FS3800

the camaro could originally be ordered with an RS appearance package, or an SS performance package.. they coold be combined..

outside the regular options (i don't even think it was listed on the sheet or something like that) was the Z28 option, which basically was a race car built for the streets.. not the biggest engine.. not the fastest in a straight line.. but a car made for the track nonetheless

in 1970, he SS could be had with a 396ci, 350hp or 370hp engine..
the Z28 could be had with a LT-1 350ci, 360hp engine (plus better suspension etc)

in 1973, the SS was replaced with the Type-LT designation, so that means the SS only lasted from 1967-1972.. 6 years of SS..

in 1975 there was no more Z/28 either.. so the Z/28 lasted from 1967-1974... 8 years... 2 of them without any SS option

halfway through 1977MY, the Z/28 returned

in 1978, five models were available
sport coupe, Rally Sport, Type-LT, Type-LT Rally Sport, and Z/28

in 1985 the IROC-Z was added to the lineup, the regular Z/28 still available

in 1988 the Z/28 was dropped and the IROC-Z (i've seen int referred to as IROC-Z28) remained .. so the Z28 lasted another 11 years (1977-1987), that totals 19 years of Z28, 13 of them with no SS in the lineup

The Z28 was reintroduced in the 1991MY and was around till the Camaros haiatus in 2002, adding another 12 years to the Z28

the SS was introduced in 1996 as a modified and upgraded Z/28.. this is the first time that this was the case throughout camaro history that the SS was an all around better car than the Z/28..with better power, looks, and handling... this was the case through the 2002 model year, making 7 years of SS being the top dog

so really, the SS label has only been on the camaro for 13/36 years, arguably the top model for only 7/36 years

the Z28 has been in the lineup for 31/36 years.. (the only years with no Z28 at all were 75,76,88,89,90)

even saying the SS was the top dog form 67-72(arguable), still the Z28 was top dog for 15 model years.. 2 more than the SS was even around

so, Z/28 has a LOT more camaro history, it was top dog for longer than the SS was even around..

OutsiderIROC-Z

In my opinion the SS badge has been cheapened and tarnished by the vehicles that Chevy has put it on the past few years....

DvBoard

As many people have said:

"Any Chevy can be an SS....but only the Camaro is a Z/28."

Nothing is official yet, but it would be like saying you have a ZO6. No one is going to get that confused with a cobalt, but if you say you have a SS...

Dave89IROC

I would love to own a 09 RS/SS

DrewSG

Any Chevy can be an SS, but only a Cavalier can be a Z24.

I think the SS nameplate still has plenty of merit. Because if you know see an SS Camaro coming down the street, you know packing plenty of power.

Plus, how many people out there still think that if you have a Camaro SS that you have some super rare Corvette motor in your car?

But, I do understand the car is going back to it's root. Which is okay with me.

JCS30TH

I am with him

Word. They have turned it into a joke.

downwithmustang

Jacoz35thSS thank you for having my back; people are rude in here sometimes. Anyway guionM and stars1010 what not to understand. Yeah I maybe alittle off on somethings, but who isn't. Correct me if I wrong, but the SS is known as the high end performance package Chevy has to offer. Yes the Z28 has been the top dog for the Camaro for a number of years. Yes the SS package wasnt a part of the 2nd, 3rd, and the early 4th gen Camaro's. But when ever the SS becomes apart of the Camaro it over shadows the Z/28. (Example.) 1st gen and lastest 4th gen. So try to understand that .

LS1_Disciple

Man, I thought you were crazy when I read a 450hp SS for $29k in 2009 dollars. Then I got to the part about the 450hp Z28 for $27.5k

You need to pass some of what you're smoking over here because it must be good.

DvBoard

How'd you know i drove a cavy? but not a Z24. Point i'm making is, it helps to distingish it from the other chevy cars and even from the camaro SS. a mustang cobra owner would prbly say they drive a cobra if you asked them, same idea.

RussStang

Something I have taken note of on many occasions here.

jg95z28

That's not entirely accurate. Other than an SLP exhaust, the SS mainly just had a hood scoop and stripes. The power difference was otherwise the same because they used the same drivetrain. Handling? Uh... no.

Other than that, a nice recap. I disagree though about Z/28 being discontinued in the early 1980's. Although GM tried to capitalize on the IROC marketing, in all sense they were still Z/28's they just had IROC stickers added.

To all:

If Z/28 returns it can only be as Z06-inspired Camaro racer. Otherwise GM would have no credibility in my book.

ZL1? Forget it. ZL1s were big blocks. There's no way GM is putting a big block back in a Camaro. (At least not in a production car. ) Even GMPP's recent homage ZL1 crate motor was an aluminum big block.

And the person from GM who said, "Any Chevrolet can be an SS, but only a Camaro can be a Z/28" was our own RP. (He may have not coined it originally, but he was the first to use it around these parts.)

GRNcamaro

i have a qestion every one keeps going z/28 and ss what stops them from going back to how it was with the early 4st gen? one v6 and one v8. have i missed something and did they anounce any thing more then a v6 and a v8. personally im not gona get all worked up about it im just gona wait and see what happens

Good Ph.D

Rude? You walked into an educated community and are attempting to tell people in the know what is and what isnt and you dont know jack ****.

You need to go back to n00b school.

Lesson One.

Bigger engine =/ better performer or car.

Exhaust & hood =/ better performer or car.

Time for review.

You suck.

FS3800

the SLP exhaust, and hood, did provide provide a performance increase over what the performance would have been without those upgrades..

and i was under the impression that the suspension on the SS was upgraded over a regular Z28 as well, but i'm not 100% sure on that


couldnt agree with you more.... though there was a time when they co-existed.. Z/28 and IROC-Z were both in the lineup from 85-87.. so i don't know if you would call them the same thing.. but for the time from 88-90 when there was no Z/28, sure i'd say the IROC-Z was basically a Z/28 by another name.. but even without those extra couple years.. the Z/28 has more history as being the top modal than SS does


the artist formerly known as RP you mean.. now simply Fbodfather

jg95z28

From the official press release:

The all-new Camaro will begin with early production versions at the end of 2008 and will go on sale in the first quarter of 2009. “The new Camaro will be almost identical to the concept, a thoroughly modern interpretation of the 1969 model, considered by many to be the best design of the car’s first generation,” said Ed Welburn, GM's global vice president of design, who owns a 1969 Camaro SS. The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport coupe will feature an independent rear suspension, and will be offered in a variety of models with the choice of manual and automatic transmissions and V-6 and V-8 engines.

I don't know about you, but to me "variety" means more than one flavor of V6 and one flavor of V8.