[kcoruol]

As an illustration I borrowed this pic from Racers Ducks thread, I hope he doesn't mind.



Looks like a Monte Carlo.

But today a NASCAR Monte Carlo doesn't look like a Monte Carlo at my local Chevy dealer.

In fact, I'm trying to figure out what is the difference between a Ford, a Dodge, a Chevy, and a Toyota in NASCAR.

They all look exactly the same. A Toyota Camry looks exactly like a Monte Carlo SS in the NASCAR world.

When and why did NASCAR go to clones?

[I Flip For Carl]

It happened in their attempt to equal out the playing field

The series is now more like the now defunct IROC series

[Racer Duck]

no prob on lifting the pic .. I did!

I guess to answer your question, you need to go back and look at the new car styles evolution from that '72 model to today's model. Also realize that each manufacturer had to produce a car that would "fit in the box" that NASCAR says is the maximum size they'll allow and "not fit in the box" that NASCAR says is the minimum size they'll allow. That's why you see a progression thru different models within a particular manufacturer. Also, there is a rule that a minimum number of that model have to be produced and sold, but that's not really a problem like it was "in the old days".

There have also been rule changes along the way which have limited the size of the engine and further placed restrictions on the drive train, suspension, and safety aerodynamics (roof flaps, roof rails, spoilers, air dams, window nets, restrictor plates, etc.).

There have also been rule changes to cover "gaps" in the rules, like when Bill Elliott's Coors Ford was whuppin' up on everybody and was found to be several inches narrower than his competitors - no rule against it, so NASCAR made one for the next year.

So it's been a evolution to what we have today. the sheet metal (fenders, roof, rear quarter panels, etc.) is usually hand made by expert craftsmen at the various "body shops" who build the bodies to fit within the "template" while still providing maximum aero-benefit - i.e., it does not even come from the manufacturer who supplies the specs for the car model. That does not mean the manufacturer is not involved with the construction of the body .. they have their representatives who visit the "body shops" to ensure all are conforming the the basic design parameters. Plus, many teams, especially large organizations like DEI, Hendrick, JGR, Roush, Yates, ...... have their own sheet metal experts who can take flat piece of sheet metal and craft a fender by hand that exceeds the factory (body shop) fit and finish.

Lastly, aero testing has progressed to the point where the manufacturers and teams expend many man-hours and dollars trying to find the little tweaks that make the racer faster (thus the tweaked, misshaped look) while staying true to the basic model design, i.e., if you take a Roush Fusion and put it side by side with one from your local Ford dealer, they may look different, but the basic lines are the same - only the front bumper has undergone significant "reshaping", and that for aerodynamics reasons, but the basic design is still recognizable. especially when the decals are applied. Take that Fusion at your local dealer, lower it, change the wheels and tires and put a race-car paint job on it .. most people won't immediately notice a lot of difference between the two .. just the real racer is a bit "sleeker".

[bob101]

Want to know the extreme end of this? Look at the ford "fusion". It's a 4 DOOR CAR, but raced as a 2 door car.

I do wish they'd go back to the days of the maker supplying the shell and then the teams hanging a front end on it.

I want to say it was sometime in the 80's when teams quit building cars that originally started with at least some original sheetmetal and went to 100% totally custom fabricated cars. Before that the rear quarters/roof were delivered to a team from the maker (GM/FORD/DODGE) and then the teams modified and built the race car.

[bob101]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

i.e., if you take a Roush Fusion and put it side by side with one from your local Ford dealer, they may look different, but the basic lines are the same - only the front bumper has undergone significant "reshaping", and that for aerodynamics reasons, but the basic design is still recognizable. especially when the decals are applied.

How can you say only a little "reshaping" has gone on?

They took out 2 doors of the car.

It's like saying they look the same because it has a front and rear window in common.