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Radar43
Joined: 30 Jan 2018 Posts: 180
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Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 5:40 pm Post subject: 1978 Season Question |
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Does anyone know why the 73/74 (single round headlights) Chevy Monte Carlo was allowed to be used in the 1977 and 1978 Season? The 1976 Chevy Laguna Type S-3 was not used during the 1978 Season. I thought that a car model was eligible to be used for three seasons. |
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Firefly
Joined: 28 Jan 2018 Posts: 810 Location: New Jersey
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Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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The 1975 model year MC had the round headlights, so it made the 3-year rule. The Laguna aero nose was outlawed for the '78 season. _________________ Bill Jobson is my real name. |
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Radar43
Joined: 30 Jan 2018 Posts: 180
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 9:26 am Post subject: 1978 Season |
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Ok the round head light Monte was built and sold in 1975. That would have made the round headlight body eligible for three years 75,76,77. They were also used in the 1978 season. Why? I seem to be missing something. What was the reason for outlawing the Laguna Type S-3 nose? Unfair advantage maybe? |
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BrianP
Joined: 28 Jan 2018 Posts: 67
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 11:48 am Post subject: |
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The ‘75 Monte Carlo might have gotten the same concession for 1978 that the ‘74 Charger did in 1977. Just a guess on my part, though.
Unless any of the round headlight Montes ran in 1978 had the 1973 rear end. In that case, I haven’t a clue. |
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Firefly
Joined: 28 Jan 2018 Posts: 810 Location: New Jersey
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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BrianP wrote: | The ‘75 Monte Carlo might have gotten the same concession for 1978 that the ‘74 Charger did in 1977. Just a guess on my part, though. |
You are correct. NASCAR waived the 3-year rule for '77 going forward.
As for the Laguna S-3, NASCAR took the aero advantage away from that Chevy, which had become the car to leave your Ford or Dodge for. NASCAR also allowed the SB Chevy engine to be the corporate motor for all GM brand race cars, which more than made up for it. The Olds 442, nearly as aero as the Laguna, was everywhere in '78. _________________ Bill Jobson is my real name. |
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Tom M. Board Moderator
Joined: 01 Feb 2018 Posts: 602
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Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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NASCAR determined that the Laguna was an "aero special" like the wing cars, Talladega, and Spoiler II and so they were ruled ineligible after '77.
As noted, NASCAR extended the 3 year rule to 4 years for all makes for '77 to give the Charger one final year of eligibility before the Magnum arrived. Then they gave everyone a 5th year of eligibility for 1980 so that the Mercury Cougar and Montego from '76 would remain eligible until the downsized cars debuted in '81. Starting at the '81 Daytona 500 the 3 year rule was back in effect. |
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Radar43
Joined: 30 Jan 2018 Posts: 180
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 9:40 am Post subject: 1978 Season |
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Good conversation and information. Thank You to everyone. |
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