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Defending the Camaro

Source: Globe and Mail
August 29, 2006
DAVID W. PATERSON
vice-president, corporate and environmental affairs, General Motors of Canada

Oshawa, Ont. -- Jeffrey Simpson's column regarding the great news that GM will invest $740-million to build the new Camaro in Oshawa contained some unfortunate inaccuracies (Where's The Camaro Muscle In Fighting Climate Change? -- Aug. 25).

GM's new vehicles, (including the Camaro when it launches in 2009) have so dramatically reduced smog-causing emissions that today, if Mr. Simpson burns a cord of wood in his fireplace, he will generate more smog emissions than a fleet of 10 Chevy Camaros over their entire practical lifetime.

And while GM has not yet announced engine specifics for the Camaro, other GM sports cars such as the Chevy Corvette today achieve exceptional fuel economy, approaching 37 miles per Imperial gallon on the highway (7.6 litres per 100 kilometres).

Furthermore, following our industry's voluntary agreement to reduce greenhouse gases from our vehicles by 5.3 million tonnes by 2010, new GM technologies like active fuel management, flex fuel E85 and our new hybrid engines are being deployed in Canada with great benefit for saving fuel and reducing emissions.

Rather than unfairly slamming our products and the auto workers of Durham Region who make them, Mr. Simpson might consider that the Oshawa-made flex-fuel Chevy Impala, running on E85 ethanol from Ottawa-based Iogen Corp., generates more than 35 per cent less net carbon dioxide than the smallest hybrid cars sold in North America today.

The 1967 Camaro complete shells are coming

Dynacorn Classic Bodies, Inc. has teamed up with American Muscle Cars and the SPEED TV show Chop, Cut and Rebuild to build a 1967 Chevy Camaro Indy Pace Car Hardtop Custom!

It all started with teh 1969 Camaro bodies, then the classic 1957 Chevy Convertible, now the one that started it all, a 1967 Camaro hardtop shell will soon be available for purchase.

While these complete replacement shells have sparked some controversy regarding authenticity and fraud down the line, we all knew it wouldn't be long before things like this would be available in the reproduction circuit.

You can see the complete buildup on an upcoming eposides of Chop, Cut and Rebuild on SPEED TV. For now, visit the American Muscle Cars website for a gallery of images.

2006 Camaro Firebird Invasion


September 14-16, we welcome back the “F-Bodies” and their owners for a great event filled with seminars, auto crossing, car shows, road tour excursions to some of the regions historic attractions, banquet and auction, and more!

Some of the Greatest F-cars and their owners from around North America will be in attendance along with displays featuring GM Concept Cars and Historic F-cars.

Early bird arrivals can take advantage of tours to Diamond Caverns and the Bourbon Heritage Center . These extraordinary excursions are “drive your own” and will take you on an adventurous back road tour through the Kentucky country side. Lunch is included as part of these activities and space is limited to be sure to add this to your registration. Guests can take a tour of the Corvette Assembly Plant and Museum and enjoy a “free” scenic road tour through beautiful Kentucky farmland as part of the planned fun!

Friday kicks off with informative seminars in the Chevrolet Theater and a silent auction filled collectibles. Participants can also sign up to enter their car in a Judged car show and be a part of the Camaro/Firebird group photo for participants only.

Saturday morning begins with a poker tour sponsored by Z28.com and autocross at the Trace Diecast Lot – limited to only 40 participants. Be sure to add this to your registration. GM presentations by Scott Settlemire are scheduled in the Chevrolet Theater and a scenic road tour in the late afternoon will wrap up the day's festivities to get everyone ready for the banquet and auction at the Sloan Convention Center . Seating is limited and participants are in store for a wonderful dinner and an evening of mingling with friends prior the excitement of the auction. You don't want to miss a chance to bid on some wonderful collectibles. If you have plans for dinner in Bowling Green , you can still be a part of the auction – doors to the auction will open at 8 p.m.

What makes the Camaro and Firebird event so special – it's “the people.” Join us for an event that will thrill you and fill you with all you want to know and see about F-cars. Meet old friends and make new ones and register now to be a part of it all.

For all of the information visit the National Corvette Museum website

GM makes major U-turns

Source: The Chronicle Herald
IT’S BACK to the future for automaker giant General Motors.

In a series of major U-turns by the struggling car manufacturer, GM will revive a car once considered obsolete, build it in an Ontario car plant once targeted for drastic downsizing and put back on the sales lot a vehicle once considered a serious gas-guzzler, just as consumers focus on buying cars that use less petrol. Go figure.

GM has announced plans to restore the Chevrolet Camaro to its product line, starting with the 2009 model year. The Camaro was a popular brand name for 35 years, from its introduction in 1967 to 2002. But GM put the brakes on production of the sporty vehicle after a prolonged sales slump brought about by lessening interest in the dated, fuel-hungry model.

The death of the Camaro four years ago triggered the layoff of 1,000 employees and the closure of the company’s only manufacturing plant in Quebec, at St. Therese outside of Montreal. The new Camaro will be built at GM’s existing operations in Oshawa, where only last fall it was announced one of two plants would close by 2008.

GM will invest $750 million in its Oshawa operations at a time when it’s shutting down plants and laying off workers elsewhere to keep the company afloat. The federal and Ontario governments have already invested $435 million in GM, money both levels of government are now claiming helped ensure the revived Camaro will be built in Canada.

Credit must also go to organized labour. The skills of Canadian Auto Workers members over the years have given Oshawa products high marks for quality, but agreement by some 2,500 senior CAW members to take early retirement helped clinch the deal and assure a future for younger workers.

If reviving a once-discarded brand and building it in a once-doomed plant aren’t dramatic enough U-turns, consider the fact GM is reviving a muscle car at a time when small vehicles with less torque and better gas mileage are big sellers. Yet GM is being a follower, rather than a leader. Other carmakers already have similar cars rolling off their assembly lines. A redesigned Mustang, based on the 1960s version, is a runaway best seller, while Daimler-Chrysler is putting a revived 1960s-style Challenger back on the road. Retro is definitely in when it comes to cars, given the roaring success of VW’s revived Beetle, BMW’s resurrected Mini, along with copycats PT Cruiser (from Daimler-Chrysler) and GM’s HHR.

Don’t blame General Motors for the return of the muscle car: They’re only trying to keep up with the competition, whose retro vehicles are already rushing out the showroom doors. Bringing back the Camaro may not save GM, but it’ll make a lot of sports car fans very happy.

Camaro only the beginning for GM

Souce: Chicago Tribune - Jim Mateja


CHICAGO -- The Chevy Camaro isn't the only new car coming from General Motors in the next couple years.

The Camaro reportedly will be joined by the Pontiac G8, a companion to the next-generation GTO due for 2009, as well as high-performance Chevy Impala and Buick sedans.

All will be derived from the same midsize, rear-wheel-drive platform.

Camaro and its companions will put a little more emphasis on the days of the high-performance, high-styled American muscle cars of the '60s and '70s and should attract baby boomers who didn't have the dough at the time to take part.

"It's exciting. All of these cars should rejuvenate the car business at GM," according to John Wolkonowicz, senior analyst for Global Insight, who closely follows GM's product strategy. "This is exactly what Detroit should be doing."

The Camaro will be in showrooms early in the 2009 calendar year. It will mark the return of the sporty car from the '60s that got emasculated in the '80s, when federal fuel economy regulations shifted attention to mileage, not fun, and put the focus on Japanese machines.

"The domestics have lots of blue-collar fans who love Chevy, Ford and Dodge but have been left out in the cold for a long time. They want cars with an American flavor and American muscle -- Charger, Challenger, Camaro, Mustang -- a heritage the Japanese don't have," Wolkonowicz said.

Bringing back performance when consumers want high mileage could be a tough sell, and GM has to bring out some high-mileage small cars, too, Wolkonowicz admits. "But this isn't about cars with large V-8s consuming lots of fuel. High-performance doesn't have to mean bad fuel economy," he said.

While consumers are captivated with how much fuel gas/electrics can save, the hybrid Toyota Highlander with a V-6 gets 27 mpg on the highway. But, he said, the Chrysler 300C with a Hemi V-8 gets 27 mpg and the Chevy Impala with a V-8 gets 28 mpg highway.

And most Camaros, like Mustangs, will be built with V-6s for those who want the look and more than 30 mpg on the highway.

"You want better mileage? Get out of an SUV that gets 18 mpg highway and into a sports sedan that gets 28 mpg and you've accomplished something -- 10 mpg better fuel economy," Wolkonowicz said.

Of course, you'd do even better getting into a 38 mpg Toyota Corolla.

"But it's still a free country, and we can drive what we like and not what fuel-economy activists want us to drive," he said.

If the Impala makes the switch from front-wheel-drive, it may signal the departure of its companion Monte Carlo coupe. Stay tuned.

Look what muscled its way out of history

Source: Times Online - Jay Leno

August 27, 2006

When I was growing up in a small town in Massachusetts, there were no sports cars. Nobody had seen a Ferrari. Occasionally a Corvette might come through town, but it was the type of thing where we’d hang around the local McDonald’s or Dairy Queen until about 11pm. Then you’d get home and somebody would call you and say, “Oh you should have stayed another 15 minutes, a Corvette went by!” And you’d be like, “Nnooo! I missed it!” Because you didn’t see those type of cars.

At that time in our town the workers would drive a Galaxie, the middle manager would drive the Ford Galaxie 500, and the boss would drive the Ford Galaxie 500 XL. And that was sort of the range of cars that you had. Almost everybody had a four-door or a station wagon. If a guy had a two-door he was probably a bachelor. You’d see an occasional MG, maybe a few oddball English sports cars but for the most part that was it.

