- Posted on Thursday, May 18th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
The Camaro Concept – I Finally Get It
By Nellie Lide
The McGinn Group
I’m not an auto writer, an auto executive or even an auto expert. I’m an average auto driver - a regular, middle-aged mom (three kids), with a middle-of-the-road life and a middling interest in cars. I also happen to be a video producer, who had a chance to take part in GM’s Concept Car Ride/Drive for journalists taking place this week in Milford, Mich. Disclosure: I work for a PR firm that works for GM, so I had connections that got me in - and now you know I’m probably going to say something nice.
First of all, I thought I was going to a high school track to watch some reporters take some concept cars for a spin around the kind of 400-meter oval my son runs on. Umm… cue Napoleon Dynamite!
GM’s Milford Proving Grounds are 4,000 acres: 100-plus miles of roads and tracks and “loopdeloops” that make Fred Flintstone’s convoluted highway system seem positively Stone Age. There’s one area called Black Lake because when it rains, the 6.7 acres of concrete shimmer like a lake. Black Lake looks like a dozen Disney World parking lots abandoned in the wilderness.
Ok, I digress. Back to the car. So I got to ride in the new Camaro Concept car. I want to publicly apologize to all Camaro lovers who would give their right arms for this chance. I am not worthy.
However, I will say that when Vladimir Rapitinov, one of the Camaro Concept exterior designers, offers you a ride, you are definitely going to accept. And as Vlad waxed lyrical about this car, I came to appreciate and finally understand what all the fuss about this muscle car is about.
Vlad told me that words cannot do justice to a muscle car… that you just know it when you see it, you know it when you hear it, and you know it when you feel it in here (he beat his heart to illustrate).
Though I agree with Vlad that words don’t do justice in describing a muscle car, I can’t help but try to tell you about this particular vehicle.
Its engine revs louder and louder, crying out to go fast and fast, and faster and faster. Riding in it feels like you’re Olive Oyl being swept up in Popeye’s bulging arms and carried into a life of adventure (or at least a life where Vin Diesel goes fast and is completely furious). This Camaro Concept car does not have power; it is power.
So to all the Camaro fans coveting this car, I understand. I, a person who does not even know what a V-8 engine is, understand your pain now, the pain of not driving this car. I may not be one of you, or have your passion, knowledge and love, but for one brief moment, I glimpsed into your world of beauty and power… and it was cool. Camaro cool.
Coming soon: Lots of videos from my visit to GM’s Milford Proving Grounds.
Want to see more of the Camaro? Take a look at our Flickr album for more.
Detroit Free Press columnist Mark Phelan drove the Camaro Concept and received lots of feedback from his readers. To see the Camaro Concept in action, watch Mark’s video.
9 Comments
Chris
Hi !
Glad you get it. Many, many others get it, too.
GM has to be careful not to drop the ball on this one. Due to the anticipation that surrounds this car and also in keeping with GM’s new found attention to quality and detail, this car had better be great (if it’s produced at all).
What this means is the following:
Four wheel independant suspension.
Great interior.
Chasis more rigid than cooked spaghetti.
I have owned three Firebirds/Trans Ams over the years and I know what I am talking about. Those cars are the reason I currently do not consider GM. It took me three of these cars to learn my lesson.
“Muscle car” and “heritage” are good things and they are not equivalent to “low tech”. So let’s hope that GM gets this right. It appears that they will get it right. Here’s hoping.
Chris
Silvester
Very good read. I’m one of the “obsessed”. I own a 1968 Camaro and will be buying the 2009? as soon as I can
afford one after the dealers stop jacking up the prices.
Thank you for the great words.
Brian Huber
Great story!
It just shows you that you don’t have to be a “car person” to love a good car. When a car moves a person that is NOT into them, or eagerly awaiting it’s arrival…. THAT’s what it’s all about. Making a person FEEL something. Making a connection with a part of the public that needs convincing, or to grab them and say “THIS IS THE CAR YOU WANT…. THE ONE YOU NEED”
I fall into that group of obsessed fans that wait for GM to release it for production. I think you’d see lines for orders from car guys and non-car guys alike, rivalling that of the lines at a trekkie convention when a female character comes for a meet and greet….
for those listening… hear those words written by the author…. HEAR THEM… and maybe, just maybe… things will happen.
I’m jealous to no end that I didn’t get a ride, and would gladly pay the admission fee if it become a ride at disney world!
