Chevy Camaro

Don Levy asked:


In March 1964 Ford debuted as one the most popular cars ever built. It was the car that started the pony car craze and gave us a peek into what the world would know as the muscle car era. Although it was built in 1964 it was designated as a 1965. The ones built from March until July 31, 1964 are known as 1964 1/2 Mustangs and were some what different from the ones built from August 1 and later. Most of the differences were internal and the body were identical except for the hood being rolled under in the later ones. It was basically a Falcon with a new body and bucket seats. The ones built after July are known as 1965’s and were a little more updated with such things as an alternator,adjustable passenger seat and a number of other engineering refinements. The pony interior with the running horses was offered also.

The Mustang probably had the biggest debut of any car ever made as it was introduced at the New York’s World Fair and was the pace car for the Indianapolis 500. Over 4 million people visited the showrooms and 22,000 were ordered the 1st day. It sold 417,000 the first year which broke all previous automobile sales records.

The body styles were the coupe and convertible. No fastbacks were built until the 1965’s came out in August. The engines were the U code 170 CI 6 cylinder, F code 260 V8 and the D code 289 V8 with 210 Horsepower. The GT came out in April 1965 and was offered in all 3 body styles. You had a choice of the A code 225 HP or K code 271 HP V8. The 271 HP almost qualified it as a muscle car. The 1st Shelby Mustangs, all fastbacks, came out in 1965 and was really a hotrod with no backseat and hopped up to 306 HP.

1966 didn’t see a lot of changes in the body except for the pony in the grill, side trim and restyled gas cap. The G.T. 350 came out in 1966 and Hertz ordered 1,001 of them for rental cars or “Rent-a Racers” as they were known as. Many Sundays they could be found at the dragstrip or road race course. There was a rumour at the time that a number of them were rented and the engines swapped with the renter’s engine and returned to the dealer. True or not it makes a heck of a story. This was also the first year for the High Country Special sold in Colorado and Wyoming. The Shelby GT350 was available with a 289cid that put out 390hp and likely qualified it as a muscle car. In 1967 the Mustang had the 1st body redesign, although it wasn’t a major one, mostly trim and grill. The biggest change was on the fastback where the top went all the way to the rear of the car. The convertible had a glass rear window for the 1st time.

It was the last year for 289 Hi-Po and the first year for the 390cid and 428cid engines. The GT350 had the 289cid Hi-Po while the GT500 got the 428cid. The 390cid could be had in all 3 body styles. This was the only year for the GTA which had an automatic transmission and could be had with the 289 or 390 in all 3 body styles. Only 400 High Country Specials were build in 1967.

The Chevy Camaro, Mercury Cougar, Pontiac Firebird and Plymouth Barracuda were all in the same class as the Mustang and cut into their sales, but they still outsold their nearest competitor, the Cougar by a three to one margin.

The 1968 was little changed in appearance from the 1967. The 427cid of Cobra fame came out in he GT’s. Equipped With disc brakes, racing tires and heavy duty suspension it was race ready right off the showroom floor. Mustang racer Bob Tasca efforts to build the 428 Cobra Jet was rewarded by Ford building 2,817 instead of the just 50 intial run he asked for. This was the last year for the High Country Special and a California Special was available for this year only. All the Specials were coupes.

In 1969 things really changed, the engine line had 7 different size engines and although the body had the same look it was 4 inches longer and a little wider. The engines ranged from the 2 little 6 cylinders, a regular and a Boss 302cid, 2 different 351cid, the 390cid, the Cobra Jet and Cobra Jet-R 428cid all the way up to the monster, Boss 429. The original body styles were still around, but now they were joined by the Mach 1, the Boss and the Grande. This was the last year for the GT.

The Mach 1 was basically a fastback GT with upgrades. It came with 351cid, 390cid or the Cobra Jet 428.The Grande was for the luxury buyer, with many upgrades. The Boss 302 was built to race in the TransAm series where the Camaro had beat them in 1968. They almost won it in 1969. This was the year of the Boss 429 debut, which was the Nascar version engine.

