I am betting on the SS concept

I think we've been looking at the next Camaro and/or Chevelle for quite a while now. GM has been parading this concept to all shows since its introduction. If you Google for Chevrolet SS concept, you'll find page after page of articles on this car...a concept mind you.

While there have been reports that the retro drawing shown in the magazines was "close", there are just as many reports saying that it is nowhere near close.

Plus, with the quote from this board that the design has been around for years, I see the SS concept as being the obvious design.

I seem to remember someone confirming that the 5th gen would have 2nd gen cues...and the SS does indeed have 2nd gen cues. I'll see if I can find the pics and post them.

I wish I could find them now, but about 6 months ago, there were photos floating around the internet of some kind of show...and there were two cars in the background: A 1st gen Camaro and the SS concept - together. When I was at NADA last year, GM's booth had the SS concept among its pictures of its vehicles.

greg

I think the US Navy should use the SS Concept for target practice.

Scott's already shot that theory down numerous times......and I pray it's not true...that concept left me cold.

I think the US Navy should use the SS Concept for target practice.

me too :rolleyes:

I like it..

Scott's already shot that theory down numerous times......and I pray it's not true...that concept left me cold.

I'd like to read that post....is there a link?

I'd like to read that post....is there a link?
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1462479&postcount=48

The SS concept took cues from past cars, such as older Camaros, so I wouldnt be surprised if the Camaro concept shares some body lines with it.

I saw the SS Concept at Detroit when it came out, I stood there within earshot of the GM guy and said somthing like" That is Fugly" And " Camaro??? I dont think so"

I would Pray to God it doesnt look anything like that.

once I had nothing good to do and started to play with a pic of the ss on the ps.. this came out..

http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/09/ssconcept03_03.jpg
http://www.camaro-transam.com/foro/files/ss_concept_208.jpg
http://www.camaro-transam.com/foro/files/ss_concept_2_363.jpg

still dont like the SS :death:

sorry on the wathermarks but couldn't find the originals so linked from our local club

once I had nothing good to do and started to play with a pic of the ss on the ps.. this came out..

http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/09/ssconcept03_03.jpg
http://www.camaro-transam.com/foro/files/ss_concept_208.jpg
http://www.camaro-transam.com/foro/files/ss_concept_2_363.jpg

still dont like the SS :death:

sorry on the wathermarks but couldn't find the originals so linked from our local club

That is one hell of a lot better looking car. I always thought the SS was too big.

i don't think you can get a better awnser than this........


http://web.camaross.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3383033&postcount=32

I think the US Navy should use the SS Concept for target practice.
Why? They wouldn't hit it.... Sorry.

I dont think the Camaro concept will have anything to do with the SS concept. I thought that had been covered here already. Heritage or Retro, whatever you want to call it... I think that is what we are getting. SS is not to heritage or retro Camaro to me.

Me again, no I'm not just going to disappear. Not till January anyhow. There was a clinic car that was based on the SS concept. It wasn't similar, it didn't share styling cues with, it was a coupe version of the SS concept with a different grille. It exists, I didn't imagine it, and word was it scored better than any GM clinic car ever. While most of you dismiss these photochop's as plain or down right ugly, my money is still on something very close to pics 1 and 2.

RP said the SS concept was meant to be a charicature of a real automobile. The clinic car was a toned-down COUPE version of the SS-sedan, less bulges more taught skin. I dug it and didn't even notice the slightly more upright stance.

This clinic car was pared against a Mustang and an Accord for Pete's sake what other GM car competes directly with them.

My only hope is that they did go with a 2nd gen inspired front clip.