That all changed when the Ford Mustang came out on April 17 1964. That was a real American version of a sports car. It was followed by the Chevy Camaro and the Pontiac Firebird. These had such an impact because they were reasonably practical cars that middle-class people could buy.

At the time, and this shows you how provincial Boston was, there was a bestselling book called Sex and the Single Girl by Helen Gurley Brown. And Mustang had an ad — they were trying to sell six-cylinder Mustangs to secretaries — and the ad was “Six and the Single Girl”. The Boston newspapers wouldn’t publish it because they thought it was too racy.

These were the high-performance cars of my youth because a Ferrari or a Lamborghini were cars you’d see only in magazines. But you could come close to the performance with the Camaro or the Mustang. There’s a whole range of cars that have a connection with people of my generation; they raced them, they made love in them, they got married in them.

The Camaro was always a little bit more sophisticated than the Mustang. The Mustang came out first so the Camaro had to be a little better. They had the IROC and Z28 versions, plus the Camaro had the Corvette thing to play on a little bit. It was like the little brother to the Corvette so consequently you could get a Camaro with a Corvette engine in it....

See the rest of the article here - Times Online

Racing Legends Team Up to Lead Detroit Muscle


Thursday August 10, 3:56 pm ET

HOLLY, Mich., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Racing legends and pioneers Rick Dyer, Pro-Street World Champion, and Danny Scott, NMCA and NSCA Champion, have teamed up to lead Detroit Muscle's custom car design and manufacturing studios. Until today, no other company has been successful pairing the strength and accuracy of a Tier 1 supplier with the excitement of a powerful aftermarket company. This proven management team will lead Detroit Muscle's efforts in custom car builds, car care products, performance parts, and much more.

Founded in 2004 by aftermarket executives LJ Lobsinger, Jr. and Darren Hamilton, Detroit Muscle first captured the enthusiasm of racing fans everywhere with its "100% Pure" logo emblazoned on trackside hats, work shirts, jackets, and t-shirts. In 2005 Detroit Muscle teamed up with Tier 1 giant, CMI-Schneible Group, to begin building custom high performance cars and motorcycles. Founder LJ Lobsinger says, "CMI's understanding of the latest technology gives us an added level of safety and reliability in our custom car building program."

Taking 1st place awards at this year's Autorama show for the trick 1940 Ford Panel Truck design complete with GPS, leather lumbar seats, and an attention to detail unlike any other, the award-winning Detroit Muscle design team continues to capture industry attention with custom car builds, industry- first products like the patented Rejex® automotive barrier, and the expanding line of apparel including the hot new women's line

For more information contact: Detroit Muscle USA, LLC, Dept PR 82006, 209 Elm Street, Holly, MI 48442, USA. Phone: (248) 634-8134, Fax: (248) 634-8135, or on the web at http://www.DetroitMuscleUSA.com

Is the Camaro a muscle car?

The article below was written my Gerry Malloy of the Toronto Star. I promptly sent a message to Mr. Malloy, informing him his definition of a 'Muscle Car' needs some research.

While the Mustang and the Camaro of the 1960s are considered Pony Cars, it was the high performance powertrains that were available that made the Muscle Cars. The press has gone crazy since Camaro production was announced on August 10th, could they actually be running out of things to write about?

-- Joe

Here is the article --

Since when is Camaro a muscle car?

The mainstream media, print and electronic, have been overwrought this week with news of the Camaro's resurrection at Oshawa.

But almost without exception, they have been hailing it as the rebirth of the "muscle car." Since when is a Camaro a muscle car?

I was there for the birth of both genres and there was no confusion back then as to what was what.

The muscle car was born in 1964 in the form of the original Pontiac GTO. Almost concurrently the Mustang was born, and with it the "pony car" genre.



The Camaro is a charter member of that latter club, which also came to include such vehicles as the Plymouth Barracuda, Pontiac Firebird, Mercury Cougar, Dodge Challenger and AMC Javelin.

They were all "compact" cars by that era's standards, with a sporting bent that tilted more toward all-round performance, including handling, than to sheer brute force.

They all offered V8 engines, but they were primarily small-blocks, and they earned their performance creds on the road-racing tracks of the day.

Muscle cars were bigger — mid-size cars — with big-block engines, typically in the range of 400 cubic inches (6.6 litres) and up. In addition to the GTO, they included such examples as the Chevelle SS, Dodge Super Bee, Plymouth Roadrunner and many more.

Their raison d'ĂȘtre was the drag strip, not the road course, or even the winding sideroad. They were torque-rich, straight-line missiles, waiting to be launched.

I will admit that there was some muddying of those crystal-clear waters of distinction. By the end of the 1960s, more than a few big-blocks found their way into pony cars, and they too were more at home at the drag strip than anywhere else. But they were aberrations of their pony car personas. Not muscle cars. And so it remains.

So says the curmudgeon. —Gerry Malloy

The Camaro Concept Car: The Critics' Choice

Source: Medialink
August 25, 2006

BUSINESS WIRE -- It may have been the worst kept secret in Detroit. Would General Motors green light the Camaro concept car that wowed industry insiders at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit? Well, now it's official -- GM will build the Chevrolet Camaro.

Click HERE to see the video

Many in the automotive industry will tell you the Detroit automakers have one distinct advantage over the rest of the world -- and that's history. Nameplates like Mustang, Corvette and Challenger were synonymous with automotive excitement before anyone in America had heard of Honda or Nissan. But, that also adds pressure when bringing back a hallowed name. So far, the reaction to the Camaro has been as good as any company could hope.

GM hopes to bring the Camaro to market in early 2009.

Mid-Michigan Camaro Club awaits new version



source: abc12.com

MID MICHIGAN (WJRT) - (08/23/06)--General Motors Corp. recently announced the return of the legendary Chevrolet Camaro.

The revival of the name and the retro-look sports car that will bear it has those who've loved Camaros of the past barely able to contain themselves.

To members of the Mid-Michigan Camaro Club, the Camaro is king. So club members jumped at a chance to see some video of the Camaro that will go into production late in 2008.

The new Camaro will feature a small block V-8 with 400 horsepower. Members of the Mid-Michigan Camaro Club say that should get the job done.

Around the world, there are more than a thousand Camaro clubs and the new Camaro has everybody talking.

GM produced 4.8 million Camaros between 1967 and 2002. The next generation of the muscle car will be made in Oshawa, Ontario.

The price of the new Camaro hasn't been released, but it's expected to be competitive with the Ford Mustang. Camaro lovers are starting to put away some money for the big day.

Waiting two and a half years for the next Camaro to roll down the street is going to seem like forever for Camaro lovers. For more on Mid-Michigan Camaro Club, you can click here.

Camaro roars into town

source: durhamregion.com
Aug 22, 2006 -- By Izabela Jaroszynski

Enthusiasts applaud return of Chevy muscle car

OSHAWA -- For Tami and Paul Hamilton having the Chevrolet Camaro built in Oshawa is a dream come true.

The Oshawa couple has owned their 1969 Camaro for 11 years and can hardly wait for the new model to come off the assembly lines in their own hometown.

"Its a great muscle car," Ms. Hamilton said. "It has a great history behind it."

First produced in 1967, the Camaro quickly became an American classic. In its 35-year history, General Motors produced nearly 4.8 million units of the Camaro. Originally built in the now-demolished GM plant at Ste. Therese, Quebec, the car was discontinued in 2002 because of slumping sales.

But for enthusiasts like Mr. Hamilton, the Camaro obsession has never faded.

"I've always loved the car," he said. "People were devastated when they stopped producing it and are anticipating its return. I think it will sell well. People have been waiting for this."

And Mr. Hamilton is certainly not alone with his love of the Camaro. More than 1,000 Camaro clubs exist around the world and thousands of Camaro-inspired websites pay homage to the sports coupe on the Internet. According to GM, some consumers have already sent in certified cheques in hopes of placing early deposits.

When he made the announcement last week that GM will bring back the Camaro, CEO Rick Wagoner said the enthusiastic response from consumers reminds him of the iconic place GM products have in customers' hearts.

"Camaro is much more than a car," he said. "It symbolizes America's spirit and its love affair with the automobile."

Ron Elliott, a truck plant employee and owner of a 1969 black Camaro classic, says having the car built in town will be a great boost to the economy and will get people excited about the GM brand.

"These cars are very special," he added.

According to GM, the new Camaro will be nearly identical to the concept car unveiled to rave reviews in January 2006 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where it was named best in show.

The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport coupe will feature an independent rear suspension, and owners will be able to choose between manual or automatic transmission and V-6 or V-8 engines.

And while some are concerned that a sports car runs counter to the current consumer trend of buying smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, GM's David Paterson is not worried.

The vice-president of corporate and environmental affairs says that new technology, like the fuel-management systems currently being used in many GM vehicles, show that cars can be both powerful and fuel-efficient.

"All the new technology that's helping us to drive great fuel economy right now is all available to us to put into this vehicle," he said. "Already with the Corvette, it has absolutely excellent fuel economy and yet is one of the most powerful cars on the road today. So you can have both and we will have both (in the Camaro)."

Production of the car is expected to begin in late 2008 and it will go on sale in early 2009.

"It's so exciting that the comeback model will be 2009," said Ms. Hamilton. "It will be nice to have the '09 with exactly 40 years between it and our 1969 version."

Would you like to buy a new 1957 Chevy?


First Dynacorn Classic Bodies Inc. brought us new/reproduction shells to restore your 1969 Camaro. Now Detroit based C.A.R.S Inc. is bringing you the classic 1957 Chevy Convertible!

