Did all the same people complain when Nascar changed from actual stock cars to the cookie cutters that were...

Question

just retired in favor of the COT. I realize that even the first cars to race on the beach at Daytona were not 100% stock. I just mean 20 years ago or so when you could actually tell the makes apart without looking at their stickers.

Answer 1

Actully, the change from "stock" cars to "race" cars took place a lot longer than 20 years ago. Back in the early 70's (right around 1971 to be exact), NASCAR decided that in the intrest of safety, they would mandate tubular chassis instead of allowing factory-built frames as the basis for the NASCAR stock cars. They still used "stock" sheetmetal, but under that, they were no longer "stock." It was in the early 80's that the teams started using formed sheet metal for the cars' bodies.

Now to answer your question, No. Not as many people knew about it, nor cared enough to complain. Back then, there was virtually no TV coverage of NASCAR racing (compared to what is available today). There was no pre-race show, no "Raceday", no "NASCAR Now." Heck, "RPM2Nite" didn't even get started until the mid 90's. If you wanted NASCAR news, you either had to subscribe to National Speed Sport News, or go to the races.

Edit - Frankie C.........John Andretti was the one that tested the Lincoln Mk VIII...nicknamed the Hot Rod Lincoln. he was running the K-Mart/Little Ceasar's Pizza #37 (I ought to know, I was running R/C cars back then, and had the only K-Mart/Little Ceasar's body, which I had in both the Hot Rod Lincoln and the T-Bird versions). The remark about the Lumina is backwards. Ford held out the longest with the T-bird. Chevy had the first "illegal" car with the Lumina, which was a FWD, non-v-8 sedan, and replaced the old square Monte, which was dropped, forcing NASCAR to allow the first car that did not fit the rules as they were. The Lumina started running NASCAR in '89 or 90, but the Mk VIII test wasn't until 95 or 96.

Answer 2

The change in the 70's was due to the fuel crunch so there was a need for "smaller/lighter" cars and the Detroit Iron faded into NASCARs archives.
There were people that fussed at the fact that there was a change but after a few events nobody knew for the better (or worst) the difference.
The C O T with the gosh awful "riceburner" wing will not be as easy to forget as far as outward appearence.But if all holds true by the end of the season we should have some very good racing.
So bottom line,yes people complained about the change then and they will complain now.But the TRUE stockcar fan will embrace the change and look for an intresting season.

Answer 3

Probably.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Global economy snuffed the 'stock' out of Nascar. Nascar never said let's go race a four door Taurus. Ford told Nascar they may have to pull out because nobody is buying 2 door rear wheel drive V8 sedan's anymore. IE: The T'Bird. They (think it was Rusty Wallace) actually tested a Lincoln Mark 8 body.
In order for Nascar to survive and grow, Nascar was forced to change there long time ruling on body configurations and allowed Ford to run the 4 door Taurus with a higher deck lid height. This opened the door for Dodge to re-enter Nascar with the Intrepid. Chevy is the only company that stuck as long as they could with the 2 door Lumina and then Monte Carlo.
As far as I'm concerned, they haven't been racing 'stock' car's/body's since the eighties but at least I understand why and it doesn't both me at all!
I like the COT.
Yet, the less intelligible people still whine about how Nascar ruined everything.
Sure, I miss the old car's but get a grip.

Answer 4

I'm a little unsure of your question. If you are voicing an opinion on these cars, I agree wholeheartedly. It has gotten to the point that I really don't care which manufacturer they drive for because the car they drive is not what is being sold out there. Now before everyone gets in an uproar, I know that has been true always, however, in the past you could go to a car lot and buy a Chevy or Ford or Dodge that at least resembled the ones on the track. Let's face it, the only thing in common between the Dodge Charger that the racers drive and the one on the lot is the name.Whoopie!!!

Answer 5

TO FRANKY,
Remember in 86 and 87 the trouble CHEVY had with the monty carlo not being able to have as good of areodynamics as the Thunderbird, because of the sloped rear deck. NASCAR allowed Chevy to install a very slopped back glass onto the "Notchbacked" Monty Carlo. It wasn't until the next model year that Chevy introduced the back glass onto the car...
Much like back when the Fords were running the 351C block, for 15 years. It wasn't until Bill and Ernie Elliots Dad bought them a Dyno from an Indy car builder and brought out 15:1 compression in the Cleveland that everyone said; "Ford is Cheating and using a bigger engine than the Chevy. Two cases of someone doing their homework and someone else crying over the spilled milk...

Answer 6

The NASCAR "stock cars" have not been stock for probably 30 years.
They are all hand built, chassis, bodies, everything.
With the previous model race car the only thing from a showroom model car was the front clip, and the rear deck lid.

Answer 7

Lets Blame the Auto Makers--You can easily tell the difference between a 57 Chevy-a 57 Ford-a 57 Plymouth --If you took the Manufacturers Logo Emblems off of a 2007 Whatever is there really that Much Difference??!!!

Answer 8

It was not an overnight change like the COT was. It was gradual with a little bit changing each year. So, people did not complain as much as they are now, because it wasn't noticed as much. Did some complain? Yes and with each little change! The biggest change that occurred at one time was in the early 80s when they went to the smaller cars. However, they were still pretty identifiable, unlike now.

Answer 9

It is only going to get worse.
NASCAR wants a NASCAR engine.
So not only will the cars be using car bodies we can not buy, in configurations we can not buy, they will be using engines that no one but NASCAR builds.
Soon maybe there will not be any individual drivers, but computer controlled robots driving, all in the name of fan entertainment.

Answer 10

Not going for "best answer" here, but just to add what the others have answered, the last "Strictly Stock" race was in 1949.