Good news for Aussies Camaro gets nod

[Dagabond]

Hey guys new member from downunder....was trawling round when the Camaro was first released but lost interest when there was talk down here that the Camaro wasnt coming...all that changed last week with the VERY good news that we are to get another shot at importing them back here....

Right-hand drive Camaro gets nod

Australians will decide their own future with the Chevrolet Camaro after a high-level go-ahead from Detroit.
A right-hand drive version of the Commodore-based coupe is now cleared for takeoff and only needs a money-making plan from Fishermans Bend to make it happen. The worldwide product boss of General Motors, Bob Lutz, confirms the right-side steering plan for the Camaro during a comprehensive new- model update for Australian reporters during the Detroit Motor Show, showing his usual enthusiasm for anything spun from the VE Commodore on the go-faster front.
"I think you can pretty much count on a right-hand-drive Camaro," says Lutz. "The Camaro at some point will be factory right-hand-drive. That is what we are currently looking at ... with a great deal of focus, built in the plant in Canada and shipped to right-hand-drive markets from Canada."
The original GM plan for the Camaro called for right-hand drive and a convertible in 2011, but the extensions from the basic coupe — which was engineered in Australia for North American production and sales — were delayed by the impact of the global financial crisis and last year's GM bankruptcy proceedings.


But the convertible is now back on the map and the Australian import plan is also picking up pace. Even so, the head of GM Holden is sounding a warning. "It's not a done deal yet. We still have to put together a business plan," says Alan Batey, president of Holden, also speaking in Detroit.
Batey is worried that enthusiasm will overtake commonsense on the Camaro and wants to wait until his sales and marketing team is able to complete some serious customer research. He is also worried about the long-term future of a Camaro in Australia, because of unstable exchange rates, and worries about introducing the Chevrolet brand following the failures of Daewoo, Hummer, Saab and Cadillac — which never even get off the launch pad — as brand extensions for Holden.
Batey knows there is a strong call for the Camaro and only has to look at the success of the home-grown Monaro to know a Commodore coupe can work. But he refuses to get carried away. "Let's wait and see. It's early days," he says. "We've had our hand up for this car since we did the engineering work in Australia. It now depends on how quickly we can get it. We've always wanted it. We'll take it, but it depends on how soon it becomes available."
Lutz is, typically, rushing ahead and can see no reason to delay a right-hand drive version of the Camaro. He knows Australia is the key but can see export potential to Britain and South Africa.
"With the currency and so on we now have a golden opportunity to export from the United States, and with the excellence of the product we really should be pushing exports," Lutz says. "Most of the parts are there. All we have to do really is reverse the instrument panel. All of the right-hand drive bits are a given because of the Holden architecture."

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/new...amaro_gets_nod

So now its just a matter of sitting back on our hands and waiting another 12 months again......good thing I guess is it'll give me time to save a few bucks up and import a 'few' aftermarket parts...

[Andrew MacTavish]

Originally Posted by Dagabond

Hey guys new member from downunder....was trawling round when the Camaro was first released but lost interest when there was talk down here that the Camaro wasnt coming...all that changed last week with the VERY good news that we are to get another shot at importing them back here....



http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/new...amaro_gets_nod

So now its just a matter of sitting back on our hands and waiting another 12 months again......good thing I guess is it'll give me time to save a few bucks up and import a 'few' aftermarket parts...

G'day Mate!
Great news about the Camaro Coming to OZ! I'm an Aussie living over in the USA, in Seattle Wa. It's Awesome seeing these beast drive around here!! I also have my designs on the site here, (Photoshop/Rendering) Check it out, Some nice work on the site.

Andrew.

[Jason]

There are a few here in NZ, I've only seen one of them, but is is awesome, there is a transformers eddition in a car shop just south of me, it is on trade me at the moment

[Wanwo]

I just wonder about the price. A year ago Holden boss said 'beyond $75,000' which is just over twice the price of the U.S. version.

In comparison the RHD Chrysler 300C's sold here go for just under double their U.S price.

There's no way I would spend this much money on car (even if I had the money), so I'll be waiting-out the second hand market, if I get one at all.

