1976 · Chevrolet · United States
1976 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna Type S-3: The Last Year, and the 454 Is Gone
The final Laguna Type S-3 year; the 454 no longer appears on the compiled engine list.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
1976 was the last model year of the Laguna Type S-3, and it arrived with a smaller engine list than any year before it. MotorWeek's three-year production total for the nameplate, 32,680 across 1974 through 1976, still stands as the only production figure this record can cite for the Type S-3's whole run; no source breaks it down by individual year, and no separate 1976-only Chevelle or Type S-3 total was found anywhere in a citable source. The 454 that had appeared, disputed, in the 1975 records is simply gone from both SS396.com's compiled engine list and Chevrolet's own 1976 dealer order guide.1,2
With the big-block gone, emissions rules did the sorting among what remained. Chevrolet's dealer order guide lists the 305-cubic-inch two-barrel LG3 as the Type S-3's standard engine in every state except California, with the 350-cubic-inch two-barrel L65 as a non-California option; the 350-cubic-inch four-barrel LM1 was restricted to California-registered cars, while the 400-cubic-inch four-barrel LT4 was available everywhere, including California, when ordered with the YF5 emission certification. SS396.com's separately compiled figures put the LG3 at 140 net horsepower, the 350 at 145, and the 400 at 175, the same state-by-state emissions pattern that had already split the engine list in 1974.2
Chevrolet's price schedule, effective with initial 1976 shipments, lists the Laguna Type S-3 coupe, sold with V8 power only, at $4,621.80, against a spread of $3,635.80 to $4,165.80 for the base Malibu coupe in six- and V8-cylinder form and $3,925.80 to $4,454.80 for the Malibu Classic coupe. A Wikipedia-sourced figure circulating elsewhere claims 9,100 Type S-3s were built in 1976 at a base price of $4,621, a number close enough to this record's own $4,621.80 factory figure to be tempting, but it traces to Wikipedia alone with no Chevrolet report behind it, so it is held here as an unverified lead rather than stated as fact. What is firmly established is the price gap within the lineup itself: at $4,621.80 against the cheapest six-cylinder Malibu coupe's $3,635.80, the Type S-3 commanded a $986.00 premium, roughly 27 percent more than the least expensive Chevelle coupe in the catalog.
Whatever the final production count, Chevrolet gave the last Type S-3 a genuinely wide color and trim palette to go with its emissions-sorted engine list: seven exterior colors, five sport stripe colors, and eight vinyl roof colors, paired with interior choices running from cloth and knit-cloth bench seats to vinyl bench and bucket seats in as many as eight color combinations apiece. That breadth of ordering choice, recorded in detail in Chevrolet's own dealer order guide, stands in contrast to how little the record can say about how many buyers actually chose each one, since no installation counts survive for any 1976 Chevelle option in a source this record can cite. Multiplying just the seven exterior colors by the eight vinyl roof choices alone yields 56 possible combinations before a single stripe or interior trim is chosen, a reminder that the order-guide's breadth of choice does not translate into evidence about which combinations buyers actually drove off the lot.
Fact sheet · 1976 · United States
The numbers
1976 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna Type S-3 — The final Laguna Type S-3 year; the 454 no longer appears on the compiled engine list.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
- Chevrolet's 1976 dealer order guide lists the Laguna Type S-3 coupe as model 1AE37 with a 305 2-bbl V8 (LG3) standard outside California, and the 350 2-bbl, 350 4-bbl (California) and 400 4-bbl as the other engines; no 454 is listed.
- Chevrolet's price schedule effective with initial shipments of 1976 vehicles (published September 5, 1975) lists the Laguna Type S-3 coupe 1AE37 (V8 only) at $4,621.80, against $3,635.80-$4,165.80 for the base Malibu coupe and $3,925.80-$4,454.80 for the Malibu Classic coupe (six vs. V8).