1970 was a happier year for Ford as the Boss 302 won the Trans-Am Series. Very few changes were made to the cars. The Boss 429cid came out with a hemi-head that required suspension modifications so it would fit.The 390cid was done away with. Ford built 2 1970 Boss 429 Lawmen Mustangs to tour with the U.S. troops. Only 1 of the 1,200-horsepower monsters survives today and is owned by wrestler Bill Goldberg.

In 1971 the Mustang gained one inch in wheelbase and every other dimension grew. The Mach 1 could now be had with the 429cid although the 302cid was standard. The Boss 302 and Boss 429 were both dropped in favor of the Boss 351. Like 1970 there wasn’t too much exciting happening in the Ford camp. It was like they knew the end was near.

1972 saw the end of the Mustangs wild ride. The pony had grown into a stallion, but like the stallions of the old West it’s end was near. The 429cid engine was dropped which meant that the largest engine was now the 351cid. Although the High Output version put out a respectable 275hp it was a far cry from the advertised 376hp (reputed to be much higher) the Boss 429 put out. In my estimation this was the last year for the Ford muscle cars although in reality it was 1970 as the engine cubic inches and horsepwer went the way of the dodo bird in the 1971 models.

I hate to even mention the 1973 because of the hatchet job that was done on the Mustang and other muscle cars. This was even the last year for the convertible. The 351cid was down to a wimpy 266hp. The Mustang with any kind of muscle was dead and would not really get revived until recently.

Due to the short but rich history of the real Mustangs we need to keep on restoring or preserving them so that the kids of today can have a chance to own a piece of history that will never come around again. Remember, restore them don’t crush them.



Beverly

Noah Scott asked:


It is still not clear whether General Motors will use the same rear wheel drive platform used for the new Chevrolet Camaro or an all-wheel drive for its ultra-luxury Cadillac. GM Vice Chairman and product guru Robert Lutz recently told journalists at the Chicago Auto Show that it was a possibility. And if ever it does push through, one thing is for sure, quality auto parts and accessories such as GM carpet kits are going to be utilized for the ultra luxury Cadillac.

Lutz also noted that as part of their global product strategy, the automaker would have lesser but more flexible platforms that would accommodate a much wider range of vehicles and designs. And an example of which is the new Camaro platform which could be used for other vehicles. Lutz has also given a hint why the launching of the new Camaro is delayed but he also added that the Camaro is scheduled to appear in 2009. The automaker has extended the utility of the fundamental architecture of the new Camaro so that it could be used as the platform for other vehicles.

According to Lutz, “What you’ve got to understand is that we’ve got this modular product architecture kit where we have two different lengths of rear overhang. So we can modify those elements any way we want. In the case of the Camaro, it’s long short. If, for instance, we wanted to do a very large rear-wheel-drive Cadillac with more than eight cylinders you could do long, long, long.” He also added, “Its like a Lego set-you weld them together anyway you want.”

But for now GM has not yet released any official statement whether they are going ahead with their plan of producing an ultra-luxury Cadillac. However, Mark LaNeve, GM Vice President of Sales, Service and Marketing said that they would like to push through with the plan of creating an upscale Cadillac that can compete with cars such as the new Lexus LS460 or the BMW 7-series.

Lutz remarks shows one of the new realities that will have a significant influence on the automotive industry in the coming years. Capital is becoming scarce and except for Toyota, the cost of borrowing has gone up dramatically for automakers all over the world which lead them to explore various options that would help them in conserving capital like for instance spinning off more products from one basic investment which has become the trend among automakers today.

