I wasn't too wild about the the possibility of a retro Camaro design. My feelings have changed after seeing the new concept though.

Wow.

 

Well since you asked, Id love to answer.

Im more of a huge 69 Camaro fan than a Camaro fan. I love the short doors with the 1/4 windows. I like the line that comes from the point in that quarter window that slopes down then forward giving it muscle. If you want that you have the 3 origional years to choose from. Of those 3 years GM poured a ton of money into restyling the 1st gen in 1969 right before it was to be replaced to match Ford and Chrysler who were doing the same thing that year. The recessed headlights, and the way they are set back in the grill but they come forward to a point in the center making it agressive. The hood itself is pointy as well yet the illusion of flat from the front for a lack of better description. The look of the Chrome shark gills in front of the rear tires The only non fucntioning thing of the 69 and that was the only year that had them. On this concept they are body color true Shark Gill brake cooler holes that apear to be functioning rear brake coolers. Simalar functioning ones can be found on the Porsche Cayman S, though the 69 Camaro had them first. I love the look of the stock Cowl hood that gives the impression that whats under it is not to be taken lightly. They managed to slip a discreet Corvette like ram air stretched to a Knight Rider like line if you inserted a red light bar at the front of it without ruining the cowl lines. I would never do that but this thing looks cool. It is the general classy shape that the BMW M6 is before there even was an M6. This car was the only year that I know of that was produced Sept 27 1968 to Feb 27 1970 stealing 6 months from the next years car (the first split bumper) because it was that damn good. However the next gen came and the most sought after Camaro only sold one year. Somone mentioned size. This concept lengthens more than the wheel base lost in 82 and the overall length of the car gets shortened more than it was lengthened that same year. Im assuming they compared it to the 02 though in R&T video. If you look on Ebay the 69 and other 1st gen cars are comanding huge prices. I have one in my drive. Vietnam Vets have told me while talking to me about my car, it was common for them to be overseas talking about how they were going to get a 69 Z28 when they got home. Ive had kids yell nice car as Im crossing an intersection. I was stopped for road work and the guy holding the sign when he spun it to slow smiled and gave me thumbs up. I was comming around a corner and a Harley rider leaning in a turn took his left hand off the bar and gave me thumbs up. While getting gas a guy pulls in and said that your car? I said yes. He goes its nice. I had to turn around and make sure I was seeing what Im saw. He drove off. Mine is a two barrel and doesnt even have a cowl or front spoiler but demands respect. Not only do I love the way it looks it seems to turn others heads more than my 98.

Exact copy? In 69 they eliminated the fender flares and replaced them with swooshes that put creases in the doors. The 69 tail lights are long sleek with the back up lights in the center and are pointed at the sides. The 1st Gen NASCAR like spoiler is gone. The sides of this car are straight as opposed to round, keeping in line with the lines of the Vette while giving 3rd gen fans some of the side of the car they like. The front grill is set back at an angle the way 3rd gen was as well completing the 3rd gen side view. That rear 1/4 is straight off a C6 in the back while the deck lid is off a CTS.(at least the mule I didnt get a good look at the back of the concept) The Tail lights are sort of 1970 round mixed with 68-67 square making them square circle more like that of the C4. The 4 center gauges infront of the shifter are 69 but those in the dash are 67-68 There are parts where I would perfer more 69 such as the tail lights and top lines front fenders or outline of instrument cluster but this car is a combination and compromise of different years and different areas are growing on me.

But mostly why Im excited is, my dream car since about 1997 has been to build a 69 camaro with modern technology such a traction control and IRS that can handle like a BMW with the power of a small block into a bad *** G machine with a 6spd as an ultimate road racer/looker but could be a daily driver. But to have something close to that from the factory that is new would ease my concience about hurting a 35 year old classic with similar looks that I could drive daily. I am hoping it would be enough to make at least one person in the 350Z/BMW market see what I see and cross shop a Z28. It has back seat for the kids and a trunk with more style and power at a better value. Sorry for the winded post but yes Im excited.

 

I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it isn't a good sign when someone like my dad says, "The mustang ****ed a charger, and out came this".

