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Old 10-25-2006, 12:12 AM   #1
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A Message to all Fbody Enthusiasts

This is a message I found while surfing from Scott Settlemire to all in the Camaro Internet Community. I wanted to pass it on...

August 10, 2006

To all my friends in the Camaro Internet community:

It's shortly after the official announcement that the Camaro is, indeed, coming back so I just thought I'd share some of my thoughts.

As I look back over the past couple of years, I can tell you there's been...

So much frustration.

So much I wanted to share.

So much concern because I knew we'd lose a lot of people to the dark side.

So many starts and stops, and so it goes...

Well, the good news is that you now know I had a good reason to keep saying to you, "Keep the faith." To so very many of you, I say, "Thank you for believing!" To a few of you, I'll add, "I hope you'll trust me in the future." (So--what WOULD you like served with the words I promised I'd make you eat!? Just kidding. I know you have a real passion for Camaro. You were upset by the hiatus and your doubt was, perhaps, your way of dealing with it.)

Today was a great day--as was January 9, 2006, when the Camaro Concept was unveiled. In some ways, the events on those two days heal those of August 27, 2002.

We now know that our beloved Camaro has, indeed, been reborn. We know we have something to look forward to in terms of that great American thrill ride! I can't begin to describe to you how it felt to look in the rear view mirror of the 2002 Camaro B4C I drove today as part of an escort for the Camaro Concept just before announcing that we will, indeed, be building a new Camaro. I know most of you can understand that it was certainly a day I, along with many of you, have prayed for.

I must say up front: If you like what you see, I can't take credit for it.

There are so many talented people involved in this new car. My dear friend, Cheryl Pilcher, is the Product Manager at Chevrolet who will see the rebirth of this legend—the "new" Camaro. Cheryl is an engineer—a darn good one, too. She worked on 4th generation chassis development. She was the Assistant Camaro Brand Manager who oversaw the birth of the 1998, LS1 Camaro. She worked on the C5 and, then, worked on C6. She's a great lady and I could not be happier that our Camaro is in GREAT hands! Most importantly, she asks me a lot of questions and that's how we get your input into what will be the next generation Camaro.

Chris Houlihan--another Camaro guy--is our Chief Engineer. Gene Stefanyshyn is the Vehicle Line Executive. I'm so impressed with Gene. He's a guy who will listen to ALL points of view and then have the guts to make those hard, tough decisions. He and his team will bring you a Camaro you can truly be proud to own. There are so many more. Tom Peters is the Lead Designer--we couldn't be luckier. I almost hate to start naming people because, sure-as-heck, I'll leave someone out. Suffice to say: GM has put its finest on this most important vehicle.

Some will ask, "But, why so long until we see the new car?"

To them, I say: we needed to do it right. We're starting with a clean sheet of paper. Unlike others, we're NOT going to take a hallowed brand and stick it on an existing architecture which does not deserve the name and, please--I'm not saying bad things about OUR other architectures. I'm just saying that each architecture serves a purpose and we don't want to compromise the Camaro in any way by using an architecture that's not a perfect match.

Yes, the wait may be longer than usual. Just be assured that, like all of you reading this, we have very high expectations for our Camaro and it will be worth the wait.

So...it's time to celebrate!

Go out with friends. Drive and enjoy your Camaros. Clean them. Polish them. Keep attending Camaro enthusiast events. Also, know that GM DOES care about you and your car. Yes, we're a very large organization but we have many people who love cars and trucks. Doubt that? Well then, let me ask this: how do you suppose we brought you the new Corvette? It takes a team of many people who are passionate about great cars to bring you vehicles such as the Corvette Z06!

Now, I'm gonna ask you for a few favors:

1) Keep it friendly. There are a lot of great web sites out there. Most have a great atmosphere but there are others that allow terrible insults to be exchanged. I must admit that I've lost it a few times. Let's keep in mind that the name "Camaro" means "friend", "pal", or "comrade". Let's be kind to each other. Let's think before we log-on!

2) Most of you wear safety belts. For those of you who don't, please--start using them and that includes every person in the vehicle with you. We want you around so that we can watch you enjoy your new Camaro.

3) I hope you'll forgive me for not saying more prior to now about the future plans for Camaro. Please understand that I could not talk freely, but I hope that the next time I tell you to "...have faith", you'll know you can take that to the bank or write it in the family Bible!

In closing, I thank each and every one of you for your passion and love for the Camaro. I know its been a rough road, but if you think it was bad for YOU—you have no idea how hard it was for those of us inside GM who carry the torch for Camaro.

I hope you're as pumped as I am right now. I hope that today made some of the pain go away. I hope that I'll get to meet many more of you. I want to see at LEAST 1,000 Camaros at the National Corvette Museum on September 14 thru 16 for the annual Camaro/Firebird Reunion. If you want more information on that event, visit: www.corvettemuseum.com

The future, INDEED, looks bright!

Best wishes,

Scott Settlemire
Manager, Chevrolet/Hummer Shows and Exhibits
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Old 10-25-2006, 07:17 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TAG UR IT View Post
Some will ask, "But, why so long until we see the new car?"

To them, I say: we needed to do it right. We're starting with a clean sheet of paper. Unlike others, we're NOT going to take a hallowed brand and stick it on an existing architecture which does not deserve the name and, please--I'm not saying bad things about OUR other architectures. I'm just saying that each architecture serves a purpose and we don't want to compromise the Camaro in any way by using an architecture that's not a perfect match.
Am I wrong or isn't the zeta platform being brought in from Australia where they have already got at least one car up an running with it? I understand that it will take some time to fully detail exactly the engineering of the Camaro since it is all new, but it was my understanding that the hardest part was already done in australia. Can someone clarify?

