I think they lowered it as much as possible. I probably spent 30 minutes looking at it at the Chicago show, and it was lowered so much that the tires were literally rubbing on the fender lip. And it still sat too high!

The Bel Air may have carried some conceptual styling elements from Camaro....buy it's real purpose was to see what sort of car could be built off of an inexpensive truck platform. Sort of a Colorado with a car body.

Can you just imagine how orgasmic the beancounter would have been, had we embraced this car as our own?

 

Anyway...

with that said, I remember reading somewhere...maybe a quote from Bob Lutz...that if the Bel Air went into production, it would be about $20K. Not bad for a convertible...even one on GMT355 bones.

Actually I'd be pretty tempted to seriously check such a car out......as long as it wasn't considered a Camaro replacement. In which case I would........of course...completely reject it.

 

Now I'm getting frightened. Let me explain:

Red stated on several occasions that in his book he would explain the significance of the Bel Air show car. This thread now has mixed up the BA show car and thoughts of a second Bel Air show car being shown this winter, but I've been wondering what Red was talking about. We all know Red's relationship to our beloved C****O. All of a sudden, the reference to ride height being dictated by the fact the show car Bel Air was actually riding a Colorado platform makes Red's comments come into focus.

Couple this with the reference to the sport bike using a platform that was right under everybody's noses and seeming to come from out of nowhere has me wondering (fearfully) if the new C****O is going to be based on a TRUCK???? Everyone is assuming that the platform for the new one is probably a modified Sigma, with some hoping for a stretched Kappa, but "God in heaven" say it isn't so!!!!!

I just don't think I'm in the market for a C****O based on a Colorado! Sigma, yes; Kappa, yes; VE, yes; truck, NO.

Sorry for being negative, but I'm scared now.

 

oh jeez.........don't be scared.

Let's just say..........uhmmm..........back then that there was supposed to be.........uhm...........nevermind.

Do NOT be concerned about the Bel Air concept. It was done rather quickly...I think I can say that......and it has nothing whatsoever to do with a Camaro..................................

Trust me on this one.

I'd rather kill the name altogether than to put this hallowed name on something based on a truck platform.


I can tell you what else will be 'new' in the Chevy Exhibit.....the 900 series Tahoe/Suburban/Avalanche.......and a new Aveo 4-door (don't laugh.....the Aveo is doing very well.........even tho you and I might never want to buy one....)

And something else. (singular)

'Kay?

 

In all honesty, i think a car like that would have flopped. It would have been doomed from mags saying it rides like a truck, isnt fun to drive, etc. etc. It may have made beancounters happy bc they thought they would be making a fun/cool car for cheap until they see it at dealership floors for months and months without them moving. I am glad GM didnt make a car like that. Good Job GM

Solstice/sky is going to work better than that car bc even when R&T tested it a long time ago (was it beta solstices?) they loved it. They said it was a lot of fun to drive and is an honest to God sports car. I am glad GM is going to make this car. Again, GJ GM

RP: hurry up and start writing that book i want to read one the week or two before i get my 5th gen because after i get it im not going to have time to read it bc ill be too busy driving all the time. (maybe make it a weekend thing)

Im gonna say kappa is definately out of the question for our car and so is staright up sigma. but my guess is zigma Charlie wrote about in another thread descriving zeta.

Personally about a chevy rwd sedan and camaro sharing platforms. Id be perfeclty fine with it, but, i think the order is important. Do you want the second one to come out deemed a "sedan based Camaro" or a Sports car (Camaro) based sedan?"

 

Yeah maybe. I spoke to someone in the press who drove it and he wasn't very impressed. Said it drove like a Vega...whatever that was supposed to mean.

I don't know though, truck based or not...a RWD convertible with a 315 hp turbo for $20K is hard to ignore.

 

it's a matter of priorities.................

only so much development money and only so many engineers...........

.........the pipeline is quite full...............just need to keep selling cars and trucks in order to fund all the new cars and trucks in that pipeline.......

 

Not only selling them, but selling them at a GM budgeted profit (as you well know).

Wild guess on the Bel Air: SSR replacement?

On a side note: Does this mean that engine package will fit in a GMT355 for production? Comments??

 

sorry for the ignorance but is Fbodfather and Red planet the same guy?? sorry to get off track..

 

yes..it just depends on what computer he logs in with hehe.

 

Interesting thought. But hopefully not at an SSR price.

 

Yessss!


-Mike

 

Im only expecting 1

we all know what that is

 

Not to spoil the surprise for you, but...
http://www.autodeadline.com/detail?s...40778&mime=JPG

 

.......... Bless your kind heart.


-Mike