Question regarding authenticity ...

[Bowtie Junkman]

Hello Camaro5 ....
I haven't posted in a while ... the unfortunate necessity to sell my modded C5 along with a few other toys ('71 El Camino and '57 Nomad) to support an ailing business have left me sad, frustrated and slightly jaded, to say the least ... so my one true passion (the automobile) has taken a back seat to the trials of life lately.

Anyway .... enough of the bleeding heart crap ... i need your help. I am looking for a good daily driver, and found a 2002 Camaro SS conv for sale. I looked at the car yesterday, and negotiated a deal, and was going to pick it up this morning. I woke up today and decided to do a little research on what the 2002 SS option package entailed (being not entirely familiar with the finer points of a 4th Gen). Upon researching various forums and such, it became apparent to me that the "WU8" designation seems to be paramount to these cars .... followed closely by the "Y2Y" designation and SLP sticker on the right door.

I went to pick up the car, cash in hand, and the first thing i did was open the driver's door and look at the RPO sticker .... NO "WU8" code OR "Y2Y" code. Being the junkman I am, I naturally then thought the door might have been changed ... but the VIN on the tag matches the one on the dash. I then went to the passenger door, and no SLP sticker visible. PS - this is definitely an original paint car.

Now I am well aware we live in a world of clones ... and I am cool with that as long as I know such going in ... and this car is advertised as an SS (says he's the second owner). It has all correct badges (including 35th Anniversary badge on dash), hood, grille, chrome 10-spoke 17" wheels, and SLP air box ... exhaust is a Magnaflow muffler with incorrect tips.

My question is ... does the lack of a "WU8" code mean that there is no way it is an original SS? It seems from what I've read that the "Y2Y" code may be secondary (even non essential) in importance ...

Please correct and/or enlighten me ....

PS .... thanks in advance for the help ....

[VChula]

No "WU8" means it is not an SS.

By the way, all 2002 Camaro models had the "35th Anniversary" badges on the dash as standard equipment.

The SS cars had an adhesive backed metal "Camaro SS" badge (when ordered with the "Camaro SS" key fob option) that could take the place of the 35th Anniversary" badge. To my knowledge, it was never pre-installed on the cars from the factory.

[peterpar]

VChula is right, to be an SS, it has to have the WU8 RPO code. The WU8 designates the SS Performance/Appearance package. The Y2Y is for the SLP Second Sticker content ordered with the car. This information comes from the dealer album that was used to order the cars.

[Bowtie Junkman]

Thanks guys ... I called SLP this morning and, sure enough, not a real SS.

But, I bought another one this afternoon .... One owner 2000 SS coupe, all documentation, extremely well maintained and completely stock and unmolested .... Yet ...

[onewaydave]

If you need all the down and dirty on the RPO's and special editions out there pick up a Camaro white book (ISBN 0-7603-1879-4)

[lbls1]

There are a lot of ringers out there, many of them poorly cloned. You were diligent in checking this car out, as the codes can tell the story about how a car was made.

[nastyblack]

I wanted an SS but I kept running into the same issue so I just bought a 2002 Z28. There are plenty of Z Clones out there.