The next Pontiac NASCAR?

StuiE · 23 Jun 2002, 08:12 (Ref:319417)

Could this replace the Pontiac Grand Prix in NASCAR?

Quote:

Monaro will be American Pontiac GTO

It's official. The Holden Monaro 2-door coupe will be sold in North America as the Pontiac GTO. Holden's worst kept secret was officially announced by Holden managing director Peter Hanenberger on Friday (21/06/2002), confirming 18,000 Monaro V8s will be exported annually to the US starting late 2003.

The Aussie Monaro has been restyled to include the classic Pontiac 'dual port grille', and will be offered with 5.7-litre V8 only, mated to either the six-speed manual or four speed automatic transmission. It's the first time in Holden's 71 year history that a mass-produced Aussie car has been exported to America.

and this is the australian one, which everyone either loves or hates

Its been roumored that it could be used instead of the aging Grand Prix, what do you think?

RaceFanStan · 23 Jun 2002, 13:38 (Ref:319544)

Hmmmmmmm, It has lines similar to GM cars,
could Holden be GM of Australia ?
Nice looking car anyway.
Next GTO or Grand Prix ? Could be IMO.

StuiE · 23 Jun 2002, 14:07 (Ref:319569)

Yeah Holden is Australias branch of GM

Whether the GTO is going to be a replacement for the GP i dont know

Lars · 23 Jun 2002, 19:59 (Ref:319877)

That GTO looks sharp!!! Could replace the GP, but isn't the GP a 3.1 V-6? Not that it matters as far as Nascar is concerned.

Joe Fan · 25 Jun 2002, 09:21 (Ref:321088)

I don't care for the looks of that car but it does appear to be very aerodynamic looking like the Dodge Intrepid.

neilwaynesmith · 25 Jun 2002, 16:06 (Ref:321344)

It's about time the old warhorse was replaced, it has served well, but with the accent firmly on aerodynamics a newer more slippery shape is needed.

I'll just play around and see how it looks in green and black...

Dudley · 2 Jul 2002, 20:49 (Ref:326110)

I thought Nascar rigged the aero so all makes were equal anyway, so why would replacing a car be of any use except for marketing reasons?

StuiE · 7 Jul 2002, 04:11 (Ref:328466)

Quote:

Originally posted by Dudley
so why would replacing a car be of any use except for marketing reasons?

Thats probably the only reason, the GTO is a Rear-drive V8 coupe - like a NASCAR, while the GP is a 4door, front-drive V6, and doesnt have a lot in common with the NASCAR. And the GP is getting a lil old.

muggle not · 8 Jul 2002, 14:45 (Ref:329452)

My understanding is that the new GTO does not "fit" for a Nascar type car. It is more on the level of a Mustang...size wise. It would be great for a Trans Am or World Challenge car as it fits in those categories.

John B · 16 Jul 2002, 20:18 (Ref:335287)

Whatever it is won't have an #18 or 20 on the side....

Too bad Pontiac can't hold on to its top teams, it'll be like 1994 for them now after Penske and Wallace left. They certainly got hurt when Dodge came in, that was a handful of cars they lost; the reduced number of entrants was cited by Gibbs as one of the reasons they went back to Chevy.

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