Lutz also mentioned that General Motors is continuously pooling all of its product resources from around the world. He said, “It doesn’t matter where it is. It’s all one organization. We’ve finally realized not every region has to do its own product.” He further added that even the decisions on the engines to use in which products that traditionally been the responsibility of the regional managers are being shaped by global forces now. “One of the answers, which is being increasingly adopted in Europe and we plan to use it too, is to use engines in cars that are fundamentally way too small and then turbocharged them. You could envision (the Pontiac G8) with four-cylinder Cobalt engine but turbocharged to 270 to 280 horsepower. That’s a formula that works great for fuel economy because when you’re not in the acceleration game you’re cruising along on a tiny, little engine. Trouble is that it costs about $1400. Nothing is for free. I think we found with direct fuel injection is we found it boosts power faster that it boosts fuel economy; I think we would have preferred the opposite.”



Clyde

nick asked:


I have a 1990 Chevy Camaro RS, recently installed a 355/5.7L engine in it but the only carburetor I had at the time was broke, so I’m looking for a new one to put on the car. I am looking for a carburetor that will give it the most performance with out being to much/big for the engine to handle. What would be the best size and make for my car(examle: edelbrock 600cfm)? Thanks

Ruth

Lauren Woods asked:


The movie Transformers features several General Motors vehicles and the Detroit automaker hopes that the film will boost the sale of the vehicles starring on the movie. Four General Motors autos have been featured in the full-length film - the new Chevy Camaro, the Pontiac Solstice, the GMC Topkick and the Hummer H2.

Although movie posters for the film list actors as the stars, General Motors thinks that the four vehicles are the true stars of the movie. “You’re going to see these cars as the heroes. You’re not going to see the other actors,” says Dino Bernacchi, GM’s associate director of branded entertainment. “These cars are the stars, literally, in the movie,” he added.

In the past, General Motors, like other car manufacturers has tried to attract the attention of young car buyers. The film gave the company its best result so far in terms of introducing their vehicles to the younger generation. And with the promotion of the four vehicles, General Motors is looking to see younger car buyers in their showrooms.

The shrinking market share of General Motors in the United States auto market has the company hoping that the exposure of the vehicles may lead to interest in the cars themselves. The company has been promoting the movie and has been pointing out their tie-ins with the film.

“This is hopefully a discovery point for maybe some of those who didn’t know the great design, the great-looking vehicles that we have out today,” said Bernacchi. “I find it really difficult to believe that a global blockbuster movie like this that has so many merchandising components to it that we’re not going to get incremental exposure.”

The exposure that General Motors is looking for is evident in the movie. The word “Camaro” is mentioned numerous times in the movie. Aside from that, the film also showed close up shots of the Camaro, the Pontiac Solstice which may have been equipped with a Pontiac cold air intake, the Hummer H2 and the GMC Topkick.

Analysts are also aware of the exposure that General Motors vehicles received in the film. David Koehler, a clinical marketing professor at the University of Illinois in Chicago, has this to say: “Product placement has never been so blatant, and the potential for a global platform to build brand awareness could not have come at a better time for GM. The younger demographic most likely to flock to the theaters is exactly what GM needs.”

An issue raised though is that many young car buyers will not be able to afford the vehicles featured in the film. Erich Merkle, the vice president of IRN Inc., an auto consulting company has this to say: “Keep in mind that some of the vehicles they’re showing are vehicles the youth market won’t be able to afford. But they do have a tremendous influence over what people who can afford those vehicles go to buy. You shouldn’t underestimate the influence of the youth. I don’t know a Baby Boomer out there who doesn’t want to be cool.”

Whether the film will transform sale for General Motors from dismal to dazzling is yet to be determined. But no doubt, the exposure of the four General Motors vehicles in the film will make them more popular. And if young car buyers today may not be able to afford these vehicles, in five or six years time, they may be able to and any of the four vehicles maybe their vehicle of choice.



Veronica

toldanothertale asked:


What is the difference between the 1993-02 Camaro SS or Z28? Which model trim is higher between the SS or the Z28? I believe the RS is the base model with the V6 engine and the SS and the Z28 comes with the V8 engines.

I have a friend who used to own a 1997 Camaro SS V8 w/leather interior.

