Originally a 1967 model , it's shape and design changed over the years. GM eventually discontinued production after the 2002 model year. 2010 Camaro production began in Oshawa, Ontario on March 16, 2009. The 6th generation Camaro will make a return back to American soil in 2015. Assembly will be at the Grand River Plant in Lansing, Michigan.
Racers who want to slip into something more fashionable at the track next year will find the 2010 Camaro is just their size. GM Performance Parts will offer body in white packages of the new Camaro starting in the first quarter of 2009, GM Part Number 19243374
The basic package lists for $7,000 and includes an assembled body structure, including the front fenders, hood, roof, doors, rear quarters and trunk lid. The structure also includes the complete floorpans and chassis rails. Racer must fill out an online application to be eligible to purchase one. The form will be available in February at www.gmperformanceparts.com. Bodies will be sold on first come, first-serve basis. There is no limit to the number an approved racing team can purchase.
“This is the easiest and most cost-effective way to build a race-ready new Camaro,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer, product marketing manager, GM Performance Parts. “We envision racers using these bodies for all types of competition, from Pro Street and Competition drag racing to road racing.”
The body in white includes only an un-painted body shell and no additional components or materials. The bodies do not have vehicle identification numbers, so they may be used only as racing vehicles that will never be licensed for street driving.
Racers will add the powertrain, fuel system, suspension, interior components, glass (or sanctioning body-approved alternative) and safety equipment, then go racing.
"It will not pass this way again". Car & Driver cited these seemingly prophetic words concerning the 1979 Trans Am in the January '79 issue. The handwriting was on the wall. The last Pontiac 400's were built up in 1978 and the tooling disbanded. There would only be a handful of the 220 hp motors to go around and all were to be mated to four speeds. The new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) ruling had taken effect, and it required far too many low profit Sunbirds to counteract the huge dent the big-motor Trans Am's put into the average. Yes, it will not pass this way again.
Already the T/A was having a major clipping performed on its proud feathers. For the first time in history, a small-inch engine was now available, the lightweight 301 cid Pontiac engine could substituted (for a mere $195.00 credit) for the base 403 Olds. The aforementioned 220 hp 400 cubic inch Pontiac remained as an option. But next year, there would be no big motors, only the 301.
But if you have to go down, then go down in style, and the exterior enhancements certainly added to the style. A new beak was fitted, laying back the nose at a 22-degree angle from the "Batmobile's" 16-degree angle for better aerodynamics. The Trans Am became a "bottom breather", picking up some fresh air for cooling at the bumper grilles, the reamining amount from underneath the front bumper. The traditional grille between the headlamps was gone, replaced by a pair mounted in the bumper pad extensions. The grilles were in a matte black and contained the turn signal/park lamp lenses in the upper outer corners. The now common four rectangular headlamps were each set in deep recesses, surrounded by low gloss bezels. The Pontiac crest continued to reside in the center of the front fascia.
In addition to the styling change, a bright spot to the front end restyle was a deeper front spoiler, now made of a flexible material rather than the hard plastic of the '77-78's. The change in material made it a bit more friendly to curb stones and parking lot dips. The spoiler actually was responsible for a major portion of the cooling air which was channelled to the radiator. Larger wheel air deflectors (or spats) were fitted, blending with the new spoiler.
Chrome was out in the automotive styling circles, so all of the previous bright work around the windows was now painted in a low gloss black. This changed the look dramaticly, making the car appear more aggressive; at least until the paint started to peel. Then you had a mess. But at least this was an easy fix with a spray can, some steel wool, and masking tape.
Moving to the rear of the car, the changes to the front of the car were echoed. The license plate was moved from the traditional pocket between the tail lamps to a recess within the bumper cover. A pair of pads grew out from each side of the bumper cover to replicate the look of the front. The rear spoiler was larger and more squared off at the bottom of each corner piece.
The most drastic and best looking change to the rear had to be the tail lamp assemblies. The lamps now stretched corner to corner, with a hinged fuel filler door in the center. While this may seem enough of a change, the big news was that the tail lamps had a "blacked out" look; at least until the lights were activated, then the red was proudly broadcast. For 1979, this was major cool! Lesser Firebirds (excluding Formula's) had the same tail lamp layout, but made do with traditional red lenses.
Here are three on ebay this week here in Michigan.
There were some terrific cars on the block. The 1996 Buick Custom Blackhawk went for $475,000. A large number of Corvettes, ranging from the first-built 2006 ZO6 to the first-built 1992 ZR-1 coupe, all crossed the block at more than $100,000. Proceeds from the sale of the first retail production 2010 Camaro benefited the American Heart Association. There was a Reggie Jackson 1969 Camaro, the ’67 Pontiac GTO used in the Vin Diesel movie XXX, and even a 1904 Oldsmobile Touring Runabout.
There were also race cars, like a pair of Pennzoil-liveried IRL cars, a 1998 Chevy S-10 drag truck, an Olds Aurora Exxon GTS car and a Chevy S-10 stadium race truck.
According to John Hennessey, President and CEO of Hennessey Performance Engineering, the purpose of the HPE700 is to offer customers supercar performance and muscle car looks all in a daily drivable vehicle with four seats and a trunk. The company will be announcing other, perhaps less extravagant, turnkey vehicle packages for the 2010 Camaro as well as a long list of performance accessories.
Base price for the 2010 HPE700 Camaro is $109,500. The price includes a 1-day performance driving course at Lonestar Motorsports Park, a 1/4 mile dragstrip facility adjacent to Hennessey's production facility and showroom in Sealy, Texas.
The first HPE700 Camaros will be sold to bidders at the 2009 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ. Orders can be placed at the Hennessy display at the show or on January 19, 2009 the HPE700 Camaro will be available for order from select Chevrolet dealers or directly from Hennessey Performance Engineering.
We received word today that GM has announced a one month delay for the new Camaro to Chevrolet dealers across the country. Now for the good news, they did give up some real horsepower numbers for the 2010 model; 2010 Camaro SS LS3 is looking at 426 HP and 400 HP for the L99 motor.
It also appears the Camaro Convertible will officially be a 2011 model, news we already knew but they clarified this week as well.
