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Originally Posted by DGthe3

GM also had ~40% market share back then and Pontiac was #3 or #4 brand in North America. They could make back the costs of rebadging the Camaro very quickly because of lots of guaranteed sales. The Firebird would also draw people into Pontiac dealerships and people would settle for cars like the Grand Prix.

None of that is true anymore. Now with diminished market share, rising gas prices, any muscle car carries a lot of potential risk. Plus the Camaro that is going to have a higher quality interior and more eye catching style, there is no place for a firebird which typically offered these things. And pontiac has alternative performance cars right now too, with the G8 and the Solstice. Are they replacements for the Firebird? No, but they offer a similar draw into dealerships. GM might sell enough to make back their investment but many of those sales will come from the Camaro. The Camaro-Firebird rivalry exists, but the number of people who would only ever buy a Firebird is minimal. Many who would have bought a Firebird will be just as happy with a Camaro. As it is now, GM is only expecting 100k Camaro sales per year. In 1979 they sold more than 250k Camaros, then there were Firebirds on top of that. For the 2010 model year, there might be a combined total of 250k Camaros, Mustangs, and Challengers. No room for the Firebird in such a small market.

The economic case for a Firebird twin to the Camaro doesn't make sense. It will cost GM more money than it will make them. Even in PR it could cost them than it will earn. It would be labled as another gas guzzler, which would hurt GM's attempt to go green. GM is seen as the #1 rebadger in the auto industry. They are attempting to shake that reputation, with mixed success mind you, but they don't need to bring any attention to the practice. As I said earlier, bring back something that won't compete against the Camaro, like a Buick. It would have greatly increased profit margins for a small drop in sales volume would give it a better argument.

Would a brand new Firebird based on the Camaro similar to some of the renderings we've seen be cool? Absolutely. Would GM like to be able to make it? Probably. Will GM do it? Never say never but don't wait for it to happen either.

very well said