Circle track followers, what is a metric chassis?

Been poking around some circle track stuff out of interest in the high fun to cost ratio that those cars seem to have, not interested in racing, just finding out. I keep seeing the term ‘metric chassis’ thrown about. Now, I assume at some point GM built a new chassis that was metric rather than ‘imperial’ units, but there must be more to it than that. Also I see body shells, including Ford ones for ‘metric chassis’ So what gives? Are they fundamentally different and does someone still make the basic chassis years after GM stopped making them? If not, why base cars off of Junk yard chassis? I assume enough of these cars get built someone could make a sort of homologated ‘base’ chassis that could be used for different classes?

As I say, I have no interest in circle track racing, but I do respect the ability and ingenuity of circle track racers to build what appear to be very fast machines for low $$’s. After doing the NASCAR school at MIS last year, and seeing things like that circle track F150 that was at the challenge last year, and seeing pics of circle track cars used at hillclimbs, they do seem very adaptable to different classes.

Thanks dorks.

GM G-body chassis.

78-88 GM G body cars like my Cutlasses. Besides the Cutlass there is the Monte Carlo, Regal (GN and GNX) and the Grand Prix. All of these are built off the same sized down chassis that uses mostly metric bolt but not all. They are still widely used as a base for race cars.

Heck I need to get rid of one I my spares here this summer and will offer it up to a GRMer that wants to haul it away.

The S10 used a metric chassis front end with a different rear section, as well.

http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/4342530572.html

Ive always wanted to strip an old circle track car to just the roll cage and make it a street legal road buggy, maybe some turbos hanging out of the tube frame

I had a metric chassis stock car and loved the way it looked with the stock car rims and wide rubber. I've always wanted to build a stock car look alike street legal G body.

I assume at some point GM built a new chassis that was metric rather than ‘imperial’ units, but there must be more to it than that. Also I see body shells, including Ford ones for ‘metric chassis’ So what gives? Are they fundamentally different and does someone still make the basic chassis years after GM stopped making them? If not, why base cars off of Junk yard chassis?

A lot of stock car rules, especially in limited classes, are intended to keep costs low.