The Last Chevrolet Monte Carlo Rolls off The Line

[OneMeanChevy]

Originally Posted by Chris322

Wikipedia is reporting on their Monte Carlo page that Bob Lutz has confirmed a new Monte Carlo will debut on Zeta within the next few years. Now I am not that gullable that I would actually believe that. However, I think that if after the Camaro has had a chance to prove itself and is selling well, a low-volume Monte Carlo might be a good idea.

Time will tell, Don't get your hopes up to high.

However, Not everyone wants a Muscle Car. The Monte Carlo is/was a nice option for people who wanted Power, Moderate level of Performance, Lux Features, Softer suspension minus the Hot Rod styling.

V8 + Monte Carlo SS = Easier sale to ones wife who doesn't like sports cars.

V8 + Camaro = Hard sale to ones wife who doesn't like sports cars.

[big swede]

Originally Posted by marinerbc

Great car for road trips at XX mph on the Interstate. Will really miss it.

It does make a great highway flier. I really need to get some pics of my 07' SS. I am actually shocked by how much attention the car gets, I would have never guessed it. I think it's the color combo, Red Jewel Tintcoat (Burgundy), that goes good with the shiny 18" wheels.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by inov8r

Andrew, the problem is that when the 1974 MC WAS part of a popular market segment, gas was "cheap", the influence of environmental and safety regulations was much less than today, and the car, nicely equipped, could be purchased for a smaller percentage of the average person's annual income. By 1997, just 10 years ago, when the last of the B-body models was being cleared from dealer inventory--cars with the same basic chassis, driveline and dimensions of your Dad's 74 MC--the automobile market, and GM's position in that market, had changed CONSIDERABLY.

It no longer makes economic sense for GM to try to revive a model that has such limited market appeal, that competes NOT with other manufacturers, but slices up the GM pie further, since most buyers of a MC probably moved from another GM vehicle to do so. It is perhaps defeatist of me to say that, and while it was a nice effort at the time, today there is no justification to have another car that would be so close to the Camaro in size--if the new Zeta/Camaro is as big as all the stories suggest, it will be larger than the Monaro/GTO and the now deceased Monte Carlo.

The cost of bringing a new model to market from GM today is huge, and unless the vehicle has sufficient market appeal--at a price that buyers consider worth doing so--it's going to be VERY difficult, since there is much more competition out there today, seeking customer dollars. GM has not shown itself to be very adept at re-capturing markets or market segments.

It isn't 1974 anymore, much as we might like it to be.

One of GM's biggest problems is their marketing. When was the last time you've seen a Monte Carlo advert that didn't mention NASCAR? 1988? If they marketed the car to the mainstream personal luxury/touring buyer and equipped the car to modern standards they could've sold lots more of them.

Look at how many Accord Coupes Honda sells compared to the Camry Solara and Monte Carlo. I haven't seen a Solara ad since they debuted and every Monte Carlo ad talks about racing a car that has nothing in common with the street version. That is why Toyota is dropping the Solara and Chevrolet is dropping the Monte Carlo while Honda will be debuting the new Accord Coupe.

The Camaro will be a four-seater with cramped rear quarters, not a true coupe like the Monte Carlo, despite its large exterior. I think that is where the public is confused these days, thinking any car with two doors and a rear seat is a coupe rather than a GT.

As for the B-Body, that decision was all about making more profitable trucks because they were gaining popularity and hugely profitable in the mid-late '90s while the B-Body, a car still in demand, was much less profitable and needed a complete redesign. Now it's 2007 and we can see the error GM made in putting all it's eggs in the truck and SUV basket.

[knightfan26917]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

I guarantee at my dad's age (51) if GM built a Monte Carlo with a V8, RWD, decent handling, nice styling and enough room for four adults he would want it for a daily driver.

Same here.

Though, I wouldn't necessarily need the V8 ... V6 would be just fine ... as long as it was RWD and had the distinctive MC features....



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"I could never get enough" ... Eddy Raven ... 'I Could Use Another You'

[TahoeMikeZ71]

Originally Posted by knightfan26917

as long as it was RWD and had the distinctive MC features....

