Curbside Classic Outtake: Aerodynamic NASCAR Edition

Paul Niedermeyer
by Paul Niedermeyer

These are not the kind of cars that normally get me to pull over and shoot, but something about them called to me. I came up with three reasons to justify their occupying memory space in my camera. One: their sloping roofs, clean noses and high tails suggest excellent aerodynamics. Sure enough, with a Cd of .33 for the Monte Carlo and a .30 for the Intrepid, they’re definitely on the slippery side of average.

Two: It also struck me how dated they look already, despite the Intrepid’s 2004 departure and the Monte’s more recent ’07 exit. The third thing: I’m trying to keep my eyes peeled for younger cars, but I had doubt whether these were worthy. And then it hit me; these guys’ avatars duked it out on the NASCAR ovals for years. Not exactly my thing, but maybe it’s yours.

Paul Niedermeyer
Paul Niedermeyer

More by Paul Niedermeyer

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 25 comments
  • Stingray Stingray on Feb 18, 2010

    From the front door back the Monte looks acceptable. The front end, not so much. Seems like GM people only refreshed the front and back of that car. Looks very similar to the Lumina-based Monte Carlo.

  • Dolo54 Dolo54 on Feb 18, 2010

    I think ownership of a 90s Monte Carlo is a sign of mental illness. I don't know how you could look at that car and not be positively horrified by its melty hideousness.

  • TheEndlessEnigma Poor planning here, dropping a Vinfast dealer in Pensacola FL is just not going to work. I love Pensacola and that part of the Gulf Coast, but that area is by no means an EV adoption demographic.
  • Keith Most of the stanced VAGS with roof racks are nuisance drivers in my area. Very likely this one's been driven hard. And that silly roof rack is extra $'s, likely at full retail lol. Reminds me of the guys back in the late 20th century would put in their ads that the installed aftermarket stereo would be a negotiated extra. Were they going to go find and reinstall that old Delco if you didn't want the Kraco/Jenson set up they hacked in?
  • MaintenanceCosts Poorly packaged, oddly proportioned small CUV with an unrefined hybrid powertrain and a luxury-market price? Who wouldn't want it?
  • MaintenanceCosts Who knows whether it rides or handles acceptably or whether it chews up a set of tires in 5000 miles, but we definitely know it has a "mature stance."Sounds like JUST the kind of previous owner you'd want…
  • 28-Cars-Later Nissan will be very fortunate to not be in the Japanese equivalent of Chapter 11 reorganization over the next 36 months, "getting rolling" is a luxury (also, I see what you did there).
Next