We all have heard of stories of car models that nearly happened, but for whatever reason were shelved. Sometimes this is a bullet dodged, like the Mazda MX-6-based Ford Mustang that became the Ford Probe, or the GM W-Body front drive Camaro/Firebird.
This is not that post. This post, and hopefully the thread it starts, will talk about cars that woulda-sohoulda-coulda been, if only corporate courage had allowed them:
1971 Corvette C4: this potential model featured a mid-engine configuration, and an optional four-rotor Wankel rotary engine. Shelved after a corporate shake-up caused its sponsors to bolt to Ford, or in the case of Malcolm Bricklin, to strike off on their own.
1973 Ford Mustang/Porsche 924/6/8: The 1971 351 Mustang was a stopgap. This model was a joint venture between Ford and Porsche to replace both the original generation of Mustang, and the 911. It was to have featured a DOHC V8, an independent double wishbone rear suspension, and Bosch mechanical fuel injection. It was killed by the Oil Crisis at Ford, which went with the Pinto-based Mustang II instead. Porsche spent four more years to get it into production and was forced to raise its price to recoup development costs, but in the meantime, Porsche was forced to turbocharge the 911, destroying the purpose of the highest trim models.
Had it gone into production, it is highly probable that Porsche today would have entry-level models cheaper than the OTL Boxster.
1983 Chevrolet Nova Z16/SS: Based on the rear drive AE86 Toyota Corolla GTS, and to be built at NUMMI. Would have featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine based on Suzuki racing bike engines at the time. Axed by bean-counters at GM due to insurance cost concerns. The plan was resurrected in 1987, this time to use the newly developed Quad 4 engine, then axed again.
1986 Dodge Charger: Was going to be used on a version of the Mitsubishi Starion with the four-cylinder engine ripped out and replaced with a 318 Max Wedge engine. It was axed due to CAFE concerns and handling problems because of weight distribution issues from the truck-based iron block. However, this resulted in Chrysler taking a version of its successor the 3000GT as the Dodge Stealth.
1988 Pontiac Grand Prix GTO: Based on the then all-new W-body Pontiac Grand Prix, was to feature all wheel drive based on that of the Pontiac 6000, and either the Buick Turbo 3800 V8 from the Grand National, or a turbo-charged version of the 3.4 liter Twin Dual Cam V6. It was axed by Bean Counters.
1989 Mercury Capri: Ford's original plan was to base this car on either the Mazda Miata or the Mazda Autozam AZ-1. It was axed in favor of the version from Australia when it became obvious that even if a left-hand-drive version could have been made, it wouldn't have been able to pass North American Crash Standards.
1990 Ford Mustang/Mazda RX-7: Was to have been a joint venture between Mazda and Ford, featuring a common rear drive platform with independent rear suspension, ABS, and limited-slip differential. The Ford version would have featured a V8 with rotary-valve heads, while the Mazda version would have featured a twin-turbo, triple rotary Wankel, and both would have featured optional AWD. Due to mixed signals, Ford bowed out in favor of SN-95, while Mazda moved to a lighter, more purist sports car vision (although it did release its version of the model in Japan only as the Mazda Cosmo).
1991 Chevrolet Panther/ Pontiac Banshee: Was meant to replace the Camaro/Firebird, so as to go head-to-head against the Dodge Stealth and Mitsubishi 3000GT. Featured a 6 speed manual transmission, 4.0 liter Desmodronic DOHC V8 pumping out 320 horsepower, four wheel double wishbone independent suspension, and a limited-slip differential. Axed for being too close in performance to the Corvette, and by the engineers for the Chevrolet Small Block because the V8 was going to go into several racing programs (ranging from DTW {Opel}, to Formula 1 (Cadillac), to CART and IROC(Pontiac). The only thing that carried over to the 1993 F-Body was the Borg Warner six speed transmission.
1995 Pontiac Grand Am GTO: based on the 3.4 liter pushrod engine and a cold-air intake. Axed by Bean Counters.
1996 Dodge Venom: Based on a rear drive version of the LH body, it would have gone head-to-head with the Mustang and Firebird/Camaro, but for nearly 1000 lbs lighter. But then the Daimler-Chrysler fiasco happened...
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GTO: Once again based on the GM W Body. Would have featured a GM LS-1 V8 mounted transversely, using the AWD system of the Pontiac Montana minivan. Never given the time of day by GM Brass and stayed a SEMA show special for three years, but it did inspire the Holden Monaro-based Pontiac GTO of the 2000s.