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laguna Type S-3, 1974-1976 combined1 Laguna Type S-3 · 2-door coupe · US Multi-year figure. | 32,680 | built, multi-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevelle total (series scope not stated by compiler)3 Chevelle line (scope not stated) · not stated by source Uncited compiler figure; whether El Camino, Laguna, Malibu Classic and station wagons are included, and whether the count is built or sold, is not stated. Separately scoped from every other row here; do not add or subtract. | 333,243 | not stated (compiler production column), model-year | Reported |
Whole-year figure added 2026-09-29 from conceptcarz.com only (one unattributed compiler; no Chevrolet production report seen). The page also prints three body-style figures, some labelled sales; they are not recorded as rows. Chevrolet's own year-end production report, a period trade digest (Ward's) that states a Chevelle total and its scope would corroborate or replace it.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Laguna Type S-3 coupe 1AE37, V8 (only engine offered) | $4,621.80 | manufacturer's suggested retail price; excludes destination and group charge, state and local taxes, options, 1976 model year (effective with initial shipments of 1976 vehicles) |
| Malibu 2-door coupe 1AC37, six | $3,635.80 | manufacturer's suggested retail price; excludes destination and group charge, state and local taxes, options, 1976 model year (effective with initial shipments of 1976 vehicles) |
| Malibu 2-door coupe 1AC37, V8 | $4,165.80 | manufacturer's suggested retail price; excludes destination and group charge, state and local taxes, options, 1976 model year (effective with initial shipments of 1976 vehicles) |
| Malibu Classic 2-door coupe 1AD37, six | $3,925.80 | manufacturer's suggested retail price; excludes destination and group charge, state and local taxes, options, 1976 model year (effective with initial shipments of 1976 vehicles) |
| Malibu Classic 2-door coupe 1AD37, V8 | $4,454.80 | manufacturer's suggested retail price; excludes destination and group charge, state and local taxes, options, 1976 model year (effective with initial shipments of 1976 vehicles) |
| Malibu Classic Landau coupe 1AD37 Z03, six | $4,123.80 | manufacturer's suggested retail price; excludes destination and group charge, state and local taxes, options, 1976 model year (effective with initial shipments of 1976 vehicles) |
| Malibu Classic Landau coupe 1AD37 Z03, V8 | $4,639.80 | manufacturer's suggested retail price; excludes destination and group charge, state and local taxes, options, 1976 model year (effective with initial shipments of 1976 vehicles) |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 4-bbl2 400 cu in · 4-barrel | 175 hp (SAE net) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 3502 350 cu in | 145 hp (SAE net) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 305 2-bbl2 305 cu in · 2-barrel | 140 hp (SAE net) | base V8 | Not yet sourced |
| LG3 · 305-2 bbl V8 305 cu in · 2-barrel | Laguna Type S-3 standard engine; all states except California (no rating printed on this page) | Not yet sourced | |
| L65 · 350-2 bbl V8 350 cu in · 2-barrel | Laguna Type S-3 option; all states except California | Not yet sourced | |
| LT4 · 400-4 bbl V8 400 cu in · 4-barrel | Laguna Type S-3 option; all states, including California with YF5 | Not yet sourced | |
| LM1 · 350-4 bbl V8 350 cu in · 4-barrel | Laguna Type S-3 option; California registration only (YF5) | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
19 |
Laguna Type S-3: Black | Not yet sourced |
35 |
Laguna Type S-3: Blue, Dark (Metallic) | Not yet sourced |
36 |
Laguna Type S-3: Firethorn (Metallic) | Not yet sourced |
40 |
Laguna Type S-3: Green, Lime (Metallic) | Not yet sourced |
37 |
Laguna Type S-3: Mahogany (Metallic) | Not yet sourced |
13 |
Laguna Type S-3: Silver | Not yet sourced |
11 |
Laguna Type S-3: White, Antique | Not yet sourced |
stripe 11A |
Laguna Type S-3 sport stripe: White | Not yet sourced |
stripe 19A |
Laguna Type S-3 sport stripe: Black | Not yet sourced |
stripe 36A |
Laguna Type S-3 sport stripe: Firethorn (Metallic) | Not yet sourced |
stripe 54A |
