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Drivers of the Monte Carlo SS stock car enjoyed a lot of success throughout the early and mid 1980s, but that chapter ended in 1988, the year that Bill Elliott and his Ford Thunderbird raced to the top of the rankings. The nail in the coffin came in 1989, when Chevrolet erased it from the menu.
With the demise of the mighty Monte, Chevy filled the void with a new model called the Lumina, available with two or four doors. With a six-cylinder engine powering the front wheels, the bulbous Lumina paled in comparison to the rear-wheel drive, V6- or V8-powered Monte Carlo, but that didn’t keep it from winning more than its share of NASCAR races. After a brief two-year hiatus, Chevy was back on top in 1990 with a Lumina driven by none other than Dale Earnhardt. It was a scenario that was to become familiar with NASCAR fans, as the Intimidator drove a Lumina to the championship again in 1991, 1993, and 1994. It was a great run, not only for Earnhardt and his fans, but also for Chevy and its new Lumina. The version sold to the masses stickered for between $13,000 and $14,500, with all models powered by a 135-horsepower, 3.1-liter V6 that offered 180 lb.-ft. of torque.
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