The B platformorB-body was the name of two of Chrysler's midsize passenger car platforms – at first rear-wheel drive, from 1962 through 1979; and the later, unrelated front-wheel drive platform, used by the Eagle Premier / Dodge Monaco, from 1988 through 1992.
The 1962-1979 platform underwent significant changes through its production life, but each Chrysler B-platform car in a given model year shared the same chassis, with only styling differences between the Dodge and Plymouth models. The cars were otherwise mechanically identical. Similarly, the 1988-1992 Premier and Monaco models differed only by styling and shared the same front-wheel drive B-body platform.
The Plymouth B-body series ultimately comprised four cars with nearly identical outward appearances (differing only in trim package, drive train and accessories). These were the Belvedere, Satellite, GTX and Road Runner. The 1970 Superbird was a Road Runner with an extended nose cone and front fenders borrowed from the Dodge Coronet, a revised rear window, and a high-mounted rear wing. The Superbird's unique styling was a result of homologation requirements for using the same aerodynamic nose and rear wing when racing the car in the NASCAR series of the time. While the aerodynamic concept used to create the Superbird was identical to that of the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, they shared no common body components. The Superbird was produced only during the 1970 model year.
In NASCAR competition, the Superbird was successful with Pete Hamilton driving for Petty Enterprises winning the 1970 Daytona 500 using a Superbird. However, NASCAR effectively hobbled the low production winged cars after 1970 with strict regulations that limited the size of engines that could power them. This rendered them uncompetitive.
There was more diversity in the outward appearance of the Dodge B-body series. The Dodge models based on the B-body were the Coronet, Super Bee and the Charger. The 1969 Charger Daytona was a Charger with an extended nose and high-mounted rear wing, offered for the same reasons as the Superbird. The Charger Daytona was produced only during the 1969 model year.
Cars using the rear-wheel-drive B platform include:
Five different wheelbases were available:
From 1988 to 1992, the B-body name was used again for the midsize front-wheel-drive Eagle Premier sedan, which was originally designed by and was slated to be built by American Motors with Renault until Chrysler's buyout of that company in March 1987. The Premier was later joined by the similar Dodge Monaco for 1990.