With the official announcement at the 2006 Woodward Dream Cruise, All of the '57 Chevy Convertible bodies built by CARS Inc. start with an original '57 Chevy Cowl (dash, A-pillar and firewall). The remaining panels will be direct replacement reproduction sheet metal. This allows C.A.R.S. inc to keep the original VIN number intact retaining the original/restored classification.

Visit their website for more information as well as many more images: www.1957chevybody.com

Camaro means economic boom for Oshawa

Experts say impact will be substantial

Source - durhamregion.com
Aug 22, 2006 - By Jillian Follert


OSHAWA -- They won't speculate on hard numbers just yet, but experts agree this week's announcement that GM's new Camaro will be built in Oshawa translates to a major economic boost for the city and the region.

"The economic implications are huge," said Pat Olive, commissioner of economic development and tourism for the Region of Durham. "It takes the uncertainty away. By bringing flexible manufacturing here, it will allow other units to be built with that same process. This is just the start."

The new product and the conversion of Oshawa's Plant No.1 and 2 into a flexible manufacturing facility, are the result of a $740 million investment from GM.

Last fall, the automaker sent shock waves through the city when it announced plans to close Oshawa's Plant 2 and eliminate the third shift at Plant 1, cutting more than 3,000 jobs.

While union officials won't say how many of those might be rescued as a result of the Camaro program, some have estimated as many as 2,700.

According to Gerald Fedchun, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturer's Association, it also means local manufacturers will be in a good position to win contracts to build the new Camaro parts, because of their close proximity to the plant.

"Without this, that plant would be closed. Now they have a product that will be around for a long time, it's an impact that will measure in the billions," he estimated. "You can't get much better than this."

Also enthusiastic about the economic spin-off potential was Chis Buckley, president of CAW Local 222, which represents Oshawa's GM employees.

"This is a great day for our members in the Local 222, not only in the car plants but in the parts sector as well. You need to remember that for every one assembly job we have in the autoplex, it creates another 7.5 outside," he explained. "All the details at this point we don't have firmed up but I do know this will help secure jobs in the auto parts industry as well."

Production of the new Camaro will begin in 2008, with the vehicles scheduled to hit showrooms in the first quarter of 2009.

How the Camaro ended up back in Canada

Source: The Globe and Mail -- GREG KEENAN
Tuesday, August 22, 2006

OSHAWA, ONT. — When Chris Buckley saw the blizzard of media coverage about the rebirth of the Chevrolet Camaro in January, he knew it was time to shift into high gear.

"As soon as there was a hint that they [General Motors] were thinking of putting it into production, that's when I started lobbying to have it come here," Mr. Buckley, president of local 222 of the Canadian Auto Workers union, said yesterday.

His lobbying and major changes in work rules, approved by members of the local, paid off yesterday when General Motors of Canada Ltd. confirmed it will spend $740-million to build a new, flexible assembly plant in Oshawa that will start cranking out a modern version of the iconic sports car late in 2008.

But those were far from the only factors that led parent General Motors Corp. to choose Oshawa and save a large proportion of the 3,900 jobs that were put on the chopping block in November.

That month, the auto maker announced a continent-wide restructuring that included the closing of one Oshawa car plant and the elimination of a third shift of production at the other factory.

The Ontario government had strong leverage with the company because it had not signed a final deal with GM for $235-million in financial support that had been announced in March, 2005.

The government was prepared to cut that amount by $70-million unless GM agreed to build a leading-edge, flexible assembly plant in Oshawa, keep the third shift working, and give Oshawa a mandate for a new product, Economic Development Minister Joe Cordiano said yesterday.

While those negotiations went on, Mr. Buckley made his first breakthrough in Detroit in February, when he and CAW president Buzz Hargrove met with then-GM Canada president Michael Grimaldi and senior officials of GM Corp.

The union leaders said assembling the Camaro in Oshawa would make perfect sense.

The GM executives responded that they wanted to talk to the union about a "competitive" labour deal that would help reduce costs in Oshawa.

"General Motors had quite a shopping list and they didn't get it all," Mr. Buckley recalled yesterday.

But by early March, the two sides had reached a deal that allowed the company to outsource maintenance positions and the jobs of a CAW construction crew in Oshawa.

They also agreed to give up a few minutes of relief time, which may seem trivial, but doing so allowed the company to keep its assembly lines running a few extra minutes a day.

Mr. Buckley and other local 222 leaders in Oshawa took some heat from their members for agreeing to the deal, but the rank-and-file workers eventually approved it on March 4.

"I think it played a big role in demonstrating to General Motors that we understood the state of the company and the state of the industry," Mr. Buckley said.

Behind the scenes, governments were telling GM officials that the company owed Canada a new product mandate because they had announced in March, 2005, that they were prepared to put up $435-million in total for the company's Beacon Project.

The Ontario government signed a final agreement with GM in late March of 2006.

The City of Oshawa also swung into action, Mayor John Gray said yesterday.

GM requested that Oshawa eliminate its large industrial companies tax and allow the company to pay the regular industrial rate.

Oshawa city council agreed in April, but had to convince the region of Durham to go along with the plan.

There was a bit of a battle over that, Mr. Gray said, but regional politicians eventually agreed as well.

Auto industry consulting firms J.D. Power and Associates and Harbour Consulting did their bit in June when they declared that the Oshawa plants produced the highest-quality cars in North America in the most productive plants.

All those elements set the stage for the announcement by GM chairman Rick Wagoner earlier this month that Camaro would go ahead.

At yesterday's ceremony, Mr. Cordiano, Mr. Hargrove and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty arrived at the unveiling in vintage Camaros.

Camaro: Made in Canada

Highly ranked Oshawa plant to build muscle car
BY JOE GUY COLLIER - Detroit Free Press

August 22, 2006

The Chevrolet Camaro revival of an American muscle car is headed to Oshawa, Ontario.

General Motors of Canada announced Monday that the GM Oshawa Car Assembly Plant will make the 2009 Camaro. GM will spend $660 million to convert the plant to a flexible manufacturing facility capable of producing the new car.

The return of the Camaro, cancelled in 2002, is highly anticipated by auto enthusiasts. Production at Oshawa is to begin in 2008 with the vehicle coming to market in early 2009

Oshawa's selection comes as no surprise, said Michael Robinet, vice president of global forecast services for CSM Worldwide, an automotive consulting firm in Northville.

Oshawa routinely ranks as one of the most efficient auto plants in North America in the annual Harbour Report. It currently makes the Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, the Buick Lacrosse and the Pontiac Grand Prix. The Camaro will be built off a new rear-wheel-drive platform.

"Oshawa has had a good track record in the past for launching key platforms for General Motors," Robinet said.

He said the Camaro could be the beginning of a string of good news for Oshawa, as other new vehicles will surely follow. "You can't look at this just as the Camaro," Robinet said. "You just don't put one vehicle into this plant. They're going to be putting a host of vehicles into this facility and the Camaro is just the first one off this platform."

GM executives have billed the new Camaro as a way to help the company reconnect with its U.S. muscle-car roots, which may make the choice of a Canadian plant sound odd.

But the Camaro has Canadian ties, too. From 1993 until its final run in 2002, the Camaro was built in Ste. Therese, Quebec, outside Montreal. That plant has been closed.

"Oshawa's selection to build the new Camaro is a tribute to our employees' reputation for the industry's best quality and productivity and further evidence of the exciting comeback happening at GM today," Arturo Elias, president of GM Canada, said in a statement.

Camaro production to return to Canada

Once again the Chevrolet Camaro will be assembled in Canada, this time in Oshawa!

Souce: Reuters
TORONTO (Reuters) - GM Canada said on Monday it will build the new Camaro at its plant in Oshawa, Ontario, where workers earlier this year agreed to job cuts to try to secure production of the reborn muscle car.

The automaker said production of the Camaro, a classic muscle car of the 1960s and 1970s, is scheduled to begin in late 2008 with sales expected in the first quarter of 2009.

General Motors of Canada said changes to its Oshawa plant, which will include a new flexible production line, will cost C$740 million ($661 million).

"The Oshawa car plant has been selected as the plant to manufacture one of GM's most celebrated new vehicles, the Chevrolet Camaro," GM Canada president Arturo Elias said in his announcement that Oshawa had won the contract.

Earlier this year, workers at Oshawa, members of the Canadian Auto Workers union, agreed to 2,500 early retirements to trim operating costs at Oshawa, which is about an hour's drive east of Toronto.

GM expected to announce new Camaro for Oshawa plant Monday

August 18, 2006 - Canadian Press

OSHAWA (CP) - GM Canada, senior government officials and union leaders plan a news conference Monday for a "major automotive announcement," expected to be the new Chevrolet Camaro muscle car the automaker plans to revive in 2008.

GM announced Friday it will hold a news conference at its main Oshawa car plant Monday morning, raising speculation the company will confirm widespread industry rumours that the Oshwawa plant has won the competition to build the new Camaro.

The expected move comes after the Canadian Auto Workers union agreed to 2,500 early retirements to reduce the workorce and operating costs in Oshawa, Ont., to secure the rights to produce the new vehicle.

The 2,500 early retirement packages could save Oshawa's No. 2 auto plant, which had been slated for closure in 2008. If the plant gets the Camaro work, it could stay open, saving about 2,700 jobs, analysts say.

The three GM vehicle plants in Oshawa employ slightly less than 12,000 workers.

The latest version of the Camaro has been the source of speculation since it was unveiled at the Detroit International Auto Show in January to rave reviews. GM discontinued production of the muscle car in 2002, which left 1,000 workers at a Ste-Therese, Que., plant out of work.

