CLEAN

Heeeeere we go!

Good Ph.D

Good Ph.D

Its kind of an LT1 vs. LS1 thing...

But much like that the answer should be pretty obvious.

Z/28 has usually been rarer and empirically more performance oriented, stickers from 1993-2002 dont change that.

CLEAN

Ok, heres the brief history of Camaro....

Back in ancient times, in the late 60's, you could get a Camaro w/ a V6 or V8, just plain Camaro, no RS, SS, Zthis, LT that, or anything. Chevrolet offered some packages though. RS was an appearance package mainly, had some chrome bits, hideaway headlights, relocated blinkers, gas cap, and other changes. The SS was a performance package that had the 350ci (thats cubic inches for you younguns ), HD suspension, stripe, different hood, SS emblems (starting to sound familiar?), grille, steering wheel, and a few other bits and pieces. If you wanted, you could combine the 2 to make an RS/SS, which got the RS appearance stuff, w/ the SS hardware. A very popular car for todays collectors. A few months into it, you could get an SS w/ a 396ci as well.

Now then, separate from all that, you could get a Z/28. The Z/28 was a handling package, and engine package. Its engine was limited to 5.0 liters, so that it could pass the SCCA's homologation requirements. It was RATED at 290hp, noteworthy as the begining of GM's underrating of Z/28 hp . It also came w/ a special suspension, wheels, tires, rally stripes, steering ratio, radiator, power front discs, and the close ratio 4 speed. Automatics and air were not available.

The Z/28 would drill an SS-350, and could hang neck and neck w/ an SS-396 in the quarter. It would outhandle all SS's. But it was built more as a street legal racecar (Z06 anyone?) than as an everyday car (SS). So not many were bought.

Over the next several years, The SS was phased out due to slow sales, as was the 396. The Z28 lost the 302, gained the LT-1, then lost it too. The Z28 became more of the generic "performance" Camaro. By the begining of the 4th gen, the Z28 was, in fact, the only way to get a V8 in a Camaro! The god's of the 60's were rolling in thier graves . The SS rolled back into the scene after being gone for 20 something years, as an enhanced Z28 as it were, not the separate model that it was before.

So there you have it, the Z28 was not always the base V8, it was only because Chevrolet diluted the line so much that it became so. The Z/28 was a distinct, focused, and hard edged car as it was originally conceived. Designed to win in SCCA. Back then, there was no "which one is better" argument because the cars were built for 2 different purposes. What makes a top dog? Engine size? HP? Performance? Handling? Price?

As for the SS over a Z thing...keep in mind that the C5 Z06 was internally known as SS for some time. The current SS being looked at has already been re-named Stingray. So there is precedent for either the SS or the Z, as being the top car. Just remember this, as spoken by one of our greatest heroes, "any Chevrolet can be an SS, only Camaro can be a Z/28".

As for price....just follow the Mustang, give or take a thousand or 2. Top dog Mustang pushes or exceeds 40k, Camaro probably will too. Average age of V8 Camaro buyers, 30+. 18-25 year olds...in their dreams (most of them, not all).

Mighty

So, by more performance oriented, you aren't talking about bigger engines?

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't 1967 - 1969 Z/28s all 302 cars, while their SS counterparts had the 350 and 396?

The 1970 - 1973 Z/28s had the 350, while their SS counterparts had the 350 and 396?

Am I wrong?

EDIT: Okay, great post. I was thinking in terms of larger displacement only.

White2kSS

This is all from Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camaro#1969

1967-1969 Z28: 4.9 L (302 in³) Small-Block V8 290 hp (216 kW) @ 5800 rpm, 290 ft·lbff (393 N·m) @ 4200 rpm

1967-1969 SS396: 6.5 L (396 in³) Big-Block V8 375 hp (280 kW) @ 5600 rpm, 415 ft·lbff (563 N·m) @ 3600 rpm

CLEAN

There, I fixed it for you.

No, but the SS vs Z28 debate was voted the #1 topic of all time, and has gone on for many years.

Mighty

That's funny. Well, thanks to you taking the time to explain it, you have one fewer horse beater on your hands.

Thanks again.

CLEAN

Do they have the 302's actual output in there, or just what GM rated it at?

CLEAN

slp97camaro

like i said before...i really dont care what the top model is...or if theres even an ss.....i just cant wait to get my hands on the new camaro...im sure we can all agree on that!

FutureZMan

When you assume, you make an *** out of you and me.

I said the interior was cheap, but where did i say it bothered me? hmm... yep, exactly.

Back to the drawing board skipper.

FutureZMan

Apparently your new to the camaro scene, so ill let you have this one for free.

The Z/28 was initally a sleeper street machine, completely capable of stomping the SS on the track and in the turns.

Your just confused due to the fact of what the camaro was from 1996 - 2002.

I forgive ya

Mighty

Don't be scared. You can say ***.

FutureZMan

OMGZ.