Autoweek has the latest 'guessed' schedule.

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p...00798588#chevy

Seems Belair's still being considered.

 

Speaking of Bel Air...does any one know what the story is?

The concept was an exercise to build a retro car from off the shelf truck parts.

.......then it was looked as a platform mate for Solstice ...that is ...if a cheap RWD platform can be developed for them (so...forget the truck parts).


I'd bet if Bel Air gets approved...you can kiss the Monte Carlo goodbye after 2006.....or could you?

What have you guys heard?

 

If not, the Monte Carlo likely will be dropped in 2007

what......

if they drop the monte carlo.. what coupe will chevy have?..
grrr GM

 

I found the part interesting about the Monte Carlo's future. Converting former RWD to FWD's cars stips them of their glory and heritage in my opinion. Making them another ho-hum family sedan and will eventually spell death for the car. Monte Carlo: The car will be reskinned for the 2004 model year. A rwd replacement is being considered for the 2006 model year, possibly from GM's Australia subsidiary, Holden. If not, the Monte Carlo likely will be dropped in 2007.

2000 Ram Air T/A
92 Firebird
79 Z/28

 

GM needs to first understand that the SSR and Bel Air are in the same niche. Producing both would be the biggest mistake they could do. Why would they want two all out retro cars under the same brand? I realize that one is truck, and the other a car, but mark my words, they will STILL eat off each other's sales. And besides, its more money that could be spent for a new Camaro. I'd much rather them make the Solstice, because that car will actually have a market that won't dry up like the "quasi-premium retro" market. (i.e. SSR, T-bird, deceased Prowler).

 

What if Belair is previewing the style of the "Monte Carlo replacement"?

The origional SSR was displayed on a modified Camaro chassis. So instead of actually being built on a truck chassis, what if Belair is built on the low cost RWD chassis being developed? I don't seriously believe that Chevrolet would go without any coupes whatsoever. At the same time, it makes no sense to have both a Belair & a Monte Carlo, not to mention a car based on a truck chassis and newly developed car chassis.

If Belair is still being considered, I'm willing to bet that either it is the Monte Carlo replacement, or it's the design direction of the next Monte Carlo......and that it won't be built on a truck chassis.

 

I personally am not happy about the length of time it is taking for new introductions...... Wasn't the new structure supposed to help get products to market FASTER?????

Somehow I think the Monte Carlo and Camaro are involved with each other. I just don't see Chevrolet completely abandoning the coupe market. Which might mean that 2007 is the target year for the F5, since the Monte may be dropped. Or at the very least it'll be interesting to see the future of the Monte unfold, because I think it will hold valuable clues about our new Camaro.

 

Ahha! Great minds think alike.

I've had that thought rattling around in my head for awhile...I've been trying to put the pieces together though.

About a year ago, I remember reading an interview with Kurt Ritter. He said that he could see the next Monte Carlo taking the place of the SSR.

 

I dont see my GM would drop the Monte Carlo. I thought sales were doing quite well. Additionally, it is the signature car for their NASCAR racing. Anyone in Florida (or probably the south for that matter) can atest to the number of Monte's (mostly SS's) running around this state. They sell like hot cakes down here. And aren't they sharing the platform with the Impala anyway? That platform was doing good in sales, yes?

On a personal note, the interior of the Monte is what the Camaro should have had. I love my Camaro, but the Monte's interior is quite nice for a Chevy. I was impressed with the ones I sat in.

-Rich

 

Can never tell. Chevrolet dropped out of IROC around '90, even though it helped sell tons of Camaros.

Besides, do NASCAR cars resemble production cars anymore?

 

You know, odd as this may sound, that does make sense. Chevrolet's version of the Ford's 49er as their stylized personal luxury coupe & convertible. Seems like a good companion to an agressively styled new Camaro, doesn't it.

 

According to Car and Driver it was built off of the old Blazer/S-10 platform. The production one uses the new Trailblazer platform.

 

Ok, if we accept this premise, here's some more stuff I'd like to open up for debate:

1. If such a car were produced, would it be called Monte Carlo or Bel Air.

2. The Bel Air's styling hardly got rave reviews. Would it look different?

3. If it were built off of passenger car architecture (vs truck as was the concept), wouldn't it have different proportions...ie not so tall?

4. And if it used a passenger car architecture, wouldn't it have passenger car drivetrains vs the truck I5?

First guy that can answer those questions...I'll buy a beer.

 

If the Bel Air is built, it will be really odd having a rwd Bel Air and a fwd Impala. The Bel Air is one trim level under the Impala (since 58). It has always been that way, and wont seem to fit. I cant imagine what would happen if the Holden Caprice was brought over...what a mess!

 

Being that till the "Lumina" Monte Carlos came out, the MC was the most sculptured of GM's personal coupes, I'd guess that a better porportioned Belair would be called Monte Carlo. Wanna see something creepy? Check out Belair & '73 Monte Carlo's rear end. Want to be intrugued? Compare the side sculptures of the 80's Monte Carlo to the Belair.

The more you look at it, the more Belair looks like a Monte Carlo concept in a carnival's "house of mirrors" that distorts your shape.