http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/chevrolet-circles-vf-commodore-wagon-20130216-2ejpz.html

You're doing a good thing by making your opinion known. Stick to it, sir!

Thanks Ocn.

The truth is, I think the whole strategy indicated in the article is the polar opposite of what should have been done with these cars under the Chevy brand.

And now, at the eleventh hour, it is too late to fix.

That just saddens me.

It's quite sad, if only they would have just rebadged it as a GMC. Just think what might have been.

This means I'll have to build my own.

Unobtanium.

I have to admit it, the nose looks better on the Ute than it does on the sedan.

Still a step down from VE, but not quite so bad as I thought it would look.

Just as many have imported real R34 and R35 skyline auto's into the US, time for you to do the same and get the Ute you always wanted.

The red tape involved is a nightmare, and then the car is only quasi-legal.

Any way you look at it, it sucks.

There are a few G8 Utes in the US, I assume people ordered the bed parts, quarter panels, taillights, etc off of Australian eBay or from Aus. salvage yards or other suppliers and had a competent body shop do the cut and paste work..

Edited February 19, 201312 yr by Cubical-aka-Moltar

There are a few G8 Utes in the US, I assume people ordered the bed parts, quarter panels, taillights, etc off of Australian eBay or from Aus. salvage yards or other suppliers and had a competent body shop do the cut and paste work..

Yeah, I've seen a few of those.

I'd buy one, or build one myself if I could see my way clear to do so.

Of course GM built a number of pre-production G8STs as well. How many, and how many still survive, I have no idea.

Having one of those would be wonderful.

As it stands, I'll just end up doing a modern drivetrain etc, for my '77 El Camino instead.

A modern drivetrain, suspension upgrades, etc in a mid '80s El Camino SS would be interesting...

A modern drivetrain, suspension upgrades, etc in a mid '80s El Camino SS would be interesting...

Sure would, and the result would be closer to a modern Ute.

But I've had one of those, and like the stealth factor the '77 can provide.

A modern drivetrain, suspension upgrades, etc in a mid '80s El Camino SS would be interesting...

Sure would, and the result would be closer to a modern Ute.

But I've had one of those, and like the stealth factor the '77 can provide.

Do it with the RamJet 502! That would sure suprise people, course the LS9 Supercharged crate engine would also rock having a stealth El Camino SS!

As good as those options sound, I expect I'll have to stick with a slightly more humble powerplant.

An LS of some sort, I think.

I highly recommend the LS1

Also, Detroit Speed has upgraded suspension parts for 73-77 A-bodies. http://www.detroitspeed.com/1973-1977%20A-Body-Products/1973-1977-a-bdy-fs.html

Thanks for the link BP, but I have a full suspension kit for the car already.

As for the engine, an LS3 may be the way to go - but I'm far from certain just yet.

For simplicity's sake, The Ramjet 350 makes sense - but I'd like a bit more power.

MO' POWUH!!!

Sounds like you need to get started selling the Green Tahoe, finishing/selling the Mother Truck, finishing/selling the wagon so you can get cracking on the El Camino!

Yup.

All true.

I'm thinking 400HP would be just about right.

Not enough.

Yeah, more power is more fun.

But I want this car to be an all-purpose cruiser, so I think 400 is just about right.

What to do about transmission and rear are bigger questions.

Thanks for the link BP, but I have a full suspension kit for the car already.

As for the engine, an LS3 may be the way to go - but I'm far from certain just yet.

For simplicity's sake, The Ramjet 350 makes sense - but I'd like a bit more power.

I can appreciate that...ls FTW...

What to do about transmission and rear are bigger questions.

The Novamad is estimated at 400hp with the LS1. It's running a GM 4L60-E 4-speed automatic with radical shift kit with a TCI 4-Link Rear suspension with panhard bar and anti-sway bar, Currie Ford 9-in rear axle with 3.90:1 positraction if that helps for ideas...

Demonstration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFATvb0Fe3Y

SWEET SOUND

That's just awesome!

Ideas indeed.

Very Cool Video!

With Gas prices expected to hit $5+ a gallon this summer, I say do it as a CNG auto. 130 Octane, fuel at home and save big time for those tires you will be replacing every weekend.

If the EPA wasn't a roadblock, I likely would.