Showing posts with label Camaro SS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Camaro SS. Show all posts

Sunday, December 18, 2022

Camaro SS 30th Anniversary SLP Edition (LT4)

 

1997 Camaro SS SLP


1997 Camaro SS 30th Anniversary SLP Edition

Anniversary Editions are always fun. Special stripes, badges, and performance upgrades find their way onto a limited number of stock versions of a vehicle to celebrate the special year. 

Although anniversary additions usually see minor changes, that wasn't the case when it came to the 1997 Camaro SS 30th Anniversary SLP Edition. All of the 30th Anniversary Camaros (RS, Z-28, and SS) seen an eye-popping color scheme and 30th Anniversary badges placed throughout the interior, but a few SS Camaros (US 100 – Canada 6 – Prototype 2) got much more than just a few minor upgrades and a cool looking color scheme. Those few special Camaro SS received a stout LT4 5.7-liter engine installed by SLP.


1969 Indianapolis 500 Pace Card


Where Did The Color Scheme for the Anniversary Edition Camaro Come From?

The color scheme is a throwback to the 1969 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Camaro. Just like in '69, the '97 30th Anniversary Camaro was painted Arctic White accompanied by a set of Hugger Orange racing stripes that graced the hood, deck-lid, and roof of all of the 1997 Anniversary Editions (unless it was a convertible). 

The All-Important 330 HP Badge

They all may have looked the same and had the same embroider badges on the seats and the floor mats, but only a select few got to wear the all-important 330-hp badge indicating an LT4 under the hood.

Almost all of the Anniversary Editions came with stock engines that matched their trim package except for those few lucky SS Camaros that got to take the trip to SLP Engineering after they rolled off the assembly line.

SLP Engineering was able to get its hands on extra leftover LT4 motors that were used in the 1996 Corvette Grand Sport a year earlier. Before SLP bolted these LT4 motors into the Camaros, they broke each engine down and had them balanced and blue-printed. 

LT4 Camaro SS engine


On paper, the LT4 was documented to get 330 horsepower at 5,800 RPM and reached its max torque at 4,500 RPM. But many car enthusiasts and automotive professionals believe this motor that had 10.8:1 compression was definitely underrated.



SLP SS Camaro


More SLP Camaro Upgrades

The 1997 Camaro SS with the SLP LT4 upgrade also received a Borg-Warner T56 six-speed manual transmission, a performance exhaust, a lightweight driveshaft, Bilstein sport suspension (optional level III Bilstein suspension package), and a Torsen limited-slip differential. All those extras were good to get you from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and down the quarter-mile in 13.3 seconds. 

With the explosion of technology in the auto industry, that may not seem so amazing in this generation, but back in 1997, that was the fastest production American sports car on the market. There were no American sports cars at that time that could be bought from a dealer that went that fast.

330 HP Badge SS Camaro


Identifying a 1997 Camaro SS 30th Anniversary LT-4 SLP Edition
So how do you tell if what you're looking at or what you own is one of these rare 30th Anniversary SLP LT4 SS Camaros? Regular SS 30th Anniversary Camaros are commonly mistaken for these very rare SLP Editions, and that's because they're easy to pass off as one. 

All of the SLP LT4 Editions rolled off the line and out of the factory as an LT1 before being shipped off for the special treatment. That means even SLP LT4 SS Camaros will still indicate that it is an LT1 Camaro SS in the Vin#. 

First, to either begin or end the discussion of whether it is a true SS or not, look at the trim options. If it's anything other than a white SS hardtop with Huggar Orange stripes, your SS is not an SS LT4 SLP Limited Edition.  

There are a few places on the Camaro that will definitely give you the information you want if it wasn't removed post-SLP Treatment. Right above the rear bumper on the opposite side of the SS emblem, a special edition 330-hp badge will let you know if it's an LT4 SLP, but these can be easily applied to regular SS Cmaros. 

To get to the bottom of your research, you want to look inside the driver's side door and or inside the glove box to find the RPO code. This should indicate if it has been in the hands of the SLP engineers. But if you're still not sure what you are looking at, you can always call SLP Engineering, they are sure to have records of what Camaros they got their hands on.

1997 Camaro SS 30th Anniversary LT4 SLP Edition


If you do have a true LT4 SS 30th Anniversary Camaro in your sights, you're looking at a true collectible. These cars will eventually sell on the Barrett Jackson block like the COPO Camaros do right now. They're good-looking, powerful, rare, and fun to drive.

Happy Hunting!

 

Friday, September 21, 2018

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Online Configurator. Plus Lower Prices And New Technology












2019 Chevrolet Camaro Online Configurator


If shopping for the perfect car that has everything you want - the right color, wheels, accessories and more - becomes too tedious of a job for you, then Chevrolet has something new you might find fun and interesting.

The new 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Online Configurator is a way to build your dream Camaro without leaving your house. Using Chevrolet's configurator located on their website, you can get a 180-degree visual of what the exterior and interior of a particular Camaro will look like based on the options and configurations you choose. You will also get a net price of what the Camaro will cost and a location to the nearest dealership that has a Camaro on their lot that has all the bells and whistles you're looking for.

The configurator supplies you with seven different Camaro categories that you can customize. Pages include configuration, trims, colors, packages, exterior, interior and accessories. The configurator interface is easy to use and you can customize everything from wheel size and tire options to interior color and seating options.

Refreshed 2019 Camaro
There are not too many big changes to the new Camaro, but a bolder, stronger looking front end will be added to the already menacing looking sports car. The Camaro LS, LT, and RS models get a new front fascia that is a little sleeker looking whereas the Camaro SS front end will receive a bigger front fascia somewhat resembling the Silverado's new bold look.  

