Where do they put the Concepts?

[Camaro Man]

I dont know why anybody would want to know this but, I just thought about this today. All the concepts the Camaro concept, the Challenger concept,
And even the mustang concept etc. What do they do with the concepts after the actual model comes out? do they just put them in a warehouse, do they destroy them or do they sell, them can somebody help me out on this one I just want to know thanks

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Camaro Man

I dont know why anybody would want to know this but, I just thought about this today. All the concepts the Camaro concept, the Challenger concept,
And even the mustang concept etc. What do they do with the concepts after the actual model comes out? do they just put them in a warehouse, do they destroy them or do they sell, them can somebody help me out on this one I just want to know thanks

Well depending on the popularity of the concept, if it was a bomb then it is probably destroyed. if it is a huge success lots of times it will end up in the companys museum. GM has many of their concept cars in their own museum.
Sometimes they will loan them out to other car museums around the country for display. Sometimes they will rent them out...Sometimes one of the company executives will end up with it. And even sometimes they will end up on Barrett Jackson...
In otherwords, Just about anything can happen to one.. even you may get a chance to own one... If you have enough money.

[odie23]

It really depends on the manufacturer, GM warehouses a lot of their concept vehicles.
Some manufacturers destroy them because the vehicle doesn't meet federal safety/impact standards.
And some that are supposed to be destroyed, are saved, because someone knows someone inside of the company. Something like that may go into someone's private collection or private museum type setting.
Manufacturers know selling a concept car opens them up to the possibility of being sued for multi-million dollar lawsuits, it's just not worth it to them.

[ihc95]

They could also auction them off to differnt museum.

[MLL67RSSS]

Called the GM Heritage Collection. That's where they will be pulling cars from to bring to Indy '08.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/15/g...lection-few-w/

[odie23]

Originally Posted by ihc95

They could also auction them off to differnt museum.

Sometimes museums sell vehicles (and buy new ones) to attract new customers, even go out of business. Selling to private individuals/collectors/employees, means the company lawyers have to consider what happens to the vehicle when that person passes on.
It sucks, but destroying the concept car helps protect the company from frivolous lawsuits. Even if the company goes belly up, when it comes to money, someone finds someone else to blame.

[2KZ28_For_Now]

Originally Posted by MLL67RSSS

Called the GM Heritage Collection. That's where they will be pulling cars from to bring to Indy '08.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/15/g...lection-few-w/

Wow! Nice. I sure am glad the OP asked the question!

[35th02ss]

What you see in the Hertiage collection is a fraction of what GM has. There are warehouses full of cars and truck and just about anything you can imagine. And they are always on the lookout for more......

[fad1]

hope they keep the camaro concept. That's a special car to a lot of ppl.

[Supermans]

They should have a raffle for all camaro5 members to participate in in order to win the concept. I promise to keep it in amazing condition..

[The_Beast_]

Concept will go to the heritage museum but I think the 2 RS LTs will see Barrett Jackson later.

[fbodfather]

We plan on keeping the Silver Concept Coupe and the Convertible -- the Fiberglass cars will, in probability -- be crushed.

The Yellow and Red V6 RSs that are on the internet cannot be sold -- they are IVERs and are comprised of pre-production parts and components that have not received final validation.

No - we cannot auction them off -- even if the winner of the bid signs a waiver holding us blameless .....because when the winner dies, that waiver does not transfer. I suspect we'll make them into project cars for SEMA perhaps -- but at some point -- they'll meet an unhappy end. (and yes, it bothers me to see that happen......)


There are many concepts that have been scrapped over the years -- the successful ones, for the most part, have been saved. Luckily cars like the Buick Y-job -- the LeSabre -- the Cadillac Cyclone -- and the Firebirds (I, II, and III) were saved years ago. For a long time, concepts were cut up and 'scrapped' -- only to find their way into private collections.

We now scrap by crushing so that this cannot happen. (unfortunately, perhaps....)

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

We plan on keeping the Silver Concept Coupe and the Convertible -- the Fiberglass cars will, in probability -- be crushed.

The Yellow and Red V6 RSs that are on the internet cannot be sold -- they are IVERs and are comprised of pre-production parts and components that have not received final validation.

No - we cannot auction them off -- even if the winner of the bid signs a waiver holding us blameless .....because when the winner dies, that waiver does not transfer. I suspect we'll make them into project cars for SEMA perhaps -- but at some point -- they'll meet an unhappy end. (and yes, it bothers me to see that happen......)

The fbodfather has spoken (lightning strikes).

It's a shame that they have to meet such an end, but it's probably in the best interest of GM to do that.

[fbodfather]

As I said -- it bothers me when a car -- ESP. a Camaro or Firebird - goes to scrap.

I wrote the following about a certain Black Camaro SS .....wayyyy back in 2003 as I recall-- and our friend Millie (Cytruffle) in Dallas christened him "RockSStar" after I wrote this.

You see -- "he" was on his way to the crusher when I took him home for a final weekend....

