Why were there no GM aero cars?

[Fabrux]

Maybe someone that knows more NASCAR history than me can answer this. I was reading up on the Ford/Mercury and Dodge/Plymouth aero cars of 1969 and 1970 and the thought occurred to me: how come GM didn't build one? One could argue that the later Laguna S-3 was their attempt at an aero car, but why so late? What would a 69/70 aero Chevelle look like?

[martinfan5]

I dont know a lot about the darkside era, but GM, did have the areo coupe in the 80's , it was the Mote Carlo

[Chuck Most]

I dont know a lot about the darkside era, but GM, did have the areo coupe in the 80's , it was the Mote Carlo

And the Pontiac Grand Prix- I think they called the production version the 2+2.

[martinfan5]

And the Pontiac Grand Prix- I think they called the production version the 2+2.

Chuck, thanks , I forgot about the GP, yes it was the 2+2

[ChrisPflug]

In the time frame you mentioned GM really wasn't competitive in NASCAR

[martinfan5]

I think what Chris said is why, they really were not all that competitive during those years, Chevy became competitve sometime in the 80s when they came out with the monte carlo/ grand prix areo coupe's . Before that time, NASCAR was dominated by Ford, Dodge

[Eric Stone]

They weren't competitive because they weren't "officially" participating in racing at that time.

Read this:

http://www.chevyhard...f-and-on-again/

And as a former Chevelle owner, I think the 68-72 Chevelles would be more aerodynamic going backwards.

Edited January 24, 2012 by Eric Stone

[Patrick2005]

I do remember hearing that GM had pulled out of factory backed drag racing and maybe had done the same in NASCAR as well.

[Fabrux]

Ahh, that's it, then. After 1963 GM backed out of officially supporting racing endeavours, including NASCAR. They didn't get back in until 1970.

[Art Anderson]

Most today are unaware that during the Kennedy/Johnson years of the 1960's, the Anti-Trust Division of the US Dept of Justice was preparing an anti-trust case against General Motors, who by that decade held over 55% of the US new car market--putting GM allegedly in conflict with the provisions of the Sherman and Clayton Anti Trust Acts. (the same laws which were used to break up ATT&T and IBM in the 1970's). In order to forestall any bad publicity, GM officially pulled out of sponsoring any form of racing activity--although some was still done "out the side door".

Coupled with these issues was the increased scrutiny by the likes of Ralph Nader and the fledgling auto safety movement in Washington DC, GM having been given a pretty black eye over a couple of their marques.

Art

[espo]

What Art said! GM was under a microscope with Washington at the time. Thay sold a more cars in the US than Ford - Chrysler - American Motors.