With GM's track record of "reused" car names, I for one hope they leave the
Camaro and Trans-am names buried.  Just look at what they did to the
following names
Nova   when re-introduced it was just a Toyota tercel
Impala, Malibu, Monte Carlo   they destroyed 3 of their best "street
fighter" names with FWD sh.t.
With the exception of the new GTO which is in fact an all Australian design
GM is only good for rehashing the names forsakes of "brand familiararity".
The next contender to enter or re-enter the pony car race will be Dodge, the
Magnum wagon (and 300) is Dodge's re-entry not only into the RWD world, but
also back into the big v8 powered car.  Perhaps a generation 3 Charger is
being planned??   (yeah they too destroyed that name in the 80's with those
omni 2+2 things)

Snow...

It's already happening. Camaro returns in 2007 for it's 40th anniversary.
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/features/0409phr_camaro/

I hope not. If the Camaro's out of the running Ford is free to start
breathing down Corvette's throat.

Naw... it would be nice if these companies would come up with something NEW.
We have been driving the SOSDD for-freaking-ever. Time for some fresh blood
methinks.

Kate

Never fear, there's more competition than ever.

If they bring back the Camaro, lets hope they reengineer it so it looks like
an early Camaro without all the bad ergonomics and cheap plastic of the
modern ones.  A little comfort would be good too.  Otherwise forget it, they
will just fail again.

LJH
95GT

cdnbiker24@hotmail.com (GoLeafs) wrote

Nevah hoppen.  Read this story:  
http://popularhotrodding.com/features/0409phr_camaro/

An edited version:

"GM isn't willingly giving out information on this, but there's been a
lot of speculation over the past couple of years, ranging from the
pretty logical to the somewhat bizarre....

"It would seem the lack of commitment from GM management would be the
most plausable....

"Back in 1987, GM initially planned on closing its Ste. Therese
assembly plant....Both the government of Quebec and the government of
Canada along with the local Canadian Auto Workers union stepped
in....The governments granted GM a 220 million dollar (Canadian)
interest-free loan, payable in 30 years. Both the Quebec and Ottawa
governments each contributed 110 million each. GM also was awarded
over 100 million dollars in tax breaks to keep the plant open.

"This basic agreement helped the Ste. Therese plant win the exclusive
mandate from GM to produce the Camaro and Firebird....[T]his
arrangement is stated clearly on GM Canada's own media information
website: 'GM of Canada's Ste. Therese, Quebec plant has the exclusive
General Motors mandate to assemble Chevrolet Camaros and Pontiac
Firebirds....

"This loan agreement came with the obligation that GM would continue
to make the F-body at this plant until at least 2001, unless the
vehicles made there were no longer profitable and had to be
discontinued....

"GM initially did plan on replacing the F-body, but by the late '90s,
the emphasis within the camp of then-product boss Ron Zarella was on
trucks, and that's where the resources went. As far as cars went, the
future at GM became front-wheel driven. This meant the end of the
F-body, independent of events at Ste. Therese....

"Officially, GM wanted to tear down the plant because of their belief
the property was more valuable as a vacant lot than a 2.1 million
square-foot plant, much too large for just about any use other than a
high-production vehicle factory. Keep in mind, however, that the plant
also had a mandate that it would be the sole source for Camaros and
Firebirds. It now begins to come into focus that any comment on a
future Camaro or Firebird prior to the plant's disposal, via sale or
demolition, perhaps could very well create a situation where GM would
be compelled to keep the plant. From a legal perspective, it might be
construed that any future car that carried the name Camaro or Firebird
would have to be made at this plant, at least till 2017, the year all
Canadian government loans are to be repaid....

"It had been strongly hinted, and now confirmed, that GM was working
on a sporty car for Chevrolet which includes a 5.3-liter V-8 engine,
rear-wheel drive, and four-passenger capacity. This vehicle will be
based on GM's upcoming "Zeta" chassis being developed by Holden, GM's
Australian division. Production for Zeta is likely headed for GM's
Hamtramck, Michigan plant, which will soon be phasing out Cadillac
Deville, Seville and Buick LeSabre. Although at press time, full
details are not known about this car, but it is known that it will
fall into the same 'ponycar' market the Camaro filled. An anonymous
source close to the vehicle project has told PHR that GM has asked
Delphi Corporation, the world's largest automotive supplier, to submit
a bid on the safety restraint (airbag) system and steering assembly
for a MY2007 Camaro. The only issue seems to be the final name and who
will supply sub-systems. At the time this is written, the Ste Therese
plant is being demolished, and it's expected the land it was on will
be sold by General Motors. Once this happens, it will be interesting
to see if GM is a little freer in talking about the future of the
Camaro nameplate.

"When it's all said and done, the degree to which Chevrolet is free to
talk about an upcoming Camaro relies almost entirely on its relations
with the Canadian government and the satisfaction of the Canadian Auto
Workers union. We have no doubt there will be a "Camaro-like" vehicle
in our future, so the issue really boils down to the use of the name
and how litigious the lawyers feel about it. We hope they can overcome
their objections and let the good times roll!"

180 Out
TS 28