Lead designer of the Camaro goes for a spin
One member of the Autoblog team had his hand in developing a few parts for a car that will soon be making an appearance in the Autoblog Garage. His lament after finding out that he wouldn't be able to enjoy this paragon of luxury was to point out that he had never even sat in the vehicle, let alone get behind the wheel and drive. Our hearts go out to him and you'll understand why soon enough.
This, however, was not the case for GM's Tom Peters, lead designer for the Camaro. He got the opportunity to drive the concept for the first time and someone was smart enough to bring along the video camera.
The video provides some interesting points about the development of the concept and what kind of enthusiasm was put into the project.
Enjoy and don't forget to bid.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bruce Barclay 2:21PM (8/12/2006)
That car is so beautiful. They should keep it just like that and it will sell.
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Jeff Banks 2:25PM (8/12/2006)
Instead of owning a 69 Camaros and the like, all general motors employees should be forced to drive Chevy Luminas or Corsicas.
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Chosen1 2:29PM (8/12/2006)
I was disappointed not to see him get on it a little, but still was a nice peak. If they don't water this car down too much, it will sell well. I'm sure some will state it's arriving late, which I can't argue with, but if you like it, you'll still like when it gets here.
-Chosen1
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Aaron 2:37PM (8/12/2006)
It sure sounds nice.
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iQuack 2:55PM (8/12/2006)
The Camaro looks too cramped for a full-sized adult, but that might be an illusion created by the small side windows. Peters seemed to be stuffed into that thing.
Look at this picture which shows a retro Buick in the background. I like this one better:
http://xs104.xs.to/xs104/06326/RetroBuick.jpg
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Exem 2:56PM (8/12/2006)
I hope they don't change it too much either, like they did on the Mustang concept. Little changes can make a big difference!
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mikesright 2:59PM (8/12/2006)
It's the Y-Job Buick, iQuack. It was the first-ever concept car, and was penned by the legendary Harley Earl. The production Camaro will have a slightly higher roofline in production, and in interviews with the designers, they said they can put the seats lower as well.
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mikesright 3:00PM (8/12/2006)
Exem, think Solstice concept. It will be nearly identical to the concept, it just will have slight changes for crash safety and better packaging.
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iQuack 3:15PM (8/12/2006)
Right on, Mikesright.
Here it is--a beauty, yes?
http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-1938-Buick-Y-Job-Concept-Car.htm
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67rs 3:25PM (8/12/2006)
Build it as is. Now.
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jscro 3:29PM (8/12/2006)
Thanks for posting this, very cool.
I'm excited for this car, it looks and sounds fantastic.
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emor8t 3:29PM (8/12/2006)
He could possibly be the most boring un-enthusiastic person to listen to ever.
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Brent 3:38PM (8/12/2006)
Anyone know the city/location of where they do their testing to check it out on google earth?
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Christopher Groves 3:45PM (8/12/2006)
9 minutes of my life that I'll never get back!!!!!!! without a doubt, the most boring piece of crap I have ever watched. All the accolades and thanks, you would have thought he was a Nextel Cup driver at the end of a race. Again, if you haven't seen it yet don't waste your time!
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05redrex 3:56PM (8/12/2006)
Hmm... Chevy Yawnmobile
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Silver 3:59PM (8/12/2006)
" I hope they don't change it too much either, like they did on the Mustang concept."
I agree with that 100%. Had the Mustang turned out anything like the concept, I would have bought one (my first domestic auto purchase in 20 years). But to me, the production car isn't even close. So I bought a Cooper S instead. Sorry, Ford. You had my interest and you blew it. Maybe Chevy can do this one right. But I'm pessimistic...
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Steven T. 4:03PM (8/12/2006)
I wouldn't say this is GM's best work; the Solstice and latest Corvette are much more inspired designs.
The Camaro concept has a cut-and-paste look. It's not just because of the caricatured '69 Camaro cues; the roofline has a late-60s Riviera look, and the dashboard is more . . . early-60s glitz? I also find the chunkiness of the back end unsatisfying (particularly in comparison to the lovely early-70s Camaros). Oh, and the side flanks seem too fat.
My biggest beef is with the small glass area. I hope that GM does go ahead and add a bit of height to the roof, both for practicality's sake and aesthetics.
Some Camaro purists have complained that the front end doesn't adequately reproduce the upright look of the '69. Me thinks this is one of the concept's best features, because it integrates the essence of the original with a more modern look. The Challenger concept would be much more appealing to me if its design interpretation wasn't so slavishly retro. To my taste, a contemporary performance car should have an aerodynamic front end, not a "brick face."
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Sid 4:06PM (8/12/2006)
I think there is good reason to believe that the production Camaro will be as is. The Solstice and the Sky made it intact. I think we owe GM the benefit of the doubt on the Camaro. I'm looking forward to this car.
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chuck goolsbee 4:10PM (8/12/2006)
OK, that went on way too long. The guy is obviously a product of GM... long on wind, short on substance.
As for the car? It looks like a cartoon of a Camaro.
They should have built this 8 years ago. In 1998, this thing would have been a world beater. Today, it is too little too late. Yet another retro car in a long line of retro cars. Yawn. But no, GM burned the last decade building trucks and SUVs. They don't need muscle cars now, they need cars people want to buy. Where are the small-sedan and hatchback Diesels? Where are the mid-size cars getting mid-30s MPG? The europeans have them. Why don't we?
As for the retro car theme, I wonder what those of us who came of age in the 80s will pine for when we are approaching geezerhood? Retro CRX? Retro IROC-Zs? Retro 944s?
Anyway, this Camaro is the Fiddle to GM being Nero. What's that smell in Detroit? Smoke?
--chuck
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BOB 4:14PM (8/12/2006)
The roof has to come up about 1-1/2". If they listen to the folks who say to leave it alone, they will have the problem of the last Camaro -- too low to get in, too low to see over the hood and drive comfortably, for many people, which cut that car's sales.
THEY ALREADY HAVE A CORVETTE -- the Camaro, when it sells, is a sporty looking car for every day.
(and Yeah, I am tall)
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