That plant was demolished to make way for a shopping centre.

Last year, the federal government joined with Ontario to invest $435 million in the company's Ontario auto plants. Part of that money is helping to make the plants more flexible so they can accommodate the production of numerous models.

Earlier this month, GM Corp. CEO Rick Wagoner announced the decision to bring back the Camaro in a move the company (NYSE:GM) hopes will attract younger buyers as well as appeal to its traditional customers who want to roar down the highway.

Wagoner said the new version of the Detroit icon will appeal to car enthusiasts, yet be more fuel efficient and sophisticated than the 1969 version on which it is loosely based.

The new rear-wheel-drive car, with more aerodynamic styling than its predecessor, will hit showroom floors early in 2009. It will have automatic and manual transmissions and six-and eight-cylinder engine options to appeal to many buyers, he said.

The decision to build a car that harkens back to GM's heyday comes as the company struggles in a market beset by foreign competitors. The company lost $3.2 billion US in the second quarter alone, due mainly to employee buyouts and other restructuring costs. Its July sales were off 22.2 per cent from a year ago, led by declining demand for pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles.

GM officials say the Camaro is one piece of its plan to bring vehicles to market that people want.

The automaker expects to sell 100,000 Camaros a year, less than the remade Ford Mustang, which was the Camaro's chief competitor from the 1960s through the end of its run in 2002. Ford Motor Corp. sold about 101,000 Mustangs through July of this year.

Production of the Camaro follows the Mustang and DaimlerChrysler AG's Challenger as the domestic automakers turn to nostalgia to rekindle enthusiasm for their brands.

But the muscle cars go on sale as buyers are turning to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars and hybrid vehicles to combat gas prices that some say could rise as high as $4 US per gallon, about $1.08 a litre.

GM's Chevrolet division first introduced the Camaro in 1967.

Wagoner to meet with media at Woodward Cruise

Source: Detroit Free Press

General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner is scheduled to talk with media this afternoon at a Royal Oak diner along Woodward Avenue.

On the eve of the Woodward Dream Cruise, the GM chief is expected to answer questions about the Chevy Camaro, expected for release in early 2009. Chevy General Manager Ed Peper also is scheduled to be on hand.

As GMss turnaround plan has taken shape, Wagoner has taken a more public role in talking about the cost-saving efforts and new products, such as the Camaro, which the company hopes will spur sales.

Challenger vs. Camaro - game on!

Remember the stories of a woman posing nude on the Dodge Challenger concept car during the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit? We still believe Chrysler fabricated that story to take away some of the press GM was getting on the Camaro. It didn't help much...

On the Challenger's day in the spotlight on Woodward in Royal Oak, guess who shows up uninvited to the party ... a rival from the 1970s named Camaro

August 16, 2006
Source: Detroit Free Press / JOE GUY COLLIER

Conspiracy or coincidence?

During a Chrysler Group news conference Tuesday showcasing the Dodge Challenger concept, a General Motors Corp. truck drove by with two Chevrolet Camaro concepts in tow.

The original Challenger and Camaro were rivals in the 1970s. The Challenger returns in 2008; the Camaro in 2009.

After the cars crossed paths Tuesday morning on Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak, Jalopnik.com, a popular auto Web site, declared: "The Muscle Car Wars Are On!" The event took place just days before the Woodward Dream Cruise, a moving shrine to muscle and classic cars.

Jason Vines, Chrysler's head of communications, stoked the controversy with a quick reply on the Web site.

"Notice the two Challengers, including the concept-to-be-production-in-'08, drove into our event while the two Camaros had to be towed," Vines said.

The folks at GM claim they weren't trying to upstage the Challenger: The Camaro concepts were simply being moved between two scheduled appearances of their own on Woodward.

"It was completely coincidental," said Chevy spokesman Travis Parman.

And, yes, Mr. Vines, the Camaros can be driven, Parman responded. Under its own power, a Camaro was driven at Detroit's North American International Auto Show in January and an unveiling last week in Warren.

"We're happy to remind Jason Vines that the engine roared quite nicely," Parman said.

Vines wasn't buying it.

"They can say their lame stunt was an accident," he said.

The production Challenger still will be available to the public ahead of the Camaro, Vines added. Ford Motor Co., by the way, never abandoned the Mustang, its ever-present offering in this segment.

Isn't it nice, though, to see Detroit automakers bickering again about who has the best muscle car?

If the Challenger and Camaro concepts already are sparking controversy, just wait until the production versions arrive.

New Plymouth Belvedere buried in 1957 to be given away!


On June 15, 1957, a new gold and white 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe was buried in a time capsule in downtown Tulsa, OK. The time capsule was part of Golden Jubilee Week: Tulsa‘s celebration of Oklahoma‘s semi-centennial. The car is buried under the sidewalk in front of the Tulsa County Courthouse, approximately 100 feet north of the intersection of Sixth Street and Denver Avenue.

The car was seen as a method of acquainting twenty-first century citizens with a suitable representation of 1957 civilization. According to event chairman Lewis Roberts Jr., the Plymouth was chosen because it was "an advanced product of American industrial ingenuity with the kind of lasting appeal that will still be in style 50 years from now."

The contents of a women’s purse, including bobby pins, a bottle of tranquilizers, cigarettes and an unpaid parking ticket, were added to the glove compartment of the car shortly before burial.

See more including a video at http://www.buriedcar.com/

GM's Camaro - nostalgia + disposable income = turnaround

Source: The Manufacturer US
Published: 16 Aug 2006

After a six-year hiatus, GM will reintroduce the Camaro in 2008.

CEO Rick Wagoner described the “overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to the Camaro Concept," and that "Camaro is much more than a car; it symbolizes America's spirit and its love affair with the automobile.”



This is a very savvy move on GM's part: as every television network and fashion house knows well, nostalgia trails by 20 years. Witness Nehru jackets in both the 60s and 80s, and "Happy Days" in the 1970s. Camaro went into production in 1967, but was far more popular and broadly sold during the Reagan years, from 1980 to 1988. Camaro became a pop-culture fixture (immortalized in the tune "Bitchin' Camaro" by punkers The Dead Milkmen), and the measure of youthful indulgence: it was priced for your parents, but no matter, they bought it for your highschool graduation.

GM Confirms Camaro!

August 14, 2006
by Dan Fritter / American Auto Press

Its Official!

Chevys Camaro concept has proven a polarizing automobile; weeding out GMs die-hard supporters from those less inclined to believe the Generals supposed commitment to performance. Many naysayers spoke ill of the concept, saying it was merely a way to string performance enthusiasts along as a sort of sequel to the Z06s media surge. Rumors circulating outlining the vehicles production were seen as extensions of the conspiracy by those pessimistic enthusiasts, a way of keeping the popular concept alive in the face of competition from the likes of DaimlerChrysler in the form of its production-bound Challenger and Ford, represented by the continual release of new, more potent ponies.

But GM can put all that talk to rest now, with the official announcement that the Camaro will see production. GM CEO Rich Wagoner made the announcement, saying that the production model will be almost identical to the concept, and while no details have been released as of yet, it has been confirmed that the new Camaro will debut with a complete and competitive lineup featuring at least one V6-powered variant. While V8 options are also guaranteed, which V8, or V8s, the General will select is up in the air, but its almost certain that at least one, if not two upper echelon models (most likely carrying either the SS and/or Z28 nameplates) will get the LS2 and/or LS7 engine from the Corvette. With Ford stepping up their game with the GT500 and rumors circulating that Dodge may outfit the Challenger with an optional and all-new 6.6L Hemi, this nouveau musclecar war could see outputs well on the high side of 500 horsepower.

With production scheduled to begin at the end of 2008 and the first production models destined for showrooms by early 2009, Wagoner also confirmed that the new Camaro will feature independent rear suspension, meaning it will almost certainly be based on the new platform found under the recently redesigned Australian Holden Monaro.

Notably, the concept rides on the previous Monaros chassis; the same that found its way under the unsuccessfully styled but very effective and well sorted (not to mentioned cancelled) Pontiac GTO. This bodes well for the Camaros performance figures, and if outfitted with the 505 horsepower LS7 engine, the independent rear-equipped Camaro should make short work of all but the most potent sports coupes (Wagoner also hinted at a convertible). Which brings up another point: while this announcement is great news for performance and muscle car enthusiasts, its a given that GM will never allow the Camaro to outpace the Corvette, and given the potency of the previous Monaro chassis, that task may yield a car that feels neutered along the same lines as Porsches Cayman, a car perfectly capable of besting the immortal 911 if given half a chance (and a bigger engine). Finally, while the announcement of the Camaros production has been a long time in coming, the future of the Pontiac F-body is still undecided, and with the GTO axed from the Poncho lineup GM has been tight lipped as to whether future plans involve either a Camaro-based Firebird or another Pontiac-specific stab at the GTO nameplate.
aro chassis, that task may yield a car that feels neutered along the same lines as Porsches Cayman, a car perfectly capable of besting the immortal 911 if given half a chance (and a bigger engine). Finally, while the announcement of the Camaros production has been a long time in coming, the future of the Pontiac F-body is still undecided, and with the GTO axed from the Poncho lineup GM has been tight lipped as to whether future plans involve either a Camaro-based Firebird or another Pontiac-specific stab at the GTO nameplate.

Who is Tom Peters?

