It's Official: Imperial Blue to be Discontinued...

[BowtieBelle]

Featured on Camaro5 HOMEPAGE


The Father has spoken.

Originally Posted by fbodfather

The Camaro Team wants to update you on Imperial Blue Metallic and the availability issue surrounding that color on the ZL1 and other Camaros --

Because Camaro shares a common body and paint shop with several other vehicle lines at Oshawa, we must abide by decisions that affect more than just Camaro - and thus Imperial Blue Metallic will be discontinued very shortly. Offering it for only a week or so on the ZL1 is not practical as it would require paint re-validation for ZL1-unique components such as bumper fascias. Crystal Red Tintcoat will be available to order shortly.

We will have further information as to order cut-off dates for LS, LT, and SS models in Imperial Blue Metallic very shortly.

Originally Posted by fbodfather

A couple of thoughts.........

We never like breaking 'bad news' - it's never our intention to upset our faithful. That said, there are times when we must.

Someone said "it's sad to see Imperial Blue Metallic go" - and they're correct.......and it was sad to see many colors go away --- over the past 100 years! I was one that loved Ash Gold in the 1968 model year. I hated that it was dropped for the 1969 model year (whoops...Fbodfather is showing his age once again.....) -- but the sun came up each day in 1969, and 1970, and 1971........and I found myself 'taken' by Fathom Green and Hugger Orange....and Garnet Red in the 1969 model year. I was sad to see Garnet Red go away-- but again, the sun came up in 1970 -- and I found Shadow Gray and Autumn Gold.................

It would be so much easier for the Camaro team (and perhaps you, the enthusiast) if we had a dedicated Camaro Plant..........we'd have more say in just about everything within the plant..........and we wouldn't have to negotiate with other brands that are built in Oshawa......

............the problem is that we HAD a dedicated Camaro (and Firebird) plant - and THAT didn't end well, now did it?

The Reality is that this industry continues to 'fragment' - meaning that there are more and more 'segments' -- and more and more 'nameplates' - so even if the size of the 'pie' (the total number of new cars and trucks sold each year) stayed the same, the slices (each nameplate's penetration into the market) get smaller. (and the pie got much smaller back in late 2007-- and it's not growing appreciably as of yet) Sooooo......because of this, it's vital that many assembly plants take on more than one carline.......because it's the only way we can make money on some cars and trucks. (we can't afford to build cars and trucks that we lose money on anymore.....that's one of the reasons why the Camaro -- and Firebird - went away for a while....)

In the case of Oshawa - we have two final assembly lines - that share a common paint shop. We build Camaros, Regals, Equini (that's plural for Equinox) and Impali. We will now be building the XTS at Oshawa as well.

We must preserve the 'traditional' Sport Car colors such as Victory Red, IOM, and Rally Yellow for the Camaro. The problem is that those colors would not be appropriate for the Equinox and the Regal and the Impala and the XTS. (altho we DO offer VR on Impala - but it's not a big seller...) So......we must work with our other Product Teams to negotiate colors that are acceptable -- and being that there are only so many paint lines available, we sometimes lose a color -- Someone asked 'well - what's it going to be replaced with' -- and I cannot answer that question other than to say that eventually it will be replaced. No - we are not getting a 'brand new' set of colors for 2013. Rather, as always, you will see a color go away and another come back..........

and when that happens we will upset some of you.

No matter what we do.

As I've said before - If I could suddenly wave a magic wand and provide THIRTY colors for the Camaro - we would still have some infuriated that I didn't include "Palomino Ivory" or "Tripoli Turquoise" or "Sequoia Green" or "Scottish Silver."

ha! I fooled you - there was no 'scottish silver' - I snuck that one in to see if you were paying attention......

The latest news to upset some happens to be Imperial Blue Metallic.

I happen to think it's stunning with Silver Stripes......and you are correct that the 'fire' in the paint on a sunny day is something to behold........

.........but the sun will come up in 2013 (God willin' and the creek don't rise - and some of the prophets are wrong about the world ending on 12/12/11.... )

I can tell you this with absolute certainty:
EVENTUALLY all of the colors will go away.........one at a time - replaced with something else. And each time one goes away, we will have those who will mourn the loss.



Again - none of us at Team Camaro want to upset you - but unfortunately it's simply in the nature of the Camaro - a nameplate that instills such passion and love.......

No - colors are not what makes a company go Bankrupt...........and no, the Team does not have its collective head up ........OK - I won't continue that response to an earlier post...........

What IS true: The Mighty ZL1 will be worth the wait - even if it's painted scotch plaid.................

Wasn't sure if this had already been posted but I want to make sure you all know about it-- especially those who have ordered IBM.

There is no alternate blue that will be offered in 2012.

SO glad I got mine I hate to see it go, but at least ours are more rare now...

[midnighter]

Glad I got mine!

[Trevorw24]

Dang! I love that color. I just told my dad who wants one he said, "I can't have anything."

[BowtieBelle]

Yeah-- it's so gorgeous in the sunlight with the aqua blue (and other colors of) metal flake... what a shame they are discontinuing it. If their next blue is the steel/dusk blue in 2013 I think a lot of people will be disappointed, but no word on when another blue will be offered. Not in 2012 anyway...

[Blue17CamaroZL1]

I needs IBM stuffs!!!

[Sir Nuke]

now there wuill be NO BLUE's.........WHAT WERE THEY THINKING!!!!


someone at the head office is walking around like this!!!

[007s 'Vert]

Im sure I got mine last week before they stopped making the IBM

[Steve Dallas]

IBM & ABM....two awesome colors, both discontinued.

Seriously, how can you produce a car that doesn't have a blue version?

[MIDNIGHT]

It's about time... Glad i grabbed mine back in 2009, and your so right about both blues Steve..

[BowtieBelle]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

IBM & ABM....two awesome colors, both discontinued.

Seriously, how can you produce a car that doesn't have a blue version?

This. I can't imagine Camaros without a blue. It's always been an option, and a popular one, at that-- for all muscle cars. Especially Camaro.

[007s 'Vert]

My 68was midnight blue and this new one is as close to that color as I could get, this is how i love my Camaros.........dark blue

[JusticePete]

There is always hope. Maybe a Penske Edition ZL1?

[SnoopyAce7]

IBM is a nice color. Sucks to see it go, but rarity factor for those with it

[IamJacksCamaro]

Originally Posted by MIDNIGHT

It's about time... Glad i grabbed mine back in 2009, and your so right about both blues Steve..

Do I understand correctly that you think this is good news?