1967 Camaro
Wheelbase: 108.1"
Length: 184.6"
Width: 72.5"
Height: 51.0"

I guess then the 1967 Camaro was way to large to be a Camaro in the late 60's as well?

Interesting that the original Camaro had a longer wheelbase yet was a full 8-9 inches shorter. Hmmmmm.

 

What makes you say that?

The '67 was comparitively small, in an era when cars were huge.

 

1967 Camaro
Wheelbase: 108.1"
Length: 184.6"
Width: 72.5"
Height: 51.0"

The 5th gen would be more along the lines of the "compact" first gen, then the "boat" car of a 4th gen if it stuck to the Velite design. I can live with that. I dont see how the Velite's dimentions are that off. Guy, I think you were just thrown off by its very large design. Scale it down, and make it more agressive, and Im sure it will fit right in with the rest of the line.

 

The Velite is just about early 3rd Gen Z28 length, being 2" less than it, pretty good with me. Its width needs adjustment, but wide cars look great if done right. It's only about 1 3/4" higher than an IROC-Z also. Wheelbase is too much, but we all would like more interior room. (could use a 4"-6" reduction) Sounds like this can easily be made to be "Camaro" and not the high sedan looking M*stang-like car we don't want. It doesn't sound completely 1st Gen either, a good mix actually.

 

Since the Velite came out I believed it was too big to make a Camaro. A Chevelle or Monte Carlo would be much better for that size. I also believe GM has shown us a ponycar sized platform, that is the extended Kappa (Curve or Nomad). The internal dimensions are almost right on with what a Camaro should be, and is very close to the dimensions of the first generation, which is what the new camaro is rumored to take after. Here is a little comparision:

The wheelbase of the Nomad and Curve is 107 inches.
The wheelbase for the first and second gen. Camaro: 108 inches.
Third and fourth gen.: 101 inches.
Wheelbase on the Velite (which is the Zeta example) is 114.8 inches

Front and rear track are almost the same as well.
First gen. Being 59 inches, fourth gen. Is 60 inches.
Nomad and Curve are 60 inches up front and 61 in the rear. Again, very close.
The Velite is 65 in front and 66 in the rear.

The height of the cars very close.
The Curve is 49 inches.
The past generations Camaro is either 49 or 51 inches.

I won’t include the width or total length of the cars because that is effected be the shape of the body and the overhang in front and back. I will say the width is close between the first gen. and the Curve, which means it won’t be a problem.

I know the popular opinion right now is that the Kappas can't fit a V8 or V6. This is not correct. It is begining to trickle out that other engines can be put into the Kappa platform. Opel was also considering using a Kappa with a V8. It can and will be done. Just my $.02.

 

Anyone ever consider that velite may be too expensive of a platform to use for an "affordable chevy coupe"? Kappa could fill the bill and there is plenty of production capacity remaining in Wilmington.

 

You're right. Word is trickling out that a V8 will fit in Kappa......

But there are certain issues which will make it a non-product.

Look up Sunbeam Tiger for possible evil dynamic characteristics.

 

I hope its not on Kappa. Im not into the whole 70/30 weight bias deal.
I would much rather see "evolution" and it getting a wider stance, with more useable room inside, but keep the same physical dimentions.
Untill I see a V8 Kappa, I am not giving any thought into a Kappa Camaro.

 

The production version is about 72" wide, so width doesn't seem to be a problem. I also under stand the 4 passenger "Kappa" is about the same passenger space as the F-body. Finally, the engine is set back from the center of the front wheels, meaning if it did have a V8 it wouldn't act like there's an anvil hanging off the front end, most likely keeping most of the weight balence.

But nonetheless, no I don't think it will be the basis of the next Camaro.

 

Well, I dont want the space of the old Fbody. I think its one of the many leading reasons why it never sold.
Same outside dimentions, if not smaller as previous gens, but a wider wheel base meaning much more room between the tires.

I think Kappa should be kept to its ecotec powerplants and just be a true affordable roadster. I would love to have a Solstice GTP or GXP in the garage for a little fun on the weekends. All the fun of the Corvette, for half teh price.

 

The old Fbody never sold? It actually sold very well till GM decided they didn't want it to sell. The cramped interior may have cost the Fbody a few sales here and there, but you definately can't say it made the F-body a failure in any way shape or form.

 

True, but that's only part of the story.

Camaro sales took an extremely nasty 45% hit in 1996 (123,000 down to 67,000 in just 1 year!) that nearly chopped it's sales in half. It took another very bad hit when it was restyled in 1998. Sales went from 96,000 in '97 to 77,000 in 1998.

It was after the '98s came out that GM decided to cut additional funds for advertising once the year ran out. '99 ran just 42,000, 2001 had dropped to 29,000.

Either Camaro's 1998 restyling was a resounding failure, or the public suddenly got sick of Camaro's hugh size. While Camaro sales in '98 dropped by something like 18%, Mustang sales that year (despite having a design as old as Camaro's) rose by a jaw-dropping 70%! (100,000 in '97 to 170,000 in '98)

Mustang's '99 restyle dipped sales for 1 year, but the following year Ford sold more Mustangs than any year since 1986, and ranked the 2nd best year they had in 20 years.

 

The kappa roadster should keep their ecotec powerplants however, a LWB kappa could and should offer different engines. The LWB Kappa is for a different market segment, more for daily drivers and people who need a back seat. The Kappa roadsters are more for people who want a weekend car for fun.

The weight balance between a Turbo ecotec kappa roadster and a V8 or V6 LWB Kappa since weight is added to the front (engine) and back (rear seats and extra frame and body...)If weight balance was a problem with V8s in small cars, we wouldn't have Camaros or Novas or vettes...Shelby made a living by putting big engines in small sports cars.


Also, did the velite have a roof? I never heard that it did at all and it weighs more than 3400 lbs. Add a roof and that is one heavy car.

I think a LWB Kappa would make a better ponycar and the Zeta a better muscle car ie chevelle, monte carlo...

 

Keep in mind that convertibles typically weigh more because of the extra metal added to increase rigidity which is required because of the loss of the roof.

 

But does it have a convertible roof at all? that would add more to it.

That would also not make the Velite a good example on which to base a new Camaro since it would have a roof and not all the extra metal to make it rigid. What was the weight of the other Zeta concept by Opel?

Doesn't the Kappa use the IRS from the CTS or was that just the concept Solstice. IIRC it at least uses parts from it to help reduce cost.