What if in 2 years time the Camaro and Firebird was brought back in their same incarnaction, only with a standard 12 bolt, independent rear suspension as an option... interior was as quiet as a Lexus, stepped up motor making around 450hp, full exhaust, dual's come stock. Weight is dropped around 300-400lbs, 18" wheel option, etc. All for an asking price of $40,000 out the door.

Would their be any takers?

 

sounds like a GTO wannabe to me, with a bloated price. if the market (or maybe it's gm themselves) is as indifferent to rwd sports cars in 2 yrs as it is today, then that scenario would cause a giant overlap between gto/chevelle(?) firebird/camaro and would cause them to be dropped once again. a big chunk of younger people i.e. 20s-mid30 will aspire to own a GTO but will never be able to, so they'll have some resentment for it and will hunger for something easier to grab.. that's where the f-body comes into play. no need to have TWO unreachable sports cars. keep the f-body down at a reasonable attainable price. I'd rather see it in the appx $22-32s range like today, erm.. yesterday.

 

This wouldn't be produce by Chevrolet but by a private party. Like a Saleen or a Roush, only with much more power, better handling, more refinements, etc. etc. Everything the cars should have come with, an extra 100+hp, less weight, etc. etc. All warrantied.

I don't see how it interferes with the GTO which is nothing more than a Malibu with a V8 and the Chevelle hasn't been confirmed if I'm not mistaken. Why would you want to pay $30,000 for the same damn thing all over again along with all the problems that come with it?

 

Would it look the same? Would it be as big?

 

I assume it would use the 93-02 body, tubular suspension, same interior, etc. etc. Yes its the same car pretty much but with all the trick mods.

 

Probably not. If you added all that sound deadening and then dropped that amount of weight plus 500 lbs., I'd be wary of rattles and the like.

I'd much prefer an all new design. This one's been around long enough.

 

Rattles? From what, the interior would be pretty much sealed, no more rattling, creaking, etc. etc.

 

How do you propose to add about 50 lbs of sound deadening and then drop 550 lbs of something else without weakening the car?

 

No. Camaro is not a $40,000 Car.

 

Wow. I saw $30,000 the first time.

No way. Definitely not $40,000.

 

Who said 550lbs... this is not some average Camaro you guys.

Tubular front and rear suspension
Composite Hood
17x9" wrapped with 275/40ZR17 Wheels in front
17x11" wrapped with 315/35/ZR17 Wheels in rear
450-500+HP LS1, full length headers, inconel dual exhaust
Sparco Torino Suede Front Seats, suede rear seats
Wolfe 6 point roll bar
ATI Fuel Cell
Moser 12 bolt or a IRS with a T56 transaxle
Baer/PBR Front brakes, option of Baer/Alcon 6 Piston front
etc. etc.

The list goes on and on and on. Basically a car that would outperform most high end sports cars.

Camaro's not $40,000... bone stock 2002 SS's were going for around $36,000 last time I checked... for $4,000 more your getting a car that would crap out ZO6's and other high end cars.

 

I only would look into this car if there was a company that sold it purely aftermarket, like Saleen or Roush does for Mustangs. That would be the only way though. If it was the only Camaro available, Chevy wouldnt be able to sell enough of to justify selling them. There has to be an affordable more civil version for the average Joe who wants a nice sports car.

 

Yes, this is what I stated up above, it is an aftermarket program. Like a tuner, I assume you could cut the cost down significantly to and do a "transformation" package where they turn your car into their spec chassis but with all the goodies that made your car "your car".

 

Such a car does not make business sense at all.

 

How doesn't it make business sense. There is a small niche market, those that can't afford Vettes, Porsches, etc. etc. for about 1/2 the cost can get a car that peforms as such. You go to open track events at all? Quite a few F-body's frequent those places.

10 years ago, a 68 Camaro with an efi engine, road racing chassis, quiet interior built for the road wasn't a good "business" decision either, but it cost only $35,000 to build and brough an $80,000 price tag when it was sold. Today, they are selling like hotcakes.