are the 1970s we’re talking about, Chevy went heavy on the appearance of the Laguna S-3, serving up a generous helping of stripes, badges, and the color-keyed urethane front fascia, which was quite a new look for cars of the time. Swivel-bucket seats were also an option in this era, for those buyers who cared about luxury fads, but even in bone stock form, the Laguna offered tidy road manners and a well-balanced chassis. With power discs up front and drums in the rear, the coupe could also be persuaded to stop in a hurry.

The Laguna S-3 also had a well-sorted chassis on its side going up against its rivals of the day, as well as plenty of torque in the top engines. And in those admittedly dark times, that was enough to secure it a spot in the increasingly rare muscle car category, even if overall production numbers did not assure that you’d be spotting a lot of these on your evening commute, or waiting to challenge you at a stop light.

Current Values

For an overlooked muscle car from the 1970s, the Laguna S-3 is a bit of a rare bird that is also a bargain classic in this day and age. Surprisingly modest amounts, by the standards of muscle car values, are needed to secure a 1976 Chevy Laguna S-3. They can be had for as low as $14,600 in good condition optioned with the 305 cubic-inch powerplant and automatic transmission, according to Hagerty. But the big-block cars with manuals will command a bit more coin, though they are still obtainable for under $25,000 provided you’re not too picky about cosmetic condition.

A few years ago a 1974 Laguna S-3 optioned with the 454 V8 and a three-speed automatic sold for just $18,000 on Bringatrailer, so the price of entry into the Laguna Cinematic Universe isn’t all that high, even for the top powerplant option. The Laguna S-3 was ultimately overlooked due to its mixture of luxury and sport features, which confused shoppers of both categories, in addition to being a bit pricey for a Chevelle derivative. The design was also polarizing in some respects, and even though it was certainly aerodynamic it did not really convey performance intentions to traditional muscle car buyers.

Despite its aggressive looks and muscle car credentials, the Laguna S-3 was ultimately upstaged at launch by models including the Pontiac Firebird TransAm, Olds Cutlass Supreme, Dodge Charger, and Chevrolet’s own Camaro, lest we forget. Today, this cool piece of ’70s muscle remains nothing but a footnote in the long history of American cars, and it’s surprisingly rare.

Sources: Hemmings, MotorWeek, Motogallery, Hagerty.