An automotive WI: GM makes the Corvette an Olds

Iconic as the 'vette is, I've wondered sometimes why GM never offered an upmarket model, such as the F88. So, WI GM does it? What happens if Olds or Buick gets the 'vette, instead?

And WI GM follows it with a 4-seater by Chevy, to meet the 4-seat T-bird?

What happens to the car business?
 

Delta Force

Banned
If the Corvette is produced by Oldsmobile, then the marque probably won't end up producing the olds' mobile.

It would fill a market niche Oldsmobile invented too. The Oldsmobile Rocket 88 was the predecessor of the muscle car. If the Corvette goes to Oldsmobile, then it would be more likely to retain its performance focus instead of becoming akin to Buick.
 
Delta Force said:
If the Corvette is produced by Oldsmobile, then the marque probably won't end up producing the olds' mobile.

It would fill a market niche Oldsmobile invented too. The Oldsmobile Rocket 88 was the predecessor of the muscle car. If the Corvette goes to Oldsmobile, then it would be more likely to retain its performance focus instead of becoming akin to Buick.
:cool:

OTOH, that would seem to mean no 4-4-2, either.:eek: Or do you mean the F88 plus the OTL muscle cars?:cool::cool:

Would you picture the T-bird losing sales? Or being moved up-market when FoMoCo decides to build the 4-seater?

I'm also wondering if that means Buick (& Chrysler, & Lincoln or Merc) has to move more toward performance, to avoid losing sales...
 
One thing that would be interesting to see with ATL Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac versions of the C1 Corvette are lower-end variants powered by the all-alloy 215 BOP V8 (both in NA and Turbo form) prior to being sold off to Rover as in OTL.
 
Masked Grizzly said:
One thing that would be interesting to see with ATL Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac versions of the C1 Corvette are lower-end variants powered by the all-alloy 215 BOP V8 (both in NA and Turbo form) prior to being sold off to Rover as in OTL.
I'd want to limit to Olds or Buick (2-seater) & Chevy (4-seater). That said, I like the idea of keeping the 215 in production. Especially if it gets punched out to 305 by the time of the oil shock.:cool:

If it gets the Morgan or Stage 1 treatment along the way, even better.:cool:

I wonder if this means the OTL Sting Ray never gets built...or if it becomes a boattail & appears even sooner, effectively replacing the boatttail Riv...:cool: (1-piece window, like the 'cuda, instead of vee-butted?:cool:)

I'd personally prefer the '58-'60 style stay in production a bit longer, so maybe a '64 boattail F88?
 
I'm also wondering if that means Buick (& Chrysler, & Lincoln or Merc) has to move more toward performance, to avoid losing sales...

Chrysler already had the 300 series, while left Dodge, DeSoto and especially Plymouth to languish. in performance.

Mercury had been the performance division, until Ford got the TBird
 
They sure made pretty cars back then, but didn't sell them. Olds thought they had a winner, but Chev convinced GM otherwise. I used to be a Buick guy, '56 Buick Special, 2-door hardtop, and would have dreamed of, but not bought a Buick Wildcat. Pontiac also had a concept car of that ilk. When you think of imagination, you think of Harley Earl, not a Board. So it goes. Still, as a Canadian, I couldn't imagine driving a car in which you couldn't bring a two-four home if you had a passenger. Also, if you had a dog and a girl, it's a tough choice. Corvettes didn't start off with booming sales. A lot of Americans must have had dogs. My Triumph Spitfire could carry a dog, a girl, and a two-four.

1954_olds_f88_cncpt_manu-54_01.jpg
 
For a while in the early years of this century, Cadillac offered what was really a Corvette with modest restyling and a Cadillac badge: namely, the XLR, made 2004 - 2009.
 
marathag said:
Chrysler already had the 300 series ...
Mercury had been the performance division, until Ford got the TBird
Chrysler AFAIK didn't have a lot of competition in that price range, nor was the 300 a real sporting model, compared to the 'vette. Neither was OTL's T-bird a sporter, really; Ford called it "personal luxury" for a reason. TTL, maybe Ford builds the 4-seater tourer, while Merc (or Lincoln) keeps the 2-seater, with a hotter fuellie Y-block (or OHV), & maybe a blower.:cool: (Maybe fuellie & a blower on the 303 in the F88, too.:cool: I'd also switch to the 324 ASAP.)
 
Still, as a Canadian, I couldn't imagine driving a car in which you couldn't bring a two-four home if you had a passenger. Also, if you had a dog and a girl, it's a tough choice. Corvettes didn't start off with booming sales. A lot of Americans must have had dogs. My Triumph Spitfire could carry a dog, a girl, and a two-four.

2-4 being a case of 24 bottles of beer, for anyone who doesn't speak Canadian....:)
 
Chrysler AFAIK didn't have a lot of competition in that price range, nor was the 300 a real sporting model, compared to the 'vette. Neither was OTL's T-bird a sporter, really; Ford called it "personal luxury" for a reason. TTL, maybe Ford builds the 4-seater tourer, while Merc (or Lincoln) keeps the 2-seater, with a hotter fuellie Y-block (or OHV), & maybe a blower.:cool: (Maybe fuellie & a blower on the 303 in the F88, too.:cool: I'd also switch to the 324 ASAP.)


The Y-Blick is an OHV engine. It got its name due to the deep skirt of the crankcase. A common feature of American V-8s prior to the Small Block Chevy
 
The Y-Blick is an OHV engine. It got its name due to the deep skirt of the crankcase. A common feature of American V-8s prior to the Small Block Chevy

And the Y block wasn't a great V8 design. the MELs not much better. Worst designs of any of the Big Four, IMO
 
marathag said:
And the Y block wasn't a great V8 design. the MELs not much better. Worst designs of any of the Big Four, IMO
Tell it to the "Making a better Thunderbird" thread?:p
 
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