Evolution of NASCAR's Traditional Stock cars

[RACECAR]

In this thread, we'll debate/discuss the rapidly changed world of Stock cars that have raced under the NASCAR name. From where the cars started:

to now:

To start, One thing I've found interesting is the aerodynamic Evolution of the cars from 1997 to now.

When you look at the Monte Carlo, its seems more aero efficient on the front end in comparison to the Ford Thunderbird

However, it falls short in terms of slippery profile to its GM sibling, the Pontiac Grand Prix:

The 1998 version sports a slightly better aero package:

Its not as fluid in comparison however in comparison to Ford's new Taurus

or Pontiac's Grand Prix:

I'll continue when I find the time to. Post away.

 

[superberkut]

If I recall, T-Birds never did quite well at NASCAR; now there is a possible reason. Only when the Ford Taurus came (which is very aerodynamic as a stock car) did the company have real success, with drivers such as Dale Jarrett, Jeff Burton, Geoff Bodine and company.

 

[RACECAR]

If I recall, T-Birds never did quite well at NASCAR; now there is a possible reason. Only when the Ford Taurus came (which is very aerodynamic as a stock car) did the company have real success, with drivers such as Dale Jarrett, Jeff Burton, Geoff Bodine and company.

It had little success, but definately not as much as the Taurus.

in 1999, none of the cars had any real noticeable changes

In 2000 however, the was some very notable change, beginning with the Monte Carlo having a usually shaped Spoiler and reshaped front end.

Ford also had done a major rework with its taurus and it came out with quite possibly the most sleekest machine that year.

Pontiac makes some small changes, keeping the Grand Prix's aerodynamic capabilities on par with the Monte Carlo

Then 2001, The Monte Carlo undergoes yet another very notible change in its body, namely with a wider flare to the front fender

Ford's Taurus remains little changed

Yet again, no big changes from Pontiac

Then came Dodge who for the first time since 1985, competes and does so with the new Intrepid, complete with a very aerodynamic body

2002 remains the same for both the Monte carlo and the Taurus

Same for the Dodge Intrepid

And the Pontiac Grand Prix

2003 was interesting however as Chevy made significant improvement on the Monte Carlo, in particular on the Front Valence and Fender

Ford sticks to its current shape of the Taurus.

Dodge makes a subtle change to the grille on the intrepid, but keeps the body near identical

For its last year in Nascar, Pontiac brings out its significantly improved Grand Am

Now comes the new era, the Nextel Cup, and with it new things from the manufacterers. Chevy again shapes the Monte Carlo's Valence and fenders and does away with the wavy Spoiler in favor of a more rounded one

Ford does some minor changes with the taurus, most notable on the Grille itself

With Dodge's Intrepid in its last year, it remains unchanged

2005 Sees Chevrolet doing just a little more aero changes as the nose now sits even lower

Ford's Taurus enters its last year in competition an unchanged machine

Dodge enters its new Charger, which runs into plenty of Aero problems leaving some teams to switch back & forth between it and the intrepid

2006 Sees cars that would stay in competition all the way to now, beginning with quite possibly the most aerodynamic incarnation from Chevrolet, the Monte Carlo SS

Ford Debuts the Fusion, similarly shaped like last year's Taurus

Dodge Solves the Aeros issues with the nose of the Charger

And in 2007, A well known Japanese manufacterer shows up and becoming the first foreign manufacterer to compete in nascar since MG and Jaguar, Toyota and their now venerable Camry

 

[wrcsti]

I think you meant
to now:

 

[Earth]

Hasn't NASCAR always tried to equalize the cars when one body had an advantage over another by lowering or raising the front valence?

Are the current noses on the COT cars identical?

Anyways, here is some of my favorite cars from 1997. Looking back at it, my favorite cars were probably from the 1997 season. In 1998 the Taurus was unveiled and it lost some of the literal stockiness of a stock car by being a bit too aero efficient for my tastes but still a good looking car, especially Dale Jarret's 1999 winning car.

So here are some cars from

1997

Ernie Irvan's Ford when he led alot of laps at the 1997 Coke 600

Mark Martin's Ford Thunderbird. This car was before the flames era (when Jeff Gordon's team was known as the rainbow warriors now just his car is known as flames because of the new flames paint) and the paint stripes flowing backwards made it look very fast and sophisticated, like the modern Peugeot 908s

A couple of 1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlos of Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon as Rainbow Warriors not flames (1997)

 

[RACECAR]

I think you meant
to now:

I wasn't counting the COTs, I was talking about the Traditional cars as the Nationwide series still runs them.

@ Earth: They indeed have. If I recall, thier was actually a time where Ford Complained that the Monte carlos had an unfair aero advantage. As far as the COTS go, they are too identical if you ask me. If you were to remove the manufacterer specific Decals, everyone has the same car.

 

[RACECAR]

Something very interesting I've been looking at for quite a while. Out of all the current traditional Stock cars racing today, the Toyota Camry and the Chevy Monte Carlo SS have the most similar aerodynamic bodies. The Fusion and the Charger have their distinctive differences while the Camry and Monte Carlo have very similar bodies. For a accurate comparison, I'll use the Joe Gibbs Racing's #18 cars from Last year and this year:

Pay particular attention to the Front

Its interesting how similar these are. WIth the exception of the manufacterer shaped grilles, They would basically look almost alike without their headlight decals.