NASCAR Grand Prix car model?

Rob,
i have the feeling that this is a 'trick question'
:-)
there are no longer any Pontiac's running in Winston (Nextel, if you must) Cup.
all the Pontiac teams switched to the Monte Carlo last year, i think.
on Nascar.com they show the team running a Chevy (under 'teams')
but then the picture shows a Grand Prix.
but clicking on the driver's name shows a Chevy.
this die cast ad shows the car as a Chevy
(i think Caliber would know - their stuff is pretty accurate)
http://store.nascar.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1433258
if you click on the "manufacturers" link, they list chevy, ford, dodge & toyota (trucks)
no pontiac.

Hmmm, they must have just changed from the Grand Prix to the Monte Carlo. Here they talk about the Pontiac: http://www.army.mil/racing/html_version/nascar.htm
but on the preceding page there is clearly a photo of a Monte Carlo ARMY car.
http://www.army.mil/racing/flash_version/index.html

OK, I think the Grand Prix decals will probably go just fine over a Monte Carlo body (I hope). Can you recommend a good 2004 Monte Carlo kit?

I do not follow NASCAR, but all my small diecast collectables (1:64) of the ARMY car are Pontiac Grand Prix. My Slixx decals state they are "designed to be used on the Competition Resin 2003 Grand Prix body CR8003 and 2002 Revell Pontiac stock car kits." I made the assumption that they used the Pontiac this year too. I wasn't trying to trick anyone.

I figured that finding the Revell 2002 Grand Prix would be easier and cheaper than getting the Competition Resin body (wouldn't even know where to start to look for CR products). The 1999 Bobby Labonte car was the closest thing I found.

the nice thing w/ the Monte Carlo and having your own decals
(which should fit fine)
is that you can search for the cheapest R-M kit molded in the least offensive color.
(for me that's white)
because unless they have changed a long standing practice, R-M tends to mold their cup cars in the predominant body color.
so a kit of the Bud #8 may be molded in red!
check the box, it usually says on it.

and of course look for a kit of a current car.
i don't think there have been any significant canges in the Monte (or R-M's kits!)
in a few years, but if you go back too far, they may be missing some of the 'new'
features (maybe a roll cage change w/ a new bar, or the roof rails or something)

Rob,

The short answer to your question is that no one made a styrene body for the 03 Pontiac and it was not used in on the Cup circuit in 04, so there won't be an 03 body out. You can get an accurate resin body from Slixx for about $30. There were some major changes in the Pontiac in 03, so your decals may not fit as well on the 99 style body. Racescale (avail @bsrrep.com) will have '04 Chevy Army decals later this year or early next.

If you have any other questions or comments, let me know, I build a bit of NA$CAR and will be happy to help, especially since your postings in the past have helped me a lot.

Always out front

Doug

Thanks for your help. I may try to force the 03 decals onto the 99 GP and just do an 04 Monte when those decals come out. I want to add these cars to my #7 Desert Storm T-bird.