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Pre-production Camaro in the nude

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I can see big 3 are working very hard and trying to "re-live" their glorious time.
But it seems these "back to the 60s or 70s" design doesn't really works?

Take Thunderbird for example... There were lots of "talk" but no actual consumer "action" into buying these cars. ( you can read Ford's sales figures online )

Are we trying to be politically correct by responding to our All-Amercian design as "wow!! great looking car"? Then, turn aroud and by something else?

 
Originally posted by: TimeKeeper
I can see big 3 are working very hard and trying to "re-live" their glorious time.
But it seems these "back to the 60s or 70s" design doesn't really works?

Take Thunderbird for example... There were lots of "talk" but no actual consumer "action" into buying these cars. ( you can read Ford's sales figures online )

Are we trying to be politically correct by responding to our All-Amercian design as "wow!! great looking car"? Then, turn aroud and by something else?
Click to expand...

Uh, you picked about the only retro design that failed - the Thunderbird. Just about every other "retro" styled car is selling (or sold) like hot cakes. It's what the people want, and it's what they buy.

 
Originally posted by: DougK62
Originally posted by: TimeKeeper
I can see big 3 are working very hard and trying to "re-live" their glorious time.
But it seems these "back to the 60s or 70s" design doesn't really works?

Take Thunderbird for example... There were lots of "talk" but no actual consumer "action" into buying these cars. ( you can read Ford's sales figures online )

Are we trying to be politically correct by responding to our All-Amercian design as "wow!! great looking car"? Then, turn aroud and by something else?
Click to expand...

Uh, you picked about the only retro design that failed - the Thunderbird. Just about every other "retro" styled car is selling (or sold) like hot cakes. It's what the people want, and it's what they buy.
Click to expand...

I really liked the retro T-Bird. Ford screwed up by pricing it too high, plus it only offered two seats and mediocre performance. It looked great though.
 
Originally posted by: DougK62
Originally posted by: TimeKeeper
I can see big 3 are working very hard and trying to "re-live" their glorious time.
But it seems these "back to the 60s or 70s" design doesn't really works?

Take Thunderbird for example... There were lots of "talk" but no actual consumer "action" into buying these cars. ( you can read Ford's sales figures online )

Are we trying to be politically correct by responding to our All-Amercian design as "wow!! great looking car"? Then, turn aroud and by something else?
Click to expand...

Uh, you picked about the only retro design that failed - the Thunderbird. Just about every other "retro" styled car is selling (or sold) like hot cakes. It's what the people want, and it's what they buy.
Click to expand...

Maybe I am wrong, but can you point out which Big 3 "retro" design car has good sales figures?

I am NOT trying to trash our design, but there gotta be more reason why Mustang's sales figure continue to drop since its redesign in 2005?
 
Originally posted by: DarkThinker
You would have to be awful at designing and producing cars if you can make a car as well known as a Camaro fail. I like the exterior, however it could have used a some curvature on the side panels, but that's fine, the interior is a mockup, OK that's fine too.
However if the production car sucks too, I would have %100 lost any faith in the American industry. Because as much of an American car detester that I am, the Camaro is the only American car I have ever longed for seeing and driving in person to get a feel for, if they screw it up that's it for me.
Click to expand...

Careful, you might be labeled a Japanese fanboy by all the domestic strokers here with talk like that. 😉
 
Originally posted by: TimeKeeper
Originally posted by: DougK62
Originally posted by: TimeKeeper
I can see big 3 are working very hard and trying to "re-live" their glorious time.
But it seems these "back to the 60s or 70s" design doesn't really works?

Take Thunderbird for example... There were lots of "talk" but no actual consumer "action" into buying these cars. ( you can read Ford's sales figures online )

Are we trying to be politically correct by responding to our All-Amercian design as "wow!! great looking car"? Then, turn aroud and by something else?
Click to expand...

Uh, you picked about the only retro design that failed - the Thunderbird. Just about every other "retro" styled car is selling (or sold) like hot cakes. It's what the people want, and it's what they buy.
Click to expand...

Maybe I am wrong, but can you point out which Big 3 "retro" design car has good sales figures?

I am NOT trying to trash our design, but there gotta be more reason why Mustang's sales figure continue to drop since its redesign in 2005?
Click to expand...

Most relatively popular car designs sell better on initial release than the following years...which is why companies redesign their cars every few years. Really the only exception to this would be exotics and limited production/collectible cars.
 

I have nothing against foreign cars, but look deeper, I actually do wish Big 3 to regain their market shares.

Last year, I wasn't surprise to see wall street annonuce Toyota become the largest Auto manufacture in the world. But on the other hand, I was hoping GM can do something about it.

Instead bashing someone as "Euro-junkie" or "rice boy", Big 3 really should use this kind of energy to make their car better in design, quality and performance.
 
Here's for all you whiners:

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212372

Quoted from camaroz28.com

I've always said that one of the best parts of owning a Camaro is the 'people' part........we are blessed to have so many people who feel so passionate about this great nameplate.

