Impala to replace Monte Carlo in NASCAR Nextel Cup

[Kheiron]

tisk tisk. well, i lost interest in nasacar when Earndhart passed on. Carborated engines!!!! enough said (tisk tisk).

[KingElvis]

Macphisto: What makes you think the Zeta would juggle so many tread widths?
I can believe they would have a shorter wheelbase but just use the same suspension components.
It's a known fact what the Commodore measures, and perhaps the Camaro concept indicates what an Americanized version would be, but why split the difference between the two on a sedan?

This is in the scuttlebut category, but I've read the published dimensions on the Camaro concept were off - it's 77" wide, not '79". Would that make you think Impala and Camaro would share a 64" tread width?

Finally, 'full size' is kind of a semantic distinction. The '70's Camaro was technically a compact (perhaps even subcompact) in interior volume and the Chevy Citation of 1980 qualified as a midsize in interior dimensions - yet one weighed 1000lbs more than the other and measured nearly 17 feet long.

[SDRacing]

Originally Posted by ByTheLake

GM only sold 3170 Monte Carlos in September 2006. Sales are already disappointing.

I'm one of those guys that just doesn't "get it" when it comes to NASCAR.

Translation:
NASCAR has given GM permission to remove the Monte Carlo headlight and grille stickers and apply Impala headlight and grille stickers

The article ends with:
But there are NO Monte Carlos on NASCAR tracks ... only plastic shells with stickers on them. Is this really a loss?

Judging by your avatar, I can tell you dont get it. J/k. But serious, why do you come in this thread if you dont care about nascar?

[stevecmh]

i figured as much. They just need to redesign the the Impala so it looks not so blah

[Swahili]

Originally Posted by MNdudeswitz

What a difference! Those old Impalas (I know those are actually just diecasts) are timeless classics. I'm hoping the new Impala has some character in it's design in 2008/9 MY.

Bye bye Monte Carlo We'll drive ours till the wheels fall off though

[IMPALAon20s]

Wow.. They'll Have To Change The Stickers.. And Not Even The Headlight Ones, Cause Those Are Already The Same In The Impalas As The Monte.. So Big Whoopty Doo..

[IMPALAon20s]

i have what was one of the last kick azz coupes.. that deserved the impala name... day theres a RWD impala coupe at dealership.. im going to be first in line..

[TomDotCom]

General Motors is phasing out the Monte Carlo and Grand Prix after the 2007 model year, hence the reason for the Nascar switch to Impalas. Both models are dated and not selling as expected.

Stay tuned though for some exciting announcements regarding their replacments.

[macphisto]

Originally Posted by KingElvis

Macphisto: What makes you think the Zeta would juggle so many tread widths?

It's really only two tread widths, but both are available on the logn and short wheelbase variants.

I can believe they would have a shorter wheelbase but just use the same suspension components.
It's a known fact what the Commodore measures, and perhaps the Camaro concept indicates what an Americanized version would be, but why split the difference between the two on a sedan?

Well, the Commodore has a 74.8 inch overall width to the car. That's precisely what you should expect on most Zetas. Camaro essentially gets a special width, though it is likely to be shared with the next Monaro. The GTO will be on its own.

This is in the scuttlebut category, but I've read the published dimensions on the Camaro concept were off - it's 77" wide, not '79". Would that make you think Impala and Camaro would share a 64" tread width?

I've seen the concept in person and took photographs from various angles to determine the measurements based on the wheels. 79" is about right. My calculation said 79.3.

Finally, 'full size' is kind of a semantic distinction. The '70's Camaro was technically a compact (perhaps even subcompact) in interior volume and the Chevy Citation of 1980 qualified as a midsize in interior dimensions - yet one weighed 1000lbs more than the other and measured nearly 17 feet long.

You think that Camaro can be considered full size then the Impala will be much longer?

Or do you think they'd even build a new Impala that's about 5 inches (at most) longer than the new Malibu? Maybe they'll say its the width that truly makes in full-size, but I doubt it.

There are two length variations on Zeta and two width variations. The platform is designed so you can use either width with either length. So you could conceivably have the Pontiac large RWD variant share Camaro's 79 inch gate while the Impala is just under 75 inches wide.

The tread width on the Camaro is near 70 inches.

[ByTheLake]

Originally Posted by sa_seahawker

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

How could your opinion be wrong? It is what it is ... your opinion.

And I agree with you ... NASCAR is no fun since the true stock bodies stopped circulating the ovals years ago. I realize that those were still heavily modified production vehicles, but they were still production-based.

[turbodiesel]

that's a quite a good news. At least a new styling is expected...

but should NASCAR be considered to use the ACTUAL Impala (as of all 4 doors are functional) instead of the "skin on the frame" routine?

and the spec of the engine is as usual: V8 OHV with carb... that should be an easy job for GM, as it's what GM is famous for... but 4MT is too ridiculous... put a 6MT in it! (now... much better...)

[ByTheLake]

Originally Posted by SDRacing

But serious, why do you come in this thread if you dont care about nascar?

I actually do enjoy motorsports, but prefer the production-based races, like with some SCCA events.

Regarding NASCAR, rather than it's current cloned cars, it's history is more interesting to me, being rooted in the bootlegging of moonshine. How cool is that?

[TahoeMikeZ71]

I knew this was going to happen because the Monte is dying in '08.

[Slack]

This seems like the right thing to do. Monte Carlos have almost no brand recognition now. No one cares about them, not even NASCAR fans. They all drive pickups anyway. And who cares if the Impala is a four door, Nextel Cup cars don't have doors.

[poncho1982]

Nascar as we know and love, is dead. Has been for a few years now. IMO it died in 1987 when GM announced it was cancelling the RWD Monte and began racing the FWD Lumina (in RWD form of course)

Oh, and lets not forget the day they put restrictor plates on at the Super Speedways.