I was at NAIAS. I don't know who they polled but to me the B-A was NOT a looker. The interior looked cooler than any production GM car, but that's about it.

------------------
Mark

94 Z28, Red, A4, 3:23
Lone Mods--LPE CAI, !Lapeer Dragway.
(Hey, I'm a college boy I can't afford gobs of bolt-ons!)

Best time: 14.658 @ 95.1
with SES light on and Driver off! (First and only time at track)

The F-body will NEVER die.

 

I guess I should have said the sucsess of the T-BIRD made the BEL-AIR come back.

 

I also went to NAIAS and thought the car looked a lot better in person. I also overheard several others at the show who liked it. The small touches (wheels, trim) Lutz had them make after those photos were released made a big difference. It would have been better if it hadn't been done in the same color the Thunderbird and Forty-Nine Convertible had just been done in (that added to the "me-too!" nature of the project).

If they made a few adjustments to the front end and priced it affordably, they wouldn't have any trouble selling them. I wouldn't mind seeing it appear as a coupe and convertible and serve as a replacement for the Monte Carlo, a car much less inspiring in its current configuration.

------------------
-JERRY-
'02 Impreza WRX
'88 Fiero Formula
Formerly owned: '93 Firebird Formula

 

And to refresh your memories, Bel Air Concept

Lowering the grill to be even with the bumper would go a long way in my eyes to making it more closely resemble the original Bel Airs. Though I think the whole, "well it's a truck" angle is overdone, the grill being over the bumper just reinforces this notion. Maybe a reworked coupe at the next NAIAS will be more convincing.

 

Yeah, I do agree it looked "better" but "better" when you start from something so uninspiring doesn't say a whole lot.



------------------
Mark

94 Z28, Red, A4, 3:23
Lone Mods--LPE CAI, !Lapeer Dragway.
(Hey, I'm a college boy I can't afford gobs of bolt-ons!)

Best time: 14.658 @ 95.1
with SES light on and Driver off! (First and only time at track)

The F-body will NEVER die.

 

Just for comparison..... http://www.ragtopsmotorcars.com/55_c...rt1431cbig.jpg ...........not that "long & low" either.... Needs the hood ornaments (airplane or bullets i.e. 1957+) FYI.

 

The killer is the grill being set so high in the front. Lower the grill and set it in a bit...it would help a bunch.

 

The GT40 will probably lose money for Ford. The Bel Air could be developed for significantly less money than a new Camaro, since there is a ready platform for it. The inline-6 should fit in a truck platform car, whereas it would not fit in any current car platform (too tall). Remember that the Bel Air could also spawn sedan and coupe versions.

To me, the Bel Air would be like one of the Chevys from the 50s ('57 Chevy) in that it is body-on-frame, inexpensive, relatively tall, etc.

I don't think it was intended to be a replacement for a Camaro, or that it was intended to appeal to people looking to buy a Camaro. However, if you want an inexpensive RWD sedan, convertible, or coupe, with decent engines and classical proportions, the concept of a Bel Air (though maybe not the Bel Air concept) should be appealing.

I would think that a new Camaro would come from the same platform that would produce the Chevrolet SS concept that was previewed. I could be misreading the tea leaves, but I don't see that building the Bel Air implies that we don't get a mid-priced unibody platform that could be the basis for a Camaro.

jeremy

 

The T-Bird is still better looking. But a 310 h/p rear wheel drive Chevy Sedan/Coupe would be really refreshing. Look how lame the Monte Carlo and Lumina are/were. Remember the Nomad concept, that was cool! I think it's a big improvement that GM is trying to come up with some rear wheel drive cars. The Volvo's turbo 5 isn't that badof an idea either! I think we're all bored with the 3800 V6's

 

The LA auto show usually gets the leftovers from the NAIAS a year after (unless the car debuted here, like last years Lincoln concepts did), so I get to see it myself in a few months.

 

Ya...I like the idea of having the 300 hp 5 cyl engine it.

------------------
Polo Green M6 Chrome ZR1 11's in back
RK Sport Headers, CSI WP, LT4 KM, Flowmaster Muffler
Taylor Wires, 160 Stat
Catco hi flow cat, Cutout, K&N Filter Pack, Vortech Elbow
My Site

 

I think if the BA went off..sell the nomad too..it has to be done to make a profit..

------------------
thanks
David Morgan
the "Over Drive Gang"
94 Z28 A4, K/N FIPK!,AIT Relocator,TB bypass,99 SS MAF Airfoil,HPP+, Shiftkit,Cutout, Flowmaster 80 series American Thunder Exhaust with 3" Chrome tips GMS Strut Tower Brace, GMS Sub Frame Connectors AND 93-96 GM Export Tail Lights! GTS Headlight Covers and Tail covers.

http://overdrive-gang.tripod.com

Check it out !! you might know some of the cars, or my friends.and a few of their rides frequent the pages of muscle car mags

Congrats Tony L. of the "ODG" Owner of The BBC 6SP 81 Malibu

Making Hot Rod Mags top 10 cars of 2001!!

 

I actually liked the Bel/Air,and The SSR.I hated the old t-birds,they were but ugly,and had zero power,just like the latest t-bird.The funniest thing is they were created to compete with the Vette,what a joke!I guess for the rich who buy a new car every couple of years the F-body going away will make them buy rustangs,as for me my F-bodies aren't going anywhere,and will continue to punish rustangs and imports alike.As for me I have faith in the General,and believe she(f-body) will return better than ever.Also I like most of what the General is currently offering even the Monte and Impala,although I do not like that they are front drivers.I might be biased, it has been said that I bleed Chevy orange.As for the 03 cobra,big deal I can install my own blower.

 

The origonal T-Birds had supercharged V8s and flat out embarassed Corvette performancewise till Thunderbird abandoned the market to become a 4 seater. Thunderbird also embarassed Corvette in sales during that time (look it up).

What do you mean about the "rich guy" buying a car every couple of years will go from f-body to "rustang"? Unless I'm wrong, f-body is affordable performance. Most of those Mutangs are brought by young people (average age of the Mustang buyer is around 35, whole Camaro's is 40). The "rich guys" are probally more likely to drive around in BMWs or at the very least, Corvette.

As for Cobra, it doesn't matter if I can install a General Electric turbo fan jet to the roof of my car, fact is it didn't come like that from the factory (with warranty) brand new. For that, give credit where credit is due. If it wasn't for Ford showing some commitment and support for the Mustang, and if the public wasn't proving by buying them that there is a market for low cost, rear drive sports cars, I think we all know that Camaro would not likely be comming back.

I for one am glad to see the competition.