Hmmm, a body on frame car with solid rear axle, a pushrod engine and most likely a 4 speed auto tranny and 15 inch steel wheels. Yep, the media would be all over that one -"praising" GM's use of "dated" technologies. And we think they can't catch a break now with the media.

If I remember correctly, the B-body tooling was to be on it's way to Mexico where the production was to continue, hence the LS1 setup - but something happened on the way to that place - I just don't recall.

 

I agree with SharpShooter_SS, if it was a car the press would tear it up.... but if it was a small pickup...

Imagine if they used Z284ever's formula but kept it a pickup with the HHR/SSR sheet metal and a 300HP V8 5.3/4.8L V8. You could have a SSR (no vert) smaller, lighter (3500lbs.) for $19,000. Make it a real usable truck and it would sell like hot cakes. You could even keep a 2.8L version (3300lbs.) and sell it for $17,000. A cheap stylish (with off the wall styling like the M80 or SSR) pickup would sell like crazy.

Or maybe just build a GMT355 based El Camino. Doesn't need to be low slung , can be BelAir like, and it would be cheaper than Zeta.

 

Of course, you're right. It would have to be marketed as some type of a work vehicle. A business coupe or sedan delivery or panel truck.

What hotrodders might do with them from there...........

 

If they would just make a Colorado SS with the LS2 or even the 5.3, I'd bet that they could sell more than a few.

It would be relatively light, easy to modify and could even haul the family in a crew cab version. It wouldn't be a sports car, but I'd give it a look.

 

I wrote this for PHR last year. It explains pretty much the whole reason why.
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/fea...409phr_camaro/

 

Resurrect the 4th gen?

-Chassis that dates to the Monza

-steerng column from the '70s

-Ultra cheap plastic and tooling (tap the dash of your LT-1 car, nothing should sound of feel that cheap unless "Playschool" is stickered on it) and take a close look to the part lines on the door panels.

-non backlit door buttons

-shared engines

-light duty truck axle

-alternators that don't last 50K miles

 

Your probably right, along with the intrest free loans and....The canadian dollar is worth about .77 US right now. If the same held true during the F4 years then that was almost a 25% savings in pay right off the bat. I imagine health care costs may have been cheaper too???

 

Or maybe something like the Holden Crewman. From the C-pillar forward it's a 4 door sedan.

 

Damn its working for the Mustang or rather the basic architecture is. Nothing wrong with a 3 link stick axle and a panhard rod.

unobtanium and gozillion link independant dedicated flim flamery gets pricey and thats not what a pony car is about. Its about going fast on the cheap, putting up the numbers without breaking the bank. So that means you look for the cheapest way to get the best possible performance and if that means a yestertech unibody with a big ol' honk'n truck engine held off the ground with big sticky tires, then thats what you do. Make improvements, yes, but the math is simple in case, make less equal more.

 

Whoa! I knew we'd come around to this.

This is just some daydreaming on a cheap, crude, maybe not very stylish RWD car. Bring Camaro into this and I will **** on it all day long.

 

Duh, I should have thought of this before. Nomad.

Market it as a work vehicle...everyone will figure out what to do with it.

 

I would be all over that in an instant. I need a parts hauler, but I don't want to get distracted with an old El Camino resto, nor do I want to spend $40,000 for something new.

 

His idea was to start with Sigma:

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums...pic=14407&st=0

Randy

 

I like the Nomad/El Camino suggestion. Probably more fun than a Colorado 'sport'.....

 

Me too. The more I think about it...the more I like it. The V8 would need to be folded into some sort of HD tow package though. Hmmmm....which includes a 3.73 axle ratio, HD cooling, HD trans, HD brakes and suspension.