GONGOS clinic chops (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/coleslaw151/album?.dir=ec87&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/coleslaw151/my_photos)
1. As close to clinic car as I could remember
2. Donor chop from the web I used to get 1. This pohotochop had been floating around the web soon after the SS-concept debuted.
3. First cut at drawing the clinic car, done the same night of the clinic even.

hey danno, if 1 and 3 are as close to what you remember seeing at the clinic, wouldn't you say this is pretty close too.........

http://www.indycamaro.com/McBride.jpg

and seeing as how RP has shot down every Camaro concept to date except this one, i think it's the closest thing we've got to what we will be seeing in January.

hey danno, if 1 and 3 are as close to what you remember seeing at the clinic, wouldn't you say this is pretty close too.........


I had been thinking that, but now that I see the SS chop together with the other pic it makes you wonder. Did the newer drawing use the GONGOS survey chop as a starting point or inspiration? Or is it coincidnece since it plays on hints that have come from folks in the know.

Me again, no I'm not just going to disappear. Not till January anyhow. There was a clinic car that was based on the SS concept. It wasn't similar, it didn't share styling cues with, it was a coupe version of the SS concept with a different grille. It exists, I didn't imagine it, and word was it scored better than any GM clinic car ever. While most of you dismiss these photochop's as plain or down right ugly, my money is still on something very close to pics 1 and 2.

RP said the SS concept was meant to be a charicature of a real automobile. The clinic car was a toned-down COUPE version of the SS-sedan, less bulges more taught skin. I dug it and didn't even notice the slightly more upright stance.

This clinic car was pared against a Mustang and an Accord for Pete's sake what other GM car competes directly with them.

My only hope is that they did go with a 2nd gen inspired front clip.


GONGOS clinic chops (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/coleslaw151/album?.dir=ec87&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/coleslaw151/my_photos)
1. As close to clinic car as I could remember
2. Donor chop from the web I used to get 1. This pohotochop had been floating around the web soon after the SS-concept debuted.
3. First cut at drawing the clinic car, done the same night of the clinic even.

I read your write up of the clinic. In it you mentioned that the rear end was awesome. Was it similar to the SS rear? Round tail lights, like the 2nd gen?

hey danno, if 1 and 3 are as close to what you remember seeing at the clinic, wouldn't you say this is pretty close too.........

http://www.indycamaro.com/McBride.jpg

and seeing as how RP has shot down every Camaro concept to date except this one, i think it's the closest thing we've got to what we will be seeing in January.

This looks like a morph between the Charger concept of a few years ago, and the Camaro rendered by Crispy. In fact, it looks like the Charger, but with the addition of the front and rear fender lines that streak toward the back of the car and a 1st gen inspired front clip.

I had been thinking that, but now that I see the SS chop together with the other pic it makes you wonder. Did the newer drawing use the GONGOS survey chop as a starting point or inspiration? Or is it coincidnece since it plays on hints that have come from folks in the know.


i got a feeling it's more coincidence than anything else. every one of the "similar" concept drawings (Crispey's, Kris H's, JohnnyGmachine's, and Danno's) all bear resemblence to each other and were all based off of the design clinic or hints from evok and others who were there. and Guy's comments about the 5th gen being "hidden in plain sight" lead me to believe things like the SS and the 99 nomad concept had cues from the 5th gen hidden in them, not the 5th gen taking cues from them.


i absolutely love johnny's, the one i posted. it's the best looking concept i've seen so far. if what we see in January is 95% of that car design wise, i'll be foaming at the mouth til i can go put a down payment on one. :D

This is too damn funny! I need to find my post I wrote 1 or 2 years ago that if you've seen the SS Concept you were looking at the 5th gen "Camaro". Of course I was immediately labelled a heretic and stupid. But I only related what I was told by my friend at GM. I remember Red Planet sending me a nice email and telling me something to the effect of being careful??? It didn't make sense to me at the time. I thought it was interesting that he took the time to email me though :D

I personally still maintain that the "Camaro" concept will have a lot of SS cues to it. More than some are willing to admit.

hey danno, if 1 and 3 are as close to what you remember seeing at the clinic, wouldn't you say this is pretty close too.........

http://www.indycamaro.com/McBride.jpg

and seeing as how RP has shot down every Camaro concept to date except this one, i think it's the closest thing we've got to what we will be seeing in January.

