F-Body Europe

Q: Hello, Ann. This is Edward. I have heard some rumors that Chevrolet was going to stop the production of the Camaro. Is this true?

A: I've heard the rumors, too, Edward, and they've been duly reported in various auto media for about a year. But so far, Chevy officials refuse to formally confirm their muscle car, which hasn't had a major redesign since 1993 and has suffered from lackluster sales, is going away.

Still, a source tells me to expect an announcement in the coming weeks about the future of the Camaro, and all betting is that the 2002 model year, which marks the 35th year of the Camaro, will be the last, at least for a while.
A limited edition, 35th anniversary package will be available in the 2002 model year on some 3,000 SS Coupe and SS Convertible Camaros for the Camaro loyalists.

All anniversary cars will be in Bright Ralleye Red with wide dual stripes, and fading solid silver into a checkered flag will run the length of the vehicle from the front fascia, over the hood and onto the rear decklid and spoiler. Inside, the 35th anniversary logo will be embroidered onto the front head restraints.

Only about 3,000 Camaro SS Coupes and Convertibles will feature the 35th anniversary package.

The 35th anniversary engine is a 325-horsepower, 5.7-liter LS1 V8, available with six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

Whether and when the Camaro returns is still up for debate as Chevy's parent company, General Motors Corp., seeks to cut costs and streamline the number of car platforms it builds.
The Camaro is a rear-wheel-drive car and studies indicated it must retain its rear-drive layout in order to capitalize on its name and heritage.

But right now, sources say, there are only two rear-wheel-drive car platforms available for future products at GM—one that's used for the Corvette and another that's going into the newest Cadillac, the CTS. Neither, I'm told, is thought to be cost-effective for a Camaro-priced car. Stay tuned.


http://carpoint.msn.com/advice/news_4020279_12.asp

I've received a lot of e-mail—pro and con—about the end of production of the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird after the 2002 model year. Officials at Chevy's parent company, General Motors Corp., confirmed in late September 2001 that the two long-running rear-wheel-drive sporty cars will disappear and will be "on hiatus," with their assembly plant in Ste. Therese, Quebec, Canada, closed. However, there was no announced date of return, and GM North America president Ron Zarella has said that the Camaro name "will continue to be used" down the road. Carpoint readers had comments and questions about the phase out of the cars . . .

Q: Ann, will the announcement of the Camaro's demise affect the value of the car to current owners? Would its worth increase, decrease or remain the same? Regards, J.B. Zinn

A: Good question!

But, sorry to say, Charlie Vogelheim, editor of Kelley Blue Book, and his staff aren't looking for any big jump in value of most Camaros.

Vogelheim noted that the Camaro has been a high-volume model, so it's not exactly a rare item after all these years on the market.

Additionally, though plenty of Camaros have been available in recent years, the car has been a slow seller, which indicates demand isn't likely to push up prices. And since Camaros haven't been advertised much by Chevy in recent years, awareness has fallen off.

"There will be that core group of aficionados" who may have Camaros that have special parts on them that make them unique, Vogelheim said, adding that those models could become more valuable over time. But that's not likely to be the case for mainstream Camaros.

Although GM is mum about the Firebird's future, they are talking about the Trans Am Collector Edition, which marks the 35th anniversary of Pontiac's pony car.

Q: I read about the Camaro being discontinued. My question is about the Pontiac Firebird, which has the same basic structure as the Camaro. I heard that the Firebird could be going in the same direction as the Camaro. Is that true? I'm just dying to know. Justin

A: Pontiac officials remain mum about the future of the Firebird. They will neither confirm nor deny that Firebird production will end along with Camaro, according to Tony Sapienza, Pontiac-GMC spokesman.

The only thing that the company will discuss is the 2002 Firebird line, which includes a new Firebird Trans Am "Collector Edition" high-performance specialty vehicle. The Collector Edition includes a special paint scheme, different interior appointments, special edition emblems and the Trans AM's WS6 performance and handling package. Just 2,000 Collector Editions will be offered. They're meant to mark the Firebird's 35th year.

But it is worth noting that the Firebird and Camaro are built at the same assembly plant and share the same rear-wheel-drive platform and many components. With Firebird sales even lower than those of Camaro, it's difficult to see how the Firebird could remain in production profitably if the Camaro production ends.

Now, some comments from readers about the Camaro:

Hello, Ann. I am a proud, original owner of 1967 Camaro RS two-door convertible with V8, power windows and power top. There is nothing like this car in the world. This baby was made in Van Nuys, Calif., USA. Too bad they don't make cars like this. Aziz A. El-Farra

Ann, I have always loved Camaros. But the insurance and the overall cost has skyrocketed so fast, who cares? Brian Phillips

Ann, the Camaro has been dead since the 1970s. The American muscle car was a thing of beauty, but cheaper parts and poor manufacturing have left the Camaro looking and sounding like a worn-out story from years gone by. Take a cue from Chrysler and the PT Cruiser. If you're going to build a classic car, commit to it by building a lasting car, with a memorable design. You would probably find more people willing to pay twice the money for a re-release of the 1969 Camaro RS, rather than the design Chevy has been pushing for the past ten years. Great sportsmen retire, so should great sports cars. Tom Graf

Ann, I hope they get rid of the Camaro. It's a white-trash car. Stacy in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Ann, my first and third cars were a 1968 and 1977 Camaro, respectively. I loved both cars but became disenchanted in the 1980s when the body styles became blockish, and Camaros got heavier and longer.

The current style, unchanged since 1993, was an improvement in the design but failed to recapture the hearts of the earlier Camaro fans like the rebirth of the Mustang did.

I've just turned 40, and to appease the typical mid-life yearnings, I purchased a 1994 Honda Prelude—I'll never be a Mustang man—which I'm very happy with. And with a little tweaking, I can put a Camaro (and Mustang) away. I looked at returning to a 1968 SS, but I can't get away from the creature comforts of today's modern cars.

I hope this is a temporary departure from the world of the muscle car. But even more, I hope if the Camaro returns it returns in a big (but smaller-sized) way. Cheers, Craig Beatty

Ann, Chevrolet to end offering a Mustang rival? Please! Like the death of original formula Coca-cola, this has got to be a marketing ploy that will raise visibility and discussion to support a redevelopment of a key market position offering.

Camaros have lost their way and have become too big to keep pace without a huge motor that probably presents fleet EPA problems and limits the sale of more profitable SUVs.

Chevy can't kill the Camaro. But they can be tardy to market with a 21st century ground-up version of the classic rear-wheel-drive V8 sports car. Nothing would help the launch of such an offering more than the pent up demand and nostalgia for a lost American classic. We'll all miss it when it's gone. Even if we didn't vote with our dollars for the old version, none of us will sleep well until we know it is again available.

Top four ways to mess up such a potential rebirth/reintroduction:

4) Make it front wheel drive with swoopy lines.
3) Keep it as big and heavy as the current platform.
2) Forget the formula of fastest 0-60 mph in as few dollars as possible.
1) High Performance V6.

Seven ways to introduce it right:

7) Launch in bright blue metallic with two white stripes (American style).
6) 6-speed manual transmission.
5) Blend in mid to late 60's Camaro design language.
4) Put it on a diet; it's supposed to be a muscle/sports car.
3) Race it, on road courses, make it handle. Try GT-1 not NASCAR.
2) Don't be afraid to give it a trunk instead of a hatchback.
1) A smaller, lighter, but just as potent V8 engine (350hp-ish).
In other words, Chevy, make it a true sports car again not a straight-line, luxury speed boat. Kind Regards, John Hall.