What If Chrysler designed the 5th Gen Bird?

[Captainofiron]

It would probably look like this



Haha sorry couldnt help it.

Has anybody tried to photoshop the 5th Gen Camaro to make a Firebird that was retro to the 1st gen with this style of split grill?

[DrkPhynx]

I'd love to get one of those newly minted 1st Gen bodies like they used on Muscle Car for the crate camaro, and build it up like a '68 Firebird 400.

Trouble is I don't think they have hard tops yet, and apparenty you need an original car to legally tag the crate body.

[Black02SLPSS]

It may but then it may look gay, and of course if crysler made it then it would be utterly impossible to work on. lol

[RocketCutlass]

it would look damn good though, GM needs to pay chryslers designers whatever they want and get them over there designing GM's cars asap. they would be kings if they did that cause the suspension and drivtrains are already good. now they just need some good lookin skins.

[Tamatt27]

Originally Posted by RocketCutlass

it would look damn good though, GM needs to pay chryslers designers whatever they want and get them over there designing GM's cars asap. they would be kings if they did that cause the suspension and drivtrains are already good. now they just need some good lookin skins.

I disagree. Chrysler doesn't have as great a track record as it may seem. The current Sebring, Compass, Commander, Aspen are good examples. The Challenger is a good looking car, and I hope it's a hit for Chrysler! GM's got some talent...we just rarely see it.

[y2k_ta]

The Chrysler designs are somewhat old if you consider the Dodge brand....they won't offer a Dodge now unless it has the big crosshair grille on the front. That grille is just over done now if you ask me.

[Hydramatic]

Originally Posted by DrkPhynx

I'd love to get one of those newly minted 1st Gen bodies like they used on Muscle Car for the crate camaro, and build it up like a '68 Firebird 400.

Trouble is I don't think they have hard tops yet, and apparenty you need an original car to legally tag the crate body.

There's a '69 downtown in fantastic shape for $12K.

[DrkPhynx]

Originally Posted by Hydramatic

There's a '69 downtown in fantastic shape for $12K.

Nice. If I wasn't on the east coast, and had $12G to spend, I'd look into it.

Though to be picky, I didn't care for the '69 revision as much as the '68.


On another note - all companies use the same grill motif. BMW, Dodge, Pontiac, Subaru, you name it. They think of it as branding.

Good bad or indifferent, complaining about it is like arguing with the weather.

But I think that Dodge and Pontiac have designs that can really work into just about anything if done right.

[Captainofiron]

I was actually joking and pointing to what Y2K was saying, that all of their designs are old, and the Challenger design is a rip off almost completely of the 70s Challenger of yore

[DrkPhynx]

....but it looks totally bad-ass. Done right, that's the way to go. Modern designs are crap (generally) because everything's been done. Nothing compares with the late 60s/early 70s in terms of styling and design.

[Jakes Dad]

I sort of think it's unfair to rag on todays designs.

The cars of the 60's were ok. Things were done then, for the first time, that had never been done before. I don't want go back to leaf springs on race cars. The biggest drawing card was stuffing big engines into anything. Traction sucked, 4 speed was the transmission to have, brakes were far inferior to todays, Dash boards were simple many gauges were in positions where they couldn't be read. In many cases the extra weight, cast iron engines, didn't allow the cars to handle very well.

Today the industry is still changing. It needs to change to continue. Sure the industry can draw on previous years successes. Had the industry made no changed all cars would be Black, all automatics would be two speed, etc etc.

[DrkPhynx]

Originally Posted by Jakes Dad

I sort of think it's unfair to rag on todays designs.

The cars of the 60's were ok. Things were done then, for the first time, that had never been done before. I don't want go back to leaf springs on race cars. The biggest drawing card was stuffing big engines into anything. Traction sucked, 4 speed was the transmission to have, brakes were far inferior to todays, Dash boards were simple many gauges were in positions where they couldn't be read. In many cases the extra weight, cast iron engines, didn't allow the cars to handle very well.

Today the industry is still changing. It needs to change to continue. Sure the industry can draw on previous years successes. Had the industry made no changed all cars would be Black, all automatics would be two speed, etc etc.