$35K feels about right for me. Could be a long wait. And in the mean time I'll probably buy something sensible like a honda civic and be completely happy with it and forget about owning a camaro.

[nbsp]

@Wanwo - pretty sure the RHD's have been canned, copule months after the last guys post.

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

That is awesome!!! Congrats! Welcome!

[chucka]

I have seen a converted Camaro locally here in Victoria dont know who did the conversion or how much but it looks great
Has anyone in the land of oz got a first generation beast and on this site??

[Thunder Downunder]

Dude, just picked mine up on Saturday. Black 2010 2SS/RS. It's awesome.

There are a couple of companies in Oz doing the conversions - Performax in QLD, MCI in VIC and another one in VIC that I can't remember the name of right now.

There is a second hand one at Autostyle.com.au here in SYD.

Have you're cheque book ready!!!

[Thunder Downunder]

The one at autostyle has just been reduced by $10K

[BIGGIS]

Originally Posted by Thunder Downunder

Dude, just picked mine up on Saturday. Black 2010 2SS/RS. It's awesome.

There are a couple of companies in Oz doing the conversions - Performax in QLD, MCI in VIC and another one in VIC that I can't remember the name of right now.

There is a second hand one at Autostyle.com.au here in SYD.

Have you're cheque book ready!!!

I will post some pics of my 2010 2SS/RS Transformers edition shortly. It is having the ground effects package, exhaust, cold air, dyno being done at present.
Company here in Victoria that converted to RHD was Crossover Car Conversions (Also trading as Mustang Motorsport). Conversion is excellent.
Drove the car as existing LHD, cannot tell it was LHD!

[Thunder Downunder]

HAve not been watching this space of late, but congrats that's awesome. Lovin' it I'm sure!!!!

Had mine tinted at 20% last week, hopefully getting my Pedders lowering springs sometime this week and waiting on my car bra this week also (for the long trips).

Did you get GFX at the same time as the car or have you imported separately?

Looking to get CAI and a Hurst short throw soon.

[Thunder Downunder]

BTW BIGGIS, have compared my conversion (MCI) to the Performax version and I think mine's better - how's your dash texture ie: where the door trim meets the dash you can see the difference between the two.

I find mine is corser grain and shiny compared to the origanal, how's yours match?

[BIGGIS]

Hi TD,

Have seen a performax conversion, yes this is better. Texture match and therefore colour match is difficult as the existing dash is plastic, new dash is fibreglass. My dash was the first of a brand new mould. I just got the car back on Friday and they have fine tuned the existing dash sides to the new dash. They reckon they can improve further when back for the next service. Looks pretty good to me, disfficult task given the lines and shape of the dash.
I just put in a colour coded heritage grill - looks awesome.
The roto-fabcold air also looks impressive, will have to post some pics.

Cheers

[Thunder Downunder]

Yeah look forward to seeing pics.

Springs haven't arrived - another week to wait!

[BIGGIS]

TD - pics are posted under my garage.

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Oh man! That is great news for our friends down under. Congrats!

[Thunder Downunder]

BIGGIS, thanks for the pics. It's very nice. Been away for the long weekend here in NSW so only just seen them. Heritage grill looks really good on the yellow, as does the GFX. Did you get the GFX at the same time as the car or later?

[Thunder Downunder]

Getting my Pedders lowering springs tomorrow - woo hoo!

[BIGGIS]

Hi again TD,

You are braver than me to lower the car. The car is low enough for me.
Send us a pic when done, it will look great.
Sorry meant to respond to you re GFX. This was done in Melb after delivery of the car. Colour matched and fitted up, I have kept the original side panels and rear diffuser. While I love the look of the car as standard, the rear looked cheap and unfinished. Overall appearance is improved, looks tougher.
The owner of the conversion business also has a yellow 2SS. After seeing mine with GFX, he has also done same. They took a few cars to the V8 supercars at Philip Island, unfortunately the beautiful black Dodge Challenger was damaged in transit.
Doing another minor upgrade as when the HID's and grille went in, one of the DRL bulbs was damaged. Have upgraded the standard incandescant bulbs to plasma's. Will look great as the standard DRL's look like a candle against the HID's.
There is a black supercharged 2SS for sale here in Vic $132K.
Conversion shop also have a supercharged 2SS on the way.
Have looked at blowers, thinking about it!
Cheers

[Thunder Downunder]

Man, looks seriously tough now.

