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Camaro Caravan: Chevy launches new Camaros with 45-car drive through Texas

04/24/2009, 6:22 PM

By Andrew Ganz

Nearly 50 bright orange Chevrolet Camaros made their way from downtown Dallas to downtown Fort Worth, Texas, earlier today to open the dealership launch of the all-new muscle car. A visual knock-out, the police-escorted caravan of 45 Camaro SSs garnered a tremendous amount of attention as it passed through the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex before the dealers officially took delivery of the new cars.

Leftlane was fortunate to grab a passenger seat ride with a principal of James Wood Chevrolet as the line of factory-fresh inferno orange Camaros made their way from Dallas to Fort Worth, stopping traffic along the way.

More than just a lineup of flashy cars, the drive served as the official launch of the Camaro for Chevrolet’s dealers; similar events will be held in a handful of other markets before the car’s official on-sale date May 6.

Though we’ve already driven the Camaro, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity of a ride-along that passed through the tourist-heavy Stock Yards district before winding up in the middle of downtown Fort Worth during the lunch hour. To say that the crowds were heavy is an understatement: We were accosted by throngs of Fort Worthians trying to get a good look at the Camaros, the first to hit the streets in the hands of the public anywhere in the nation.

The dealers we spoke with seemed excited about the Camaro, though some said that they have unsold incoming inventory, particularly the rural dealers. Everyone we spoke to agreed that the Camaro will be a great showroom traffic piece; the orange SSs the dealers drove away from Fort Worth back to their showrooms won’t be sold for a while so that they can act as eye candy on the sales floor.

These were the first Camaros produced for public sale at GM’s Oshawa, Ontario, assembly plant, though they were not without their flaws. One dealer’s car refused to shift out of third gear unless it was forced into neutral and then back into drive and another’s was unable to leave the Dallas staging area. In all fairness, these were super early-production cars and some dealers were questioning the thoroughness of the pre-delivery inspections performed by one of the dealers. GM’s Oshawa plant has long been a top performer in JD Power’s surveys, so we’re optimistic that these gaffes were limited to a combination of the earliest cars and a rushed PDI by local dealers.

After the drive, the dealers, as well as a few members of the media, gathered for a brief lunch, where the group was joined by baseball legend Nolan Ryan. We wondered just why the former pitcher and current Texas Rangers club president was the speaker of honor, but we soon learned that Chevrolet is a major sponsor of the Rangers and Ryan is an unabashed bowtie fan – his history with the brand dates back to his first car, a $50 ‘52 Chevrolet, though we suspect the sponsorship has helped solidify his interest in recent years. Ryan says his daily driver is a Silverado – and we have little reason to doubt the quick-witted, country-boy-at-heart Texan.

We thought you would enjoy seeing some photos of the Camaros staging in Dallas’ Victory Park and making their way to Fort Worth’s Sundance Square via the historic Stock Yards. The staged group photos reminded us of full-size Hot Wheels cars – an image GM no doubt hopes will ring true with buyers as customer Camaros begin arriving in dealerships.

Words and photos by Andrew Ganz.

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04/24, 6:27 PM

posted by:

elviososa

so…I will not get the red one.

04/24, 6:53 PM

posted by:

Bavarian_818

Sweet!!! The SS is in production. This car brings back memories. I learned how to drive a stick in a 67 Firebird with a 400 Small Block and a Muncie 4 on the floor… It was brite orange with a black vinyl top. Glad GM kept the roots alive… For a while anyway…

04/24, 6:55 PM

posted by:

carstuff

I have seen these on the street. They are beautiful.

04/24, 7:22 PM

posted by:

NRG

Nice looking. Too bad many won’t be sold. I saw the first one in an auto show last yr I think it was and the paint was chipping off around the rear side markers. Now I read how on of the cars couldn’t even be driven and how the other had to be forced into neutral in order to shift it out of third gear. A perfect example of quality. All flash. GM just doesn’t get it. I’m not sure I would buy a car from a company that is going to file Chapter 11.

04/24, 7:37 PM

posted by:

Kid Icarus

My dealer has already received and sold our first Camaro yesterday

04/24, 7:47 PM

posted by:

jumpoffit

let the dealer markup begin!

04/24, 7:51 PM

posted by:

gta89mike

A car at last years auto show would be a very early pre-production prototype, like all “show cars” at auto shows. You really think a huge company with competition from all over the world is going to try and sell a car with chipping paint and transmissions that won’t shift out of third gear?? Come on. Quality didn’t cause GM’s problems, the economy did. Japan is giving billions to Toyota, too. Why do so many of you hate America? Get the heck out of here if you don’t like America and don’t want to support it.