Tom Peters is the Director of Design, Rear Wheel Drive Performance Vehicles for General Motors.
Source: www.wwj.com

Tom developed a passion for art and design at a very young age, and soon developed a love of cars and industrial design. After his second year of college in Louisiana, Tom left his home state for the West Coast in 1976. After graduating in Transportation design from the Art Center College of Design in 1980, he went to work for General Motors. He left GM for Texas Instruments in the later part of 1980, designing consumer electronics including children’s learning aids and first generation laptop computers.

In 1982, Tom returned to General Motors, where he worked in Advanced and Production Studios for Pontiac and Chevrolet. Tom worked on production Camaros and Corvettes. He also worked on a number of concepts, including the concepts for the first Saturn cars, the Corvette Indy show vehicle and the 1988 Pontiac Banshee prototype.

He transferred to California in 1992 as Director of GM’s Advanced Concept Center. Programs at ACC ranged from full size trucks to alternative drive vehicles. ACC also helped pioneer the use of math in the design and development process.

In 1995, Tom returned to Detroit, managing programs in Portfolio Development and Pontiac Production Studios.

Tom was Vehicle Chief Designer for the XLR Cadillac roadster and the sixth-generation Corvette. Upon completing these two programs he was named Advanced Design Director for General Motors, Michigan. In this position, he reconstructed the Advanced Design Department, directing various projects that included the Cadillac Sixteen and Buick Velite concept vehicles.

Recently, Tom was the Director of Design for Production Midsize Trucks and Corvette, where his responsibilities ranged from releasing the new Z 06 Corvette to contributing to the Hummer programs. Tom is currently Director of Design for the Rear Wheel Drive Performance / Corvette studio

GM - Tom Peters drives the Camaro for the first time

GM Director of Design, Rear Wheel Drive Performance Vehicles - Tom Peters takes his first drive in the all new Camaro

Very interesting commentary - click the image below to see the video

GM's chief pins his hopes on Camaro


Source: Bloomberg News - Jeff Green

General Motors Corp. chief executive Rick Wagoner is turning to the Camaro "muscle car" from GM's 1960s peak as he tries to end a U.S. market-share slide after a $10.6 billion loss last year.

GM in 2009 will start selling a new version of the Camaro, which it previously built from 1966 to 2002, Wagoner said Thursday in a speech in Traverse City, Mich. The car will compete with Ford Motor Co.'s Mustang and DaimlerChrysler AG's Dodge Charger and Challenger.

Wagoner aims to increase revenue from new models after winning union concessions and making other changes that will cut GM's expenses this year at a $9 billion annual rate.

"It makes sense to create a little buzz around the brand and they have the nostalgia factor," said Pete Hastings, a Morgan Keegan & Co. fixed-income analyst. "Toyota and Honda are in a disadvantage in this area because they don't have the history of the 1950s and 1960s fun-to-drive era."

GM stopped making the Camaro as sales dwindled from a peak of 260,201 in 1978 to 28,404 in 2002. The car made its debut in late 1966, two years after the Mustang.

The new Camaro will come in 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder versions and will offer both manual and automatic transmissions, Wagoner said.

Lawn mowing paid for CEO's Camaro

Source: Detroit Free Press - Tom Walsh

When General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner officially announced the resurrection of the Chevy Camaro last week, he reminisced about the first new car he ever purchased -- a 1973 Camaro that cost him $3,500.

He went on to say he paid for his Camaro with "hard-earned cash from cutting lawns ... at $2 each." That was a lot of grass clippings, he quipped.

A lot, indeed.

At $2 per cut, that means young Rick shaved 1,750 lawns to pay for his '73 muscle wheels. That works out to a lawn per day for five years during his late teens -- and since there's not much need to cut the grass about one-third of the year in Wagoner's hometown of Richmond, Va., he presumably had a lot of multi-cut days. What we don't know for sure is whether he gave rebates to drum up more customers when business was slow.

Build your own 1969 Camaro


Source: SuperChevy.com
- By Jason R. Sakurai

Forget fixing that rusted out hulk, with Dynacorn's new body shell , you won't have to.

North Carolina is the unlikely locale for one of the best restoration shops in the country. While the surrounding area is somewhat secluded and rural, there’s nothing unsophisticated about Classic Automotive Restoration Specialists (CARS). The brainchild of two decidedly forward-thinking engineers/enthusiasts, CARS is where a Corvette convertible that’s already a Bloomington Gold contender comes in and doesn’t leave until it’s a certifiable winner. It’s also where magazine’s four-door Suburban project vehicle is transformed into a two-door—no small feat even though it simple. Yes, much of what CARS creates appears to be easy, perhaps because they planned it that way.
Jim Barber and Doug Harris, founders and co-owners of CARS, didn’t enroll in the busted-knuckle, learn-as-you-go school of car crafting. They went the engineer-with-a-degree, high-technology route, and after years of toiling in a corporate manufacturing and engineering environment, decided they were more ideally suited building the classic cars they owned and lusted after in their youth. Notice the word rather than ? This is the reason why enthusiasts and aficionados of First-Generation Camaros are flocking to this restoration outpost—because CARS is the first company with the necessary jigs to assemble Dynacorn’s new all-steel 1969 Camaro body components.

Unlike companies who produce replacement body panels, Dynacorn has created the unibody structure upon which the sheetmetal is hung. But as CARS’ Harris related, “We know our cars are going to be driven, so we’ve engineered them as you would if you were the manufacturer assembling the original vehicle. Knowing most Camaro owners are drivers and not collectors, these cars are destined to see street duty, and for some even as daily drivers.” Amidst the restorations and rods being built at CARS is a dedicated area where the buyer’s components can be assembled for them at their request.

“Most of the replacement panels available today for the early Camaros were intended to be grafted to the original shell, and to use in making repairs. So when it came to using them to fit Dynacorn’s unibody, they “weren’t even close,” Barber said. “With OE-spec manufacturing tolerances, Dynacorn had no choice but to make their own panels. This is a major reason why their completed cars will be as tight as if they rolled off the assembly line in Van Nuys in ’69.” It makes sense then that same robot welders used in assembly plants the world over are also found at Barber’s shop, to duplicate the thousands of welds needed to solidify the structure and make them one.

Dynacorn’s assemblage of components that go into making the restoration shell consist of literally hundreds of parts, which are preassembled at the factory and made into 35 substructures. This forms the basis for Barber’s crew, which then, after negotiating assembly charges, will assemble the components on the specialized jigs and ship the tub to the end user. And after watching this process we can only tell you that quality is second to none, in both material design, and the completed product.

“Our emphasis is on quality and details. We pride ourselves on being creative, flexible and understanding,” Harris said. “CARS is a group of experienced craftsmen who use proven techniques during the restoration or manufacturing of any vehicle to obtain the desired results.” Among the services they provide are body and sheet metal fabrication—from restorations to custom—and literally everything in between.

As Barber described, “Our shop is a professional business, not a hobby. We are experienced craftsmen who use proven techniques to restore each car. Soon, we’ll be adding in-house engine building to our repertoire, and at that point we will truly be a one-stop shop fully capable of producing turnkey cars.” He added, “That’s been our intention from day one, and it appears we’re getting closer to making it happen.”

Another dimension to CARS is that they are also a warehouse distributor for a virtual who’s who of the aftermarket industry. When you add it all up, one thing’s for sure: If you’ve got a rusted-out ’69 Camaro convertible hulk sitting their ready to have new life breathed into it, CARS should be your first phone call.

Click here for the rest of the story and pictures of the project

September 26, 1966

Should GM have officially announce the 5th Generation 2009 Camaro just a couple of weeks earlier?

Forty years ago, on September 26, 1966, the first 1967 Chevrolet Camaro rolled off the assembly line at GMs Norwood, Ohio assembly plant.

According to internet reports, the 1967 Camaro coupe was named just weeks before production; General Manager Elliot Estes, when publicly announcing the name, quipped, "I went into a closet, shut the door and came out with the name." Camaro is actually French for "comrade, pal, or chum." The Camaro was a hit with the public, sporting a base price of only $2,466 for a six-cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission.

Something tells me $2,466 won't buy much of a 2009 Camaro, but I as well as many others are anxiously awaiting the return to showrooms and racetracks across the country.

Ontario gets revved up by new Camaro

Says GM hinting it may build in Oshawa
Souce: The Globe and Mail - GRANT ROBERTSON

Ontario government officials have received "positive signals" from General Motors Corp. that the auto maker will choose Oshawa in the next several weeks to build a revamped version of the Camaro, possibly securing thousands of jobs.

GM became the last of the Big Three U.S. car manufacturers to wade back into the muscle car category yesterday when it confirmed plans to resurrect production of the once-popular Camaro, the last model of which rolled off the line four years ago.

Ford Motor Co. updated its Mustang with a beefy new design in 2004 and DaimlerChrysler AG is bringing back the Dodge Challenger after several decades on the shelf.

GM chief executive officer Rick Wagoner told a conference in Traverse City, Mich., that the revamped Camaro will be better on gas than its predecessors, with fuel-saving technology that uses fewer of the car's cylinders when they're not needed.

The company unveiled a concept version of the car last January, sparking speculation about where it would be assembled. At a time when North American auto makers have slashed their operations, the Camaro project would bring some security to wherever it gets built.

"We'll be announcing the production location for the Camaro very soon," Mr. Wagoner said in Michigan.

A few hours before the project was unveiled, GM Canada president Arturo Elias spoke with Ontario's Minister of Economic Development, Joseph Cordiano, about the prospects for building the Camaro in Oshawa. The government and the company have been in talks for months on the project.

"I indicated that we were looking forward to receiving the Camaro and he indicated that he felt that things were going in the right direction," Mr. Cordiano said in an interview.

"We are receiving positive signals . . . I'd be disappointed if we didn't get it."