I wouldn't mind this being the real car. Throw in a high 400hp motor and I am on it.

This is too damn funny! I need to find my post I wrote 1 or 2 years ago that if you've seen the SS Concept you were looking at the 5th gen "Camaro". Of course I was immediately labelled a heretic and stupid. But I only related what I was told by my friend at GM. I remember Red Planet sending me a nice email and telling me something to the effect of being careful??? It didn't make sense to me at the time. I thought it was interesting that he took the time to email me though :D

I personally still maintain that the "Camaro" concept will have a lot of SS cues to it. More than some are willing to admit.

Glad to hear I am not alone in thinking this! It makes perfect sense.

I was not a real fan of the SS concept photos - until a few days ago when I watched video footage of it on the track. Damn, it looked good!

Someone said on here that we've been looking at the 5th gen for a while now...well what else is there that could be the 5th gen besides the SS concept? HHR? Impala? Monte Carlo? Cobalt? Jeez, I hope not.

I think the SSR, pulled heavily from the SS concept - look at the fender flair shapes and the front grill.

Furthermore, pull up a pic of an '02 Camaro and the '03 SS concept. The SS concept is clearly an evolution of the '02 front end. They share the same headlights and basic grill size/shape. I believe strongly that the SS concept was a drawing board evolution of the '02 Camaro.

After the SS concept debut, we got the SSR - which, even my girlfriend says looks like a derivative of the SS concept. Interestingly enough, she *REALLY* likes the Crispy and Horton renderings, as do I.

I still think we're gonna get the SS.

not this again:rolleyes:

not this again:rolleyes:
Precisely what I was thinking.

We'll find out in a month what we get.

hey danno, if 1 and 3 are as close to what you remember seeing at the clinic, wouldn't you say this is pretty close too.........

http://www.indycamaro.com/McBride.jpg

and seeing as how RP has shot down every Camaro concept to date except this one, i think it's the closest thing we've got to what we will be seeing in January.


I have been lurking here for a looonng time, but this is the first concept that has inspired me to post. That thing looks mean! I hope the 5th gen looks something like this!!!

:bow: :bow: :bow:

After the SS concept debut, we got the SSR - which, even my girlfriend says looks like a derivative of the SS concept.

Is it possible that the SSR got it's styling from the 2000 SSR concept?

hey danno, if 1 and 3 are as close to what you remember seeing at the clinic, wouldn't you say this is pretty close too.........

http://www.indycamaro.com/McBride.jpg

and seeing as how RP has shot down every Camaro concept to date except this one, i think it's the closest thing we've got to what we will be seeing in January.

The front is, but the rear quarter-panels are not. That car is way too 1st-gen for my tastes. The car was a 3-box but the rear quarter glass was closer to that of a 911 or a Fisker Latigo.

Then I'd simply say that the concept has continued to morph into something more along the lines of John's drawing versus where it started with the SS concept.

Scott has, in no uncertian terms, denied that he SS has anything to do with what we'll see in a month from now....thank goodness.

Hate to burst bubbles, but:

SS concept had nothing to do with Camaro....it was a design study using varioius SS themes over the years. Nothing to do with Camaro. There were four or five proposals.....and one of them had a nose that was strikingly similar to the late 4th gen Camaro.......but that's it.

No Bel Air at NAIAS or New York. Forget Bel Air ......at least for now.

SS concept is still being shown at various auto shows..(next stop is Seattle) ...but I don't think you'll see much of it in anything (meaning new product) in the next couple of years.

If you really look at the SS concept and the Sixteen, they're almost cariactures of automobiles.....they're carried to the extreme. While they're great looking cars, I can already hear Consumers Reports (and some on various 'unnamed' enthusiast sites ) wailing that there's no head room....hard to get in and out of the back seat......too heavy.....too large........yadayadayada.........