04/24, 8:00 PM

posted by:

Borat

Actually, last/previous Camaro was not put out to pasture because it was not a beautiful looking car. It was a gorgeous car, but Camaro (as well as “Chicken”) was always teenager’s cars. For teenagers quality was not an issue, and the problem with teenagers is that they grow up (sometimes). You can’t sell teenager car to an adult (I am talking volumes and numbers, I perfectly realize not all adults passed teenager level of maturity and some teenagers more intelligent then a lot of adults). If Camaro true to its roots………..

04/24, 8:33 PM

posted by:

CADDY-V

GTA89MIKE:
I know exactly what you mean. There are 10s of thousands of fu*ks that need to get out of this country.
As for the article the Camero is a beautiful car.

04/24, 9:55 PM

posted by:

RotaxKart

For me it was more of a disappointment towards GM’s quality and dealers. I got screwed for buying the CTS-V…… Why I have no clue? My Jap car has held together like it should and the dealers go above and beyond. I still pull for GM and hope they can recover…… People that say buying Jap is un American? I think its just being smart. I have said this before…… If your GF is not loyal it would be stupid to keep her around. Just have a passion for all cars. It makes life easier.

04/24, 10:01 PM

posted by:

bimmer_mann_18

I want that red one. you know that one right there

04/24, 10:26 PM

posted by:

Hyperion

Gorgeous cars. I’m very glad they didn’t kill the Camaro program and will actually give us a chance to buy a real and thoroughly modern muscle car from the General.

04/24, 11:43 PM

posted by:

Impulsive

The Challenger looks better.

04/24, 11:49 PM

posted by:

leftwingagenda

go usa! oh…and go canada! “These were the first Camaros produced for public sale at GM’s Oshawa, Ontario, assembly plant…”

have to disagree on the look of the last camaro, tho…not a fan of that thing…the weird side mirrors (and trust me, i know weird side mirrors, i drove a ford probe) didn’t do it for me…i much prefer the notchy look of the new camaro and 60s camaros compared to the 90s super slick suppository versions…

lets hope quality improves quickly and that quality concerns aren’t a persistent problem…

04/25, 8:32 AM

posted by:

F50

Impulsive: Agreed, I really like the Challenger, maybe a little too big and a bit fat but I still like them.

04/25, 8:33 AM

posted by:

F50

oh, and also by fat I mean too heavy, not that the car looks bloated or anything like that

04/25, 11:52 AM

posted by:

Impulsive

Yup, it is about 5% heavier but they are both heavy so it’s not really a point to argue. Looks matter more.

04/25, 1:06 PM

posted by:

zeegone

They did a great job on the retro design of the Challenger but it is a seriously BIG car. I pulled my Z up next to one and it seriously dwarfed it. I was behind one once too and i doubt the driver could have even seen me, it might as well have been a suburban. I’d rather take the Camaro, they absolutely nailed the styling by staying as true to the concept design as possible.

04/25, 1:30 PM

posted by:

Impulsive

‘zee’, nothing wrong with making it roomier than your Z AND still lighter than your Z.

04/25, 2:22 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Headline writer:

dallas to Ft. Worth is not “through Texas.”

04/25, 2:37 PM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

I’m glad they added the “Camaro” banner at the top of each windshield. Wouldn’t want all those remaining Daihatsu loyalists to get their hopes up.

04/25, 4:06 PM

posted by:

zeegone

Lighter than a Z? Interesting, I wasn’t a math major but I can swear that 3,400 lbs (Z) is less then 4,140 lbs (challenger) and 3,725 (camaro). Every source you could find on these stock cars would tell you that, internet, magazine, manufacturer stickers but I mean who are they? You’re most likely right. Call me crazy though.

Who cares if those cars have more, it’s a sports car and is plenty comfy.

04/25, 4:38 PM

posted by:

F00_13

Looks beautiful, and I hope it is successful. Unfortunately, they should have been more careful with these particular cars seeing as they are the first ones off the line people get to see. I don’t care if every single one manufacture after these is perfect, first impressions are important.
On another note, as an economist I don’t understand the protectionist (you may call it patriotic) mindset that some here have. In a global economy, it shouldn’t matter where it’s from, whether it’s American or Japanese. Financial capital flows all over the world. Money spent on Japanese cars is often reinvested in plants in the US that support our economy. Money spent on American cars is sometimes invested outside the US (gasp!). Buying this Camaro clearly supports Canada’s economy, and that’s not a bad thing. Supporting a company just because it is domestic is economically irrational. It does not encourage innovation and can often times encourage inefficiency. Invest in what you believe is a good product (wherever it may come from) because consumption helps everyone’s economy. Buying foreign cars is not showing hatred towards America; quite the contrary. It supports capitalism, something America is built on.

04/25, 5:19 PM

posted by:

cocojoe53

Well, at last. The longest lead in in the history of automobiles in this country. I am a Ford guy, but I wish them the best of luck. It looks good, and I truly hope 5 years from now the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger are still around…

04/25, 5:38 PM

posted by:

Mitch12

Easily the best looking car on the market right now. Fantastic work GM!!!