Mr. Cordiano said that, to his knowledge, a final decision has not been made by GM. Several cities are said to be in the running, including Wilmington, Del., which has also lobbied for the project.

GM announced last fall that one of its Oshawa car plants would be closed in 2008 as the company looked to slash 30,000 jobs across North America. The cuts would affect 3,900 jobs in Canada, but the Camaro could lessen some of the blow. Mr. Elias could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Analysts have questioned the strategy of the Big Three bringing back muscle cars at a time of rising oil prices. The category had their glory years in the 70s when gasoline was cheap and powerful, fuel-guzzling engines were popular.

The Camaro made its debut in 1967 and had its best year for sales in 1978 when 260,201 were driven off GM lots. However, sales dropped to 28,404 by 2002, when production was stopped.

GM expects to sell roughly 100,000 of the new Camaros a year, which is conservative compared with the Mustang, which has sold 101,000 so far in 2006.

GM said the revamped Camaro will be "practical enough for everyday use." Few details, such as the sticker price, were revealed. The rear-wheel drive car will be offered in V-6 and V-8 models and is expected to get 100 kilometres out of 7.8 litres of gas on the highway when the fuel conservation technology is employed.

GM lost $10.6-billion (U.S.) last year, but has invested in Oshawa in partnership with government funding.

Ontario has contributed $235-million in the past year in a bid to bring new models to the site.

Lutz thanks internet blogs for Camaro support


Source: GM FastLane Blog

Though many factors were responsible for the new Camaro's path to production, Bob Lutz took some time on General Motors' FastLane Blog to recognize the support the car received from the blogosphere. While Lutz only mentions the comments left on FastLane Blog, we can add that the support for the Camaro on Autoblog has been robust to say the least. After posting on the Camaro Concept's introduction at the North American International Auto Show in January, you all left 1,074 comments on the post. Do a Google search for "Camaro Concept" and you'll find our post second from the top. And despite losing to the Dodge Challenger in our Pony Poll by a narrow margin, the Camaro has remained an object of pure automotive lust on Autoblog ever since.

In his post Lutz talks about the Aussie origin of the upcoming Camaro's chassis and the need for the car to appeal to all age groups and people outside the U.S., an obvious hint that the Camaro's going global.

You can check more photos of GM's announcement yesterday at the company's Flickr gallery here.

So mad props go out to Lutz and company for recognizing the power of the blog. Yes, behold the power of the blog! For our next trick, we'll resurrect the Firebird. Who's with us?

Dealers accepting deposits - again

Earlier this year, Chevrolet dealerships began accepting deposits for 5th gen Camaros. Since GM did not officially announce the program yet, they requested those dealers return the money and cease the practice.

Since the program was given the green light yesterday, at least one dealer is accepting a deposit, and using the marketplace giant Ebay to do it.

Gary Miller Chevrolet-Buick in Girard, PA has an ebay auction running right now (auction # 300016433097). For the low price of $25,000 you can reserve the first Camaro this dealershi offers for sale.

Reading the description states the $25,000 amount is how much you agree to pay over the MSRP of the vehicle in question.

Lets hope nobody bites on offers like this and gouging is kept to a minumum to the truely greedy.

It's a Go: GM Dealers Will Have the New Camaro by Early 2009

Souce: Edmunds.com
08-10-2006

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — In GM Chairman Rick Wagoner's own words from an interview earlier this year, if the company didn't build the Chevy Camaro it would be essentially brain dead.

Consider this a sign of life: Production of the new Camaro will start in late 2008, with sales beginning in the first quarter of 2009.

Wagoner said the production Camaro will be virtually identical to the concept car. By the time it arrives in showrooms, the retro-look Camaro will be competing against several other latter-day muscle cars, including the reincarnated Dodge Challenger and the Ford Mustang, including at least two Shelby variants.

In making the announcement at a management seminar here, Wagoner got positively gushy: "The overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to the Camaro Concept continues to remind me of the uniquely iconic place our products can have in customers' hearts. Camaro is much more than a car; it symbolizes America's spirit and its love affair with the automobile."

But as for a possible Pontiac Firebird sibling, Wagoner told IL, "Everybody is just going to have to drive Chevys this time."

The 2009 Camaro will feature a traditional front-engine, rear-drive layout, with all-independent suspension. A variety of trim levels will be available, with a choice of V6 and V8 engines as well as six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

The new Camaro will ride on GM's corporate Zeta platform and is expected to be assembled at the company's Oshawa, Ontario plant.

As previously reported, much of the engineering for the Camaro will come from Holden, GM's Australian arm.

Holden is responsible for developing the next rear-wheel-drive platform, called the Zeta. GM also has key design staff in Australia helping to make sure the production Camaro looks as good as the concept.

What this means to you: Muscle car fans, rejoice! Your dreams of a return to 1970 have come true: Production Mustangs, Challengers and Camaros will soon challenge each other at stop lights across the country.

Camaro Rally - August 10, 2006



We attended the Camaro Rally today at the GM Technical Center. There was an official 'second' announcement of GM's intent to produce the Camaro and have it available for sale during the first quarter of 2009!

We have uploaded a few images from the event. You can see them HERE

Introducing 5thgen.org - The largest 5th Gen Camaro Forum

5thgen.org is the FIRST and LARGEST internet forum dedicated exclusively to the Camaro Concept and the 5th generation Camaro.

You can find the latest information, pictures and videos of the car as well as be part of the online community that is growing at a rapid pace.

Click here to visit the forums

Auto Buyers Have Spoken: GM Will Build An All-New Chevrolet Camaro

GM Press Release

Next generation of classic sport coupe goes into production in late 2008, on sale in 2009; will be almost identical to wildly popular concept unveiled at NAIAS

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Dear sports car fans: General Motors heard you loud and clear.

GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced today that GM will build an all-new version of the Chevrolet Camaro sport coupe based on the award-winning concept that stole the spotlight at the North American International Auto Show and has ignited the passion of car enthusiasts around the world ever since – even spurring consumers to start petition drives and send in certified checks in hopes of placing early deposits.

“The overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to the Camaro Concept continues to remind me of the uniquely iconic place our products can have in customers’ hearts,” Wagoner said. “Camaro is much more than a car; it symbolizes America's spirit and its love affair with the automobile.”

The all-new Camaro will begin with early production versions at the end of 2008 and will go on sale in the first quarter of 2009. “The new Camaro will be almost identical to the concept, a thoroughly modern interpretation of the 1969 model, considered by many to be the best design of the car’s first generation,” said Ed Welburn, GM's global vice president of design, who owns a 1969 Camaro SS. The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport coupe will feature an independent rear suspension, and will be offered in a variety of models with the choice of manual and automatic transmissions and V-6 and V-8 engines.

Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper said the new Camaro will appeal to both men and women, and unite customers with fond memories of previous Camaros with those who first experienced a Camaro when the concept was unveiled in January.

“We intend to make the all-new Camaro relevant to younger buyers while retaining its appeal to current fans,” said Peper. “The beauty of the best Camaros is that they have always been beautiful to look at with performance that rivals expensive European GTs. Yet they were practical enough to drive every day and priced within the reach of many new-car buyers.”

In fact, the Camaro Concept design team embodies the universal appeal that Chevy envisions for the car: The core team reporting to the lead designer ranges in age from 27-35 and came from all over the world, yet they all had similar experiences growing up with a love for the Camaro and American performance cars. Their concept redefines the Camaro for both existing and new generations of fans in a contemporary way with responsive performance and modern technology.

Peper said Camaro will complement Chevy’s already-popular portfolio of performance vehicles led by Corvette and including its broad SS lineup.

An American icon
The Camaro has touched many lives – and graced many garages – with nearly 4.8 million produced between 1967 and 2002. More than 1,000 Camaro clubs exist globally, and thousands of Camaro web sites pay homage to the sports coupe. A recent report on America Online’s Top Searches of 2005 placed Camaro in the Top 10 car searches for the year.

About Chevrolet
Chevrolet is America's No. 1-selling automotive brand. With the largest dealer network in the United States, Chevy is the leader in full-size trucks and the leader in sales of vehicles priced $35,000 and above. Chevrolet delivers more-than-expected value in every vehicle category, offering cars and trucks priced from $9,995 to $78,175. Chevy delivers expressive design, spirited performance and great value with standard features usually found only on more expensive vehicles. For more information on Chevy cars and trucks, please visit www.chevrolet.com.

About General Motors
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world’s leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential and commercial financing and insurance. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.


CONTACT(S):
Travis Parman
Chevrolet Communications
Phone: 313-667-5051
E-mail: travis.m.parman@gm.com

Oshawa flexes its muscle in bid for new Camaro

Source - Globe and Mail Update - GRANT ROBERTSON

General Motors Corp. is returning to the muscle car business today with plans for a revamped Camaro, and the company's Oshawa, Ont., assembly plant has been positioned as a front-runner to build the reborn vehicle.

GM chief executive officer Rick Wagoner is expected to announce the resurrection of the Chevrolet Camaro at an industry conference in Michigan, after the company unveiled the concept version of the car back in January.

The Detroit auto maker isn't planning to announce where the Camaro will be built for several weeks, but sources said Wednesday that Oshawa is the most likely candidate to land the work. Such a move would be a major boost for the operation, which was hit by substantial job cuts last fall.

GM's operation in Wilmington, Del., is also considered a leading contender and several other U.S. plants have lobbied for the Camaro work.

Company executives have been reluctant to discuss where the Camaro could be built, however significant restructuring of labour agreements at Oshawa have been put in place for a project of such magnitude. Formal discussions have also been held in recent months on how the plant would be structured to handle construction of a new brand of car.

