Originally Posted by Z28Wilson

Charlie, I respect you a lot. But I simply DESPISE the insinuation that the 4th Gen quote "put Camaro on hiatus." The Camaro was selling about as well as could be expected considering many things, and even if it sold in significantly higher quantities, the way everything played out, no one can be sure the Camaro would have continued on uninterrupted into the 5th Gen.

Originally Posted by Z284ever

No offence intended Mark.

But I can garauntee you something. Had the 4th gen sold 100,000 units per year or more, in it's last few years.....all it's issues would have been resolved.

Architecturally, politically, financially.

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

I've had a question / thought rolling around in my head for some time now and this seems to be a good thread to let it out.

IMO the LS7 will no way no how ever be put into even a special edition Camaro. The engine is just too expensive.

*PURE SPECULATION AHEAD*

What if.....

...the LS7 could be stripped of it's Ti parts and dry sump system? What if more standard parts could be used with a lowered redline (6500) and power rating (470).

Is this even feasible with the LS7?

If so, would it be economical enough for a $38,000- $40,000 limited production ZO6-like Z28?

Would they call it LS5?


Thoughts?

Originally Posted by Chris 96 WS6

I'm not sure how many cars out there could sell 70K units a year with advertizing and almost all support dollars pulled.

Originally Posted by Killaz

So it sounds like we are not going to see a 450 hp camaro for under 35k....Why?? does an extra 100 HP cost GM an extra 10,000dollars to make??? i dont think so, can they charge that?(YES) but what if they didn't. What if they had a 450HP Z28 SS camaro for $29,900 not fully loaded. I could for see the amount of cars they would sell. Make the Z28 ss 450HP make the Corvette (C6) 500 hp and the Z06 575 i mean the Z06 is already 70,000dollars so......

Adam

Originally Posted by notgetleft

The big question is, should all V8 non-Z28s be SS's to simplify the model line.

Originally Posted by Z284ever

No offence intended Mark.

But I can garauntee you something. Had the 4th gen sold 100,000 units per year or more, in it's last few years.....all it's issues would have been resolved.

Architecturally, politically, financially.

Originally Posted by notgetleft

Rats, nailed on a technicality. You're cool. I guess i should have said 'performance' V8 cars. As in there hasn't been an SS as anything but top dog since what, 72. I'm not going to do my homework since you'll correct me if i'm wrong anyway.

You're right, only one gen used SS as top dog. But it's the most recent one, you know, the one that matters. Let me explain this further, i don't think i'm making my point because you're not trying to see the way i think a non-hardcore camaro/chevy guy does.

To anyone under 30, probably 40 even, SS camaro means the baddest. To me the overwhelming image of early SS's that i've seen in my entire life are all big block, really nicely done small block cars, lots of drag cars, etc. Of the early Z28s, they're always museum style resto's so look / sound stock. Nothing about the car screams top dog, and face it, on the street it wasn't either (or at least that's what old timers tell me). A 302 is no match for a big block, period. The LT1 Z28s might have been nice, but face it, you say LT1, even your grandma pictures a fourth gen btw, LT-1, i know you were itching to correct me so i misspelled it on purpose.

So really, to be true to it's road racing roots, sticking a mid-power V8 in a stripped light car would be closest to a first gen. 1LE basically, especially if you return it to thirdgen roots where it doens't have power everything, etc. Make Z28 mean not fancy, not drag race over the top power.

SS would naturally have the highest powered engine. It was always the model with the most available power anyway. The big question is, should all V8 non-Z28s be SS's to simplify the model line. Just like SS 350 vs. SS 396. Screw having base V8 cars, if you want 2 engines in the base car, 2 V6s, call the hi-po the RS and give it upgraded trim, and even make an SS/RS as the luxo.

That'd be true to roots. Not acting lik the Z28s were all yenko 427 cars.

Originally Posted by jg95z28

I'm sorry but your imagined history of the Camaro is skewed and heavily flawed.

Originally Posted by Z284ever

The relatively small number of '67-'69 375hp 396's were truly fast in a straight line. This was to be the top version of the Camaro SS which also could be had with 295 hp and 325HP.

Who would have known in September 1966, that afew days after Christmas of that year, Chevy would clandestinely deliver the first Z/28 to race teams....with a 400-450 hp smallblock. It's mission? To win glory for Camaro and Chevrolet in a brutally competitive, Mustang dominated, road racing series.

And get this. Just for ***** and giggles, they would rate it's smallblock at 290 hp.

Originally Posted by PacerX

You can clandestinely cite whatever you want, but the cold, hard fact of the matter is that of the production cars the top-gun 396 was most assuredly quicker.