Car makers frequently hide new design ideas for one car in concept vehicles that bear no resemblence to the actual car the design's intended for.

For instance, the Belair initially began as an sketch idea for a entirely different car. Though it became a study of the feasiblility of basing a low cost RWD car off a body on frame "truck" chassis, the whole design idea began as something else.

Ford's big 427 was a design preview of the next year's 400 (formerly Futura). Citidel became Pacifica.

Concept cars aren't just flights of fancy anymore. They are a peek into what designers are thinking, combined with new engineering ideas (remember the CNG powered Dodge Charger of 1999?). Remember all the Cadillac concept cars of 5 years ago or so? They are all now either in or soon will be in Cadillac showrooms. Different than what was displayed at the autoshows, but still very identifiable.

Yes, there is a point to all this. There is one car I want people to take a good look at. There is a term someone used here called "hiding in plan sight", and this car is one example of this:

http://www.wieck.com/public/*2PV_006615
http://www.conceptcarz.com/views/Sho...94&picID=48687
http://www.wieck.com/public/*2PV_010385
http://www.wieck.com/public/*2PV_006622

It clearly shows how a car with "heritage" cues can easily look very modern.

Maybe we can call it the 1st rough sketch or the jump off point...at least forward the "B" pillars, that's had 4 to 5 years of refinement.

Helpful Hints:
1. Cover up the roof section aft of the center roof pillars
2. Answer the question "What chassis was this concept built on??"

 

I really think the concept is ugly. And the "fender flares" remind me of the new malibu. I hope the "CC" dosnt look like this.

 

I agree with the ugly assessment. With slab sides and forced fender creases, it has a hodge-podge of Chevy retro cues thrown together in a Frankenstein kind of way.

Here's another vote of "hope nothing off that gets anywhere near the Chevy Performance Coupe." I really think we're going in a better direction with the concepts over at C&G....

 

Heck, stick an LS2 in the Nomad and maybe I can convince my wife we should get one.

 

OK I'll bite. If memory serves me correct the concept which came out circa 1999 was built on the now "dearly departed" f-body platform. I think that the heritage cues are less than subtle, not really well sorted out and the overall effect, although interesting leaves much room for improvement.

I can see the rumored front end styling of the new "Chevrolet performance coupe" there but in a much less refined state (maybe it's the grille mesh) than it apparently is now (?). Much more of a hammer than a velvet glove kinda approach - the chrome bar is a little too far over the top. I also think that the bodyside spears are too pronounced - but that 's just me.

I can see the pieces falliing into place - modify the front end, graft it onto the SS, lose two doors, throw in some bodyside spears, shorten up the wheelbase and voila - the latest rumored look of the Cam*** - I mean "Chevrolet performance coupe".

As far as this Nomad goes, I think that the Kappa based Nomad is a much better looking/polished effort.

 

I don't like the ideas (and pictures) this is putting in my head.

IMO, Nomad, and Belair were nothing to drool over... especially if they relate to Camaro.

 

I actually see an El Camino concept evolving from those images. Just delete the greenhouse behind the b-pillar

 

The Nomad and the Bel Air both look like crap in person. The 2005 Mustang pulls off heritage styling 10x better.

 

Wow, I really like the 2004 Kappa Nomad concept better.

Speaking of hidden design ideas, I think the rear fenders on the Bel Air concept look very Camaro.

 

BTW, I thought I'd mention that the Belair has evolved greatly since the concept we saw. It has a completely different front end, full width Chevy chrome bar and grill. The lights seem like they are at the outer edges on the upper part of the grill.

How do I know? Did I break GM security? Did I just create another GM internal investigation?

No. It's on full sized screen in a picture in the front of GM's computer design room in a newly published Automotive Design book I looked through yesterday. You can just make it out, but there's no doubt what it is.

I'll post the book & page. If you have a really good Barnes & Noble, or Borders, it's a black book that has different automaker's head designers (Trevor Creed, J. Mays, and Wayne Cherry for starters) and some of their work, philosophies, and so forth.

Gives you better insight into what goes into car design & what drives these guys.

 

It would be interesting to see the lower half and nose of this car...

http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Che...t_black_01.jpg

... with the hood scoop, roof-line and tail of this car...

http://www.helixstudio.com/ssmd/cama...o_ss_rev1.jpeg






dang I wish I had access to P/S here at work.

I can't do much with MSPaint!

http://home.comcast.net/~blackwoodga...chevycoupe.jpg

 

I think we are all looking at the wrong design and I cant belive that this was missed by all of you.

 

99 Nomad + SS concept + other camaro design ideas = 2008 Camaro

I can't believe I overlooked the Nomad like that.

 

I suspect that was GM's whole idea. What would have happened back in 1999 if (through a concept coupe) there was an obvious program or intention to create a new Camaro while moves were underway to close the Ste. Therese plant?

I agree on everything you said.

The car was undoubtedly unrefined. It was very early.

 

here you go

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jaw...&.dnm=e398.jpg