The four-cylinder turbo trim models, including the new 3LT trim model, will offer you a more sophisticated, custom 1LE suspension option. Although not your big engine Camaro - pumping out 275 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque - you can still have a lot of fun in these four-cylinder sports cars.     

The Camaro SS offers you a newly advanced 10-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission. This trans includes a line lock control and custom launch control technology for a better drag racing experience. Also, on higher end Camaro trims, a new Gen 3 Chevrolet MyLink Infotainment System displayed on an eight-inch-diagonal color touch-screen will be standard.

New Pricing
The Camaro 1LS will drop from $26,900 to $25,995, while the Camaro 2LT will drop approximately $3,000 from last year’s previous price tag. Since the Camaro has fallen behind the Mustang and the Challenger in terms of sales, Chevrolet’s sales strategy is to focus on lower prices for high-volume Camaro trim models.


One last surprise the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro configurator lets us in on is the “Crush” orange exterior paint option will again be available. This color made its last debut on the 2017 Camaro alongside the Camaro Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary special edition vehicle.  








Friday, February 12, 2016

2017 Camaro 1LE V-6 and V-8 Packages

Image result for camaro 1le 2017

As the Chicago Auto Show gets on its way this weekend, Chevrolet will be introducing some special 2017 1LE Camaros that will be available for Camaro enthusiast to purchase. Although the 1LE Camaro package has been an option for Camaro shoppers since 1989, the 2017 Camaro 1LE will host two different engine options next year.   

The 2017 Camaro 1LE package will be available for purchase on the V-8 Camaros, like in the past, but for 2017 it will also be available on the V-6 Camaros (1LT and 2LT). In the past, owning a V-6 Camaro or Firebird gave you the looks of a sports car, but when it came to power and handling, even braking, you definitely did not have much to brag about.

Now Camaro is stepping up to change that and give even Camaro V-6 owning's a sports car experience. If you order or buy a 2017 Camaro 3.6-liter V-6 you will be getting a Camaro that is 100-lbs. lighter than its V-8 big brother, while still pumping out 335 horses. Along with that horsepower, you also get a bunch of other goodies that come along with the 1LE.

Here are some stats to look forward to:
Camaro 3.6-liter 1LE
- The 335 horsepower V-6 comes matched up to a six-speed manual transmission
- The FE3 suspension components come from the Camaro SS and includes dampers, rear cradle mounts, ball-jointed rear toe links and stabilizer bars.
- 20-inch forged aluminum lightweight wheels come wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 - 245/40R20s for the front and 275/35R20s for the rear
- Front Brembo 4-piston brake calipers for major stopping power
- Mechanical Limited-slip differential with 3.27 ratio
- Standard track-cooling package, with engine oil, differential and transmission coolers
- Suede steering wheel for easy grip and shorter-throw shifter for quick gear selection
- Dual exhaust system comes standard
- The Camaro SS fuel system is put in place for higher-load cornering capability
- A Satin wrapped black hood along with a front splitter and a smooth looking three-piece rear spoiler are some of the styling features of the Camaro
- Unique high flow upper and lower grille with satin black accents
- Optional Recaro seats and Chevy's performance video and data recorder



Camaro SS 1LE
The SS 1LE comes with the new FE4 suspension that is track turned for high-performance corner cutting lap times. The Magnetic Ride dampers, springs and stabilizer bars are most likely courtesy of the Cadillac ATS.

Copping one of these SS Camaros will also get you:

- A 455 horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 LT1 engine that comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. (no automatic offered)
- Magnetic Ride Control (most of GM's high-performance high-end vehicles have this suspension)
- Special forged aluminum wheels: 285/30ZR20s in the front and 305/30ZR20s in the rear
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires with a compound and construction developed exclusively for the Camaro and carving corners like a supercar
- Brembo brakes with new six-piston monobloc front red calipers and two-piece rotors. Measuring 14.6 inches in diameter, the front rotors are 7% bigger than the regular Camaro SS rotors and feature the 1LE Camaro emblem on them.
- Segment-exclusive electronic limited-slip differential with 3.73 ratio
- Track-cooling package, with engine oil, differential and transmission coolers
- Comfortable suede steering wheel with a shorter-throw shifter
- Dual exhaust system
- Recaro front seats with aggressive bolsters optimized for shifting and steering comfort
- Satin black wrapped hood and front mirrors to match along with a unique three-piece rear spoiler
- Satin Graphite front splitter and rear diffuser
- Chevy's performance video and data recorder optional.



Al Oppenheiser, Vehicle Chief Engineer of Camaro says that “the Camaro SS 1LE sets the new benchmark for the segment, lapping the Big Willow track at Willow Springs three seconds faster than the standard Camaro SS.” He also went on to say the V-6 1LE has been making lap times at the Willow Springs Race Way that keeps up with the V-8 Gen-5 Camaros. As of right now the V-6 pulls .97Gs of corning grip, while the V-8 pulls 1G of corning grip.

So what about the four-cylinder turbocharged Camaros that are even lighter. There is no word if they will make a 1LE package for the four-cylinder Camaro yet, but you can bet that you will be able to buy the 1LE components from GM Performance and have them installed. That would be a pretty fun little four-cylinder sports car to drive around.

Friday, January 1, 2016

1997 Camaro SS 30th Anniversary (LT-4) SLP Edition

 

Redirect: 1997 Camaro SS 30th Anniversary (LT4) SLP