Originally Posted by COmaro
There are a whole lot of Pontiac fans out there who would buy a "Pontiac" Trans Am if GM would make one. They sold over 100K Trans Ams (over 210K Firebirds total) in ONE year back in 1979, and the Firebird was more expensive than the Camaro. Honestly, if GM had been smart, they would have created a special performance division during the crisis to make the Camaro, Corvette, and Firebird/Trans Am, plus keep the Solstice alive, too. I know, 20/20 hindsight.
I'm serious, overall sales would be way better for GM right now, because whether younger people know it or not, or like it or not, the Firebird was considered to be a more upscale and middle-class car, while the Camaro was associated with rednecks and mullets. Old images die hard, and while people on here may have a more recent view of things, I guarantee the majority of the buying public still has those images. I'm sure GM knows this, too, but politically and organizationally, they can't get something like this to happen.
With the mid-engine Corvette, no one knows for sure what happens to the current model. I think GM should create a new division, move both Corvettes and the Camaro there, start making a Trans Am package again, and allow Cadillac/Buick dealers to sell the performance line, too.
Think about it, instead of a nebulous "1LE" package that no one but Chevy history buffs care about, they could save those goodies for a Trans Am that has Firebird styling cues. Go ahead and let the ZL1 be a Camaro. Or, make the "1LE" a Formula, and make the upcoming Z/28 package have an equivalent Trans Am version. You could even let the Z/28 have whatever V8 is going to go in there, and have a Trans Am with the 3.6L TT engine from the ATS-V, which sells only a few thousand per year.
The fifth Gen version of the "Trans Am" hit most of the buttons, but you really need the engine turned dash with unique gauges, and the unique steering wheel, things that would be easy for GM to do. Then, like the custom version, you absolutely must have the shaker, the fender vents, the rounded spoiler, and the screaming chicken, along with the Pontiac looking front fascia and slotted taillights.
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