There has been a lot of buzz lately among the car-obsessed crowd in GTA Online. The newly released Tampa GT muscle car dropped with a striking package called “The Monarch,” and what makes it really stand out is the homage built into its livery.

Designers at Rockstar Games created the scheme with clear nods to stock-car legend Richard Petty’s No. 43 car, adding a fun piece of motorsport history to the virtual streets of Los Santos. According to the GTA Wiki, the “Monarch” paint job pays homage to Richard Petty’s #43 stock car, with hood stripes based on the original factory model.

The Tampa GT itself is already one of the most sought-after rides in the game. The Wiki entry notes that it was introduced in the Money Fronts update for GTA Online on June 26, 2025, and sells for about $1,311,000 through Southern San Andreas Super Autos.

Its design blends muscle-car styling cues from the 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX and the 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu, giving it an unmistakably retro feel. That makes the “Monarch” livery even more fitting. When players put that Petty-inspired scheme on a vintage-styled muscle car, it becomes a layered tribute that blends racing nostalgia, classic design, and gaming speed.

The homage to Richard Petty makes sense. Petty is one of the most celebrated figures in NASCAR history, and his No. 43 car, its iconic blue-and-red STP paint scheme, and his larger-than-life persona as “The King” make him a cornerstone of American motorsport culture. In GTA Online, adopting an aesthetic inspired by his car creates a bridge between virtual customization and real-world racing heritage.

What also excites players is how these custom vehicles integrate into gameplay. The Tampa GT, complete with the “Monarch” livery, joins an expanding catalogue of vehicles that can be purchased, customized, and used in races or free-roam sessions. Because of its throwback styling, it appeals not only as a performance machine but also as a statement piece.

For players who love blending aesthetics with performance, this release stands out as something special. It encourages creativity while paying respect to motorsport history. Ultimately, the story of the Tampa GT’s “Monarch” livery in GTA Online is a fascinating mix of gaming innovation and real-world racing iconography.

It’s a muscle car built for virtual high performance, dressed in a paint scheme that nods to NASCAR royalty. Whether players are into car mods, racing scenes, or simply want a show-stopping ride in Los Santos, this addition hits multiple notes. For fans of racing history, it serves as a respectful wink to Richard Petty and the golden age of stock-car racing.

Fans on Reddit have taken the conversation even further, coming up with creative and sometimes hilarious ideas inspired by the release.

NASCAR in GTA before GTA 6

One fan imagined, “They should have a side mission in GTA 6 where you get along with a mafia boss to prop up a new team to run in NASCAR, but all of that is just a cover-up to run a moonshine or drug cartel for the owners.”

While that type of two-layer narrative has not been confirmed, it perfectly matches the GTA tradition of blending criminal enterprise with real-world cultural references. Given Petty’s legacy as a “legit” racer and NASCAR’s early ties to bootlegging, the idea of combining racing heritage with underground crime storylines in a future game feels like a clever and authentic fit.

Another fan wrote, “I hope the theories of GTA 6 featuring Homestead or Daytona are true. A GTA version of the Gen 6 or Next-Gen would be amazing.” That sentiment reflects the hopes of many players who want the next GTA installment to include real motorsport-inspired locations.

Daytona International Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway are both deeply connected to NASCAR’s history, with Petty’s 1966 Daytona 500 victory still regarded as one of his most famous wins. If GTA 6 were to incorporate real tracks and authentic racing physics, it could blur the line between arcade fun and serious simulation.

The third comment gets more tongue-in-cheek: “That 48 isn’t the real 48, the 5 is the real 48. Ally wanted 48 because that is the exact percentage of Ally auto-loans that are in default.” While the financial jab is clearly a joke, it shows how seriously fans take the symbolism of car numbers and liveries. In NASCAR, a number like 43 or 48 carries legacy, and the same holds in GTA Online’s car community.

The “Monarch” livery’s respectful nod to Petty’s history has sparked conversation about brand authenticity and creative licensing. Everything about the design seems legally safe and intentionally reverent, even if some fans jokingly call it a “war-crime level” homage.

One player summed it up by saying, “Time to add this to the list of things we got before GTA 6.” That comment reflects how fans often treat every new update in GTA Online as a sneak peek at what the next major release might bring. Each new vehicle, mission, or livery serves as fuel for speculation about what GTA 6 will include. The Tampa GT’s release, with its nostalgic roots and meticulous detail, fits perfectly into that trend.

Finally, one of the most creative fan comments reads, “My pipe dream racing game is basically just the RDR2 online moonshiner missions, but you’re in a car and eventually you start racing.” This comment captures the same spirit as the earlier mafia storyline.

The fantasy of merging Red Dead Redemption 2’s narrative-driven missions with high-stakes street racing connects directly to NASCAR’s bootlegging origins and modern-day outlaw culture. With Rockstar continuing to blur the lines between narrative and gameplay, a future that combines those elements does not feel too far-fetched.

In all, the “Monarch” livery on the Tampa GT represents more than just a stylish addition to GTA Online. It’s a small but meaningful tribute to Richard Petty’s enduring legacy, one that shows how video games continue to celebrate and reinterpret real-world icons in imaginative ways.