Well, remember, I'm talking about styling, not engineering. Although, take the 427 Cobra for example. HOW long did it take to produce something that could seriously compete with that? And it's STILL a beast that would utterly destroy most cars on the road today (acceleration and braking, and still has good grip since it's so light, and has ability to change directions from it's short wheelbase, and had IRS as well, simply adding some modern materials to it would be unbelievable).

But this is what I mean -


vs




Or,


vs



^^^ Which looks like -


Complete with the crossed googly eyes and everything.


I can't find any pics, but I've seen early 2nd Gen Formulas totally re-done with all modern suspension, wheels, tires, and drive-train and that were just SICK. And I've seen some C1's done totally modern that make you drool like a running faucet. And of course there's this monster - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDWt8pYDMz8 (When done up right, C3s just kick so much ass)

There have been many good designs since then, of course. I love the C5, the 87 to 89/early 90 GTA was simply awesome, the LT1 Trans Am had a killer stilleto look to it that I just love (and I want a 97 flat hood now for that reason, among others), and naturally, the LS1 WS6 T/A looks like something Darth Vader would drive (especially in black, like mine) and is just *mean*.

But on the whole, the old stuff was just cooler. I'll take a rough 68 Firebird 400 over a mint 91/92 GTA any day. (MAYBE a 92 Firehawk might convince me, but only because of it's intrinsic value)

[Jakes Dad]

How about an old Willies, Anglia, Henry J, or 40 Ford. I would take any of those with a Hemi and GMC Blower over anything on the market today. Sorry, I forgot my Vega.

I understand where your thinking comes from. Your mind says things were much nicer in the old days including cars. Basically because you weren't around then. When your children are all driving electric or something else powered vehicles someone will look back and think we had better.

[DrkPhynx]

Originally Posted by Jakes Dad

When your children are all driving electric or something else powered vehicles someone will look back and think we had better.

One could only hope they would have the sense.

I really want the best of both worlds, old school styling with modern technology, but retro-influence is the next best thing. I know the old school tech was pretty lame in most areas (narrow bias ply tires with crappy compound, drum brakes and poorly implemented leaf springs (leaf springs in and of themselves are not a bad thing, the Corvette proves that), and so on).

But I don't think it's a case of just looking back and thinking it was "better" then (aside from the aforementioned tech issues), as I don't care much for the cars of the '40s, and the '50s were so-so (some stunners, and lots of also-rans). The early '60s were big boxes for the most part too, which wasn't so hot.

There is an old car I'd kill to have, and I'd want it original. A Duesenberg. I'd take any, but would prefer an SJ. And while I hate 4-doors in general, and find myself thinking about the boat-tailed Roadster, a Deusy is stately, so a 4-door would be ok there I think.

Just picture it - pulling up to your dates house, planning to go to a fancy restaurant or club, you're dressed to the nines, she's dressed to the nines, and you help her into a Duesy, like Clark Gable and Betty Grable. On the way, you open up the 320 supercharged horses and dust off some ricer idiot in his mom's civic, cruise there in grand luxury, and see everybody trip over their tongues at the valet.

[GeArBaNgEr56]

Originally Posted by DrkPhynx

Well, remember, I'm talking about styling, not engineering. Although, take the 427 Cobra for example. HOW long did it take to produce something that could seriously compete with that? And it's STILL a beast that would utterly destroy most cars on the road today (acceleration and braking, and still has good grip since it's so light, and has ability to change directions from it's short wheelbase, and had IRS as well, simply adding some modern materials to it would be unbelievable).

But this is what I mean -


vs




Or,


vs



^^^ Which looks like -


Complete with the crossed googly eyes and everything.


I can't find any pics, but I've seen early 2nd Gen Formulas totally re-done with all modern suspension, wheels, tires, and drive-train and that were just SICK. And I've seen some C1's done totally modern that make you drool like a running faucet. And of course there's this monster - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDWt8pYDMz8 (When done up right, C3s just kick so much ass)

There have been many good designs since then, of course. I love the C5, the 87 to 89/early 90 GTA was simply awesome, the LT1 Trans Am had a killer stilleto look to it that I just love (and I want a 97 flat hood now for that reason, among others), and naturally, the LS1 WS6 T/A looks like something Darth Vader would drive (especially in black, like mine) and is just *mean*.

But on the whole, the old stuff was just cooler. I'll take a rough 68 Firebird 400 over a mint 91/92 GTA any day. (MAYBE a 92 Firehawk might convince me, but only because of it's intrinsic value)

You can't live in the past forever, if all the new cars were retro-styled over the classics, it would get boring and nothing would seem fresh.

