Motor Trend article: MC Pace Cars & supercharged 3800 test
 

Just recently, I discovered a Motor Trend issue from 1997 that featured a bunch of special Chevy cars & trucks modified by Chevy's own Jon Moss, back in the mid- to late-'90s.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/monteca...9e6ee78760.jpg

Among them were a few 5th-gen Monte Carlos: two flashy NASCAR Pace Cars and a stealthy custom black one (seen here behind Mr. Moss), serving as a testbed for the supercharged 3800 (L67) powertrain.

That one seemed to be a mighty fast runner for having something like only 14 more horsepower, and 3 more lb/ft of torque... didn't think L67 W-bodies got that fast with just a few mods.
And I like how the article says, "Look for a somewhat more civilized blower Monte in showrooms soon". Soon, right ... as in six to seven more years!:rotfl:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/monteca...5a915f3f38.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/monteca...83901656cb.jpg


Even so, it's a pretty good issue. Fun times at Chevy back then!

Thanks for posting it, haven't read it in a long time.

A few things I thought were interesting / odd:

• The NA cars got a 4t65, but the SC car got a 4t60. Wonder why they chose to do that?
• The NA cars power seems wildly exaggerated (or the mods are way understated). High flow filter, 3" exhaust, and some GTP mufflers and it picks up 35 hp and is making almost as much as a stock L67, lol. I guess it's not something they're trying to sell the public, so they can really say whatever number they want.
• Also found the hp/tq on the SC car oddly specific.
• I'm really having a hard time spotting the 1.5" widewbody on the JM car. Maybe it's a bad pic angle or maybe it's incredibly subtle, but just looking at the reflections, it looks to be stock/ flat.