I believe GM has used and abused the SS name for to long. Are Camaro SS stands behind the Super Sport logo very well. But when you start Giving the newer Impala,colbalt,Silverado,trailblazer,ect SS badges it looses its reputation IMO. The Z/28 has an Iconic ring and name to it, even though some of the mid/later year Z-28s where pretty lame performers.

And so was the Corvette. Only American car with any grunt during this period was the BB Trans Am.

Cool, thanks for all the replies gang. I 100% agree that SS is used on several models so I understand why us Camaro guys would love that z/28 is only for the track animal. So would you say GM overused the z/28 with the 3rd and especially 4th gen?? Rarely do you see an SS from the 4th gen but there are tons of z/28...I guess maybe that's what gave it less cache with non-enthusiasts.

So with all this said, there's no official GM response as to why the 4th GEN was loaded with z/28 and the SS was the higher up package and here with the 5th GEN it's all SS and everyone is anxious for a z/28?

Good stuff :thumbup:

GM was committed to the Z28 label at that time. SLP offered an upgrade to the Z28 in the form of the Z28/SS. Thankfully GM has righted the ship now...at least once the Z28 has arrived.

It's more than the "Name" it's what it stands for and what it should and will be.

Will it out perform the ZL1? If not does it really matter then??

Just Sayin...

Since the 5th Gen is inspired by the 1st Gen, when I think Z/28 I think of a 1st Gen inspired Z/28. Lightweight no frills, like rollup windows, no A/C or radio. Track suspension and lots of N/A power. Street legal racer, unlike the current COPO with no VIN.

It came from the factory with headers !!!

(they were in the trunk and the dealer installed them)

It was not lighter. And it could be ordered up even with HH, and they weren't light.

and here is why you are really confused. The SS name plate on the camaro dropped off sometime in the 70's. And was not used again until the 4th Gens. in 1993 SLP went to GM and said they wanted to do something special. What resulted was the SS. Since the Z28 was already in production all 94-97 SS's were Z28/SS's. with the introduction of the LS1 into the 4th gens SS became the dominate name plate. the SS has not always been the "Top Dog" for the Camaro.

As for the current Gen the SS stands behind hits name very well. But it doesn't fill the void of a track superstar. The 1LE is a step in the right direction but still not a worthy of the Z28 designation, IMO.

No need for fighting kids.

The Z28 will return. And when it does, it will be worthy of the name. Note that Chevy hasn't released that particular version just yet. I still truly believe the 1LE is this generation's Z28. But I'm all-in on betting a 6th gen will have that emblem on it somewhere.

JMO, but the ZL1 is the hard hitting street bruiser to kick sand in the face of the GT500. And I love that aspect. But the entire 5th gen platform is too heavy/bulky to be nimble enough to handle like a Z28 SHOULD do. This is why I feel GM isn't going to stick the Z28 emblem on a 5th gen. I wish they would bring it back, but I'm afraid not for a couple more years. I feel it in the Force. Just like Yoda....forsee it, I have... :)

Try telling that to Pedders.......




:laugh:

I thankfully believe you are not right. The Z28 was never NEVER lighter! The VERY rigid Camaro chassis is perfect to build off of. Why just look at the capabilities of both the ZL1 and 1LE. A FORCE to be reckoned with.

Absolutely :thumbsup:

I'm pretty sure 96 was the first year for the fourth gen SS's.