 

Now you will have niether, cause this is not a 69, yet it is not a NEW Camaro. I personally don't care for the 69 Camaro's, or very many of the other classics for that matter. I'm not a fan of the brick on wheels design. I want a sport coupe, not a powerfull sedan. The 3rd and 4th gens were great with the 4th being my favorite, they had the sporty image instead of the old style brick on wheels look. I've been in the market for a new car for a while now but I have been holding back hoping for a new Camaro, and what comes along, a new Camaro made to look like the ones they made before everyone even had color TV sets. So much for advancing the Camaro image, we've taken it back 35 years. I am glad that at least the Camaro name is back, maybe they can actually design a body for the 6th gen instead of going back in time.

 

You know, I love the '69 Camaro too and would love to have one, even with a modern drivetrain and suspension. So why would I not be happy with the 5th gen? Because it is not the same, at all. I wouldn't have the original and the feeling and the essence are not there.

I guess I am not impressed with remakes. Maybe the fact that I am a designer falls into play here. The motto of a designer is to be innovative, daring, and to think outside the box (too many cliches). This gets stated over and over while in school and you are constantly being pushed to develope something new and fresh and design things that no one has seen or thought about before. I guess those teachings are affecting me because I am not impressed with what the designers have come up with. I really want to see what the designers could have come up with if they were told "Create the new Camaro" and were not so restricted as to only be able to create a 1st gen remake. I know it would have been great because those are talented people. I just would have liked to see what could have been.

 

Problem is that they have to build what will sell, not what they want to have.

Im sure if it was up to some, myself included, the Camaro would be a box stock 8-second racecar.

 

Retro, "modern interpretation", whale barf...I don't care what you call it. This car is simply awesome. This is the car I was hoping for and it outdoes every other enthusiast concept rendering I've seen.

This concept is already generating a quite a fervor and passion (in the positive direction) on this board. Regardless of how you pigeonhole it, that bodes extremely well for the car.

 

[QUOTE=BigDarknFast]You've every right to keep posting your retro-bewilderment in just about every thread on this section of the forum... but isn't it time to move on now? Get over it already.[QUOTE]

That's an ignorant statement. I doubt the retro bandwagon would've handed over the keys if it came out more evolutionary.

 

Why does it not surprise me that one of the retro flag waivers is not able to come up with an original arguement but rehash one from his own past. Perhaps you've lost your soul of arguemtative art?

 

Interesting...I had the complete opposite reaction. I was so put off by the new 4th gen that I actually felt embarassed. To me, it looked like a Geo Storm on steroids. Even when the LS1 4th gen came out with the new front clip, I wasn't all too keen...until I climbed behind the wheel of one. The day I drove an '02, was the same day I traded my '90 in on it. So you could say it took me about 10 years to warm up to the 4th gen.

This concept however, took about 5 seconds to get cozy with. The only thing I'd change is the front grille...the choppers at ls1tech did a nice grille job. This concept seems to really do it for me from all angles. Some angles actually gave me goose bumps.

 

Agree, I have always thought the 4th Gen's were not to desirable to look at (and that's being nice). Awesome drivetrain though.

My Favorite based on looks alone:

5th Gen
3rd Gen
1st Gen
4th Gen
2nd Gen (Depends on the year, some I would put above the 4th gens)

Because the 5th tied together a 3rd and 1st it's no wonder why I love it.

 

I would not call it retro or futuristic but evolution, Plain and simple

 

And yes. You are the minority

 

You are absolutely right. I think the new concept is Camaro perfection. As far as getting attention from driving a '69, I know exactly what you're talking about. Heads turn everytime I drive mine and I have about a 50% chance of somebody stopping me to talk to me about my car everytime I park or go to get back in my car. I particularly identify with getting stopped at gas stations and I have also gotten thumbs up from a couple of road workers(one of them was a state prisoner, lol) I talked to a guy one time who told me his life story. He said it all went downhill after he sold his '68 camaro. I learned that his ex-girlfriend tried to stab his mother to death, lol... what a psycho.
I was flashed by a carload of girls once...one of the best random encounters thanks to my car I seriously could write a story based on all the attention I get from driving my '69. Bottom line is they couldn't have picked a better basis for a new Camaro than the '69 bodystyle.

 

I didn't want retro... I wanted this