I'm pleased to say I was somehow able to save him - and he's still in the collection:

Here goes:

"He was born a star...in February during the cold brutal months that are so characteristic of Ste. Therese in suburban Montreal. There were a few before him, but he was the first of his particular kind. Number 100014. As he roared to life, I’m sure some heads turned, because you see, he was the first with an LS1 engine and the performance exhaust system. Those before him, for the most part, had the L36 engine. His voice was loud and powerful...perhaps more refined in some ways. ( I say "he" because anything this muscular -- that roars this loud had better be male.....) He was a part of the "pilot build" for the 1998 model year.

A quick trip to LaSalle (SLP Engineering) allowed him to breathe better with a new induction system.

He then passed through Detroit on his way to California on the way to stardom.....to get a final cleanup and inspection. I remember the day I first saw him....he was with a few of his brothers in a warehouse waiting to be taken to Van Nuys. His Onyx Black finish was spotless...and one turn of the key and I knew he’d capture the hearts of many.

For the next three years, he graced the pages of the Camaro Brochure. The first year he was proudly running down the road with rain on his ‘skin’ that looked almost like sweat on a running back‘s face. He graced the back of the 1998 Camaro poster.....and was featured in magazine ads. And he was the SS on the 2000 Camaro poster ...with the tagline "33 years of Total Domination." He was also featured in a desert shot with others very much like him.

To this day, there is evidence of the sandstorm that he was subjected to after that desert photo-shoot. Two years later, through the magic of computers, we tinted him Navy Blue and photoshop’d new wheels on him. He looked very menacing sitting there in an alley next to a warehouse late at night.

Many people admired the many pictures of him....and waited patiently for others just like him to be built. Others dreamed of owning him one day. All the while, he spent most of the time in a warehouse in Van Nuys....very close to where millions of his predecessors had roared to life years before.

I summoned him to Detroit one day, to look him over and turn him over to a few companies to see what they could do to make him run faster...stop quicker...and bellow louder under full acceleration.

They improved his breathing with special exhausts and airbox. They supercharged him and gave him an intercooler. They gave him killer brakes, and a new set of wheels and performance tires. They lowered his ride height...and then they put him in magazines to show the owners of his brothers, sisters, and cousins how to improve the performance of their Camaro or Firebird.

He toured the country on the Hot Rod Power tour.....and appeared at many Fcar gatherings. After the Super Chevy Cruise to Las Vegas a few years ago, I sent him to Florida where he appeared in the showroom of WorldWide Camaro. Last year, he made an appearance at the National Corvette Museum’s Annual Fcar gathering.....and then he came back to Detroit and spent the winter in another warehouse amongst other historic Chevrolets and other GM cars and trucks.

I went to see him on Friday. His cover was removed and quite frankly, he looked like an exotic panther...ready to spring into action. One turn of the key and he filled the warehouse with what I’d describe as ‘music to my ears.’

I drove him home for one last time.

You see, next week, he’ll meet his fate. He’ll be no longer....just a memory in my mind....

His pictures will still be kept lovingly in brochures and on posters. And of course, one of the "proof" pictures will continue to reside on the wall in my home office.

I washed him today....removed his roof panels and went for a long ride. The whistle of his Vortech Supercharger was unmistakable. The Onyx Black paint and lowered ride height made him stand apart from mere cars. He got envious stares from many....a Mustang growled as it went by in the other direction.....little did the driver know that this was no ordinary SS. Several
pre-teen boys on bicycles ogled him in the parking lot of a 7-11...with a ‘nice car, mister’ from
several of them. Other Camaro and Firebird drivers gave me the "thumbs up" (as I did to them) as we passed. A neighbor with a Mustang yelled "beautiful car!" from his driveway.


He seemed to beg for me to push him to the limit, but knowing that the rear tires were well worn from many passes down the strip, I knew he’d be nearly broadside if I did. We settled for a few quick run-ups on I-94.....and a few fast entrances onto that freeway.

Tomorrow, I’ll take him to see some of his brothers and sisters and cousins that are owned by some of the members of Street Lethal Performance. We’ll cruise Gratiot Avenue....just as millions have done before. He’ll look great.....he’ll sound great....and he’ll perform great.

It saddens me that when I turn his keys back in, I’ll never see him again.

Perhaps parts of his composite body panels will be in someone’s kitchen floor.

Perhaps part of his steel will be used in a new building....a bridge perhaps.....or a new appliance.

His glass may find itself in another car.

Perhaps his aluminum "heart" will one day carry a cold beverage.

Who knows?

I tell myself that I’ll see many more like him at Camaro shows around the country, after all, Onyx Black is a very popular color.

But I know better. ....

You see -- each one off the line, believe it or not, has its own personality of sorts. No two are quite exactly the same.

So I’ll treasure this weekend with him. I’ll try not to think of what’s about to happen.

But the memory will live on.

Goodbye, my wonderful, handsome friend, goodbye.........."