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Posted by Fbodfather (Member # 1119) on :
 
Good evening, friends.

Just got a note from a young fellow that is nuts about Camaros (hmmm..must be a lot of those around JUST LIKE ME!)

He was very humble...and very concerned that he has had to buy a used SS...and really is worried that this will be the last Camaro he will ever be able to buy with performance--and worse yet..it may be the last Camaro available. And you know...it really DOES bother me that I cannot talk about the future product offerings at General Motors. There are many reasons for this....one of which is that I love my job and do not want to get fired. But it occurs to me that we all need to go back in history to realize what is happening today...and so, I want to share my letter that I wrote to him .....with you, my Fcar friends.
So...here goes.

Dear ______,

Thank you for your note. While I would love to share future product information with you, I am prohibited from doing so. However, I offer you a history lesson that perhaps may have some bearing on the future. Forgive me if this is long...but I think you will see my point.

I was fortunate enough to grow up in my family's Chevy dealership....because I was born in the early 50's I was able to watch as the Camaro roared to life. I have had a love affair with it ever since...I could not be prouder of a car...(and yes, when I look into those headlights, I swear I can see a soul in there somewhere...but I digress....)

The Camaros from 1967 to 1971 were, in one word, ---awesome. (which, by the way...is way overused these days....) Muscle cars ruled the street. (My mother and father even had "big-block 427 Caprice wagons as demos...talk about 'sleepers!')

But...by 1972 the writing was on the wall....muscle cars were dying...and dying fast. By 1974, the Camaro Z28 had become a caricature of itself...and Chevy decided to retire the name. Fuel Economy and clean air were mandated by the federal government...along with new more stringent safety standards. The fun was over...there would never be another Z28 or SS...or fun cars that a guy or gal could own at a Chevy price.

Funny thing happened....

.....our engineers went to work.....

The Z28 reappeared in 1977. Not nearly as fast, but boy did it sound good..and wow..could it take the curves! And it looked GREAT!.


Fast forward to 1982....THIRD GEN. I will never forget seeing the 1982 Z28 for the first time...long before the public would see it. A gold coupe. I swear my heart stopped. I could not believe it. "IN -FRIGGIN -- CREDIBLE!!!"
Looks that would make people literally stop in the middle of the street. (trust me...I was driving one a couple of weeks prior to introduction...and I stopped a lot of traffic with the Navy Blue Z28 that I was fortunate enough to be driving) The sound? Pure Camaro..and the handling? As my friend Joey Red would say "Fuggedaboutit!" All this at a Chevy price.....people yelled "where do I sign up?"

Mid eighties...the 350 is back in Camaro..faster...handles better...IROC is using the cars for the race....all around better Camaro. And Look! A Convertible!

1993...the Automotive world is stunned. an LT1 Camaro. I remember one of the first commercials we ran that showed scenes from engineering rooms..showing computers...and what appears to be scientists working on some pretty sophisticated components.... the headline reads "What are we building here, a cruise missle?" ...then a Camaro comes out of the dark...."Introducing the new Camaro." The Z28 was rated at 275HP! (and remember, prior to 1972, horsepower numbers were published as "Gross Horsepower"...not "net" as has been the case since '72...) Unbelievable performance...incredible styling...unbelievable handling.....and the sound...let's just say I was "excited" and leave it at that....

1996...the men and women at SLP take the Camaro to the next level with the introduction of the Camaro SS...with over 300 hp....(let's hear it for Ed and Dave Hamburger...and Jeff Yachnin..and all the others too numerous to mention right now...)

1998...can it get any better than this? 320HP LS1 Gen III Aluminum V8....

2001 ...325 hp.....the SS gets 28mpg on trips...and it is a low-emissions vehicle....if you had told people this in 1991..they would have had you locked up...it would not have been imaginable....

2002...SLP introduces a 345hp package on the Camaro SS.....

So...you ask....is there hope? In 1974 we were convinced that performance was dead.

Look back at history. History has a way of repeating itself.

Performance is NOT dead at General Motors.

(can you say "Robert Lutz?")

You betcha there is hope!

Sweet Dreams!

The Fbodfather

[ 05 February 2002: Message edited by: Fbodfather ]


 
Posted by NATESS (Member # 982) on :
 
glad to see there is light at the end of the tunnel fbodfather. i am so proud to be an owner of a 2002 Camaro SS. glad you could be apart of that.

common....5th Gen camaro......
 


Posted by Deanne (Member # 1057) on :
 
Excellent letter Scott! I have a love affair with the first generation Camaros..started when I was 5! Took my driving lesson in a sweet 1983 IROC and finally acquired my 69 after getting out of school. I understand how the person writing you felt...is this it...our last chance..I've wondered the same thing. I still refuse to believe it is gone forever and will just hold on to that hope and your enthusiasm for the Camaro legend!

Thanks for sharing the letter. BTW..thanks for signing my legends poster at the Dallas Legends Tour a few months back. Enjoyed meeting you and listening to you talk Camaros.

Deanne
 


Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
 
Thanks Scott, and well said.
 
Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
 
Also - a bit of history - which may repeat itself.

