Impala -> Skyline?

[pgt892]

Damn, I really dislike the "Sports Appearance Package" that they offer for the new Chevy Impalas. The package includes a "Corvette-Inspired Rear Taillamp Treatment" which COPIES the Skyline taillights almost EXACTLY. I don't know how many times I have been driving and saw one of these from the back from about 50-100 feet away and flossed up to it only to find out it was a damn Impala. So do you think Chevy ripped off Godzilla's taillights.Here are two pics for you to decide: ImpalaGodzilla

[red240ne]

yea, i have always thought that too. everything about the Impala looks like a four door skyline. look at how that center taillight is placed too, and the rear spoiler. the trunk lid almost looks identical too. the front end of the car seems to have some similarities as well.

[89240sx]

corvette originally had round taillights... so no it wasnt a rip off

[Infamous]

corvette originally had round taillights... so no it wasnt a rip off

EXACTLY what i was going to say. end of arguement.

[Cyberkreig]

only that the corvette's lights looked nothing like that.

[Infamous]

only that the corvette's lights looked nothing like that.

i dun know about you, but i see 4 circular taillamps

theyre "corvette styled" not taken from the vette....so to me, they look nothing like skyline lights...at all

[SWIFT_DRIFT]

ITS TINO TIME!

ferrari's have round tail lights.

[89240sx]

are you blind?

[yeswepromise]

many cars have round taillights so i would have to say that no body is ripping off idead from anybody else.i will say that i have seen a few of those impalas from a distance and thought it was a skyline.

[89240sx]

fine, you want to get technical then all cars are a rip off of domestic because ford built the first production car.

[Cyberkreig]

the corvette's lights are always sunken, and often oval

[89240sx]

it doesnt matter if they were sunken or not... the fact is they had round taillights almost exactly like that first..

[Cyberkreig]

or almost nothing like that.. because the were sunken, and semi oval.

[89240sx]

and they werent always sunken and oval

http://users.techline.com/leis...e.jpg

[Cyberkreig]

no, those were much smaller, and had a definate edging. All the corvettes lights have something to separate them from the car.

clearly we arent going to agree, but IMO those lights, and the back of that car, dont make me think corvette, not even close.

[89240sx]

ya but come on man... face it, ..chevy had round taillights first..

you can be overly specific all you want to but the fact remains... chevy did it first.

[yeswepromise]

i agree with the statement that all cars are rip offs of ford. his thread is turning stupid, fast.

[Cyberkreig]

I dont know that they did it FIRST, tho it is possible.. you know better than I. I'm not gonna argue a point i dont knwo about..

but I will argue about which the impala looks more like... I dont think they stole the design, but I do think it is strikingly similar.

[pgt892]

Honesty I wasn't trying to start an argument as to who had what first. I was just trying to see if anyone had mistaken the Impala for the Skyline before. I have NEVER mistaken it for a Corvette, but everyone has a different perception.

[yeswepromise]

pgt - i have thought it was a skyline.

[89240sx]

I wasnt saying that i mistake a skyline and a vette, I was saying that everyone is saying chevy stole the taillight design from nissan which is infact untrue... not only is it untrue but its the other way around.

[pgt892]

I wasnt saying that i mistake a skyline and a vette, I was saying that everyone is saying chevy stole the taillight design from nissan which is infact untrue... not only is it untrue but its the other way around.

Right I understand, I was just stating how I have been totally excited thinking that someone was driving around in a Skyline in my neck of the woods. I think the whole who stole what from whom should be laid to rest.

[Cyberkreig]

I dont think that was an argument, more of a point counter-point. discussion.. no where did 89 decend into insulting one another..

i actualy have mistaken an impala for a skyline (or skyline converted rice).

[89240sx]

I can understand how anyone can mistake those two vehicles, it was just the point where someone mentioned it was a "rip off" that made me think... wait a second ..... didnt chevy do the round taillights first ?

thats where the debate started... and I wouldnt insult someone on here I like and respect everybody ... It just kindof caught me off guard that there are so many people that do not give props and respect to domestic... I understand that this is an import car forum but we all need to keep an open mind ...especially about design concepts... both import and domestic have contributed great design concepts in the automobile industry.

anyway sorry if i came across the wrong way

Mark

[240SXedUp]

This thread is becoming very pointless. The look very similar to Skyline tails. Ive mistaken one before. I havent since because it was the first time i saw it. They can steal the whole body design of a Skyline and it wont matter because the engine is what truely matters.I dont really think Chevy was trying to copy the design tho.

[4felix20]

last night, when i came up on that skyline i saw, i was thinking it was an impala at first because the taillights are red 'donuts'.

on a corvette, the tail lights are solid red dots.

[Tino]

ITS TINO TIME!

ferrari's have round tail lights.

so does your mom, they really brighten up my nightcap with her.

[Touchdown038]

My mom has a 2001 Impala, and I have never even considered that it looks like a Skyline.

That's probably due to the fact that there are almost no Skylines at all in the country.

[SWIFT_DRIFT]

tino I didn't attack you, I was just following in your footsteps of the one-liner posts that you are so well known for

[240SXedUp]

Haha. Ironically enough my dad came home with his new company car today... an Impala. I dont think Ive ever driven a worse car. It sucks.