I think that's part of my point. SS should be the big hp boulevard king. Z28 should have even more hp (how much more is up for debate), but it should be the Z06 style track car.

That's the way it has always been and that's the way it should be. SS can therefore still be the V8 volume leader because Z will be more limited/exclusive, also just like it is supposed to be.

I realize the Z had less HP than the SS originally, but also realize that was due to Trans Am rules at the time and that today HP and handling upgrades go hand in hand.

Making the SS a big HP car with sloppy handling and the Z a great handling car with modest HP is going to mean poor sales for BOTH cars. There has to be a teir relationship between the models..."separate but equal" missions won't work anymore.

 

ZING!

 

All of you "Z28 never went away" people need to think about it some more.

there was never a 150hp SS after all (the early LG4s weren't 160hp, that was the upgraded version) There were also never 17 second 2nd gen SS camaros.

Seriously, through MOST of the second and third gens, Z28 meant next to nothing. My 1979 Z28 had the exact same drivetrain and suspension as a base V8 camaro except the Y pipe into 2 mufflers. My 1985 Z28 had base suspension and a 155hp LG4. My 1992 Z28 convertible had RS suspension (but at least did have TPI, though L98 was not an option in verts).

And let's not forget that while SS was gone, from 1985-1990, IROC wa the top camaro, and IROC ALWAYS included the top suspension. Once again, i had a 1985 Z28 that was nothing but a base V8 car with a badge. A 1985 IROC would have guaranteed stiffer springs, bigger sway bars, bilstein shocks and the wonder bar. Add in the 4th gens and for 12 out of the last 23 years, Z28 wasn't even the top RPO for camaro.

And once again, for 30 years, Z28 meant nothing but "this car has a V8, the rest is anyone's guess". OTOH, for the past 10 years, SS has meant "this is the top model available for the car you're looking at"


opinions are like *******s though, since this is such a fun argument i figured i'd throw mine out there too.

I honestly feel like the people arguing for Z28 have unrealistic nostaligia about the badge considering it's been over 30 years since Z28 on the side of a camaro meant anything except V8 inside. Did i already say that? Worth repeating i guess since after all, most potential buyers of this car were either not born, or at the least, not old enough to drive the last time Z28 meant anything special.

That said, i'm pretty sure i'm wrong and GM will screw up and try to get cute and use Z28 for the top dog as if the events in my previous paragraphs never happened.

 

Technically it was 145 hp, but for the rest of it ,

But you have to admit, this is fun

 

I almost wrote that but wasn't 100% sure, and I was too lazy to look it up, and didn't want to risk being called for exageration and negate the fact that for over 30 years Z28 has meant exactly nothing except this car has a V8

 

In the third gens, the Z28 was essentially what the SS was in the 4th gens. Hood, spoiler, handling upgrades

 

That's alright, I wrote 160, gave them the benefit (LOL yea right) of the Cross fire motor in '82.

 

The cross fire was 165 hp, get it right, LOL.

 

I'm going to note just one thing, and then I am going to sleep.

The concept has the same style scoop on the front as the Z06.

Now, for the sleep....

ZZZZZZZZZZ......ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ........Z ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.......ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZ......ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.... .......ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ........ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZ.........................

 

My bad

 

Yep, pretty much sums up my opinion of the Z28!

Running and putting on the nomex suit!

 

There were 0 Z28's produced in 1975-76. Should the top model by Type LT, or should it be L/T?

 

My father had a 68 Z/28 that he inherited from my uncle. When my uncle had it he drag raced it, putting to shame many rats. While the 302 1st gen Z/28 may have been intended for road racing, don't for a second underestimate it's straight line abilities. Ask the people who owned one back in the day that actually drag raced them. The 302 was sick, sick motor.


And for the record, as I know I've stated numerous times on this board in regards to this topic, the original Corvette SS was a one-off race car that failed miserably at Sebring in 1957. Not exactly something I'd be interested in resurecting.

 

While I don't deny that the 302 was a beautiful motor, dollar for dollar , the high compression big blocks owned it in the 1/4 mile. Now on the road course, that is a completely different matter.

 

Ok……












So for some years in the 2nd and 3rd gen the Z28 may not have been the most desirable of Camaro’s throughout muscle car history….but ya know what?

IT WAS STILL THE TOP MODEL FOR THOSE YEARS!