If anyone gets the Ottawa Citizen, there is a great set of articles about the F-bodies. The first is that the deathblow of the Pony Car market is the price of the insurance for the people that want them, yound guys! The Second is about the closure of the St. Thresese plant in Quebec. And the third and final is about the old Firebird 400, when Pontiac had a mind of their own.

Just giving the heads up!

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Colin Finkle
87 Sport Coupe Camaro, 5.0 L V8

My Car Craft in/out list:

In: Buying my project Camaro and being the first F-body in High School.
Out: While it is being upgraded 6 V6 F-bodies bodies show up!
Out: Looking like a pazie a** follower.
In: Being the only panzie a** with an 8 under the hood!!!

 

Most papers have a web site. How about the Ottawa Citizen? That way we here in the US of A can read it also.
Tks

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Rob P
89RSconvtZZ4TPI Edelbrock Intake
SLP Dual Cold Air Intake 1 5/8" Headers Semi-Siamesed Runners, IROC
suspension, alum shaft. Numerous mods.
92Z28convt5spd (stock)
71Impala convt 402BB
BETTER DRIVING THRU SUPERIOR HORSEPOWER!

 

Did a couple of searches at the paper's websiteOttawa Citizen. Couldn't find the articles you mentioned.

But the idea that insurance costs are killing the ponycar market seems questionable in light of the success of the Mustang and the fact a couple of Japanese companies are looking to re-enter this segment. More likely, lack of quality and support from GM and the cost of the vehicle(a loaded Z28 goes for over $45,000(CDN) up here in the boonies). Checking eBay, I see dealerships asking over $35,000(US) for 35th SS's, touting their value when the 35th package is nothing more than paint and stickers. Funny thing is, until the official announcement of the end of the f-body, no dealers ever bothered to advertise(or even stock) their f-bodies. Vultures!!

 

Here's an OpEd piece from St. Petersburg Times". Of course the opinions expressed by the author bare small resemblance to reality. Calling the the f-bodies "gas-guzzlers" in a world increasingly populated by trucks and SUV's and, quoting rollover stats from the IIHS(a questionable source at the best of times) shows how little use this scribe has for facts. Ahh well, I wouldn't expect an informed opinion from a Taurus owner anyways.

 

Some other editorials/articles:

Auto.com- hits the nail on the head about the faults and makes good suggests for future generations. He's right about Bob Lutz(the Prez at Chrysler when the Viper, Prowler and PT Cruiser were put into production): if he can't revive the f-bodies, no-one can.

Speedvision - good fact-based writeup on the plant closure

 

Closed to lack of Thirdgen technical content.

Thanks for understanding,
Chuck