Like the MC badge.

[MaxLegroom]

Originally Posted by TAHOE LT

Like the MC badge.

Really. It's like when Acura turned to alphanumeric designations (let's not call them names) because they felt it more important that the Acura name be remembered. I can hear the laughter now on that one...

A halo car, and to no small extent, that is what the Monte Carlo was at one time, should have an identity that is just a bit above the cars it shares a showroom with. Note that Ford never built a Thunderbird without a Thunderbird badge on it somewhere.

[knightfan26917]

Originally Posted by TAHOE LT

Like the MC badge.

*nods*

Yep ... and not the one used 2000-2005 ... the sculptured one of the 1970-1988 models.


Also, of course, the bodylines..... .



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"I wanna drive" ... Trace Adkins ... '(Her Favorite Color Is) Chrome'

[TahoeMikeZ71]

That would be a lot to drool over.

[MalibuMaxxSS]

Originally Posted by Snafu_SS

Guess it was about time for it to head out...what a way to do it as well

I suppose now Chevy teams will be using "Impalas" to race in NASCAR?

CAmaro maybe??

[Ty_99]

Sad to see the moniker go, though I still believe that a Monte Carlo should be RWD. I must say it was inevitable with the Zeta coming on board, and NASCAR going to COT for the full schedule, the writing was on the wall.
As far as I heard on the NASCAR front, Impala is going to be cup level and then the Busch level is going to go via Camaro, Mustang, Challenger, etc..

[knightfan26917]

Originally Posted by TAHOE LT

That would be a lot to drool over.

*nods*

Yes, it would.... But, sadly, I don't ever see it happening again.

Heh ... ironically, I've never bought a Monte Carlo brand new .



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"That's the price that we all pay" ... New Order ... 'True Faith'

[SierraGS]

Sad to see the Monte Carlo go (again).

Maybe GM will bring it back on the Alpha platform with styling cues from the original models clean "European Look" (at least that is what they called it then).

There is a market for a properly done Monte Carlo (preferably RWD) and I could see one taken from the Epsilon II but prefer the Alpha option.

[Steve Smith]

I special ordered my '07 Monte SS last November and I received it in Jan of this year. Red with grey cloth and silver Rally stripes. It gets it's share of looks on the road. Love the ride handling and especially those 303 horses! I'm no "punk kid", I'm 52 years young. I also don't baby my car, I don't really care about it's miles per gallon, only it's smiles per mile! I very rarely don't have my foot into it. Drag raced it 3 different times at my local track too .Did a respectable 13.9 @ 99.3 m.p.h. BONE STOCK. No mechanical problems of any kind with approx 3,700 miles on it. Sad to see them go away. Guess that'll make mine a future collectable, huh?

[jpstax]

Originally Posted by Ming

"The Last Chevrolet Monte Carlo comes off the line Wednesday, June 20th at 11:00am."

"There are special plans for the last two Monte Carlo models. The last model will be placed in the General Motors Heritage Centre, a contemporary meeting facility filled with 100 years of automotive history, located in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

The second to last Monte Carlo production unit will be sent to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to appear at the Brickyard 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on July 29. All Chevrolet race drivers will sign the car and it will be sent to Charlotte, North Carolina for auction."

Anonymously sent as a news tip. - Ming
Source: Car Plant Auto News

Anyone else think Junior (or an employee from DEI) will end up with the winning bid at the auction?

[The Beast 55]

Originally Posted by windvale

Why can't they just produce a 2-door version of the Impala - and call it an Impala - like in the old days ? This would save GM having to advertise and promote two different cars (Impala & MC).

Right now big coupes are dead...but customer tastes eventually change - and people will want a big coupe again. It would be nice if GM was already producing such a car when the winds shift again.

I have a black SS 03 monte carlo and it blows away the impalas they are nothing alike the body style of the monte was to reduce drag.....flat out the montes a better car then impala......the i couldnt even find another monte on a lot they were all sold........so what do you got to say now if you dont own one or have an impala and raced a monte please dont talk.......thanks...................amd fpr all of you who dont like the body style have you looked at it from the side is like a fish through water......