I’ve been thinking long and hard about the NAIAS “unveiling” and also the numerous comments on various boards and one main thought comes to mind……

How much will the reaction of this “lucky group of 250” Camaro & Firebird enthusiasts mean to the actual final approval of the new C car program?

I also would imagine that the follow-up reaction of the NAIAS public day attendees / press would be just as crucial….

I know Chevrolet has plenty of incentive in the Mustang sales figures to do “something”, but what happens if “we” give it a lukewarm reception??

What if it “misses the mark”? FWIW, the SS concept left me cold….the Bel-Air convertible concept was just odd…

I also wonder if we, as a group, offer suggestions as to what we feel would make the car more closely “hit the mark” if they would listen? I'm talking styling-wise of course...

I realize that what we’ll be seeing will not be 100% of what the car will look like (the Mustang concept was a TON more exciting than the watered down production model IMHO).

I have to tell you, I’m getting as anxious as a kid at Christmas about this car, but there’s a slight chance that I, we might be a little disappointed….too retro, not retro enough, shows where the bean counters used their knife, doesn’t have ‘soul’, etc….

A good attorney never asks a question that he doesn’t already know the answer to…maybe somebody ( ME ) should be allowed to take a peek before January…..

I guess I’m just wondering how much the NAIAS reaction will affect the final product?

 

Good points Doug. I've got ALL my fingers and toes crossed, that the car we'll be seeing is FAR more exciting than either the SS or the Bel Air. Both of those left me fairly cold.

Also, I have a feeling that the Mustang Concept was closer to the production cars' look than the concept we'll see in Jan.

As far as how much reaction will affect the final product? I don't know for sure. Perhaps only 10%-15% of the concepts styling may still be "malleable" at this point.

 

Well, and this is just IMO of course, but the Camaro will be comming back no matter how the reaction is, because with the Charger/Challenger/Mustang selling as well as it is, GM wants a piece of the RWD pie.

That being said, I'm sure they're going to be listening VERY VERY CAREFULLY as to what people like and don't like about the concept, so everyone there should be sure to tell them what the like and don't like, because they will be listening. I'm sure they've been reading this board, as well as all the other ones as well and figuring out what every likes about the various renderings that our out there as well.

 

They'll probably be listening to what is liked or disliked on competetor vehicles as well, looking to fill the voids. I'm gonna go 2 days(14th/15th?) and take plenty of notes and pictures, if for nothing else, my own scrap book.
Can you imagine the pressure to impress in the GM corner at this Show, this year, in their situation...I'm not envious at all.
But I'll be smiling just to see a certain car maybe heading for production again, like a freind moving back to town.
(They'll be plenty of time to work out any small kinks...hopefully.)

 

One must keep in mind that the "lucky group of 250" (ie...hand picked group of 250) that gets the first sneak peek are pretty hard core folks, and not necessarily a good indication of what the general buying public will want.

 

Just to make sure -

This pretty much confirms a Camaro concept will DEFINITELY be on display at NAIAS?

Also,

When will this sneek peak occur and are all the invitees allowed to have cameras? If you guys are allowed to take pictures, you had better get them posted ASAP!

 

I don't know Bob. I think the general public wants an exciting, fun, polished, contemporary package. Is that so different than what the hard core folks want?

 

It's been pretty much confirmed for a while now. Yes, it will be there.

Once the press is allowed in, which is 2 days before the show actually opens, you can expect a ton of pictures here and on every other car related forum on the net.

 

Hey Doug, sometimes one can worry too much and miss out on the moment. You can spend the next month and a half going over the what ifs, or you can sit back and enjoy the fact that you are about to be a part of Camaro history.

 

Yeah, I know....but I'm one of the control freaks that would even be pissed if I ever got "Overhauled"...you know, the Chip Foose show.

It's my nature to do everything myself and have very strong opinions about everything....and I mean everything.

But, if some of the underground comments I've heard from some 'insiders' holds true, I'll have to trust that the designers at GM have recently been allowed to "dream out loud"....

BTW, we've been told that we can bring cameras and there 'might' even be a laptop AT the Chevrolet booth so that we can "instantly spread the word!!"

 

You may be right.

But everyone who's going are Camaro owners, and as a group (as far as I can tell) are pretty balenced people despite being Camaro fans. For instance, Charlie and me appriciate and have owned certain Fords as well (he the Countour SVT and me the Thunderbird SC), so I think we both might be a little more objective than someone who might have owned nothing but Camaros their entire life.

Just an observation.

 

That is so funny Doug. Me too!

My boys always ask me, how'd I feel if Chip Foose "ovehauled" my Camaro. My response is always the same.

 

The only way I'm really going to be dissappointed is if the damn thing is too retro. I didn't fall in love with a '69 Camaro...I fell in love with an '89 Camaro. With that said, I don't want something that looks too much like either one!!

Words that haunt me continue to be "If you like a '69 Camaro, you'll love the 5th gen." Myself and my entire group of F bod owners/friends (all 8 of us, all 3rd and 4th gen owners) cringe at that thought. Words that encourage me are RP's own "Who says we can't look back on ALL generations?" and "Heritage does NOT mean retro." Paraphrases of what he said, but you get the idea...

Its amazing how some people like me hang on every word. I want to get to NAIAS...but I don't see it happening at the moment

 

No, it is not different. However, I believe there is likely a difference in the general public's definition of exciting, fun, polished, and contemporary - and your (as a group) definition of the same.

Examples.....

IRS vs Live axle
Retro vs Heritage vs Modern vs Contemporary
Function vs Looks


Mine as well was just an observation. And honestly, I think you and Charlie will be WAY more picky than the average potential Camaro consumer.

 

What if the concept is absolutely perfect and still only 10-15% of it make it on the actual car Thats kinda more of what Im expecting . Seeing as this is only the 5th time in 39 years a new Camaro is being designed in the midst of a present day muscle car surge . I expect the concept to be nothing short of phenomenal .

FWIW - The folks involved with the new car probabaly have figured out the enthusist's biased to its design Thats where the designer has the hardest job ever ....a Camaro thats gonna wow the general public as well as the loyalist from all 4 generations . If I was the guy that designed it , I would be a absolute nervous wreck come time to pull the cover off

I thinks its really important though , that you guys do strongly voice your opinions . Even if ya absolutely hate it , or part of it . Theyve got what ....7 days of public reactions to mix in what the di-hards have to say . While I doubt the hardcore enthususist will have a strong enuff voice to change a core design , I do think you guys can be pretty infuential on the details .