Sooooooooo....pay off the bets now, gentlemen.

Me again, no I'm not just going to disappear. Not till January anyhow. There was a clinic car that was based on the SS concept. It wasn't similar, it didn't share styling cues with, it was a coupe version of the SS concept with a different grille. It exists, I didn't imagine it, and word was it scored better than any GM clinic car ever. While most of you dismiss these photochop's as plain or down right ugly, my money is still on something very close to pics 1 and 2.

RP said the SS concept was meant to be a charicature of a real automobile. The clinic car was a toned-down COUPE version of the SS-sedan, less bulges more taught skin. I dug it and didn't even notice the slightly more upright stance.

This clinic car was pared against a Mustang and an Accord for Pete's sake what other GM car competes directly with them.

My only hope is that they did go with a 2nd gen inspired front clip.


GONGOS clinic chops (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/coleslaw151/album?.dir=ec87&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/coleslaw151/my_photos)
1. As close to clinic car as I could remember
2. Donor chop from the web I used to get 1. This pohotochop had been floating around the web soon after the SS-concept debuted.
3. First cut at drawing the clinic car, done the same night of the clinic even.

Hey Danno....what color was the car you saw in the clinic?

We did a very large number of clinics on several vehicles about two years ago (as i recall) and we did a V8 RWD coupe that scored off the charts..the problem was that:

It was very heavy if produced as you saw it;
It sat too high (in my opinion)
By the time workable 5mph bumpers were added, it was wayyy too big.

The car wasn't designed off the SS concept.....we simply never did a 2 door version of it.....

We did a very large number of clinics on several vehicles about two years ago (as i recall) and we did a V8 RWD coupe that scored off the charts..the problem was that:

It was very heavy if produced as you saw it;
It sat too high (in my opinion)
By the time workable 5mph bumpers were added, it was wayyy too big.


and everyone around here says they aren't concerned about size and weight :p .

Hey Danno....what color was the car you saw in the clinic?

We did a very large number of clinics on several vehicles about two years ago (as i recall) and we did a V8 RWD coupe that scored off the charts..the problem was that:

It was very heavy if produced as you saw it;
It sat too high (in my opinion)
By the time workable 5mph bumpers were added, it was wayyy too big.

The car wasn't designed off the SS concept.....we simply never did a 2 door version of it.....

RP the car was a dark grey metallic. It shared the rear and tail light design with the SS sedan (except the panel between the tail-lamps was body-colored instead of a metallic insert). It even had the flush mounted body integrated exhaust pipes, ahhh droool ... That's why I thought it was a coupe version of the SS sedan. That and the A-pillar was also very similar to it.

I'm really surprised about the weight, the car looked shorter than the 04 Accord there. It seemed like a really tight package, then again I drove a 4th-gen so my views on the subject might of been a little skewed :confused: .

The car I saw was about as tall as an SN-95 Mustang but it wasn't noticeable until you got within touching distance. Deceptive like a 300C.

I thought the bumpers were integrated into the body already. I don't know what external bumpers would do to the lines of that car.


Red Planet, how far along was that clinic car (Santa Fe Springs, CA 6/03)? It looked pretty close to complete. The interior seemed like it was fully appointed. Eventhough the glass was LIMO tint, I could make out the rear-seat headrests from an angle. The exhast pipes looked to be PVC and the car was kept from rolling using stops. Was there a powertrain in it?
Thanks.

and everyone around here says they aren't concerned about size and weight :p .

Oh right! Road hugging weight is where it's at :D

The postings of the last week have me eagerly awaiting January 9th. Maybe my black '02 won't be my last Camaro!

I like it..