Minnie

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Concept cars, or cars designed according to a certain theme or older model, are generally prototypes introduced at car and motor shows to gauge consumer reaction and appeal. Combining the best of modern technology with the sleek lines of tried and tested cars from the past, concept cars are often tentative feelers put out by automobile companies to test the waters before ‘diving’ into serious production.

Concept cars were first introduced by designer Harley Earl of General Motors in the 1950s. It was for the concept of a car that offered buyers state-of-the-art motor car technology in a new design which was actually a variation of an older theme. This gained almost instant popularity with the general public.

Recognizing a winning horse when they saw one, General Motors further publicized the concept and their car, through its touring Motorama shows of that period. Beautiful to behold, concept cars show off radical, futuristic designs, powerful engines and sometimes even controversial technology.

However, tempting as these concept cars may appear under the spotlight, many of them often undergo changes before being put on the production line by their manufacturers, and all of them are subjected to alterations that make them more suitable, and affordable, to their target markets.

The majority of concept cars seen at automobile exhibitions such as the Geneva Motor Show are the dream rides of automobile fans and racing enthusiasts, but are more often than not only show models made of wax, clay, metal, fibreglass and plastic. In fact many concept cars never even reach this stage due to impractical design glitches and cost factors.

An interesting example of an old, operational concept car being brought back into service would be the 1954 Ford Lincoln Futura, which after having been stored in the North Hollywood car shop of George Barris came out of storage to rise to stardom as the Batmobile of the 1966 Batman series on the ABC Television Network.

On the same note, current examples for concept cars would be the Mercedes-Benz bionic car (this is said to combine the best of nature, technology and the ever popular DaimlerCrysler engine), the 2006 BMW Mille Miglia concept coupe (based on the earlier BMW 328 Touring coupe and the BMW Z4 M coupe), the Camaro Concept sports coupe (which follows the lines of the first Camaros) and the Chrysler Imperial Concept 2006 (a direct descendent of classic Imperial and Chrysler designs).

Sadly, the majority of concept cars are destroyed once their use has been served. However, some do escape the crusher and continue to live their lives in storage or on display in automobile museums.



Jared

msuhcky07 asked:


I am moving to New York State and need to register my 2001 Camaro there. NYS requires both front and rear license plates, whereas my old state only required rear license plates. I need to get a bracket/frame or whatever for the front, but can’t seem to find one. Anyone’s advice who has already done this would be welcomed.

Fred

Suresh Kumar asked:


How to Start Bidding for Online Auctions

Auctions have been around for many years and even before supermarkets and stores, one of the most popular means of getting rid of items was to auction them off to the highest bidder. Today, the popularity of auctions is increasing once again with the climbing interest rates and the accessibility to auctions via the internet.

There are tons of auction sites online that offer anything and everything you can imagine, from automotive parts and cards to jewelry and dolls. When you are looking for the most popular categories online you will find that clothing, furniture and appliances rank highly as do cars and auto parts. People are constantly looking for a good deal on Urban Outfitters or Abercrombie and Fitch apparel and no mechanic can pass up a good bargain on a Corvette water pump.

At various auctions sites you can get items like Stihl chainsaws, Air Compressor Miata window, Urban outfitters, Abercrombie Forever 21, Crusader, Abercrombie and Fitch, Flstn, Accel distributor, Carvin, Corvette water pump, Small block chevy intake manifold, Unimog, Axo, Bose radio, Mopar intake manifold, Snap on pliers, Camaro cd, and Vortec engines Astatic for really cheap prices. They will not only be cheap because of the nature of the auction, but obviously many of the items will be second hand. This does not mean that they will be in terrible conditions, but you will have to make sure there is nothing wrong with any items before you place a bid on it.