For anyone worried about buying one don’t. Chevrolet will break off from GM after the June 1st. Ch11 filing. It will be then know as Chevrolet Motor Company most likely. The GM name will be done. US Gov’t will back all warranties if they need too (which they probably won’t) Ignore the import trolls, they are just hating because GM has a top notch awesome quality product and all they have is bland FWD V6 car that look like they are from the 90’s to choose from.

04/25, 6:43 PM

posted by:

jayjc08

The Challenger is too big, too little character and too heavy for me. Sure, it’s a nice car, but maybe it’s too traditional….

04/25, 11:39 PM

posted by:

sprockkets

“Come on. Quality didn’t cause GM’s problems, the economy did. Japan is giving billions to Toyota, too. Why do so many of you hate America? Get the heck out of here if you don’t like America and don’t want to support it.”

Yeah, sure, and if Bob Lutz didn’t step in GM would have died bad economy or not.
Without him the Solstice, Cobalt SS (turbo model), CTS-V and any up to date engine would never exist. You’d still have Pontiacs made out of more plastic than metal.

Besides, what part of GM is USA anymore? Your precious Camaro is just a Holden Commodore. The last USA Camaro died because GM didn’t care about it and let it languish while Ford kept up with the Mustang.

We don’t hate America; we hate losers like GM or Chrylser that won’t build anything worth owning except for perhaps a Corvette. And since GM has factories in Canada and Chrysler has factories in Canada and Mexico, you can go F*** yourself on your stupid BS “Support our failing automakers” argument.

04/26, 12:14 AM

posted by:

Impulsive

‘zee’, EDMUNDS shows the Camaro curb weight at 3780 lbs, the Challenger at 3819 lbs, the Z about 3400 lbs … you are correct, the Z is lighter. But with the lighter weight you are getting very little interior room. It’s relative. I love the Z though.

‘jay’, the Challenger is 6 or 7 inches longer and about the same weight and has the right amount of “character”. The Camaro looks too busy, overdone, is just as fat and barely shorter … sorry but your arguments don’t hold any water.

04/26, 8:56 AM

posted by:

cwa107

For a second after I read the title, I got this horrible image of a Dodge Caravan crossed with a Camaro :)

04/26, 5:13 PM

posted by:

gta89mike

I don’t pay much attention to uneducated people who have to use profanity to get their point across.

04/27, 9:07 AM

posted by:

HoosierHero

I think this is a little different than the “go to Washington in a hybrid to show we are green” look GM was trying for a few months back lol.

04/27, 10:29 AM

posted by:

zfenderguy

feh, my Z weighs 2400 lb. That said, that new Camaro is a stunner.

04/27, 10:34 AM

posted by:

mikeb81

I just wish it was built here in the states although chevy always has built many (if not most) of its cars outside of our borders. Most of your Toyotas and Hondas are built right here in the US. Tundras, Tacomas, Sienna Vans, Camrys- these cars don’t even exist outside of North America. They are designed and built right here. I particularly don’t care much whether the CEO of the company is in Japan or the US, it’s much more about the workers that keep the economy going.

04/27, 4:35 PM

posted by:

Bankruptcy2009

I’ll support GM when they do three things. When they lose their idiot Base of Loud Mouthed Fools, it becomes an employee owned company, and their led by someone that isn’t in it to line their pockets with gold and jewels after managing it. But I think Hell would have Frozen over long before any of those things were to have happened when that Happen! And i mean it.

05/02, 12:25 PM

posted by:

El-Morya

Listen you all. All this hype of this that and the other auto maker bringing out this that and the other model, pseudo-electric cars etc is nothing but a ploy. Remember VE-1? What happened to it? Technology to “Totally Electrify” any car, van, truck, bus, tractors etc has been in existence for the last 15 years. Whatever happened to that technology? Let us not forget, oil companies, auto engine makers, auto manufacturers and interest groups will try and make sure that no viable technology is developed that will diminish demand and sale of “their” products. The Obama administration is once again falling into the same trap by funding technologies that will soon be out-dated and replaced within the next two years. Americans are proud of their large older vehicles. They want a technology that will replace the IC engine in their “existing” vehicle that does not require either a bank of batteries, bio-fuels, etc. It would be better for the Obama administration to finance more Conversion Companies to create more jobs, manufacture these New Tech All Electric Auto Engines and fitted into your own existing vehicle. Why do I want to buy another car, spend more money and not have the comfort and joy of driving the model I have had for the past 20 years? Older model large American cars are in plenty and if converted and fitted with these New Tech Auto Electric Engines then it will solve the problem of making any more cars that will still be out-done in technology in a couple of years? This will create more manufacturing jobs in New Tech Auto Electric Engines in America, more jobs in conversion companies, dismantling and re-cycling of the IC Engine & parts etc. The color of the car may be red but wait till you “see” red. Thank You.

 
 
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