Jay Leno shows off the Camaro concept
Now that seemingly every car magazine on the planet has taken the Camaro concept for a "test drive," it looks like it's the celebrities' turn. Tonight Show host and hard-core car guy Jay Leno created the latest photo-op for the concept car last Friday, when he took it for a drive in Burbank, California, ending up at the retro-cool Bob's Big Boy diner for its Friday night American Graffiti-style Classic Car Show.
We eagerly await the Camaro concept's appearance in the Autoblog garage...
(More pics after the jump)
[Source: GM]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ik 3:21PM (7/10/2006)
This car will end up looking like a 2 door version of the 2006 Charger.
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Aki 3:23PM (7/10/2006)
Beautiful car. Make it already.
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Jeff Banks 3:25PM (7/10/2006)
Is anybody truly sick of seeing Jay Leno everytime I read/hear/see anything car related.
Makes me want to vomit.
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James Sonne 3:28PM (7/10/2006)
The ceiling looks so low in the first picture "after the jump" that Jay probably had to re-gel his hair after he drove up.
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DJ 3:35PM (7/10/2006)
Isn't this the same Bob's Big Boy that Dodge took the Challenger concept to a couple of weeks ago?
By the way, I've met Jay Leno in person in Vegas and he's not very tall, although the hair adds a couple of inches. Where did they find men shorter than him to be photographed with?
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Richard Warren 3:48PM (7/10/2006)
#2 No, but the toilet is open for your use or you could roll down your window.
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Bob_Ericson 3:49PM (7/10/2006)
Jay's an alright guy. His funny days are over as I see it - not that he was ever Sam Kinnison funny. But with his monster wallet, he's done ok out there. There's PLENTY of world-class jackasses out there with huge wallets. Thankfully, Jay is pretty much a regular guy.
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Ed 3:56PM (7/10/2006)
Jay Leno...I too am sick of this guy he and Oprah need to take the cheep ass and go away. She gives away cars that she do'nt buy and Jay ebay's bikes that Harley gives him. Enough GO AWAY!
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Ben 4:01PM (7/10/2006)
#2.... I agree !!!
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Tool 4:05PM (7/10/2006)
GM is really smart to have Jay Leno showing off this concept. I think we are all holding our breath that the production vehicle will be as impressive as this concept.
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Paul 4:22PM (7/10/2006)
I think GM is walking a very fine line here.
They have gotten this concept EVERYWHERE it can possibly be seen, but now if they go and make a production model that is significantly different, I think they will be making a bigger mistake than if they dont produce it at all.
Build it like this... please... (i know the wheels amoungst other things have to go)
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Paul 4:23PM (7/10/2006)
I think GM is walking a very fine line here.
They have gotten this concept EVERYWHERE it can possibly be seen, but now if they go and make a production model that is significantly different, I think they will be making a bigger mistake than if they dont produce it at all.
Build it like this... please... (i know the wheels amoungst other things have to go)
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iQuack 4:29PM (7/10/2006)
I hate concept teases.
Note to GM: Build the damn thing or stop annoying us with it!
Prediction: If the Camaro is finally offered for sale, a few "gotta have its" will overpay to be first in their neighborhoods with one. A year later, there will be rows of Camaros in dealers' inventories with deep discounts to move them.
This'll be just like the Thunderbird was and ditto for that Challenger thing from DCX, too.
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Christian J 4:43PM (7/10/2006)
"A year later, there will be rows of Camaros in dealers' inventories with deep discounts to move them"
Just like the GTO, SRT-8s, and C6? Hahaha. Funny all these guys are talking about building performance cars and Ford is actually selling them. Hahah.
I do respect the C6, for its performance btw., but that thing is seriously bland and every rich jackass has one.
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PJ 5:22PM (7/10/2006)
The C6, "seriously bland?" Compared to which Ford performance car? Surely not a 'Stang.
I agree that GM is getting perilously close to over-hyping the Camaro. We've seen, what, a couple dozen stories on this vehicle through various media channels, and there's still no word of production specs or finalized styling shots. If you're going to keep the stories coming, Chevy, start leaking some juicy information, too. Fluffy PR stunts with celebrities won't do anything to lessen enthusiasts' cynicism.
That said, I think the Camaro has the potential to be a much bigger hit than flash-in-the-pan vehicles like the Thunderbird and SSR. Unlike those cars, the Camaro should be a realistic daily-driver proposition, with four seats and a real trunk. Its styling has more staying power, IMHO, and the SSR suggests that GM can keep its cars true to the initial concept when it wants to. Also, if the GTO is any indication, the Camaro's Holden-sourced chassis should be more than class-competitive.
I think the Camaro's fate will all boil down to its price tag. The reason the T-Bird and SSR failed (while the Mustang, PT Cruiser, MINI, and other retro-novelty acts succeeded) was because they were inaccessible to most of their admirers. But since Chevy won't drop any hints in this regard, I'm reluctant to set my hopes too high.
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epp_b 5:40PM (7/10/2006)
["Prediction: If the Camaro is finally offered for sale, a few "gotta have its" will overpay to be first in their neighborhoods with one. A year later, there will be rows of Camaros in dealers' inventories with deep discounts to move them."]
Oh, right, you mean kind of like the Solstice? I don't think GM's *that* dumb.
They'll probably (and they should) market it like the Solstice - in small numbers. The Solstice still has quite an exscusivity factor. I've seen only ONE since it came out however many months ago it was.
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Shaun 6:09PM (7/10/2006)
The original camaro still looks better.
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Frank 7:57PM (7/10/2006)
Hey Leno, enough already, we get it, your a huge car guy. My god!!! Are you trying to make up for the lack of something else? Enough!
GM, Chevrolet sales are down 25.5%. Your totally off the map as far as efficient 4 bangers. You have no REAL hybrid to speak of. Gas is at $3 and climbing. Your company is in the crapper. And your too busy showing off something that in the bigger picture isn't really a long term, bread and butter product. Where is your Accord, Camry, Civic, Corrolla beater??? Guys, get it together!!!
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bojac 8:16PM (7/10/2006)
The Camaro's chin is as big as Leno's, and just as ugly, too.
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nick 8:22PM (7/10/2006)
everything about jay--why are you all trash talking him?
he's an awesome guy that truly loves cars, not just because he can buy so many, and if you truly liked cars, you would know that jay does a lot for the industry and it's not all to brag to all of us that we don't have as much money or anything, and the harleys he sells on ebay, all the money goes to charities
this camaro thing though, it looks alright but i would say it needs coverage for the performance aspect and that it would be great if instead of gm just trying to revive a legend, they should make it better than it was or w.e
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