I've spent a lot of time on this (and many other) sites over the past dozen years because I felt that it was important to have the 'pulse' of the enthusiast. I also feel it's appropriate at times to give some hints (wink, wink) and answer questions.

Now -- all that said -- I can also tell you that --at times -- it's been a huge source of frustration as well.

We (that's you and me) need to remember that we (that's you and me) are not the 'end all' of what is and is not Camaro.

I have said in many meetings over the years that those of us within GM that work on Camaro/Firebird/Corvette are but the custodians of the brand.

We are not the brand.

We are the CUSTODIANS of the brand.

And I can tell you that it's something that every person who has worked on -- or is working on -- these brands understands that idea.........

I'd ask everyone on this site to keep the same thing in mind. Yes -- you may be an absolutely "dyed in the wool" enthusiast -- but please understand that while there are things you many not like -- we must keep ALL enthusiasts in mind as we design/engineer/build these wonderful cars.

You may not like, say, a seat fabric -- and that's fine -- but at the same time, 95% of our other enthusiasts may love it or find it acceptable...............in fact, it doesn't take you long on this site or any other site to realize that there is no way we -- or any other manufacturer -- will ever get 100% agreement on anything!

We must balance everything so that the enthusiast will love it -- but so will vast numbers of other people who may not be an enthusiast -- but take one look at a new Camaro and fall in love with it....and just HAVE to have one in their garage.......

Yes -- we'd love to give you a 900 horsepower Camaro that gets 35mpg and has 25 available exterior colors with 20 interior colors -- all for $19,995..........but that is about as realistic as me marrying Sandy Bullock or Daisy Fuentes or Christie Brinkley...........

The Camaro MUST be realistically priced so that most -- if not all -- of you can afford one.........

That's why I constantly ask people to keep a sense of 'decorum' as we (that's you and me) discuss the Camaro (and other cars...)

I'm sorry, but "That looks like *ss" is NOT appropriate for this site or any other (Admins - correct me if I'm wrong....) ....because, you see -- when you type something like that, you insult many people...and while you may not like it, 80 percent of other enthusiasts may think it's great and like it.

(and please -- to a certain person in the state of Illinois ...please don't post an unscientific survey because of this post.......)

Now....with that said -- I talked with John F. (Fbodfather 2.0) today after the interior pics leaked from the car carrier..........and we both believe it's important to talk about where these cars are in terms of production intent.

As you look at the uncammo'd cars (and yes, we will be posting some other pictures in the near future) -- and as you look at the unauthorized pictures of the interior........PLEASE KEEP THE FOLLOWING IN MIND:

1. None of these mules are anywhere near complete. Most parts are pre-production parts. If I had to assign a 'percentage' -- I'd say the cars are at 65% of production intent........

2. Some of the parts you see aren't even close to what you'll see on the production Camaro. For instance -- if you were to suddenly see a Camaro without the front bra in place -- you'd see some 'horrible' headlamps. There's a good reason for that...the production lamps are not ready - -and as a result - many of the mules have what I call....
" ..hey Joe - go run down to the local autoparts store and grab us a buncha headlamps and then go hot-glue 'em in place on those Camaro mules over there!!!!".........headlamps.............

..........see what I mean? So -- see something that doesn't look right? Hang in there -- it's likely to change!!!

3. Mules are usually painted white for a good reason -- I'll get into that one of these days -- but yes -- we know some of you don't want white -- but we aren't about to paint 'em every shade of the rainbow for testing.....patience, my friend -- patience!

4. Interior pictures are very misleading. As I said above, many of the parts are either pre-production -- 'off the shelf' parts to serve as placeholders -- or hard plastic and used only as a 'stand in.'
(Remember when I said a few weeks ago that the hips didn't disappear? Remember that a few of you didn't believe me? )

Keep something in mind today and tomorrow and next week and next month and next year.........................

........If one of us (John, Cheryl, myself, etc) say something -- we mean it. I plan to be on this and other sites for a long time to come. We don't intentionally lie. That's not our style.


Sooooooooo...............

let's keep the conversation going. Let's keep the faith..... (remember when I said that wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy back in August of 2001 when I said "the Camaro WILL be back??".......

Please -- I'm begging you -- please hold off in final judgement until you see the finished product. If there's something you see that you don't like -- it's OK to discuss -- but let's hold off with the insults -- and let's also respect each others' opinions.

Finally -- you can be ASSURED that the final production Camaro is the most researched and most 'Camaro enthusiast injected' (sorry - couldn't quickly think of how to put that....) Camaro ever.......

.......and when the smoke clears sometime in 2008 -- I think 99% of you are gonna love it. To the other 1% -- sorry -- we tried!

(and NO, the production Camaro will not be at NAIAS -- Bumblebee, however, WILL be there ....and just mebbe wearing a new set of wheels to replace the plastic wheelcovers......)
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for posting that fbrdphreak.

I guess we'll wait and see, in the end having another choice for a performance car is good for everyone.
 
