|
If I recall correctly, this all really started in 1983, when NASCAR introduced down-sizing from the full-size 120" wheelbase cars, which were mostly based on rear-drive models with an in-line V8, to 108" medium range cars, a number of which were based on 4 cylinder or V6 transverse-engined front-drive cars.
Generally the manufacturers' NASCAR car will bear the name of one of their best-selling lines; cars like the Thunderbird and the Monte Carlo were never big sellers, and it made more sense in terms of the commercial spin-off from racing success to use the model name of more popular cars such as the Fusion and the Impala. The 2013 Cup bodies will likely use styling cues generic to the manufacturers' model ranges, but bear the names of front-drive four door family sedans.
Last edited by Clive Brown; 23 Jan 2012 at 18:19.
|