Over the years, the specialized needs of NASCAR racing have given birth to some amazing street models, including the Ford Torino Talledega, Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe and Chevelle Malibu Laguna, and the outrageous, high-winged Plymouth Superbird and Dodge Charger Daytona. Now Dale Earnhardt has returned the favor inspiring a Chevrolet Monte Carlo concept car dubbed "Intimidator" which capatalizes on the success and the popularity of the Monte Carlo Winston Cup car. The styling exercise is a ground-hugging development of the 7-time Winston Cup Champion's ride, with a hefty dose of attitude mixed in which promises to give Dale and the other members of Team Monte Carlo an edge on the competition. From what we've seen, this striking shape would have the same effect on the road that Earnhardt has on the driver he's about to pass -the best action is to clear the way pronto, because this one's coming through.

On Tuesday, January 6, 1998 at Detroit's 1998 North American International Auto Show, Chevrolet turned their cavernous display to properly introduce their latest concept, the Monte Carlo Intimidator. With a heavy emphasis on Chevrolet's Team Monte Carlo NASCAR racing effort, Chevrolet brought out seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Dale Earnhardt to help introduce the car. John Middlebrook, Chevrolet General Manager, did a rundown of all the automaker's products, then quickly turned its attention to the Monte Carlo and its longstanding association with NASCAR. He was proud to point out that Monte Carlo is the winningest nameplate in NASCAR history, and didn't hesitate to take some jabs at NASCAR competitor Ford, who will be racing a 4-door sedan for the first time in NASCAR history (and taking out their crying towels when they see the Intimidator on the track). Dale Earnhardt, known as the "Intimidator" in racing circles, assisted Middlebrook in pulling the wraps off the car which is sure to give Dale and the rest of Team Monte Carlo an edge on the competition.

Exhibiting a fairly focused glimpse at the race-track styling and design cues that hint at what the next generation Monte Carlo may look like (without the deep air-dam, ground effects and taillight covers), the Earnhardt-inspired Intimidator appears to be part race car and part street car. Painted bright red with Earnhardt's #3 on the door(which can only be seen at certain angles), this front-drive concept features many NASCAR inspired additions including a highly enhanced aerodynamic body, 50-series 17-inch wheels and racing tires, Recaro racing bucket seats with Simpson 5-point harnesses, a safety cage and a specially modified 295-hp version of the production Monte Carlo's 3.8-liter V6 engine with 280 lbs.-ft of torque and a 4T65-E four-speed automatic transmission mated to it. Other modifications included are enourmous 13-inch vented and cross-drilled discs with ABS, a full perimeter tubualr steel safety cage, an on-board fire extinguisher designed to retard fire in the case of an accient, under-hood detailing, NASCAR-style side exhaust that exit on the driver's side, a fuel filler cap, and the no-nonsense white-faced racing gauges in a riveted, machine-faced aluminum dashboard supplied by GM's Performance Group. When the speeches were over, the crowd of journalists climbed onstage to see this new car and talk to the NASCAR champion. Apparently they were too popular--it wasn't too long before the stage began to collapse. No one was injured and the car was fine.

The Intimidator is part of Chevrolet's effort to revive the image of the two-door sport coupe and claim its share of car buyers left stranded by the retirement of the Ford Thunderbird. "This is much more than a design exercise," said John Middlebrook. "It's a serious performer...bad, beautiful and fast." Chevrolet predicts industrywide demand for two-door coupes will plateau at about 400,000 cars a year, said Donald Parkinson, Chevrolet brand manager in charge of Monte Carlo. "Anytime anyone wants to give me a chunk of that kind of business, I'll take it," he said. "Monte Carlo already has about 20 percent of the market, and with the Thunderbird stepping away, we see a larger segment of it for ourselves."