Car and Driver 1LE review

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by Nessal

If they can really keep this sub 40k, I think they got a winner.

The pricing was already released. 1SS + 1LE was around $37000.

[cbass]

Pretty weak article from C&D... I wonder if they even drove it and if so, how much seat time did they get? From what they wrote, it seems as though they were just expanding upon a press release. The only thing they really talked about was the dual mode exhaust which they could learn about from an SS.

Ya...the article wasn't really a comparison. It barely even went into a first impression article. Not sure either if they drove the car. Are there even any 1LE's available to drive and review? As far as I know none have hit the streets to owners.

[Doc]

Performance and reputation create the meaning of a name. "Camaro" didn't mean anything to the public either when it first came out, until we saw them, heard them, rode/drove in them. And Z/28?? What the heck's a Z/28? Is that some kind of detergent or something? Nobody had any respect/desire for that until we saw them, heard them and Penske/Donohue won the Trans Am series in one. They quickly developed a reputation on the street.

If I say "M3" you know I'm talking about a BMW; if I say AMG or Kompressor you know what cars those refer to but you didn't until they created a reputation for themselves. It will be the same with the 1LE. It's going to create a reputation on the track and I bet it won't be long before track guys at the track in other cars will be quickly looking at the Camaros that are running to see if they say ZL1 or 1LE on the side.

[meissen]

The 1LE already has a reputation... it has existed long before being resurrected in the 2013 Camaro...

[garcmol]

Originally Posted by jaysonstuart

I can tell you from the first paragraph he hates the name. And for the most part I have to agree, I mean wtf is a 1LE? I'm sure it stands for something but it's not exactly the name of a special edition camaro that jumps out at you.

I'll help you out. The '91 is bolded just because that's mine.

Originally Posted by garcmol

I should have gotten a paint pen while I was in town (either trip) ((maybe a white paint pen too?????)) Ummm, no hahaha

Some 1LE history; I likes 3rd Gens!!

What The 1LE consisted of: (Categorized & Year By Year)
In 1988, the secret showroom stock racing 1LE option (option level 0 IROC-Z) was first available; however, only 4 were produced. Then in 1989, the option became more well-known as 111 were produced that year. The package was obtained by ordering the following:

Level 1 IROC-Z with 5.0 TPI engine (LB9) with 5 speed or 5.7 TPI engine (L98) with 4-speed automatic. These Camaro's had 145 mph speedometers and 5500 rpm redline tachs. Optional axle ratio (G92) (305/3.45, 350/3.27) and its required options G80 Limited-Slip rear axle

Package consisted of (G92 Was Ordered With A/C) [Street Vehicle]:

engine oil cooler 4-wheel disc brakes Performance exhaust system (N10) (dual catalytic converters) Tires P245/50 ZR16 Goodyear Gatorback

Note:

G92 ordered WITH A/C was classifieds as a Street vehicle.

G92 ordered WITHOUT A/C was classifieds as Race series.


Package consisted of (G92 Ordered Without A/C) [Race Vehicle]:

Aluminum driveshaft (JG1) (part # 10085375) G80 Differential with limited slip with 3.42 posi rear G92 Rear axle performance package Big front brakes adapted from the Corvette Larger (11.86 inch) front rotors (part # 18016035) Larger front spindles (part #'s 18016737 / 18016738) PBR front, dual-piston aluminum calipers (part #'s 10132827 / 10132828) Special swinging fuel pickup in gas tank and special 18 gallon baffled fuel tank for fuel pickup down to .5 gallon reserve to prevent fuel starvation in hard cornering specific front and rear shock absorbers Lower control arms (part # 10164151) Special deflected disc shocks Air conditioning delete (C41) (standard heater) (weight savings and better air flow to the radiator) Fog lamp delete (to release the air intake located behind) T-Tops delete Power accessories delete Aluminum spare wheel with smaller spare tire (N64) A Few RARE ones came with special 16" x 8" light alloy mesh wheels (XWL)

[edit]Yearly Information on the 1LE Option:
1988

Chevrolet built 4 "1LE" 1988 Camaro's for the SCC A Showroom Stock racing series. The reason only 4, virtually unknown to most Camaro racer-types at the time.

1989

Chevrolet built 111 "1LE" 1989 Camaro's for the SCC A Showroom Stock racing series. But 1LE wasn't ordered like other RPOs. Ordering the RPO G80 Limited-slip rear axle & G92 performance axle with an IROC-Z Coupe triggered the 1LE RPO. Here's how it worked: When G92 was ordered, it forced several other options including engine oil cooler, 4-wheel disc brakes, dual converter exhaust and P245/50ZR16 tires. A 1989 Camaro with G92 had to have either the 350ci (RPO B2L) engine with 4-speed automatic transmission, or the 305ci (RPO LB9) with 5-speed manual. These Camaro's had 145 mph speedometers and 5500 rpm redline tachs. If RPO G92 was ordered with air condition ing, the cars were built as street vehicles. If air conditioning was not ordered, Chevrolet added 1LE equipment for the race series. This included aluminum drive shaft, big front brakes adapted from the Corvette, fuel tank baffles, specific front and rear shock absorbers, and different jounce bumpers. Also, fog lamps were deleted for weight savings and better air flow to the radiator.