Didn't they skip a year of Corvettes? Then came back better than before!
 


Posted by JeffY (Member # 120) on :
 
Didn't really skip a year-just started the C4 up so late that marketing was embarrssed to cal it a '83 and called it an early '84. That made the model year 1 1/2 years long.
 
Posted by Thom Mackesy (Member # 264) on :
 
That was a looong cycle. But if you get us enough horsepower, maybe we can get through it faster next time!!!
 
Posted by WD,30th SS#727 (Member # 107) on :
 
Scott,
You da Man!!!!
Looking forward to seeing you again this May in Atlanta.
 
Posted by EWB SS (Member # 148) on :
 

 
Posted by chrisL (Member # 97) on :
 
with all the Cobra hype lately, I thought we would hear from you.

thanks Scott. you da man.

it is a tough line to walk. thanks for showing us there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

BWAAAAH
 


Posted by Capster78 (Member # 1391) on :
 
hey.. dont forget about us trans am guys to
 
Posted by DanA_F99_1977 (Member # 118) on :
 
Awww shucks. As our friend Joey Red would say,
"You made me feel all squishy".

Knowing how important brand recognition is, I never had any doubt that the Camaro brand name will live. Hopefully people like Scott will be able to convince GM that it's spirit is as important as it's name!

Thanks for message Scott, it is inspiring to us Camaro lovers.
 


Posted by Machine (Member # 1138) on :
 
Thank you for the inspiring message.

I am looking forward to a definitive GM "answer" to the new mustang cobra purported spec. Maybe SLP could do a supercharger install for GM? A SS - "Supercharged Sport"
 


Posted by poSSum (Member # 119) on :
 

 
Posted by George P. Lara (Member # 1162) on :
 
Awww *sniff, sniff*, that was beautiful Scott.

Although I grew up with the so-called performance lacking 2nd gens, I still love them. In fact I love all the Z28s and before I die I WILL have one from every destinct design (three per generation). I consider myself a true Z28 (and Camaro) enthusiast for that reason. I also remember seeing my first 3rd gen, a 1982 (I was 9) and then seeing them used in the IROC races. At that point I said to myself ... that is the best Camaro ever and I will own one, one day. And yes I do own ... not one, but two 1984 L69. Recently I heard the rumors (now kinda true) that the Camaro (or F-body) was to be discontinued, due to poor sales. Well as a Camaro enthusiast I couldn't allow that to happen. So to show GM that I support the Camaro, I bought a new one. It was always a dream of mine to someday buy a new Camaro of the showroom floor. That someday was July 7th, 2001. I was never worried about loosing my life long companion (my Camaros), we've been through alot, I have confidence in those who are part of the "new" Camaro team. I wish I could have been part of it.
 


Posted by Steve da Wrench (Member # 1301) on :
 
Its great to hear from you, F-Bod father. And I am sure you helped ease some fears for people. Just waiting for that light at the end of the tunnel to get bigger and brighter, as we all know it will. By the way everybody, do as the F-Bod father has said so many times, and pick up a copy of "All Corvettes are red", and read it. Just insert the word "Camaro" everyplace that it says "Corvette", and you will get a much better understanding and appreciation of what he(f-bod father)and everybody else are going through and trying so hard to do. Keep the faith everybody.
 
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
 
That was a nice story!Thanks Scott!
 
Posted by Bello SS (Member # 1304) on :
 
Scott,

The only thing I can really say is Thank You for my hopes and dreams. And Thank You for never giving up on us.

Gino Bux
 


Posted by HTWLSS (Member # 117) on :
 
BIG HUG!!!!!!
 
Posted by Steve_Winters (Member # 128) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Fbodfather:
Good evening, friends.

< snip >

Fast forward to 1982....THIRD GEN. I will never forget seeing the 1982 Z28 for the first time...long before the public would see it. A gold coupe. I swear my heart stopped. I could not believe it. "IN -FRIGGIN -- CREDIBLE!!!"
Looks that would make people literally stop in the middle of the street. (trust me...I was driving one a couple of weeks prior to introduction...and I stopped a lot of traffic with the Navy Blue Z28 that I was fortunate enough to be driving) The sound? Pure Camaro..and the handling? As my friend Joey Red would say "Fuggedaboutit!" All this at a Chevy price.....people yelled "where do I sign up?"

< snip >

Sweet Dreams!

The Fbodfather

[ 05 February 2002: Message edited by: Fbodfather ]


Scott,
Very interesting letter. It just so happens that
I ordered a Z28 in march of 1982, in Dark Blue.

That car was a real head turner when it was new.
I drove that car until 1999 when I ordered my '00
SS. The '82 was the best handling car I'd ever
owned and when it was getting old there was no
question what I'd replace it with.

In my youth I owned a '67 Mustang with the 390. A
very fast car in a straight line, but highly unsafe
at high speeds. The '00 has more power than the
'67 and better handling and overall quality than
the '82. I now have a car that does everything well
thanks to folks like you at GM.

Keep up the good work.

PS Are you sure I can't drive the Pace Car at Indy?
 


Posted by JohnS (Member # 1073) on :
 
Let's just hope "performance" at GM will mean V8.
 


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