Bidding on the popular online auction categories can be hard because there are so many other people eyeing the same thing you are and sometimes with the popularity of an item, the price can actually go higher than expected and sometimes higher than it is worth. This is why if you are going to start bidding on that Bose Radio, you must learn how to bid carefully and strategically so that you can win the item at a good price. One of the first things you should do is set aside a certain amount that you will spend as your budget and do not deviate from it at all. The nature of the game is that you will win some and lose some, but it is also that there will always be lots of items that people are auctioning off that you can get next time. When you start bidding, look to see if there is a reserve on the item. If there is, then it usually means that the item is going for a higher price and the owner wants to make sure that this price is met.

When you start bidding, try to only start your bidding towards the end of the auction. Keep an eye on it and watch until you get down to the last minute or so. There will usually be a count down timer so you can see every second and then right at the last possible moment you can place your bid. Some auctions will restart from 1 minute again so ensure that everyone has a fair chance, but most will simply end, giving you the advantage if you bid very late. It also ensures that you don’t push the price up unnecessarily by going up against another bidder.



Georgia

Paul L. asked:


I was wondering if I could use any rear axil from a V6 camaro, or if I would Specifically need one from the 1990-92 models due to the horse power increase. Please no remarks on how that car should just be replaced with another car, the car has a lot of value to me, it’s more than just money too me, it’s part of my life, so keep your comments to yourself.

Ellen

Terry Z. Voster asked:


The Chevrolet Camaro classic “Pony Car” was almost done in by its own popularity, good fortunes and signs of the times - that was in the early 1970’s. The Camaro - even the “Pony Car” fad had begun to wane - as the decade and allure of the 1960’s ended.

Indeed by the early 70’s the allure of the fantastic 60’s - “If you can remember the 60’s you weren’t there” had all but begun to wane. What then saved the Chevy Camaro Pony Sports car from oblivion?

Indeed by the early 1970’s with the Pony Car popularity on the wane, when all new 1970’s emerged on the scene the manufacturer and maker General Motors (G.M.) had begun to consider whether it should continue the Camaro product line beyond what was then a standard and normal 3 year production run for any new vehicle. Thus the end of the classic Camaro would have been in the 1972 model year. True you might have seen some minor rebadged products with the Camaro badge - but they would have been most poor substitutes, riding on the muscle name, prestige and legend. The Norwood California plant’s production run was even considered to be only traditional Chevrolet Nova automobile products.

To top it off the situation even reached a crisis point when as a result of a strike at the Camaro production factory. The strike lasted six months. When it was all over the result was that years end the production and sales results were at a record low for sales of the Camaro car product. What saved the Camaro from its death roll and demise?

What then saved the Camaro and Firebird from an early death that luckily was averted? Basically the GM executives - of the Chevrolet and Pontiac divisions came to conclusion that these two products - the Camaro and its Pontiac sister, the Firebird, were just too good to lose. Thus from the top down the top brass initiated a major in house publicity “public relations ” campaign . The basis of their understanding and resulting decision that the Camano’s and Firebird were a prestige unique product, who were a major draw of customers of all their product lines into Pontiac and Chevrolet dealerships. The cars were so nice, unique and different from other car companies staid products that people who might never of stepped foot into their dealerships did arrive - if nothing else drawn to see the fancy new Pony Car products. Since a lot of end result of sales of marketing of automobile products is all based on percentages and getting people into dealerships to buy cars it all made valid sense. It all makes valid sense. If only 1 % of the volume of people who came into dealerships to see the new Camaro or Firebird cars actually bought product - that translates into a lot of profitable sales - that were in essence found money and profit.

Like many of General Motor’s decisions of the time, this proved to be more than an excellent decision. For one thing the Ponycar ranks were shrinking were shrinking. The competitors had disappeared or shrunk in stature. The Ford Mustang had shrunk in size with the Mercury Cougar becoming a specialty product, entirely different than before and not servicing a wider market segment. By 1974 the Chrysler Barracuda/Challenger line had vanished from production. Even the AMC Javelin seemed on its way out with a radical departure in styling. Its life was ended by 1975.

In the end the Camaro / Firebird product line was the only Ponycar product left standing. What a wise decision. Thus the Camaro Ponycar line was saved from its own oblivion.



Lydia