1990

Chevrolet built 62 "1LE" Z28 Coupes for the SCCA Showroom Stock racing series with RPO G80 Limited-slip rear axle & G92 RPO G92 performance axle triggering the build. RPO G92 required one of two engine combinations, the 305ci LB9 V8 with 5-speed manual, or the 350ci B2L V8 with 4-speed automatic transmission. When ordered with air conditioning, RPO G92 included engine oil cooler, 4-wheel disc brakes, and dual-converter exhaust. When ordered without air conditioning, RPO G92 added heavy-duty front brakes adapted from the Corvette, aluminum driveshaft and spare wheel, special shocks and fuel pickup, and gas tank baffle. Fog lamps, normally included with IROC models, were deleted for weight savings and better air flow to the radiator. Option cost for RPO G92 equipment with air conditioning was $466.00. The cost when air conditioning wasn't ordered was $675.00.

1991

Chevrolet built 478 Z28 Coupes with "1LE" equipment for 1991. The exact amount of true 1LE's is not known this year as a majority of the 478 units were "B4C" Special Service (or Police package) RS Camaros which had the 1LE front brakes (1LE brakes were a mid year option on the 91 B4C as it was quickly realized that the standard front brakes were not suitable for police use -thus some B4C's got the 1LE brakes and some did not). As in 1989 and 1990, Ordering the RPO G80 Limited-slip rear axle & G92 RPO G92 triggered the build. RPO G92 required one of two engine combinations, the 305ci LB9 V8 with 5-speed manual, or the 350ci B2L V8 with 4-speed automatic transmission. When ordered with air conditioning, RPO G92 ($466) included engine oil cooler, 4-wheel disc brakes (except for a brief period when 4-wheel discs were deleted with a $287 credit), and dual-converter exhaust. When ordered without air condi*tioning, RPO G92 ($675) added heavy-duty front brakes, aluminum driveshaft and spare wheel, special shocks and fuel pickup, and gas tank baffle. Fog lamps were deleted for weight savings and improved cooling.

[edit]1992
Chevrolet built 705 Camaro's with "1LE" special performance components equipment for 1992. Of the 705 units, 589 of these were the "B4C" Special Service (or Police package) cars which all included the 1LE front brakes. Content was different in the B4C as air conditioning was standard and the aluminum driveshaft, spare tire and other heavy duty suspension components were not included. In reality there were only 116 1LE "race prep" cars produced. As in 1989, 1990, and 1991, Ordering the RPO G80 Limited-slip rear axle & G92 RPO 1LE was triggered by RPO G92. RPO G92 required either the 305ci LB9 V8 with 5-speed manual, or the 350ci B2L V8 with 4-speed automatic transmission. When ordered with air conditioning ($466), RPO G92 included engine oil cooler, 4-wheel disc brakes, and dual-converter exhaust. Without air condition ing ($675), RPO G92 added heavy-duty front brakes, aluminum driveshaft and spare wheel, special shocks and fuel pickup, and gas tank baffle. Fog lamps were deleted for weight savings and better air flow to the radiator. Available for Z28 Coupes only.

1992 should be recognized as the peak of 3rd generation performance with the two models, the B4C Special Service package and the 1LE Race Prep package being the most covetted for collectors as both were produced in relatively low numbers and each had different content. The 1LE was the best handling and lightest package available, although the B4C had most of it's content and was the only way to get the big heavy duty racing brakes along with air conditioning and power windows/locks and mirrors if you wanted them.

[edit]1993
Chevrolet built only 19 Camaro's with "1LE" equipment for 1993. This included larger diameter front and rear stabilizer bars, stiffer shock absorber valving, harder durometer control arm bushings front and rear, power sterring cooler, and radiator baffles for added engine cooling. Air conditioning, power windows/locks or mirrors was not available with 1LE.

[edit]1994
Chevrolet built 135 Z28 Coupes with "1LE" equipment for 1994. Content changes slightly as the rear sway bar for 1LE and Z28 are the same (downsized from previous year) and the new Koni double adjustable shock absorbers becomes available as factory installed content in the 1LE.

[edit]1995
Chevrolet built 106 Z28 Coupes with "1LE" equipment for 1995.