The Camaro will mark GM's return to the muscle car category on the heels of its American rivals. Ford Motor Co. made the first move with an supercharged overhaul of its Mustang. DaimlerChrysler AG also unveiled a concept version of the Dodge Challenger back in January and has picked its Brampton, Ont., facility for the assembly.

Though sources in government and the auto industry said Wednesday they are confident of Oshawa's chances, Canadian Auto Workers union president Buzz Hargrove said he isn't certain the project will come to Canada, though he is optimistic.

“We've had a lot of meetings, a lot of discussions, and a lot of ideas have been shared,” Mr. Hargrove said. “There's been no final decision.”

Should Oshawa be tagged for the Camaro assembly it would ease the blow delivered to the GM facilities there last November, when the company cut 3,900 jobs in Canada, including the planned shutdown of the No. 2 Oshawa plant by 2008.

The move was part of massive cutbacks at the auto maker, involving 30,000 layoffs across 12 North American plants. They were GM's deepest cutbacks since 1991. “It's an important decision for the long-term viability of Oshawa,” Mr. Hargrove said. “We're going to cross our fingers and hope like hell we get it.”

Discussions about producing the Camaro in Oshawa have centred around the shutdown of the No. 2 plant, sources said Wednesday. The company may look to expand the complex to accommodate the new Camaro assembly line.

Labour agreements have also been restructured to offer several thousand retirement packages to older plant workers, while bringing in newer employees at lower wages that would keep costs of the operations down.

“We are confident about Oshawa's chances,” a source said.

However, Mr. Hargrove pointed out that the auto sector has been clouded in uncertainty in recent years. Such agreements can get bogged down in political wrangling, with heavy lobbying efforts expected from state governments in the United States where GM plants are located.

Joseph Cordiano, Ontario's Minister of Economic Development and Trade, is today expected to respond to GM's announcement and will be part of a further push from Canada until the announcement is made.

The return to muscle cars comes at an awkward time for the major U.S. auto makers, since the designs draw heavily on the original version of the vehicles which had larger engines than most production cars today.

Analysts say rising gasoline prices could hurt sales of the cars, just as sales of sport utility vehicles have softened in some categories.

The Camaro debuted in 1967 and GM stopped production in 2002. The revamped version is expected to come with a V-6 and a V-8 engine.

Big Three put power in new generation of pony cars

Horsepower war

Nicolas Van Praet
Source - National Post - Thursday, August 10, 2006

A new horsepower war is looming between North America's traditional Big Three automakers as each reaches into its classic muscle car stable in an attempt to woo nostalgic car buyers.

Ford Motor Co. fired the first shot, launching a redesigned version of its flagship Mustang for 2005 that has sold more than 175,000 units, including 10,000 in Canada last year. Then DaimlerChrysler AG revealed last month it would build a modern version of the testosterone-charged Challenger.

General Motors Corp. is widely expected to join the party today with an announcement it will bring back the Camaro. Ontario assembly plants are favoured to build both the Camaro and the Challenger.

By 2008, all three redesigned muscle cars are expected in showrooms as the Detroit automakers try to win over consumers who ditched them in favour of Asian brands such as Toyota in recent years.

"What it really comes down to is putting cars on the street that turn people's heads and makes them say 'Wow, what is that? I want one,'" said Peter DeLorenzo, an auto industry consultant and editor of autoextremist.com.

"The domestics used to be able to do that. And they're rediscovering it.

"At this point, I think it's what the U.S. manufacturers have to do. They have to at least attempt to capture the imagination of the American consumer, which they've had difficulty doing for the last decade."

Detroit could use a jump-start.

The city's new muscle car designs have been splashed on the covers of recent auto enthusiast magazines and have won rave reviews at auto shows. But in the mass market, buyers are picking foreign-based brands in increasing numbers.

So far this year, a majority of new vehicles registered in the U.S. by new buyers were import brands, consultancy R.L. Polk & Co. said. It marked the first time that foreign nameplates outpaced the traditional American brands in that country. Toyota outsold Ford for the first time last month in the U.S., the world's biggest auto market.

These new offerings by the Big Three may not change that. But they will at least trigger some positive excitement about their passenger cars, said Erich Merkle, an analyst with IRN Inc. in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

"The Mustang alone will not save Ford. The Camaro is not going to save General Motors. And the Challenger is not going to really do a whole lot to help Chrysler out. But they do make for really nice halo vehicles that certainly generate a lot of buzz and showroom traffic. That's for sure."

Like the Mustang, the Camaro is expected to come with an optional V6 engine, which is more fuel efficient than the V8 and will appeal to a wider range of buyers, analysts said. GM is aiming to sell 100,000 Camaros, they said. The Challenger will likely be more of a niche vehicle because it will come with a V8 motor only.

Some original American hot cars like the Plymouth Barracuda are commanding million-dollar prices at auction houses and Chrysler and its rivals are hoping to cash in on their popularity.

"That resonance now is very high," Chrysler Group chief operating officer Eric Ridenour said in an interview last month. With the Challenger's 2008 launch, Chrysler "should be able to hit this market while peaking," he said.

Marketing experts like John Grace of Brand-Taxi have suggested the surge of interest in Detroit's glory-day cars may be the result of U.S. consumers reaching back to the past to sooth the present-day anxiety they may feel as a result of hostility against their country. American cars like the 1959 Caddy and 1967 Pontiac GTO, with their massive tailfins and aggressive design, represented a time when the U.S. had an unabashed swagger and confidence, the argument goes.

But nostalgia doesn't necessarily translate to large scale profitability.

Critics doubt whether the cars will make it in an era when US$3-a-gallon gasoline appears to be the new norm, even if their V6 engines suck less gas than their predecessors. Yesterday, Ford executive vice-president Mark Fields said demand for fuel-efficient vehicles is more permanent than the company had expected.

There are also questions about how creatively Ford and GM can tap into their past designs, more than just by bringing out a straight re-do of a previous model. Only Chrysler has so far successfully blended design cues from the past into the modern designs of more mainstream vehicles like its 300C and the Dodge Charger, Mr. Merkle said.

"You have to go someplace where the Japanese aren't and that's going to be in the area of design," Mr. Merkle said.

GM last built the Camaro at its now-razed plant in Boisbriand, Que. in 2002. Its Oshawa plant is in line to build the re-design.

GM Canada managers submitted a business case to the company's board of directors last month proposing a flexible manufacturing operation at the Oshawa facility, which would build the new Camaro as well as several other rear-wheel drive vehicles.

The Canadian Auto Workers union and GM have negotiated a new deal on work conditions for the Oshawa facilities in order to secure investment for the new models.

It looks like Oshawa is the place

GM plant in Oshawa, Ont., a good bet to produce the reborn Camaro

Aug 8, 2006
Source - Canadian Press: MICHAEL HAMMOND

OTTAWA (CP) - The Canadian Auto Workers union is ready to pull the trigger on 2,500 early retirement packages in Oshawa, Ont., to secure the rights to produce the Chevrolet Camaro.

CAW president Buzz Hargrove confirmed Tuesday that the union negotiated with General Motors management in the spring to secure job reductions and cost savings to land the work. GM's chief executive officer Rick Wagoner is expected to announce that the company will revive the Camaro for 2008.

The union's Oshawa management told its members in its summer newsletter that it intends to look for early retirement candidates right away.

"Once an announcement is made on a new product, we intend to conduct another retirement canvass for people interested in retirement in 2007," noted CAW Local 222 vice-president Jim Hoy.

Hargrove said the union is hopeful, but has become impatient with the lack of news from GM management.

"There's some frustration that we haven't had any decision yet," Hargrove said.

The 2,500 early retirement packages could save Oshawa's No. 2 auto plant, slated for closure in 2008. With the Camaro work, the plant could stay open, saving about 2,700 jobs, analysts say.

The three auto plants in Oshawa employ slightly less than 12,000 workers.

The latest version of the Camaro has been the source of speculation since it was unveiled at the Detroit International Auto Show in January to rave reviews. GM discontinued production of the muscle car in 2002, which left 1,000 workers at a Ste-Therese, Que., plant out of work.

That plant was demolished to make way for a shopping centre.

Several automotive industry analysts peg Oshawa as a front-runner for the Camaro production, even though GM is not expected to produce huge numbers of the car initially.

Richard Cooper of J.D. Power and Associates said the union has been trumpeting its productivity rankings in Oshawa, which are among the highest in North America.

"Oshawa is very keen to demonstrate to GM that it is a high-quality facility," he said. "It's a bit of a jewel in GM's crown."

Cooper said having the Camaro work would be prestigious for Oshawa, since the model is part of the troubled automaker's plans to change its battered image and return to profitability.

GM's Wilmington, Del., plant is also rumoured to be a leading candidate for the Camaro work.

Scotiabank economist Carlos Gomes, who follows the automotive industry, said even with the loonie trading at 88 cents US, Canada has a significant edge over the United States.

"Aside from production, Canadian plants still have costs advantages," he said. "Even with the (high) dollar, these savings are still at play."

Last year, the federal government joined with Ontario to invest $435 million in the company's Ontario auto plants. Part of that money is helping to make the plants more flexible so they can accommodate the production of numerous models.

Analyst Dennis DesRosiers said the Oshawa plants are configured to handle rear-wheel models like the Camaro.

CAMARO RALLY AT GM TECH CENTER AUGUST 10th

As reported on www.camarohighway.com
General Motors is hosting a special Rally at the GM Tech Center in Warren, MI for all F-Body enthusiats on Thursday morning, August 10. Although not officially confirmed, a Camaro production announcement is expected. The news coverage of this possibility leads us to believe that it will indeed happen!

