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Originally Posted by cbrrmike

you are seriously kidding yourself if people bought or didnt buy due to the name, whatever they called it, it would have sold the same

So using the GTO name was in no way an attempt to bring attention to the car and get people to at least come and look? I bet more than a few people who purchased, especially early over-priced dealer gouged models did in fact buy based on the GTO name plate...has it been called a T1000 or Sunbird there would have been no markup whatsoever.....

Originally Posted by JL8Jeff

But remember, GM was not advertising the Camaro or Firebird at that point in time because they knew they were shutting down the plant and the Canadian auto workers union that had exclusive rights to build the "Camaro". So those numbers have no meaning.

And if given the ability to properly allocate the resources to build the car efficiently, the F-body might have survived, but forces didn't allow GM that flexibility. But that's another discussion in its entirety.

Originally Posted by Frosty

I agree, I was agreeing with him in the fact that the old GTO's were plain, not flashing but had the power.

For the people complaining about the name...does the Malibu and Monte Carlo pay respect to the old ones? Really now...

You can have plain, unflashy styling and still be distinctive. The CTS is not flashy or ENZO-like with kidney gills, but is very distinctive. The G8 is also. And just because GM decided to rush it market is not an excuse they can use to defend its styling.

Nope the Malibu (assuming you are including chevelle here too) and the Monte Carlo are both shadows of their former selves, who suggested they were well appointed names?

Originally Posted by cbrrmike

or impalla?
or buicks new regal?

I think the LT1 based Impala SS is one of the few times GM got it right in reaching back into history. "Lord Vader, Your Car is Ready"

http://stangbangers.com/94_ChevyImpalaSS_Ad.htm

That was a nice package.

Buick hasn't done anything of significance or success since the Grand National on the performance front. And supercharged v6's in family cars and old people cars don't count either, not they were success stories anyway.

Originally Posted by Knipps

I disagree that they slapped the GTO name on for the enthusiasts... I think it's quite the opposite. If you asked people what car (from memory) was cooler, TEMPEST or BONNEVILLE or LeMANS or CATALINA or the GTO the non enthusiast would pick the GTO nearly every time. People know the name and I think GM did the right thing this time, going with the name recognition.

I don't think you and I are far apart in our thinking....GM purposely used the GTO for the name recognition and easy marketing, but didn't envision the backlash. You say the commoner would most easily recognize the GTO as opposed to other names and I agree that name was chosen for the same reason, but for a different audience. And neither audience was all that impressed with the product....so GM failed on two fronts, not just one.

http://www.automotivetraveler.com/in...659&Itemid=194

Check out #5 and #3

Chris