GM X platform (1962)
The rear-wheel drive X-body underpinned the Chevrolet Nova and similar cars of the 1960s and 1970s. It was also the basis for the Cadillac Seville's K platform and many components were shared with the contemporary F platform. Entry level badge engineered luxury coupes and sedans offered in the 1970s by Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile appeared around the same time as the competing Ford Granada and Plymouth Volare.
| GM X platform (RWD) | |
|---|---|
 1976 Chevrolet Nova | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | General Motors |
| Also called | X-Body |
| Production | 1961–1979 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Vehicles | Buick Apollo Buick Skylark Chevrolet Nova Oldsmobile Omega Pontiac Ventura Pontiac Phoenix |
| Related | GM F platform GM K platform |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 110 in (2,794 mm) 1962–1967 111 in (2,819 mm) 1968–1979 |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | GM X platform (FWD) |
Applications:
- Chevrolet Camaro (1967–1969)
- Chevrolet Chevy II (1962–1967)
- Chevrolet Nova (1968–1979)
- Buick Apollo (1973–1974; 1975 sedan only)
- Buick Skylark (1975 coupe only; 1976–1979)
- Oldsmobile Omega (1973–1979)
- Pontiac Ventura (1971–1977)
- Pontiac Phoenix (1977–1979)
- Acadian (1962–1971)
Model year 1968–1974 GM X-bodies positioned the steering linkage behind the steering gear ("rear steer"—also shared with the 1967–1969 F platform), whereas 1975–1979 models had the steering linkage forward of the steering gear ("front steer"—shared with the second generation (1970–1981) F platform including the 1973–1977 A platform and 1977–1996 B platform (control arms, steering knuckle assembly except steering linkage and front sway bar).
In the early 1970s, it was noticed that the first letter of each X-body model name (Nova, Omega, Ventura, Apollo) spelled out "NOVA", the cheapest model of the quartet.