Quote:
Originally Posted by TAG UR IT View Post
Yes, the wait may be longer than usual. Just be assured that, like all of you reading this, we have very high expectations for our Camaro and it will be worth the wait.
This is actually some of the best news outside of the announcement itself that they are bringing back the Camaro. In the past it has always seemed to me that there is always a rush to get a product out the door and on the sales floor thus compromising the overall look of a car. I felt that in previous years all GM cars and trucks had a very similar and bland look on the inside which I am sure can be attributed to fast and efficient production. I have definitely notices ofer the past 2 years that GM is really starting to veer from this and are starting to make UNIQUE cars and trucks that stand apart for one another. Now when you hop into the seat of a 2007 Avalanche then hop into the seat of an Impala you do not feel like you are staring at the same interior. All I can say is Thank You GM for bringing back the Camaro and even more so, thank you for putting time and effort into makeing it the best Camaro yet.
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Old 10-25-2006, 07:30 AM   #3
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Yes, it is a shared platform being engineered and developed in Australia.

By clean sheet of paper, Scott is referring to the all new Camaro, not an exclusive chassis or engineering effort.
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Old 10-25-2006, 08:04 AM   #4
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By clean sheet of paper, Scott is referring to the all new Camaro, not an exclusive chassis or engineering effort.
Understood, but my point was the most difficult part of this new design, the chassis, is already complete. If you think about any automotive redesign - ie the 2007 silverado, tahoe, avalanche I do not believe it takes 3 full years to design and develop; (at least that I am aware of; I could be way off). GM starts with a fresh sheet of paper on vehicles just about every year.

I appreciate the fact that GM is putting so much effort into this project; however, I find it hard to believe that the only reason it is going to take so long is becasue they want to do it right.
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Old 10-25-2006, 08:11 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Casull View Post
Understood, but my point was the most difficult part of this new design, the chassis, is already complete. If you think about any automotive redesign - ie the 2007 silverado, tahoe, avalanche I do not believe it takes 3 full years to design and develop; (at least that I am aware of; I could be way off). GM starts with a fresh sheet of paper on vehicles just about every year.

I appreciate the fact that GM is putting so much effort into this project; however, I find it hard to believe that the only reason it is going to take so long is becasue they want to do it right.
The chassis is being used, but there is a ton of engineering to put a new car on it. GM Holden appears to be taking care of that overseas.

It is actually closer to two years if you think about it
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Old 10-25-2006, 08:39 AM   #6
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It is actually closer to two years if you think about it
True, if you honestly believe that design on this car began when they announced production in Aug. '06.
I, on the other hand, honeslt believe that plans for a new camaro started when the zeta platform was being developed. I remember reading news of an all new GTO months before the camaro concept was unveiled. I don't think it is too hard to believe that the camaro was not in the works at the same time.

I am not an engineer, and I do not work for GM, so in all reality I know diddly squat as to the inner workings at this company let alone what is actually involved in designing a new car.... it was just my 2 cents.
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Old 10-25-2006, 09:28 AM   #7
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it was being designed well before the Aug 10th announcement IMO.
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Old 10-25-2006, 01:24 PM   #8
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The main issue here is that GM didn't need to rush anything. They can't put it out until 08 anyway. SO.......I think they're timing works just fine. They waited until the right time to design it, then had to wait and get the publics reaction, then get the plant set up, build it, and put it in the showrooms in 08 as an 09 model. It's really a perfect timeline if you ask me. It will just, for us, seem like an eternity.
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Old 10-25-2006, 01:38 PM   #9
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It will just, for us, seem like an eternity.

Man, you pegged that on the head! Seems like it has already been an eternity since they announced its return and we still have 2+ years to go...
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Old 10-25-2006, 01:55 PM   #10
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Hehe....thanks, Casull. Yeah. It's horrible waiting. But, just imagine how perfect it will be with all of the time and effort GM will be putting into this. And...if you think about it, we heard it will be out in late 08. Better for GM to say it will be out in late 08 and get it out at that time, then say it will be out in early quarter of 08 and not release it until late 08. I'll tell you this, it is possible it could come out early 08. We are just getting ready to hit Nov 06. Could turn into a year and a half. Sooner than you expected...
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Old 02-02-2013, 07:27 PM   #11
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Very cool! Thanks for bumbing this thread.
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Old 02-02-2013, 07:32 PM   #12
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Very cool! Thanks for bumbing this thread.
...or "bumping"...as it were...lol
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Old 02-02-2013, 07:41 PM   #13
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I was at GM customer service in 2000 when GM announced that the Camaro/Firebird would be discontinued. Seems a bean counter decided that "X" amt of cars had to be produced to make a profit..........keep thinking it was 22,000, but that seems low, but anyways, it was apparent they weren't going to sell that amount (not the 22k I refer to, but whatever the true number was) and WOW, did the phone calls start. I got calls from people calling GM everything but a nice person. The Gen 4 was a Canadian built car as well, built in Quebec province, and that factory was closed soon after the demise of Gen 4.

I for one are very glad the Camaro came back, the Gen 5 is awesome. I do miss Pontiac more than all the other brands since gone, although Oldsmobile is a close second.
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