Remember when we were all speculating that Nomad and Bel Air would be platform mates and share the SSR's platform?

Well, if we see a Nomad...it will be a Mini Cooper competitor and be based on Kappa.


What about Bel Air? Is there a Bel Air in the works? If there were...........What platform would it be built on? Would it have any relation to the concept? Would it be based on a truck platform with a 300+ hp turbo I5.......

Or...... would it be a Zeta based RWD Chevy sedan?

 

I have to say I am intruged. I did like the Bel Aire a lot when I saw it in person. The thing just needed a drop, BAD. I guess some will like it and some won't but hey I can dig it.

 

You're right about it needing a drop. When I saw it...it was lowered enough that the tires were virtually rubbing on the fenders........and it still sat too high.

What intrigued me most about the Bel Air concept...was not really the styling. Nope! It was the fact that Chevy would actually build a car out of very low cost truck mechanicals. I think the price point being circulated back then was around $25,000...for a production version. A turbo 315 hp, RWD, convertible...with unique styling for 25 grand.

I still think that's a great idea!

 

Won't the Camaro convert fill in this niche ?

 

Ever wonder what the car would look like if it was built on a car chassis with car-like proportions instead of one from a Trailblazer?

 

well....i know what to expect, lol

 

That thought has definately crossed my mind.

 

It would be cool if they built it, when i saw it in person i wasnt very big on the I5 but it is very innovative. but limited production would be a must, it would compete with the camaro if it was 315hp on that smaller car platform..

 

I think GM has enough on its plate and therefore can leave the Bel Air as a concept. I'd much rather have them devote there time to Nomad and Camaro

 

I think the Bel Air should be on the Caprice chassis like it was during the 60s. No chrome trim and all performance. 409/425 6 speed (aka 62 Bubbletop Bel Air)

 

I saw the Bel Air concept in person... it did nothing for me, and no one was even gathered around it... people just walked buy and didn't pay much attention at all.

 

Yeah, I pretty much agree with that. Didn't do too much for me either.


Sometimes I wonder if Chevy didn't "float" that concept....just to see if it could make people forget about Camaro.

 

Yes, and I wondered why they didn't do it that way to begin with. I guess the truck platform was just easier.

 

I was at the 2002 NAIAS when the concept was introduced, mahy peopel were gathered around it.

 

No, they were just looking at ideas to do a RWD vehicle. Belair was done before plans to develop a new RWD chassis with Holden were set up.

The drawing started off as idea for another car by a GM designer, who set it aside. When Bob Lutz 1st got to GM he came across it & had it built. It was adapted to the Trailblazer chassis (it was concieved as a RWD car), and as a result, it had some pretty peculiar proportions.

I imagine that now that GM North America decided to invest in a new volume RWD platform, Belair went back to the drawing boards & will be the basis of the design of a upcoming RWD Chevrolet car.

(I hear the latest version tested very well. )