This is not that post. This post, and hopefully the thread it starts, will talk about cars that woulda-sohoulda-coulda been, if only corporate courage had allowed them:
1971 Corvette C4: this potential model featured a mid-engine configuration, and an optional four-rotor Wankel rotary engine. Shelved after a corporate shake-up caused its sponsors to bolt to Ford, or in the case of Malcolm Bricklin, to strike off on their own.
1973 Ford Mustang/Porsche 924/6/8: The 1971 351 Mustang was a stopgap. This model was a joint venture between Ford and Porsche to replace both the original generation of Mustang, and the 911. It was to have featured a DOHC V8, an independent double wishbone rear suspension, and Bosch mechanical fuel injection. It was killed by the Oil Crisis at Ford, which went with the Pinto-based Mustang II instead. Porsche spent four more years to get it into production and was forced to raise its price to recoup development costs, but in the meantime, Porsche was forced to turbocharge the 911, destroying the purpose of the highest trim models.
Had it gone into production, it is highly probable that Porsche today would have entry-level models cheaper than the OTL Boxster.
1983 Chevrolet Nova Z16/SS: Based on the rear drive AE86 Toyota Corolla GTS, and to be built at NUMMI. Would have featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine based on Suzuki racing bike engines at the time. Axed by bean-counters at GM due to insurance cost concerns. The plan was resurrected in 1987, this time to use the newly developed Quad 4 engine, then axed again.
1986 Dodge Charger: Was going to be used on a version of the Mitsubishi Starion with the four-cylinder engine ripped out and replaced with a 318 Max Wedge engine. It was axed due to CAFE concerns and handling problems because of weight distribution issues from the truck-based iron block. However, this resulted in Chrysler taking a version of its successor the 3000GT as the Dodge Stealth.
1988 Pontiac Grand Prix GTO: Based on the then all-new W-body Pontiac Grand Prix, was to feature all wheel drive based on that of the Pontiac 6000, and either the Buick Turbo 3800 V8 from the Grand National, or a turbo-charged version of the 3.4 liter Twin Dual Cam V6. It was axed by Bean Counters.
1989 Mercury Capri: Ford's original plan was to base this car on either the Mazda Miata or the Mazda Autozam AZ-1. It was axed in favor of the version from Australia when it became obvious that even if a left-hand-drive version could have been made, it wouldn't have been able to pass North American Crash Standards.
1990 Ford Mustang/Mazda RX-7: Was to have been a joint venture between Mazda and Ford, featuring a common rear drive platform with independent rear suspension, ABS, and limited-slip differential. The Ford version would have featured a V8 with rotary-valve heads, while the Mazda version would have featured a twin-turbo, triple rotary Wankel, and both would have featured optional AWD. Due to mixed signals, Ford bowed out in favor of SN-95, while Mazda moved to a lighter, more purist sports car vision (although it did release its version of the model in Japan only as the Mazda Cosmo).
1991 Chevrolet Panther/ Pontiac Banshee: Was meant to replace the Camaro/Firebird, so as to go head-to-head against the Dodge Stealth and Mitsubishi 3000GT. Featured a 6 speed manual transmission, 4.0 liter Desmodronic DOHC V8 pumping out 320 horsepower, four wheel double wishbone independent suspension, and a limited-slip differential. Axed for being too close in performance to the Corvette, and by the engineers for the Chevrolet Small Block because the V8 was going to go into several racing programs (ranging from DTW {Opel}, to Formula 1 (Cadillac), to CART and IROC(Pontiac). The only thing that carried over to the 1993 F-Body was the Borg Warner six speed transmission.
1995 Pontiac Grand Am GTO: based on the 3.4 liter pushrod engine and a cold-air intake. Axed by Bean Counters.
1996 Dodge Venom: Based on a rear drive version of the LH body, it would have gone head-to-head with the Mustang and Firebird/Camaro, but for nearly 1000 lbs lighter. But then the Daimler-Chrysler fiasco happened...
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GTO: Once again based on the GM W Body. Would have featured a GM LS-1 V8 mounted transversely, using the AWD system of the Pontiac Montana minivan. Never given the time of day by GM Brass and stayed a SEMA show special for three years, but it did inspire the Holden Monaro-based Pontiac GTO of the 2000s.