I was just thinking and thought it might be a good idea to get a list of aftermarket dealers that we are all interested in and try to persuade them to get in the Camaro game. I know it may not do much but I dont think it would hurt if companies such as Magnafllow and B&M recieved a few hundred emails/letters from us just showing our interest. We could just pick a few, post the email links, and be on our way. What do you guys think?

 

My only thought to that……..well……….these aftermarket companies would be crazy to have their heads in the sand……I would assume most of the major automotive aftermarket companies already have an interest in the new Camaro…..

I don’t know how much of an effect as consumers we would have on these companies.

 

There are lots of companies that already have stuff for the LS2 cars available today. While the production version will probably not have the LS2 as we know it today (and as we have seen in the concept), I'm sure that the LSx engine mods will mostly be adaptable to the Camaro, and other stuff (intake, exhaust, suspension, etc) will follow quickly.

 

Y'know, it's funny. As a young guy I was into Mopars in a big way, and it drove me NUTS that for every vendor who was selling stuff for my Charger there were HUNDREDS catering to the F-body crowd. (Does Car Craft still have a Chevy on the cover of EVERY issue? They did back in 1983.) To hear Camaro folks worrying that there won't be enough aftermarket for their new baby is... hard to believe.

The parts will be there, guys. Petitions a year-plus before the car is on the street seem a little much. It won't be like the Mustang right away, but it'll be there soon enough... and given the wider application of the LS engines it'll probably pass the Mustang after a couple of years. No need to worry.

I bet there still won't be as much of a Mopar aftermarket, though!

 

This is a true statement. And this might not be about "LS2" and all that. I expect to see just as many aftermarket products for the car as a whole versus just for the engine alone.

 

You need to convince GM to provide the Camaro to the Aftermarket to develope the new parts.

I work in the aftermarket industry and know many vendors want to get started as soon as GM provides them with cars or tech help to make the parts.

I spoke to one that is making Mustang parts that want to do the Camaro but they were only permitted to measure the car and not touch it. I assum it was the Concept and would understand this.

It is very important that Chevy provides long lead help to the aftermarket to the new car like they did on the first gen Camaro. The supply of cheap and easy to find parts sold a lot of Mustangs in the 80's and 90's and I hope those in power at Chevy realize this.

I know I will get calls for aftermarket parts the first day someone can place an order. It happens every time and many times the parts are not available for nearly a year after into since the MFG did not supply any info or tech help to the aftermarket.

So if you want parts soon after intro contact GM and let them know. The aftermarket is already waiting.

By the way this time also push for V6 Performance parts too. We couldd have sold a lot of them for Mustangs but no one made them.

 

I am an aftermarket supplier.

I have written GM about getting a Camaro early just for product development. I am sure every company will be given the same answer I was, that all that is available are defective body-in-whites. Which will not be available for a long time.

I can't say what I develop here, since I am not a sponsor, but lets just say I am going to have to be very creative to be able to offer ANYTHING when the car launches.

Ford handed out keys to dozens of Pre-Production 05 Mustangs to Aftermarket companies, the results speak for themselves. Actually the large amount of customization available for the Mustang helps sell it, since like in 1964, you can get one or make one exactly how you want. Yet again GM is a little behind the times and will not step up to help out the Aftermarket industry. They seem to act like it will hurt Camaro sales......

 

I agree, write to GM and tell them to support the Aftermarket by giving them access to cars sooner.

 

Barking up the wrong tree there bud.

Aftermarket companies are just that....companies! They will make anything they think they can sell. They're eager to make anything they can sell and make profits on.

BUT.....
....they need the cooperation of the automobile manufacturers to make that happen. If they aren't privy to the cars before they hit the street, or don't get engine codes from the factory, or are faced with PCMs that are adverse to any tinkering with the engine and exhaust programs, then there isn't going to be much aftermarket as far as engines go. And that tends to have a cooling effect on everything else from the aftermarket, including appearence items.

Also consider that aftermarket companies compete with factory "in house" accessories, which the automaker makes money on.

Already mentioned was haw Ford handled the aftermarket with the Mustang, going as far as offering unreleased cars to key manufacturers, and allowing some of the bigger aftermarket guys access to alot of then classified info. Compare that to GM's typical practice of keeping engine codes as confidential as nuclear wepons codes.

The only alternative is wait years till parts are developed. But by then, normally the cars they have been developed for have been changed or replaced by new models. I started seeing alot of 4th gen Camaro aftermarket parts right around the same time Camaro was killed off.

If you want more aftermarket involvement, petition GM, not the aftermarket.

 

I think this is right on the money. I know for fact that aftermarket companies are already drooling to get parts available for the new Camaro. I can name a dozen without even thinking about it and that is only scratching the surface.

 

I agree with guy, GMPP has grown rather significantly in the past few years and would like nothing more than to gobble up as much aftermarket business as they can get away with.

But with the ENORMOUS success of the "stage kits" and other GM upgrades for the cobalt ss/sc, then i cannot see why GMPP won't be doing the same thing for Camaro.

Heck, last year, the stage 2 kit for cobalts was going for over twice the MSRP and on backorder for up to 3 months!!!!

If some people are willing to pay $1100+ for 30hp on a 20 thousand dollar car, then think of the potential profits on a performance car that appeals to a higher income demographic?

There is massive market for warranty-safe upgrades, and GM cannot afford to overlook it.

 

I agree. GM should be more aftermarket friendly, so more parts are available closer to when the Camaro goes on sale.

That being said, what will drive the aftermarket will be the volume of sales of Camaro. Mustang parts were always cheaper/more widely available vs 4th gens simply because there were so many more Mustangs around.

Hopefully, GM will sell as many Camaros as Mustang, creating more demand across all segments of the aftermarket. If the demand is there, the aftermarket will respond to it.

 

And to a degree, vice versa.

 

I could have not said it any more similar two post ago.

I have though about how GM is trying to get more of the aftermarket in the SPO program.

The problem with the GM SPO program is it is very lame and limited. I deal with Ford Motor Sports, Mopar and GM performance and can say other than engines GM is getting spanked here. There is so much they could do and offer but don't compared to the other two companies.

Another thing to think about too is many of the performance book offereings from Ford and Mopar are reboxed aftermarket parts. In many cases the original MFG name is still on some of the parts. GM would be smart if they offered the parts in dealer so they could tack it onto the sale loan when the car is purchased. Also they could better control modifications on cars under warranty.

I think a Flowmaster exhaust and KNN intake that could not be offered factory would make a sweet add on sale for the dealers with the buyer paying for it with the loan.

It is still early for GM to offerer any form of a car to really get the ball rolling yet but it would benifit them to do it as soon as possible.

They were hurt by the Mustang aftermarket in the 80's-90's and it will hit them again if they do not plan ahead.

Write GM now and tell them to work with the aftermarket and try to make the car as bolt on friendly as possible. In other words don't desigen in road blocks.

I know what the vedors are wanting and asking for so don't bother telling them what they already know.

I think a sweet red coupe with Hot Rod on the door going to Edelbrock would make a good start and then pass it along from there.

As for little aftermarket for the engine, never underer estimate the aftermarket. I can still remeber when the TPI engies arrived and everyone said Oh God we can do anything to these cars and will never figure out the computer. Well they did figure it out and did a lot with it. The same will happen with what ever they come up with. Some place some where people will figure it out and find a way to make more power. The only problem is it might cost a little more and be a little more involved than in the past.