So does Mazda. (RX8?)

once I had nothing good to do and started to play with a pic of the ss on the ps.. this came out..

http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/09/ssconcept03_03.jpg
http://www.camaro-transam.com/foro/files/ss_concept_208.jpg
http://www.camaro-transam.com/foro/files/ss_concept_2_363.jpg

still dont like the SS :death:

sorry on the wathermarks but couldn't find the originals so linked from our local club

The next Camaro isn't going to have the same greenhouse. It's going to be a proper coupe. Nice photoshops, but that type of Camaro is dead.


Me again, no I'm not just going to disappear. Not till January anyhow. There was a clinic car that was based on the SS concept. It wasn't similar, it didn't share styling cues with, it was a coupe version of the SS concept with a different grille. It exists, I didn't imagine it, and word was it scored better than any GM clinic car ever. While most of you dismiss these photochop's as plain or down right ugly, my money is still on something very close to pics 1 and 2.

RP said the SS concept was meant to be a charicature of a real automobile. The clinic car was a toned-down COUPE version of the SS-sedan, less bulges more taught skin. I dug it and didn't even notice the slightly more upright stance.

This clinic car was pared against a Mustang and an Accord for Pete's sake what other GM car competes directly with them.

My only hope is that they did go with a 2nd gen inspired front clip.


GONGOS clinic chops (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/coleslaw151/album?.dir=ec87&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/coleslaw151/my_photos)
1. As close to clinic car as I could remember
2. Donor chop from the web I used to get 1. This pohotochop had been floating around the web soon after the SS-concept debuted.
3. First cut at drawing the clinic car, done the same night of the clinic even.

Been wondering what's happened to ya. Thought the black Suburbans might have gotten to you. :lol:

The next Camaro isn't going to have the same greenhouse. It's going to be a proper coupe. Nice photoshops, but that type of Camaro is dead.
In other words guys use the 99 GTO concept for the greenhouse starting point.

RP the car was a dark grey metallic. It shared the rear and tail light design with the SS sedan (except the panel between the tail-lamps was body-colored instead of a metallic insert). It even had the flush mounted body integrated exhaust pipes, ahhh droool ... That's why I thought it was a coupe version of the SS sedan. That and the A-pillar was also very similar to it.

I'm really surprised about the weight, the car looked shorter than the 04 Accord there. It seemed like a really tight package, then again I drove a 4th-gen so my views on the subject might of been a little skewed :confused: .

The car I saw was about as tall as an SN-95 Mustang but it wasn't noticeable until you got within touching distance. Deceptive like a 300C.

I thought the bumpers were integrated into the body already. I don't know what external bumpers would do to the lines of that car.


Red Planet, how far along was that clinic car (Santa Fe Springs, CA 6/03)? It looked pretty close to complete. The interior seemed like it was fully appointed. Eventhough the glass was LIMO tint, I could make out the rear-seat headrests from an angle. The exhast pipes looked to be PVC and the car was kept from rolling using stops. Was there a powertrain in it?
Thanks.

Yes.....you are correct...it was gray. It was not a complete car. It was what we call a 'foam' or 'fiberglass'.......no drivetrain....no interior......you can see what appears to be seats...but in reality, they're only seatbacks.....if you looked real close inside, you'd see a black fuzzy closeout panel.......... The bumpers were designed in....but they would not have passed a 5mph impact. When I saw the car (I loved it by the way) my reaction was:
1. Where's the hoodscoop?
2. I think it sits too high

As to the taillamps.....yes, they were rounded, but you may also recall that the rear came to a point in the middle...very similar to the CTS..whereas the SS concept bows out...but does not come to a point. To me, I could see a lot of the 2nd gen in that car...even tho if you asked me to say why, I really couldn't tell you.......except perhaps the slant of the rear window into the C-pillar.

The bottom line is that the car was simply too big.......

Too big? Hrm....
Id like a Camaro to be a cross between the Ferrari 612, and the Aston DB9. I would love for the circle tail lights, aggressive stance of teh Aston, with the smooth lines of the Ferrari...mix in Camaro hertiage and serve.

promise me one thing Red.....include some pictures in your book ;)

promise me one thing Red.....include some pictures in your book ;)
I say he includes a DVD with video of the car throughout the design stages. And hopefully of him reading the board and banging his head against the wall so people know how hard it really was for him.

