My 2 cents on the new Camaro...gotta say it

[Late BrakeU2]

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I saw the LA Auto Show edition on Monday, the 9th. With me was old Corvette racer Joe Freitas , who now owns and races the Mo Carter 69 Trans Am Camaro. We ran into fellow Camaro freak, Jon Mello who is very well know in the gen #1 circles especially with 67 Z-28'S.

We all agreed, it is a good start, especially the frame and driveline engineering. The body can be improved, and will be per the Chevrolet marketing people we met. They were very well aware who we were and were very interested in our opinions. They explained that the Cadillac XLR chassis (ala Corvette) and Chevrolets LS-2 driveline will probably be used when the car is released in 08.

It is no secret that John Heinricy and his Caddy group are running the performance section of General Motors. I think from an engineering standpoint, the concept is a good one. Chevrolet wants input from us all, so send this entire string of comments directly to the Camaro group. Your elected Charlie.........you started this. Let Scott know how we all feel. See you in Scotsdale next week!

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We could not have better person running the performance division that John Heinricy.Not only did he spearhead the CTS V and Z06 projects,he was also the fourth gen platform cheif engineer.He is an extremely talented showroom stock driver and very passionate about the Camaro-I have co driven with him and raced against him.He will get this one right,because the mustangs are very competitve in Grand Am GS cup right now..(anyone remember what happened in 66?)

I would not count on an LS7 being availible,but it will be a well balanced fun car for the 25k estimated msrp.Oh yeah,I think the car looks great!

[70Z]

Not really my .02 because I've already stated the car does nothing for me, but....

There is a webboard for local guys here that is made up mostly of younger people with 4th gen. cars, ricers, etc. and judging by the posts I'd say at least 99% of them love it. The most common word used by far to describe the car, by them, is "sexy".

I dunno, maybe GM is smarter than we think. If the young crowd buys in they've probably got a hit.

[Late BrakeU2]

Tom,
The success of the car is completely dependent on that demographic group.The era of dumped integras with grapefruit launchers is entering it's third decade-those teens are now the thirty something target market and will be looking for something less juvenile,socially acceptable,but yet performance based.While GM might respect our niche group assesment of the design,sYc members represent a very small pct of potential buyers,It's gotta be hip for the current buying influence( I knew I could stick a fork in myself when they came out with those caddy commercials ten years ago with Zepplin soundtracks) or it will be stillborn.I think they did a pretty good job paying homage to the 69..got that argent grill stuffed in there and the early second gen tails.. does any gen camaro really look like it's predecessor? Heck your beauty was designed after a Ferrari 250 berlinetta! Ford hit yet another home run with the new stang,hopefully the finished version of the camaro will have the same effect of 40 years ago.

[NCGuy68]

Welp.............if everyone wants a 'new' 69 Camaro why not buy one in the crate? They're available now and you can dump any motor, tranny, interior, etc. into it that your heart desires. They are certainly more original looking then the concept.

The other question is: Will GM be financially solvent to even build the concept in 09?

[70Z]

LateBrake,

I hear ya..It sucks getting old!

I think experience is everything. Way back when I first got a Z/28 I didn't want it because it was sexy. I wanted it because it was nasty! My mom tried everything she could to ruin that deal because the car scared her. It looked agressive. It sounded aggressive. It was agressive.

The younger people are right though. The concept car has sexy lines. And for 25K, probably as sexy as your going to get. I just don't like my "fun" cars to be pretty. I want them to scare people.

[Belair62]

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( I knew I could stick a fork in myself when they came out with those caddy commercials ten years ago with Zepplin soundtracks)

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[tirebird]

I, too, owned a 69Z back in the day,..just out of high school and heading to college. It wasn't the fastest car on the street but it was certainly the coolest. I like the new design and I think GM, as mentioned before in this thread, has to look to the future not the past. If buyers under 40, under 30, love the design, then GM is heading in the right direction. However, they shouldn't wait until 2008 to put it on the street. Tool up for it now and put it in Chevy showrooms. I know the dealers are screaming for it. Now, when is Pontiac coming out with a new, 2nd generation, Firebird?

[Born30YrsLate]

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I would not count on an LS7 being availible,but it will be a well balanced fun car for the 25k estimated msrp.Oh yeah,I think the car looks great!

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I planned on using the special GM back door...you know - a COPO...

[71-LS6]

Place the 1st & last generation Mustangs next to each other, and they look like father and son. This is true for the Challengers too. If Ford & Daimler Chrysler can do it, why can't GM? As far as what the younger guys think of the new Camaro, how many people still wear tie-dye clothes, big side burns, and striped bell bottoms? Those were all popular in 1969, but they were only fads. The 1969 Camaro was a "timeless" design. The only reason that kids today, who have tattoos, plumber's crack, and multiple piercings, aren't in 69 Camaros, is because they can't afford them. Make it look more like a 69, and start by dumping that caddy grill.