[wabmorgan]

Originally Posted by DrkPhynx

Well, remember, I'm talking about styling, not engineering. Although, take the 427 Cobra for example. HOW long did it take to produce something that could seriously compete with that? And it's STILL a beast that would utterly destroy most cars on the road today (acceleration and braking, and still has good grip since it's so light, and has ability to change directions from it's short wheelbase, and had IRS as well, simply adding some modern materials to it would be unbelievable).

But this is what I mean -


vs




Or,


vs



^^^ Which looks like -


Complete with the crossed googly eyes and everything.


I can't find any pics, but I've seen early 2nd Gen Formulas totally re-done with all modern suspension, wheels, tires, and drive-train and that were just SICK. And I've seen some C1's done totally modern that make you drool like a running faucet. And of course there's this monster - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDWt8pYDMz8 (When done up right, C3s just kick so much ass)

There have been many good designs since then, of course. I love the C5, the 87 to 89/early 90 GTA was simply awesome, the LT1 Trans Am had a killer stilleto look to it that I just love (and I want a 97 flat hood now for that reason, among others), and naturally, the LS1 WS6 T/A looks like something Darth Vader would drive (especially in black, like mine) and is just *mean*.

But on the whole, the old stuff was just cooler. I'll take a rough 68 Firebird 400 over a mint 91/92 GTA any day. (MAYBE a 92 Firehawk might convince me, but only because of it's intrinsic value)

I'd take the NEW GTO or C6 any time over their past counter parts!!!!!!!!

[Formula350]

Originally Posted by wabmorgan

I'd take the NEW GTO or C6 any time over their past counter parts!!!!!!!!

A C6 I agree with, but I like the old boat GTOs much more than their newer versions.

[DrkPhynx]

The last "GTO" wasn't truly a GTO, even though it was a nice car. There was one Orange one on the show circuit that would have been worthy of the name - it had an hourglass figure (like the Firebird), a massive front lip spoiler, killer wheels, a hood with openings back further than the 05/06 "GTO" hood, and inset grills. THAT was cool.

The one they offered was just boring. Most people couldn't distinguish it from a cavalier. But, that's the way of modern design.

And the C6..... GOD, I'd love to kick Dave Hill in the nuts. I can't beleive he ruined the coolest car of all time like that. VISUALLY. I can't and won't even try to deny the performance or increase in build quality. See, I've loved Corvettes since I was old enough to know what a car was. Every generation. The '63 split window is just *timeless*, but the '67 427 was slightly more matured, even though it lacked the cool split window. And the C3 was bitchin'. There was no missing or mistaking that car. Sure, the Trans Am of the era was more aerodynamic and had more downforce, but that isn't the point. (and I love the 2nd Gen T/As too btw)

Look at that link with the twin blowe 1200hp C3. That's wood inducing.

People look at old cars and thing old tech. Screw that. Take the old body, strip it to the bone, and replace it with modern materials and components. Zero compromize that way. Something far cooler and more unique than anything else on the road, yet performs just as well in all areas, if not better.

Anyway, got sidetracked a bit. C6 is the perfect example of retro gone wrong. C1 grill, C2 "spine", Ferrari-wanna-be headlights (claimed to harken back to C1), mushed into a C5 overall theme, which was just an evolution of hte C4. Even tried to put some C3 front fender arches in there too. Look at it from a dead profile - the windshield is too vertical, and the curve of the fender meets it too sharply, giving the car a look as though it was jumped like the General Lee and landed on it's nose (pushing it up). It also has a massive wedge shape where the front is too small for the back. And then there's the front.... yeah, I want a damned cross-eyed cookie monster look on my car, right....

I doubt many people *wanted* to love the C6 more than me. Truth be told, I only ever got a Trans Am becuase I couldn't afford a Corvette (and Trans Ams were always 2nd favorite). And that may be why I took it so hard, dunno. Either way though, it's just disgusting. (I'd rather the green '08 Viper someone posted in another thread in the lounge)

[Captainofiron]

I agree about the Goat, I was sorely disappointed, I think if they would have marketed it as a G8 or something else it would have sold more.

Hopefully they knock the next one out of the park.

But I really have my fingers crossed that the Camaro will have a Feathered brother again