Retro Camaro future??

[Keith Tedford]

The Impala is about Chevelle size. How expensive would it be to reskin the car with a retro Chevelle look. A model change is due anyway. The floor pan would need to be modified for the drivetrain and you could even keep the independent rear suspension. Turn the engine to a fore-aft setup and you have it using most of what you already have. It's not like a whole new car would have to be developed.

[firstgenaddict]

Maybe GM will stick to their principles but it's hard to save your face and your ass at the same time so why don't they build what the people want? RETRO 69 Camaro's.
The Mustang is awesome and I can't stand FORDS.

[Chevy454]

Anyone see the interview in MCE with retired GM stylist Ron Hill? Near the end of the interview, they brought up the fact that Ford is going HARD after the retro segment, and being successful, and they inquired what his thoughts were. Mr. Hill said that he felt it was a mistake on Ford's part, and that he not only agrees with GM's current anti-retro approach but "applauds" it. He felt that Ford's retro cars apply only to a niche market, and that there is no way to follow them up once they've run their course.

Well, I disagree with Mr. Hill...while it might be a niche market, it's a fair sized and growing niche, and GM is losing it's @ss in that department...my thinking is that those niche cars drive the sales of it's more *mundane* cars. But what do I know...

[budnate]

I agree with you Rob...problem is there a bunch of Mr Hills walking around patting each other on the back and telling them what great job they are doing over there at GM...truly sad his brain is so small,and how he could make a stupid statement like that...no way to follow up??? uh maybe add more power, restyle etc... what a goon!!! thats why they have people drawing things and testing the market once in awhile to see what people think..maybe even build a mule and let it be seen...have they totally lost there minds and have no clue how to build a car anymore????

[Keith Tedford]

I suppose Mr. Hill had nothing to do with the SSR or the Aztek. Now there are two vehicles that don't appear to have a very bright future. They appeal to no one in particular. Retro something that has large appeal and things will be different. Get it right like Ford did with the Mustang and you will surely have a winner. Get it wrong and you lose your shirt. I don't understand the GM mindset at all other than perhaps they are all afraid to take a chance. Perhaps fresh enthusiast blood would help. Stick to the middle of the road and you will get hit with traffic from both directions.

[MikeA]

If GM does produce a retro-Camaro they better bring the "A" team in order to compete with the Mustang.

[Donutblue]

I don't know Mr. Hill But GM should take a lesson from IBM. Years ago a young kid approached IBM to sell them the rights to the DOS program and they turned him down, so he went off on his own --- Bill Gates now overshawdows IBM. Ford will do very well with it's retro Mustang and I suspect the stockholders of Ford may as well.

[DarrenX33]

[ QUOTE ]
Mr. Hill said that he felt it was a mistake on Ford's part, and that he not only agrees with GM's current anti-retro approach but "applauds" it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, we'll show Ford by producing nothing.

[Chevy454]

Exactly, Darren! It sounds like we're all on the same page here...well, except for the brass at GM. I just don't understand how the folks at GM *can't* see it? Do they believe it's just coincidence that Ford is on the rise, soon after the release of the GT(40), the retro Mustang, an earlier Mach 1, an Elanor car, and a soon to be released GT500? And what does GM do, they axe the F-body platform and give us a rebadged Aussie car and a poor attempt at a retro street rod? Ford does shaker hoods and *actual* retro styling, and GM does overweight and underpowered...has GM just abandoned that part of the market?

[Mr70]

Someone from GM a few years ago said, "all this retro restyling of the past was just a Fad".
I'll bet he's cold in Siberia right now.