Click HERE for more details

More iPods in cars

-ERIN ROBINSON, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. are teaming up with Apple Computers Inc. to enable people to link their iPods to vehicle audio systems on most 2007 models.

The move, announced today, means that more than 70 percent of all 2007 model-year U.S. vehicles will be able to link with iPods, Apple said in a press release.

The automakers will provide a cable that will link iPods with a vehicle's audio system. The link allows people to use the vehicle audio controls to choose songs on the iPod. The link also charges the iPod's battery.

GM will offer the feature, known as a personal audio link, as a dealer-installed option on all 2007 models in the fourth quarter of this year, a GM spokesperson said. The first vehicle to offer the link will be the 2007 HHR in October.

However, there will be a charge for the link. GM said it would offer the link at dealerships for less than $160 plus installation as early as October for some car models, said the spokesperson.

Mazda's entire 2007 lineup, along with most other Ford vehicles, will offer the feature as a dealer-installed option as well. The Ford accessory, called TripTunes Advanced, will cost about $200 plus recommended dealer installation, a Ford spokesperson said.

Chevy Camaro a Go for 2008

GM’s Chevrolet division can’t sit idle as the retro Ford Mustang gobbles up sales, so it’s frantically readying its own muscle car with vintage styling cues.
BY JARED GALL - CarandDriver.com
August 2006

We knew it all along, but now the news has leaked from within General Motors: Chevrolet’s answer to the original pony-car salvo is being reloaded and aimed at production as early as 2008, the Detroit Free Press has reported. The official announcement is expected to come from GM Chairman Rick Wagoner this Thursday in Traverse City, Michigan.

Sources report the car will be built on GM’s revived Zeta platform, originally intended for a series of full-size rear-wheel-drive cars but shelved last year after being deemed too expensive. Power for the resurrected Camaro will come from a base V-6 and two V-8’s, hopefully one of which will be bear the letters LS and a whole number greater than 6; Chevy’s current top production engine is the 505-hp LS7 found in the Corvette Z06.

No word yet on where the car might be built—indeed, official word that it is being built at all is still a few days away — but speculation is that GM’s plants in Oshawa, Ontario or Wilmington, Delaware, are strong possibilities.

Camaro to ride again

Famous muscle car name will return to streets after a six year hiatus, says a newspaper report.

Monday, August 7, 2006; Posted: 10:25 a.m. EDT (14:25 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Chevrolet Camaro muscle car will join the Dodge Challenger in a return to production in the next couple of years, according to a newspaper report.

The official announcement will be made Thursday by General Motors chairman Rick Wagoner, the Detroit Free Press reported Sunday.

The production version could be built as early as 2008, the newspaper said.

The Camaro was introduced in 1966 to compete with the Ford Mustang that had been introduced two years earlier. It went out of production in 2002 along with its corporate sibling, the Pontiac Firebird.

A concept version of the Camaro was introduced in January at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

A concept version of a new Dodge Challenger was also introduced at that show. DaimlerChrysler announced in early July that the Challenger would be produced in 2008. That vehicle is based on an existing engineering platform, one already in use for the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Magnum and Charger.

The new Chevrolet Camaro will be based on a new vehicle platform GM has engineered specifically for performance-oriented rear-wheel-drive cars.

Both the Camaro and Challenger as well as the Ford Mustang, which was restyled for the 2005 model year to resemble Mustangs from the late 1960s, tap into a nostalgia for the muscle car era of those years.

A new Dodge Charger, introduced in 2005, carried the name of one of the most famous cars of that era but was criticized by enthusiasts for its four-door body style. By the generally accepted definition, a muscle car should have only two doors.

Both the Camaro and Challenger will be two-door cars.

The Camaro will be made available with three engine choices,a V-6 and two V-8s, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the plans.

Improvements in engine efficiency allow modern versions of these cars to get fuel economy that, while not stellar by today's standards, is at least far better than it was in the 1960s and '70s. Still, some question the market for vehicles like these as gasoline prices rise beyond $3.00 a gallon.

No details about pricing are expected, according to the report.

Camaro to roar back by 2008

GM to announce Chevy going from concept to streets
BY TOM WALSH and MARK PHELAN
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITERS

August 5, 2006

It's really happening: The Chevy Camaro is coming back as a production car, the Free Press has learned.

General Motors Corp. Chairman Rick Wagoner is expected to announce the resurrection of the legendary muscle car in a speech Thursday to an automotive conference in Traverse City.

The auto industry has been buzzing with speculation about GM's plans for the Camaro ever since the carmaker wowed the crowds at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in January with a stunning 400-horsepower concept. At a time when truck and SUV sales are softening and car sales are regaining momentum, a sexy new entry could give GM's entire passenger-car line a boost.

The production version could be built as early as 2008 and will offer three engines, a V-6 and two V-8s, according to people familiar with the plans.

GM spokesman Steve Harris would not comment Friday on plans for the Camaro, but other sources told the Free Press that GM's top management and board of directors have green-lighted the car.

The Camaro was introduced in 1966 as the answer to the Ford Mustang, and it prowled America's streets and drag strips until production ended in 2002.

Like the concept, the production Camaro will be based on GM's new Zeta global architecture for rear-wheel-drive cars, expected to form the basis for several big, powerful sedans and coupes to be introduced over the next few years.

It was unclear last week where GM intends to build the Camaro. Speculation in the automotive press has centered on assembly plants in Oshawa, Ontario, and Wilmington, Del.

Other unanswered questions are sure to keep the buzz going even after Wagoner's announcement:

How many people will buy a Camaro in the age of $3.15-per-gallon gasoline?

What will it cost?

And what about bringing back the Pontiac Firebird/TransAm?

Contact TOM WALSH at 313-223-4430 or twalsh@freepress.com.

GM plans to bring back Chevrolet Camaro muscle car

Associated Press

August 6, 2006

DETROIT - General Motors Corp. plans to bring back the Chevrolet Camaro as a production vehicle, according to a published report.

GM Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner is expected to announce the return of the muscle car in a speech Thursday at an automotive conference in Traverse City, the Detroit Free Press reported Sunday.

The production version could be built as early as 2008, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the plans that it didn't name.

GM spokesman Christopher Preuss said Sunday he couldn't comment on the report.

GM had won praise for its Camaro concept, which was unveiled in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The 2002 model year was the last for the Camaro, which had started its run with the 1967 model.

ON THE NET

General Motors Corp. http://www.gm.com

Boss Mustang To Be Resurrected

Source: American Auto Press

Historic Name Could Be Faster Than Mustang GT, Cheaper Than Shelby

Ford has had some good luck as of late. Beginning with the rebirth of the Ford GT; the pace car for an entire company, and continuing with the 2005 Ford Mustang, the companys retro-themed performance models have regained the Blue Oval some of its former luster. Carrying on the blue-collar performance attitude that won Ford so many customers during the muscle and pony car wars of the late 60s, both the Mustang and the GT offer performance well above what their price tags would indicate, with the latter gaining renown for dethroning some supercar heavyweights for a fraction of the price.

And the latest creation to roll out of Dearborns gates; the Shelby GT500, continues that tradition. With starting prices that undercut even a base model Corvette, the Shelby capitalizes on one of the most storied pairings in motorsports history: Carroll Shelby and Ford. But as good as the Shelby is, theres another name lurking in the shadows of the Mustangs past that is just begging to be let out: Boss.

The creation of an ex-GM employee Larry Shinoda, Boss 302 and 429 models were specifically built to dominate road and drag racing, and while the Boss 429 has become a legend in its own right, the Boss 302 remains the real star. Developed to burnish the "Total Performance" moniker Ford had adopted at the time, the 302-powered Boss Mustang was uncompromising in its design, with every feature extant for one purpose: winning.

And now, it looks like Ford is going to do it again. With the impressive GT500 offering up a blindingly fast, yet still daily-driver-friendly version of the Mustang, Ford has left themselves plenty of room to produce a less friendly, more track-ready version of their immortal ponycar. Having reportedly commenced last year, the current Boss project is nearing completion and is rumored to be on schedule for an 07 launch. Based on the aforementioned Shelby, the Boss should inherit the GT500s almost flawless suspension setup, with the majority of the changes being to the powerplant and trim. The former could be either a naturally aspirated version of the GT500s 5.4L motor (itself lifted from the GT, which in turn borrowed it from the F-series pickup), or a currently unknown 5.0L, which would render a period-correct displacement of 302 cubic inches for this new Boss. Either way, Ford wont allow the Boss to impinge on the Shelbys 500 horsepower figure, therefore the Boss Mustangs power output is expected to be in the 390 horsepower range.

To make up for that shortcoming, the Boss interior would be stripped out, and any extraneous matter (ie: sound deadening) would be tossed. The end result could potentially be a car with the weight of a V6 Mustang, more power than a Mustang GT, and best of all, a lower price tag than the GT500.
he GT500s 5.4L motor (itself lifted from the GT, which in turn borrowed it from the F-series pickup), or a currently unknown 5.0L, which would render a period-correct displacement of 302 cubic inches for this new Boss. Either way, Ford wont allow the Boss to impinge on the Shelbys 500 horsepower figure, therefore the Boss Mustangs power output is expected to be in the 390 horsepower range.

To make up for that shortcoming, the Boss interior would be stripped out, and any extraneous matter (ie: sound deadening) would be tossed. The end result could potentially be a car with the weight of a V6 Mustang, more power than a Mustang GT, and best of all, a lower price tag than the GT500.