Laguna Type S-3 sport stripe: Gold | Not yet sourced |
vinyl BB |
Vinyl roof: Black | Not yet sourced |
vinyl DD |
Vinyl roof: Blue, Dark (Metallic) | Not yet sourced |
vinyl FF |
Vinyl roof: Firethorn (Metallic) | Not yet sourced |
vinyl QQ |
Vinyl roof: Silver (Metallic) | Not yet sourced |
vinyl UU |
Vinyl roof: Buckskin, Light | Not yet sourced |
vinyl WW |
Vinyl roof: White | Not yet sourced |
vinyl YY |
Vinyl roof: Mahogany (Metallic) | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
JBB1 / JUS1 |
Laguna Type S-3 sport cloth bench: Black; Light Buckskin | Not yet sourced |
PBB5 / PDD5 / PYY5 / PUS5 |
Laguna Type S-3 knit cloth notchback bench: Black; Dark Blue; Dark Mahogany; Light Buckskin | Not yet sourced |
PYY2 / PUS2 |
Laguna Type S-3 knit cloth bucket seats: Dark Mahogany; Light Buckskin | Not yet sourced |
NBB1 / NDD1 / NYY1 / NUS1 / NWB1 / NWZ1 / NWY1 |
Laguna Type S-3 knit vinyl bench: Black; Dark Blue; Dark Mahogany; Light Buckskin; White with black, lime or mahogany accents | Not yet sourced |
VBB5 / VDD5 / VYY5 / VUS5 / VWB5 / VWZ5 / VWY5 / VWD5 |
Laguna Type S-3 vinyl notchback bench: Black; Dark Blue; Dark Mahogany; Light Buckskin; White with black, lime, mahogany or blue accents | Not yet sourced |
VBB2 / VDD2 / VYY2 / VUS2 / VWB2 / VWZ2 / VWY2 / VWD2 |
Laguna Type S-3 vinyl bucket seats: Black; Dark Blue; Dark Mahogany; Light Buckskin; White with black, lime, mahogany or blue accents | Not yet sourced |
Identification
Read a 1976 Chevrolet VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1976
- AMC AMX No AMX was sold in the United States for 1976. The Javelin ended after 1974, and the badge returned on the 1977 Hornet.
- AMC Gremlin X and Spirit AMX The last year of the V8 Gremlin. The 304 was cancelled at midyear after 826 installations, and the X package moved to Custom models only.
- Buick Riviera The GS name gave way to an S/R package, fitted to 1,619 of 20,082 Rivieras.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Last Nova SS year in the source production table. Enthusiast-compiled production: 334,728 cars; Super Sport 7,416.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS Colonnade-era El Camino; Chevrolet's 1976 data pages define the RPO Z15 SS option for the El Camino Classic. Team Chevelle's production totals give 44,890 El Caminos built, 5,163 of them with SS equipment.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The final year of the approved Dart chronology; MuscleCarClub reports 13,642 Dart Sports of all engines, and Flory says the Dart Sport 360 was dropped.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The Grabber was dropped and a Stallion paint-and-trim package took its place; no Stallion count was found.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT continued on the 1972-76 Ranchero; 4,942 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird Sixth-generation personal-luxury Thunderbird; the record holds the production total and the luxury-group option prices only.
- Ford Torino The last Torino year: 193,096 built with no Sport model left, and Ford's 1,000 white-striped red 'Starsky and Hutch' Gran Torino replicas were the only performance-styled edition.
- Mercury Cougar Outside the muscle focus: 83,765 Cougars for 1976 per Wikipedia's table.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds An appearance and handling option in this period; no Hurst/Olds was offered and no production figure was found.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 The Duster's last year offered the 360 only with TorqueFlite and not in California, beside the new Feather Duster economy and Silver Duster decor packages; reference books disagree on production (26,688 or 34,681).
- Plymouth Road Runner The Road Runner became a Volare option package.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The first black-and-gold Trans Am, the last Trans Am 455, and a Firebird line past 110,000.
- Pontiac Grand Prix Quad headlamps and a 50th-anniversary year for Pontiac; the last Grand Prix 455.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The 455 returns to the LeMans options list, a 260 V8 with a five-speed arrives for the Sport Coupe, and a Rally RTS Handling Package replaces the GT.