Dang, you're good!!!

 

Sometimes you have to translate for some before they miss what is right infront of them. Thanks for confirming what I have been thinking.

I remember the Cormaro. It was black and the gas filler was in the wrong spot. It also had a hood scoope that was odd. So if you looking for a test car like what is listed look for odd things on it as this may be your only clue.

I also remember the 4th Gen TA that was gold that looks stock till I looked under it and found a C5 rear independent rear suspension. Too bad it did not make production. I still have pictures of it including the underside or at least what I could get as it sat low.

 

Jason D and I once got a tour of the Pontiac World HQ's " back lot" in 1996, where there were a bunch of fourth-gens with IRS. One of them was a 1994 25th anniversary Trans Am convertible with a WS6 hood. We also ran across a couple supercharged Pontiac Transport minivans, and a Transport minivan that had been converted into an ElCamino-type vehicle with a bed in the back. Somewhere in my attic is a picture of Jason sitting in the back of that thing with a big grin on his face.

But yeah, there are many ways to test things like new powertrain configurations with existing vehicles. In 1995 through 1997 I used to have a drive-on pass for the Milford Proving grounds and there was all kinds of cool test mules out there, most of them sporting obvious hacks like sawzalled quarterpanels, duct tape, and wires sticking out of weird places for instrumentation.

Pieces of our new Camaro might be running around under any number of current-production vehicles that have been hacked to accept the test components.

 

Heh...I remember that day VERY clearly. I remember some Frankestein cars there. I'd like to see that pic again, I even remember it being taken.

 

I knew it!!! It's a Yukon!!! It's a Yukon!!!

 

My money is on a GTO body for the mule. We already know they can fit a Camaro body on a GTO frame (Bumblebee) so why not a GTO body on a Camaro? Its got (arguably) bland styling, so it should coast under the radar.

 

the GTO has a longer wheelbase and i believe different track width? anyway.. the dimensions of the bumblebee prop car are different than the actual camaro concept car.. consequently the body panels are adusted accordingly to fit the GTO frame..

but i suppose they could adjust the GTO panels to fit a camaro frame.. who knows

 

My bet is a CTS since it was used to build the show cars.
Also that platform supports a V6 and V8, has IRS rear suspension and auto and manual trannys. Also it is still in production.

I can see parts slipped under and in this car and we would never know it.

I could see the engines or exhaust in a Pick up too but the suspension part would not really work here.

We have to keep in mind that they do not always test all the parts together at one time on one car till later.

 

lol.. you forgot Aveo! LOL!!!

 

close!



.......Yukon XL!!!!

 

Gotta be about ten of those in my neighborhood, all silver or pewter or some congenial suburban color. Like finding a needle in a haystack. It'll be 2009 before I find the thing.

 

I did not know the Aveo was RWD or I would have added it to the list!


I would not exclued a Yukon SUV as GM has tested the V16 Caddy engine in one. If your rolling up miles the engine does not know if it is in a truck or a CTS.

Besides the XL could carry all the equipment for the test Prototype cars when they hit the road in the correct body in a few months.

They did make a Corvette wagon back in 1982 to carry things for the Vette crew and to keep up.
It was a Caprice wagon with a 84 Vette engine and and 16" Vette wheels with Corvette lettering on the tailgate.

 

Nah, you guys are all wrong .

The test mule(s) are the C6 Z06 and the '08 Corvette. One sports an LS7, the other, the LS3. Add 2 more seats and voila! - 2009 Camaro! (in Z28 and SS configurations, respectively ).

What more needs to be tested ..... the suspension? That can be done in either the Caddy and/or the GTO .

 

it has to be the CTS or GTO... or wait.. wait for it... how about those new Chevy Lumina showing up lately????

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533636

 

That is such a nice looking car. I much prefer it over the G8 (and I like the G8).