Why Did Chevy Destroy The Impala Brand?

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Camaro Lives On

On the monte carlo subject... I know random... but it hasnt been a muscle car since the late 80's

Originally Posted by Q'smuscle

Yea true , Monte Carlo just hearing the name make me think of it being a muscle car.but hey GM must've thought something of it to put the ls4 in it to make it a v8 in 06 and 07

I've had an idea running around in my head on how GM could make a Monte Carlo off of the Alpha platform. Use the long wheel base version, have a midsize passenger cabin, and devote the extra length to the front end. Coupe only body style. To amortize some of the added cost, make a Buick Rivera off the same basic bones.

They'd be unique enough from the rest of the GM lineup that they wouldn't impact cars like the Camaro or CTS Coupe too much. They would fill a currently untapped niche, and it would give Buick an interesting halo car.

[Camaro Lives On]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

I've had an idea running around in my head on how GM could make a Monte Carlo off of the Alpha platform. Use the long wheel base version, have a midsize passenger cabin, and devote the extra length to the front end. Coupe only body style. To amortize some of the added cost, make a Buick Rivera off the same basic bones.

They'd be unique enough from the rest of the GM lineup that they wouldn't impact cars like the Camaro or CTS Coupe too much. They would fill a currently untapped niche, and it would give Buick an interesting halo car.

Now that is something I would love to see. That would give Buick an interesting halo and put another affordable performance coupe in showrooms for Chevy

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Q'smuscle

I see! But more like the buick

Not really. The Buick character line is pulled from the sweepspear that classic Buicks had. It's a gradually rising line from the front fender that drops down sharply and continues back up towards the rear of the car.

The Impala's is a straight line that ends towards the rear door. Then a second character line rises up visually connecting with the details on the lower door panels and continues towards the rear of the car.

Very different in execution.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by oklapike

There actually were plans to put the Impala back on the Zeta platform starting with the 2010 model year. It was supposedly retro inspired and a downright stunning car, unfortunately with global financial crisis in 2008 (as well as GM's bankruptcy in 2009), those plans got scrapped.

I saw that car in the studio when it was a full size clay. It was retro but not Camaro cool IMO. Think Charger but not quite as well done. JMO. Lot of stories about cars that "might have been".

Originally Posted by DGthe3

And torque steer. Who'd-a-thunk it with 320+ ft-lbs going to the front wheels

If you look at it, the 3.6L V6 added for the last MY had about the same HP as the 5.3L.

Originally Posted by DGthe3

I've had an idea running around in my head on how GM could make a Monte Carlo off of the Alpha platform. Use the long wheel base version, have a midsize passenger cabin, and devote the extra length to the front end. Coupe only body style. To amortize some of the added cost, make a Buick Rivera off the same basic bones.

They'd be unique enough from the rest of the GM lineup that they wouldn't impact cars like the Camaro or CTS Coupe too much. They would fill a currently untapped niche, and it would give Buick an interesting halo car.

Love the idea. Now how many Camaro sales would that steal exactly? And that's why that car likely won't ever exist............even though it's a great idea. Monte Carlo was an "expressive coupe". I actually owned one as my winter car when I owned my Buick GN. But that 77 Monte wasn't much to wite home about.

I'm not sure why anyone thinks the new Impala "destroys" the brand. To think that you would be focusing only on SS models and romanticizing them.

Also keep in mind the Impala was a coupe and convertible back in the day. I have a picture of my dad's 60 or 61 Impala convertible. I'd love to have that car today.

But the jelly bean Impala (it actually won car of the year as I recall) was simply a big floaty boat that simply imploaded on itself. Remember there was also a Buick Roadmaster and Cadillac off of that body style.

Some only remember the SS though. And that's fine. But that isn't really what the Impala brand stood for.

[Q'smuscle]

61 impala yes with the bubble top love those rare and can cost more than any other impala. I didn't think about it , that it was a coupe . How rare and collectible would that be.

[ChrisBlair]

Originally Posted by blahzay

I used to have a 96 Impala and my co-worker just bought a 96 (black) from her dads friend for $4000. This thing is SUPER clean and runs great. i think since he was a good family friend he basically gave it to them but it got me to thinking. Why did Chevy destroy the Impala brand? After the 96, these other Impalas are a joke. I think they should have made they Impalas just as exclusive with design and build as they do with the Camaro. Impala is just another malibu now. :-/

Don't tell anyone, but there's a video on youtube that shows GM execs laughing and planning to destroy the Impala brand as their first step in their scheme to make your life miserable. That's the kind of power they weild.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by ChrisBlair

Don't tell anyone, but there's a video on youtube that shows GM execs laughing and planning to destroy the Impala brand as their first step in their scheme to make your life miserable. That's the kind of power they weild.

LOL that is funny right there

[King T]

Man the Impala has been destroyed to me since they stopped offering the coupe


The 1981 Impala was the last year a coupe was offered.


Just kidding! I love the new Impala! I think it looks great!


But if this was like the old days when we use to have full size coupes, I think the Impala would look great as one also!

[Q'smuscle]

80's wasn't a good year for the impala yikes to me LOL . The two door do look better and what impala besides the 60's do you think look better than the 90's impala? King T

[King T]

Originally Posted by Q'smuscle

80's wasn't a good year for the impala yikes to me LOL . The two door do look better and what impala besides the 60's do you think look better than the 90's impala? King T

Yeah the 80's wasn't good years for a lot of cars! But I did like the boxy square Caprice/Impala's of the 80's.

Best looking Impala to me? Well, like you I really do like the "bubble top" 1961 Impalas.


But you have to love the fins of the 1959 Impala



I think that the 1958 (first year) Impalas were some of the best looking too

[Q'smuscle]

Originally Posted by King T

[SIZE="4"]Yeah the 80's wasn't good years for a lot of cars! But I did like the boxy square Caprice/Impala's of the 80's.

Best looking Impala to me? Well, like you I really do like the "bubble top" 1961 Impalas.


But you have to love the fins of the 1959 Impala



I think that the 1958 (first year) Impalas were some of the best looking too[/qeSIZE]

LOL cool and dang I was going to say besides the 59 and 58's .those 58's seem to be real popular because I see people with those or similar ones on TV and on the street .59's and 58's are rare to see

[DwRed1LTV6]

Originally Posted by King T

[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Dang i like that 2 door version of the new body

Wouldnt mind that in my garage

In 1977 there was both a 2 door and a 4 Door
Impala in the driveway here.

[Q'smuscle]

Originally Posted by Silver85IrocZ

Dang i like that 2 door version of the new body

Wouldnt mind that in my garage

In 1977 there was both a 2 door and a 4 Door
Impala in the driveway here.

Nice, lucky you

[King Sun]

wait someone actually custom made a 2 door 2014? and lol @ that add for the impala. the mid 70's and 80's must have been boring as hell to list those types of features.