What body type is a 1987 Chevy Caprice?
The 1987 Chevy Caprice is a full-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan. In that model year, the Caprice lineup also included a wagon variant known as the Caprice Estate, but the range did not include a two-door coupe.
Defining the Caprice’s body type
The body type refers to the overall passenger-carrying silhouette and arrangement. For the 1987 Caprice, Chevrolet offered a traditional full-size American car with a four-door configuration and a spacious interior. The Caprice rested on GM’s B-body platform, a hallmark of GM’s full-size lineup in the late 1980s, emphasizing comfort, interior room, and a smooth ride over sportiness or compact dimensions.
Platform and design details
Key design and engineering notes for the 1987 Caprice include: a large, conventional silhouette characteristic of late-1980s full-size sedans, rear-wheel drive, and alignment with the Caprice Classic branding within Chevrolet’s lineup of the era. The Caprice Estate wagon variant offered additional cargo space while preserving the same overall body plan as the sedan.
Variants offered in 1987
The 1987 Caprice lineup focused on traditional body styles appropriate for a full-size family car. The main body-style options were:
- 4-door sedan (Caprice Classic)
- 4-door station wagon (Caprice Estate)
In that model year, a two-door coupe was not part of the Caprice lineup, and the wagon offered practical cargo space for families and travelers.
Historical context and identification tips
During the late 1980s, GM’s full-size cars on the B-body platform were positioned as comfortable, spacious cruisers rather than performance cars. The 1987 Caprice carried branding that emphasized "Classic" trim levels and family-friendly design, aligning with other Caprice/Impala-era family sedans of the period. When identifying a 1987 Caprice on the road, look for the long, boxy sedan profile with large greenhouse windows and, if equipped, the Caprice Estate wagon's extended rear cargo area and wagon badging.
Summary
In summary, the 1987 Chevrolet Caprice is best described as a full-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan, with a practical wagon variant known as the Caprice Estate. It represents Chevrolet’s traditional large-car approach of the era, prioritizing interior space, comfort, and highway stability over compact size or sporty styling.