E85-FAN
When GM introduced that CAMARO CONCEPT how many posts were of HOMERUN!!I guess when I first laid my eyes on it.It was like Boston Red Sox Catcher Carlton Fisks DRAMATIC Homerun or Kirk Gibsons with the Dodgers but it was also like the MONSTER HOMERUN Reggie Jackson hit while with the A`s at Tiger Stadium.It was way out of here.The Designers HIT A BULLS EYE with that car.The 69 Camaros are highly sought after.Gosh ZL1 and Yenko Camaros are heading toward Dusenburg territory as far as price goes.I hope if they build the camaro and there is a ZL1 they can capture Don Yenkos look with it those pin stripings and those AWESOME AMERICAN RACING WHEELS!!Will be looking forward to seeing your videoes!!!!
Jason Zebersky
Gooday
Chevrolet needs this car, GM needs this car: for too long there has been a disconect between GM’s glorious past (nearly 50 market share during the musclecar era), and the presant.
This car is a bridge to a future in wich Chevy’s ar’ent just fleet cars: but cars; people spending there own money, passionately want to own. Just like in the 60’s and 70’s.
I had a 1988 Camaro RS V8, and while not a real musclecar by the standards of many, it felt special, made me attatched to Chevy and speak highly of Chevy and GM to friends, I remember talking a friend into traiding his old Ford Ranger in on a S10 Chevrolet insted of a Tacoma. The love of that Camaro made me want to spread the Chevy word. My friend still has his 97 S10 with 200,000+ miles on it, he recently bought a new Chevrolet Colorado, but just could’nt part with the S 10.
Me I traided the Camaro on a Saturn SL2 in 97, Same familliar Big Round Guages, I’ve saved $1000’s on Gasoline over the passed couple of years even though I do’nt drive much; 5 or 6,000mi a year. The old S car can still really go as it were, but I’m getin the itch agane.
Even with $3.00+ gal gasoline I’m still looking forward to having a annother Camaro
Jason
Joe
I’m a very vocal critic of GM, but I will say that the Camaro has the potential to save the company. Not only save it, but give GM the swager in the automotive world it hasn’t had in 20 years. But GM MUST be carefull:
1. The final production vehicle must retain, as close as absolutely possible without cutting corners, the same look as the prototype concept.
2. The final production vehicle must be built right. That means: high quality interior plastics with low gloss and smooth operation, tight fit and finish both inside and out, and most importantly - RELIABLE!!!!! I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met over the years who owned a previous generation F-body and cursed GM to hell after their experience. No amount of V8 power, torque, and classic style can mask a car that shakes, rattles, leaks, and is in the repair shop more than it is on the road.
3. 2009 is a few years away. I think by then the interest may ween, unless GM creates a massive marketing stunt to get people all over the country excited as hell.
4. GM must build a substantial amount of these with a manual transmission. GM seems to have a problem giving enthusiasts what they want, and no performance car should even be offered with an automatic, but in the interest of marketability, I understand why. Therefore, if GM is going to offer a V6 as well, they should offer a manual in both the V6 and V8. I know many people who are performance minded, but don’t have completely disposable income. A Camaro would certainly interest them, and the 3.6 VVT V6 with a 6 speed stick would certainly fit the bill for a performance junky without the cash for the gas and insurance of a 6.0 V8.
This is a car GM desperately needs in the Chevrolet lineup. Outside of the Corvette, which is outside most people’s grasp, there is nothing in the Chevy lineup that gets people’s adrenalin pumping.
Build it and BUILT IT RIGHT!
kurt
Yes, I get the Camaro concept, a well executed design of a deeply desired automobile by the auto enthusasist making up 8 to 11% of all us drivers.
A true pity there are not enough winding, well maintained roads around to fully utilize these vehicles. In an urban setting, other than burning rubber at traffic lights, they’re of little use.
Then again, perhaps the Camaro will spawn a resurgence of classic vehicle track racing, or a new group of drifters utilizing specially modified Camaros at the tracks. That would be a sight to see!
Dennis
I’m not a Camaro lover…until now! The Camaro concept looks sweet!
David C. Atkin
It took some getting used to, but a camaro is a camaro, and I’m over joyed that chevy is trying to brig back an icon, although I don’t think that it’s anything like my 1969 camaro was, I have no doubt that it will be a thrilling ride, and I wait in anticipation all giddy just like a school girl on prom night.
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