If you love the design of the concept....don't thank me.

Thank the men and women at GM Design Studio........Tom Peters........and many of the talented young men and women that work with him.

I'm very very proud of them.

And some of them don't even know me. (altho I'm sure some have heard of that 'crazy Settlemire and his love for all things Camaro' and 'OMG...he's STILL wearing those Camaro shirts and Jackets and Camaro Ties to work!!)

(but I gotta say.....I'm in love with this concept.....just makes me grin like all-get-out)

Scott,

Is there an offical date when you can refer to the concept as a Camaro? I have noticed you are a lot more gushing, not necessarily forthcoming ;) , but gushing about the concept. That is very encouraging!

Yes.....you are correct...it was gray. It was not a complete car. It was what we call a 'foam' or 'fiberglass'.......no drivetrain....no interior......you can see what appears to be seats...but in reality, they're only seatbacks.....if you looked real close inside, you'd see a black fuzzy closeout panel.......... The bumpers were designed in....but they would not have passed a 5mph impact. When I saw the car (I loved it by the way) my reaction was:
1. Where's the hoodscoop?
2. I think it sits too high

As to the taillamps.....yes, they were rounded, but you may also recall that the rear came to a point in the middle...very similar to the CTS..whereas the SS concept bows out...but does not come to a point. To me, I could see a lot of the 2nd gen in that car...even tho if you asked me to say why, I really couldn't tell you.......except perhaps the slant of the rear window into the C-pillar.

The bottom line is that the car was simply too big.......

Thanks for the interesting info RP. I'll crawl back under the rock I came from now.:) I hope that clinic model still exists though. I'd really love to see something similar to that make production or be in your book at least.

1. I was asking 'where's the Z/28 cowl induction hood?'.
2. I was too awed by the looks and stance of the car to really dwell on the height.
The rear of that car was awesome by far it's best feature. I'd be scared to pull up on that at a stoplight. Downright mean.

You're enthusiasm about the actual concept sets my mind at ease. It's going to be a great January.:D

Originally Posted by Red Planet:
And some of them don't even know me. (altho I'm sure some have heard of that 'crazy Settlemire and his love for all things Camaro' and 'OMG...he's STILL wearing those Camaro shirts and Jackets and Camaro Ties to work!!)Must not be reading many Chevy Mags then, you've been in more than a few. Just read a write up about you in Camaro Performers last month, '56 Pontiac Star Cheif huh, nice first car. I see why you like 2nd gens, was the '73 a Z28? My cousin had a black one with big white bars on top, one of the first cars we really tore into.

The bumpers were designed in....but they would not have passed a 5mph impact.

I thought that the 5mph bumpers were no longer a federal requirement -- that 2.5mph was good enough now.

On the other hand, I think that may still be a requirement in Canada . . . .

Must not be reading many Chevy Mags then, you've been in more than a few. Just read a write up about you in Camaro Performers last month, '56 Pontiac Star Cheif huh, nice first car. I see why you like 2nd gens, was the '73 a Z28? My cousin had a black one with big white bars on top, one of the first cars we really tore into.

Yeah,...the Star Chief was a 'woods runner'.......it was completely rusted out so we made roads with it by running over small trees!

The '73 was a Type LT. Yup......wanted a Z28, but my father knew me all too well. (something to do with him finding out about taking his 70 SS-396 Demo to the Drag Strip back in 1970...........) ...and doing things with some of the really old 'trade-ins' at the dealership..........that's another whole story.

(something to do with him finding out about taking his 70 SS-396 Demo to the Drag Strip back in 1970...........) ....
Hmmm, hope that wasn't my '70 Chevy from all those years ago.......

:lol: