Posted on 03/16/2008 1:47:04 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3
Led Zeppelin's back together. Stagflation and high gas prices have made a comeback as well. And late next year, you'll be able to complete a 1970s revival with a two-door car that's all business up front and party out back.
Answering the wishes of fervent fans -- and the fears of some critics -- General Motors Corp. was to unveil today its plans for a revival of the Chevy El Camino car-truck as a 2010 model Pontiac hot rod. The "sport truck" doesn't have a name yet; GM will run a contest over the next month asking for submissions at a Pontiac Web site www.pontiac.com/namethiscar, and announce the winner April 15.
Here's one: "Australiaino."
Based on the same underpinnings as the G8 sedan and upcoming Chevrolet Camaro, the un-Camino will be built in Australia, where GM has centered engineering efforts for rear-wheel drive cars. It's a risky strategy for GM, as Australian-built models have never sold well in the United States, and a weaker U.S. dollar threatens the business case for any imports.
But without its Australian arm, GM would not likely have enough resources to give Pontiac new models.
In addition to the mini-truck, GM also was to unveil today a version of the G8 sedan with the Corvette's 402-horsepower engine that is to come to showrooms in the next year.
Australia has the longest history with so-called utes, since they were invented there by a Ford engineer in 1934 who got the idea from a farmer seeking one vehicle for church on Sundays and the pig market on Mondays. Ford brought the idea to the United States in the late 1950s, and GM followed, with the Chevrolet El Camino growing to define the segment.
GM's U.S. production peaked in 1973 at nearly 72,000 El Caminos and GMC Caballeros. By the early 1980s, tighter fuel rules for cars had made small pickups more competitive, and GM ended production in 1988.
And by then, the El Camino and its ilk had become a punch line. President Bill Clinton told workers at GM's Louisiana truck plant in 1994 that he owned an El Camino in the '70s: "It was a real sort of Southern deal. I had Astroturf in the back. You don't want to know why, but I did."
Abandoned in the United States -- save for some unsuccessful stabs at a comeback such as the Subaru Baja -- the utility market flourished in Australia, where Ford and GM's Holden have continued to build several models.
The G8-based vehicle will come only with the 361-horsepower V8 offered in the G8 GT paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. It will haul more than 1,000 pounds and tow 3,500 pounds -- as much as some small pickups.
Stupid is as stupid does!
You gots to be kidding me?
With the success of the new Mustang you’d think they’d bring back the GTO?
I owned two Chevy El Caminos,hope they don’t mess with it to much.
Awww...That will make the moonbats have a hissy fit!
Very nice.
“With the success of the new Mustang you’d think they’d bring back the GTO?”
The G8 GXP powered by a 402hp LS3 will replace the GTO. What Pontiac really needs to do is bring back the Trans-Am powered by a 500hp LS7.
Identical to my Dad's Chrysler 300 with 440 TNT under triple deuces. Aah yes, and the Torqueflight tranny.
“With the success of the new Mustang you’d think they’d bring back the GTO?”
They did and it bombed.
Of course, it looked like every other “cookie cutter rice burner” on the road. LOL
See my home page.
“Stupid is as stupid does!”
Exactly. Sometimes when I look at the decisions made by the US auto industry I feel like I’m watching Spinal Tap or Best in Show.
And that's the stupidity of GM. You'd think they learned Ford's lesson.
They look good parked beside a double-wide...
A business partner, of course, could be anyone to whom they sell the data. "By business partners, we mean independent companies that conduct joint marketing programs with GM. An example is HSBC USA...."
Sweeeeeeet....!!!
I always loved the grill work on the late 60s early 70s Chevys.
They got this look, it’s like “I’m hungry. Think I’ll have me a Toyota fer lunch...!”
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