Starting out in the late 1960s as an answer to the Ford Mustang, the
early Chevrolet Camaro could be had in coupe or convertible form and
with six-cylinder or V8 power. As the Camaro went through the '70s,
it, like other sporty cars of the era, lost performance and gained
more stripes and spoilers. It wasn't until the mid-'80s, when the
Camaro once again had some respectable power under the hood along
with an athletic chassis that the popular pony car regained its
performance reputation.
The fourth-generation Camaro, which bowed in
the early '90s, still offered V8 power, a rear-drive chassis, swoopy
styling and a choice of coupe or convertible bodies. The V8 cranked
out more than 300 horsepower and 13-second quarter-miles in Z28 and
SS form. Though an outstanding performance bargain, this Camaro
became increasingly aged as the years went by. Sales were weak, and
Chevrolet finally pulled the plug after 2002. The Camaro recently
returned as a brand new 2010 model, with new looks, a new powertrain,
updated technology, and it immediately met huge success.
About Used Camaro Models
Used Camaro models can be found in a variety of generations, from
the original ‘60s-70s models, to the more recent ’90 used Camaro
models. Running from 1993-2002, the last Camaro generation continued
the age-old tradition of performance and style above all else.
Initially just a coupe body style was offered in base and Z28 trims,
the former coming with a 3.4-liter V6 (160 hp) and the latter with
an LT1 5.7-liter V8 (275 hp). Transmission choices included a
five-speed manual (V6), a six-speed manual (V8) and a four-speed
automatic.
The following year saw the return of the ragtop, while 1995 brought
a 3.8-liter, 200-hp V6 for the base Camaro. For 1996 the Z28 had 285
hp and the SS trim was reincarnated, complete with a 305-hp version
of the 5.7-liter V8. A midcycle refresh took place for 1998 with a
new front-end look and powerful new LS1 5.7 V8s for the Z28 (305 hp)
and SS (320 hp). Apart from minor trim differences and a bump in
power for the Z28 in 2001 to 310 hp, the Camaro soldiered through
2002 mostly unchanged. Ironically, that last year also marked the
Camaro's 35th birthday, which was celebrated with a 35th-anniversary
SS.
The final year of the used Camaro, 2002, this model still retains
the long hood/short deck pony car proportions of the 1967 original.
But there were many changes. With a sloping nose, deeply raked
windshield, the Camaro sports a dart-like profile. Alloy wheels with
painted surfaces freshen the 10-year-old body style. Up front, a
wide, blacked-out grille gapes between narrow, oval headlamps. The
hood is crowned by a functional fresh-air scoop, giving this aging
muscle car an appropriately menacing look. A distinctive black roof
treatment marks the Z28 coupe. The SS-specific, low-rise rear
spoiler sets off its tail end nicely. The Camaro Z28 and SS stand
apart in a crowd. They are a good performance value. For the price
of a much smaller-engined sport coupe or convertible, they offer
real, vintage American muscle. For a closer look and more pictures
of the Camaro, visit a
Chevy Camaro picture gallery.