That's not just a thrown together interior, despite what that guy says. If you look at it, you can tell that it was made specifically for that car. You don't get complex curves, unique vents, and a proprietary radio like that at Autozone.
 
Originally posted by: Throckmorton
That's not just a thrown together interior, despite what that guy says. If you look at it, you can tell that it was made specifically for that car. You don't get complex curves, unique vents, and a proprietary radio like that at Autozone.
Click to expand...


Right, but you may have a concept head unit lying around the GM shelves, or maybe some vents that were considered for another car in a box in the back room that you can toss into the car to get it going. For all we know they had someone manufacture a few different radios and GM is seeing how they'd look in there?
 
Originally posted by: Throckmorton
That's not just a thrown together interior, despite what that guy says. If you look at it, you can tell that it was made specifically for that car. You don't get complex curves, unique vents, and a proprietary radio like that at Autozone.
Click to expand...

I agree. That is not just a mock interior IMO...and I hate those dual gauge pods. As I said earlier...right out of a 1970s Pantera.

Actually, I think the 30+ year old Pantera looks better.
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: Throckmorton
That's not just a thrown together interior, despite what that guy says. If you look at it, you can tell that it was made specifically for that car. You don't get complex curves, unique vents, and a proprietary radio like that at Autozone.
Click to expand...

I agree. That is not just a mock interior IMO...and I hate those dual gauge pods. As I said earlier...right out of a 1970s Pantera.

Actually, I think the 30+ year old Pantera looks better.
Click to expand...

They were going for that yet made it look even worse then the 69 camaro's interior. The gauge pods are horrible. I'm not big on the mustang's retro gauge cluster either but at least it doesn't make me sick. I still have to side on the HVAC controls just being something they jambed in there to be able to drive it.
 
Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: Throckmorton
That's not just a thrown together interior, despite what that guy says. If you look at it, you can tell that it was made specifically for that car. You don't get complex curves, unique vents, and a proprietary radio like that at Autozone.
Click to expand...

I agree. That is not just a mock interior IMO...and I hate those dual gauge pods. As I said earlier...right out of a 1970s Pantera.

Actually, I think the 30+ year old Pantera looks better.
Click to expand...

They were going for that yet made it look even worse then the 69 camaro's interior. The gauge pods are horrible. I'm not big on the mustang's retro gauge cluster either but at least it doesn't make me sick. I still have to side on the HVAC controls just being something they jambed in there to be able to drive it.
Click to expand...

See, I think that's awful too. There's a reason they don't make interiors like that anymore...it's because they look like ass.
 
I was on board with the retro Camaro for a while, each version that's closer to production looks worse 🙁

IMHO, GM is wasting it's resources with this car, they need to focus on hybrids & diesels.
 
FFS people the interior is camo'ed too just like the exterior is...jeez

They always make the interior look like crap with dull materials for the test mule.
 
I like it, inside and out. Once final colors and textures are put in, that interior will come together nicely.
It's not supposed to look like Camry or have a generic interior. This is a specific niche retro inspired product.
It's going to be the best Camaro ever, and one of the best GT car values ever, and a classic. The way gas prices and regulations are going, this is most likely the pinnacle of US muscle cars, and the one to buy.
 
Originally posted by: AdamK47
Originally posted by: GoatMonkey
Where are the interior pictures you're talking about? Is this it?

http://www.thechevroletcamaro....aro_convertible_04.jpg

The page linked by the OP doesn't seem to have any interior pictures that I see.
Click to expand...

That interior looks leaps and bounds better than what's in the test mule. The pictures of it are here. Scott Settlemire (from GM) has his take on the pictures here.
Click to expand...

Those interiors are the same design. The mule is just using cheap off-the-shelf parts.
 
Saw this last week and was gonna post it, but never got around to it. That interior is hideous, I actually laughed when I first saw it as I thought it was a joke on the site that I'd seen it, only to find it wasn't. Thats even worse than the interior of the 90s model Camaros, and lets face it, those were poster child bad and symbolic of Chevy's horrible interiors. The only way this would've been worse is to take the retro look of the gauges from the new Navigators.

And the guy defending it on that forum should be fired. Making excuses like that is exactly what got GM their reputation they're trying to shed now. Stop making excuses, and make it something people want. I like how he says the majority of people like it, so saying it looks like <insert expletive here> is being mean and inconsiderate. So I take it they're using the silent majority?

Taking a couple of more looks at it, and it looks like something out of a Neon or other equally cheap car, only with even worse ergonomics. Maybe they should've slapped some vinyl wood trim on there so as to make the "retro" (read: vomit-inducing) look complete.

Another thing is that, I'm curious how the diehard Camaro fans are handling the exterior. My sister is in an F-body club and they all seem to hate it (of course quite a few of them are big fans of the last couple generations of them so that kinda gives you an idea of their perspective). I disagree although I think with a few minor changes the exterior would look even better (get rid of the damn nostril for one).
 
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