I put a couple of (crappy)pics in "my garage" - before and after. Bit over an inch drop - less of an issue for me as no GFX. Been up and down a couple of driveways with no probs yet.

Rear diffuser is less of an issue with mine being black but seeing them with the GFX makes me want it - thinking of getting GFX then covering in carbon fibre. Did you import directly or thru where you go tthe car? Where do you get your other parts from?

If I had $7K I'd buy a blower tomorrow!! Mate of a mate reckons he can reprogram and get 10-20% power increase - works for HSV - so might have to be the alternative for the moment. They're so bloody quick now that I keep thinking anything I do is overkill, but what the hell!

Heading to Hawaii in a couple of weeks and making a list! My bags will be filled with spares!

[BIGGIS]

Dark tinted windows look good on black.... black wheels would look the biz?
The GM products eg GFX, Heritage Grille I purchased through the conversion shop as they are looked after by a chev dist in the US. Aftermarket items like the SS badges, plasma bulbs I buy direct. The conversion biz had the cat back's in stock, were pretty fussy about the CAI so they also organised these. They are very reasonable on mark up (if any). Any big or heavy items they would put in a car container so freight costs are minimised. Regarding HP, I ended up with an extra 70HP, 440 at the rear wheels. They run rich from the US and when re-tuned on 98 octane much HP can be gained.
Enjoy Hawaii!

[Thunder Downunder]

20% is illegal but looks too good to pass up!

TSW Nurburgring in gunmetal is the wheel I'm looking to get

The tune might be worth the money if HP gain and probably better economy?

Re: CAI - you were fussy or them? From my research I was thinking of getting the actual CAI brand - RotoFab better?

Re: Lowering. Driving to the location where pic below was taken they have those speed humps with tyre spikes... front and back no issue...spikes on the undercarrige...dragged about a third the length of the exhaust! Estimate about 6 inches clearance at the lowest point. Lowering with your GFX I would not recommend - you'd be scrapping everywhere!

[Thunder Downunder]

BTW - I'm always worried about stone chips on trips, so got myself a bra. It arrived the other day. Colgan Custom but the Aust distributor orders it in. Quality finish. $260 with mirror covers if you're as paranoid as me!

[BIGGIS]

I found two paint chips on the side of the car yesterday, they were high up, no idea how they got there. One of the downsides of using the car. Will keep the car bra in mind, certainly not expensive. I arranged for a bottle of touch up paint from when the GFX was painted. Hard to pick now but still made me cringe finding them.
I will do the tint, will look great against the black paint outs. The wheels sound impressive. I kept my original 20'' silver rims, do not want to part with any original part of the car.
The conversion shop did alot more research on the CAI than I did and as they were installing, had a keen interest to get it right. They also wanted to make sure that it was blower compatable. Can't complain, the product is superb and looks sensational. This forum also has many favourable write ups on the Roto Fab. Took the car out yesterday to meet up with some other "TV and Movie" cars. Unfortantely copped alot of bitumen down the side, at least it cleaned off. We were trying to determine how many 2SS Camaro's are in Australia. I know of about 8 taking into account sightings by friends. A work colleague spied a yellow convertible last weekend. Be great if we could get them all together. Will take mine to a USA muscle car show Nov 20.
Cheers

[BIGGIS]

Also meant to say for parts look at:

Phastek Performance
Creative Car Concepts
North American Tuning
AAC style/Camarolighting.com

The plasma DRL lights arrived today. Keen to get them in.
I also purchased black aluminium powdercoated front and rear bowties. Am not putting a bowtie back on the front with the new grille. The rear install involves drilling into the existing gold section of the bowtie and then levering this section away from the chrome surround. Haven't got the gonads yet to put a drill into the car!