[edit]1996
Chevrolet built 55 Z28 Coupes with "1LE" equipment for 1996. Air conditioning becomes standard in all camaros including the 1LE cars which was previously unavailable. Other power options are still restricted in the ordering process.

[edit]1996
Chevrolet built 55 Z28 Coupes with "1LE" equipment for 1996.

[edit]1997
Chevrolet built 48 Z28 Coupes with "1LE" equipment for 1997.

[edit]1998
Chevrolet built 99 Z28 Coupes with "1LE" equipment for 1998. If 99 were built why do the production number say none were built? I know where there is an SS 1LE. According to SLP it is the only one.

[edit]1999
Chevrolet built 74 "1LE" equipped camaros for 1999.Of these 74 units, 66 were Z28 and 8 were SS optioned (one of the SS's was an automatic and would be quite the collectible today!) This is the last year of the 1LE as installed from the factory. SLP adds 1LE as an option in later years but does not include previous content and is not factory installed by GM.

[GearheadSS]

1LE is a pretty significate callout to folks that have been around F-bodies for a long time. I remember the 1LE Irocs and I have a buddy that has a '99 1LE WS6 Formula. My next Camaro will be a 1LE.

[meissen]

It's amazing the amount of people on here who think the Camaro history is only 67-69 and 2010+.

[DanSS24]

As Fbodfather said...appreciate history

http://ve3eie.ncf.ca/1le_history.html

[THR ZL1 #1]

Originally Posted by meissen

It's amazing the amount of people on here who think the Camaro history is only 2010+.

Fixed that for you . . .

It is embarrassing hearing / reading what 5th gen Camaro owners will say.

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by DanSS24

As Fbodfather said...appreciate history

http://ve3eie.ncf.ca/1le_history.html

And, with A4Q ('86) and A4U ('87), the road was paved for 1LE to make its '88 appearance.

http://www.playerschallengeseries.ca/Production_nos.htm

BTW, 1LE was not a Camaro exclusive...Pontiac was aboard the A4Q/A4U Program as well and developed their own versions of 1LE. In fact, the rarest "production" 1LE would be the '95 Firebird Formula, of which exactly TWO were built.

Wanna buy the WHITE one? The other one was Green...location unknown.

[1BADLS3]

The article certainly represents a lukewarm reaction to the 1LE package...But it's Car and Driver. I generally regard their rag as garbage anyhow...IMO it's a magazine staff of folks who know more about convenience options in a Honda Fit than what makes a performance car fun.

[hightower]

Horrible review.

[b4z]

Garcmol, didn't ordering the 3.45 gear require the optional kc4 engine oil cooler? When I special ordered my '87 it did.

[ChrisBlair]

The reviewer liked it.

And six paragraphs is too much to read? Took me 1 minute 20 seconds to read. Some of you are that flippin lazy? Jesus wept. But I shouldn't complain; stuff like that is how I stay employed, lol

[Baba]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

The pricing was already released. 1SS + 1LE was around $37000.

Yup. Here's a brief article from "GM Authority" about it.
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/07/...m_medium=email

Still surprised there's nothing about 2013 Camaros on chevy.com despite 2013's already on dealer lots for a month or more. Go figure.

[Mikamaro]

Originally Posted by ORANGE U NV

I gotta agree, GM kinda dropped the marketing ball way back with identifying optional packages. Ford has used some very good names like Mach 1, Boss, California Special with Cobra Jets and Interceptor engines. Mopar had the Track Pack, Bumble Bee and the famed Hemi.

GM's hertitage is mostly confusing order codes. Like even the Z28 and when they use a good name like "Ram Air", they can't help but put a "WS6" badge on it. They had some memorial names like Trans Am and IROC... but sadly, even those names GM had to pay to use the rights to.

My point is GM makes really great cars and they suck at naming their special option packages with cool names. So that IS the GM heritage. I suppose it's only fitting to have random letters to special packages on a car that no one really knows where the name Camaro came from or what it means. Long live the Camaro and keep up the #%@-LS3/L99/LE1/ZL1 RPO'ing marketing.

I Totally agree here!
BUT
They did come up with the best acronym ever... or was it the Nazi's?

SS

and that's the best one out there.

[qtr-camaro ss]

Originally Posted by DanSS24

1LE= 1 Louder Exhaust.... kidding of course

:p

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

[jaysonstuart]

Originally Posted by meissen

... Dude, go educate yourself on Camaro history before you make ignorant comments like that. Did you know the Camaro existed before 2010?

Yeah I owned a 75 Type LT for years. I was merely making fun of that guys ridicule of the name of the car. I just found it hilarious that he would be so against a vehicle just based on the option code.

Nothing more than a minor troll, I guess you missed my sarcasm.

Don't be so easy next time.