I'd love to see it with a "modern" front end - specifically, with headlamps that were more "integrated." Maybe something kind of like these.

Still, It's a fantastic effort. If GM consistently designed cars that looked this good, they wouldn't be so worried about losing market share.

 

gawd damn that car is sweet lookin. no lets just pray that gm build a camaro that looks like that. id be first in line. oh and btw great work Kris.

 

come on guys i think Most people will agree 1st gens had the best body style. i think goin retro but making it modern is good. like Jaguar when they made the XJ8 that car is a remake of an old car and they did a great job on it the same needs to be done for the camaro, and this kid is real close.

 

Great Effort,
but I'm not a fan of RETRO. If the 5th gen looked like that, I'd step up to a Vette for my next purchase.

 

Don't like it. Too retro. Like somebody already said, if I wanted a first gen, then I would go out and buy one. And the overall feel of the car is too fat.

 

agreed.

 

Go buy your first gen...and spend another 30k to make it as fast, as safe, as good looking, and as reliable. I bet there are a lot of older guys that don't have the time and money to buy and mantain a first gen...but would jump on a 1st gen styled 5th gen, just based on practicality. I think this is a very good way to get a vast array of buyers...as long as they change the car within 4-6 years i think it will do great!

Another thing, with all of the cars currently offered by GM...could you honestly say that they would do a better job designing the 5th gen? they need to go with this guys direction, otherwise it will just be another PLAIN as hell looking chevy...

Again great job

 

But the problem is how do you change a retro design in a few years? Do you just style the 6th gen after the 2nd gen? Do you do a totally new design? I think its hard to take retro designs and move forward with them. I love this design. I think its great. And you make a good point, if styled like a first gen with all the modern bells and whistles it would be a lot more practicable than restoring a first gen. I think GM should take a heavy look at this design and incorporate it into a more futuristic design. Hell I think it would be great if they built this car as a concept for next years auto show. My biggest complaint to this design retro wise is the front end. Go back, look at 3rd and 4th gens and design something along the lines that could grow from their front ends. And if you have time Kris, I love to see a convertible. My dream first brand new car is a convertible Z28 5th gen.

Couldn’t agree more. A car with a wild and exciting direction like this would really mix things up at the Chevy dealership. WE need more cool designs from GM. Kris has your application to the GM design studio been filled out yet?

 

I am so sick and tired of this "retro" bashing. I suppose we need a Camaro that looked like it came out of the Jetsons to satisfy some people. And this "how do you update a retro design in a few years" BS. I suppose if you are talented enough to design a concept like Kris', you must still not have enough talent to "update" it in the eyes of the retro bashers?!

Besides, why is this concept considered "retro"? If it was designed with a hatchback like they did from 1982-2002, wouldn't that be retro - a throwback to the 1980's? Since I have actually experienced the Camaro's pretty much useless hatchback (limited space near the rear and gas springs that went bad, not to mention how well they worked in cold weather), I would welcome a 5th Gen with an actual trunk and perhaps fold-down rear seats for extra access and space.

 

Or....

How about a design that is new and exciting? Instead of something old and used?

Still needs to look like a Camaro... but it doesn't have to blatantly copy the old ones.

Corvette has accomplished this through the years.... and it's been around since 1953 instead of "only" 1967. Why can't Camaro?

 

That is what a lot of people are doing. (I did for one.) However the latest trend is what is being referred to as "ProTouring". Guys are taking older musclecars and adding modern day suspensions, brakes and drivetrains. There is a huge desire to have that old school body style with modern day conviences. The cost to build these one-off cars can easily exceed $100,000.

So let's say GM builds a retro-styled 5th Gen Camaro with heavy influences of the 67-69 models similar to Kris Horton's concept. That will allow your typical Camaro enthusiast to go "ProTouring", so to speak, for a fraction of the cost of building their own.... PLUS, it'll come with a factory 60K+ mile warranty.

Anyone want to argue whether or not that business model will be successful or not?

 

Interesting point.

But I think a lot of the guys doing this is because they want to be different ... I would think that a factory offered vehicle is not going to appeal to these types... especially after they have been out for a year or so, and become 'common' on the road.

 

Lets think about this realistically. Many people that are not crazy enthusiasts but like nice sports/musclecars do not like the way cars looked back then and would think a retro model is ridiculous today in these times. This car would only be good for 1st Gen fans and IIRC that survey that Chevy did of what people think a Camaro should look like or what they think of when they hear the name, was won by a red IROC-Z. It's fine to look at a car and see a few cues that make you think of cars that came before it in the line, but to be all-out is just idiotic. On the other hand 4ths went too far from the formula. It has to be something "Camaro" but still new and hit people the way the Third Gens did when they came out, every1 had to have 1 and people went crazy over them. That's the kind of excitment that is needed to make the car a high volume seller again and not a lower production remember the 60's car.

 

Kris - keep up the good work and don't let the naysayers discourage you



An old man, a boy and a mule were going to town. The boy rode on the mule and the old man walked. As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding. The old man and the boy thought that maybe the critics were right, so they changed places. Later, they passed some more people that arked, "What a shame he makes that little boy walk." They then decided they both would walk. Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent mule to ride. So, they both rode the mule.

Now they passed some more people that shamed them by saying how awful to see such a load on a poor mule. The boy and the man said they were probably right, so they decided to carry the mule. As they crossed a bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and he fell into the river and drowned.

The moral of the story? If you try to please everyone, you might as well kiss your a** goodbye.

 

Which article was it?