General Motors B platform

The B platform (also known as the B body) is a <a href="/facts/Full-size_car/6z3pbMYJ">full-size</a>, <a href="/facts/Rear-wheel_drive/aGGjKv3F">rear-wheel drive</a>, <a href="/facts/Body-on-frame/cXwG8AKd">body-on-frame</a> <a href="/facts/Car_platform/hsBY0eHT">car platform</a>, that was produced by <a href="/facts/General_Motors/rBgP3IRK">General Motors</a> (GM) from 1926 to 1996. Originally made for <a href="/facts/Oldsmobile/TIfEKkaz">Oldsmobile</a> and <a href="/facts/Buick/MV4z0rU6">Buick</a>, all of General Motors's five main passenger car makes would use it at some point. It was closely related to the original rear-wheel drive <a href="/facts/GM_C_platform_(RWD)/1hhut409">C</a> and <a href="/facts/GM_D_platform/MDapto89">D platforms</a>, and was used for <a href="/facts/Convertible/dVom4A5N">convertibles</a>, <a href="/facts/Hardtop/Cy3DV23N">hardtops</a>, <a href="/facts/Coupe/UfE8xupd">coupes</a>, <a href="/facts/Sedan_(car)/9n2QzIKK">sedans</a>, and <a href="/facts/Station_wagon/m98qdszh">station wagons</a>. With approximately 12,960,000 units built, divided across four marques, the 1965–1970 B platform is the fourth best selling automobile platform in history after the <a href="/facts/Volkswagen_Beetle/6wCVPMdJ">Volkswagen Beetle</a>, <a href="/facts/Ford_Model_T/wNywoygq">Ford Model T</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Fiat_124/2h5L9X0y">Fiat 124</a> (and its <a href="/facts/VAZ-2101/mFbyaTwC">licence-built copies</a>, mainly <a href="/facts/Zhiguli_(car_brand)/dNYfn11k">classic Ladas</a>).
Originally, the B platform was used for Buick and Oldsmobile products, with the <a href="/facts/GM_A_platform_(1936)/DnUU6g1p">A platform</a> for Chevrolet and Oakland, and the C and D platforms devoted to Cadillac. During the <a href="/facts/General_Motors_companion_make_program/AmN3qvjV">General Motors companion make program</a>, <a href="/facts/Viking_(automobile)/R49q4vxX">Vikings</a> and <a href="/facts/Marquette_(automobile)/xIuwzlLz">Marquettes</a> were also manufactured on this platform, as were <a href="/facts/La_Salle_(automobile)/tlmbS5j5">La Salles</a> from 1936 to 1940. The B platform became GM's base model platform in 1958, when all existing Chevrolet products were upgraded to the B platform. 
The B platform was used for the <a href="/facts/Pontiac_Torpedo/ueWlUVjS">Pontiac Streamliner Torpedo</a> and <a href="/facts/Pontiac_Streamliner/LUbr0850">Streamliner</a>; the <a href="/facts/Oldsmobile_L-Series/TKgzHQTK">Oldsmobile L-Series</a>, <a href="/facts/Oldsmobile_Series_70/LInwu4zy">Series 70</a>, and <a href="/facts/Oldsmobile_88/xsTE2VyQ">Series 88</a>; the <a href="/facts/Buick_Special/BmFuaR0c">Buick Special</a> and <a href="/facts/Buick_Century/d86atSrq">Century</a>; the <a href="/facts/LaSalle_(automobile)/tlmbS5j5">LaSalle Series 50</a>; and the <a href="/facts/Cadillac_Series_60/bpkAQRSz">Cadillac Series 60</a>, <a href="/facts/Cadillac_Series_61/MJ2QFkSt">Series 61</a>, and <a href="/facts/Cadillac_Series_61/MJ2QFkSt">Series 63</a>. 
For the 1959 model year, the previous A- and B-bodies were built on the new B platform that lasted until 1996. During this period, the B was the most modest of GM's three full-sized platforms, slotting below the upscale C and the luxury D. The A platform designation would be resurrected by GM in 1964 for a new series of intermediate-sized cars including the <a href="/facts/Chevrolet_Chevelle/tp1zNGHQ">Chevrolet Chevelle</a>, <a href="/facts/Pontiac_Tempest/FQz6DmpX">Pontiac Tempest</a>, <a href="/facts/Oldsmobile_Cutlass/8z3a6kcS">Oldsmobile Cutlass</a>, and <a href="/facts/Buick_Skylark/4GXq8pLL">Buick Skylark</a>.

General Motors B platform open-in-new

General Motors B platform