Rather than bringing back the long-running Z28 label for its new top-of-the-line Camaro, GM has reached back even further into the history books for an even more prestigious heritage label: ZL1. GM’s presser (more here) for the 6.2 liter supercharged, 550+ HP, Brembo- and Magnetic Ride Control-equipped ZL1 explains:
When the muscle car war was at its peak in the ’60s, enterprising and racing-minded dealers did everything they could to get more powerful cars from the factory. Some Chevrolet dealers discovered that the company’s special order system known as COPO – the acronym for Central Office Production Order – could be used for higher-performance powertrains. It was intended for dealers to place custom orders for things like special paint packages for fleet vehicles, not building factory hot rods. Nevertheless, Camaro-hungry dealers used the system to request larger, 427-cubic-inch engines and other equipment that wasn’t available in regular-production models.
The ZL1 427 engine was originally developed as a racing engine for the Can Am series, where early all-aluminum 427 engines had delivered encouraging results in vehicles such as the groundbreaking Chaparral 2F race car. It was similar to Chevrolet’s L-88 427 engine, which had an iron engine block and aluminum heads, but the ZL1’s aluminum block reduced the engine’s overall weight by more than 100 pounds. That was a tremendous benefit for racing, not only because of the obvious weight savings, but it also enhanced the race cars’ overall balance.In 1969, Illinois-based Chevy dealer Fred Gibb stretched the COPO system to its limit when he ordered 50 Camaros with the new ZL1 racing engine. The idea was to pack the most powerful engine available from Chevrolet into otherwise regular Camaros and sell them to racers. The ZL1 engine was officially rated at 430 horsepower, but was known to produce more than 500.
Despite never being intended for use in a regular-production car, Gibb’s COPO order was fulfilled – but not before a few other dealers got wind of it. They ordered a few, too, and production totaled 69 Camaros (two production Corvettes also were built with the engine).
Of course, not only is the ZL1now a production model, the same engine and suspension are also available in a more tailored, uptown set of duds as the CTS-V coupe. Still, the LSA engine is the kind of rare beast that will not be around much longer, so far be it from us to criticize GM for putting it into everything they can, while they still can. And considering the CTS-V is already a performance bargain, one hopes that the Camaro ZL1 will make the LSA’s pupil-dilating power even more attainable.
During one of my rare trips to the BX (base exchange) in the fall of 1969 during USAF basic training, I came across the latest Hot Rod issue featuring a ZL1 with a big honkin’ ‘Vette on the cover, if I recall. During my leave home just after basic training and before I left for California, it was all the buzz between my buddies and me. All too brief a footnote in my life, but I still remember how exciting it was! Now? I just wish Chevy would re-introduce the RS, always my favorite option. Come to think of it, until Chevy makes the windows larger, you need the ZL1 option just to stay ahead of everybody else, as you can only concentrate on the view straight ahead anyway!
http://www.chevrolet.com/camaro-coupe/?atag=exterior
There is an RS option apparently – I’ve seen one on the street, though after reading your comment I thought maybe it was a dealer badge job so I went looking. The one I saw was red with black steel wheels, might have had chrome center caps. Given the exhaust note (and my foggy memory of it), I’m not certain but I think it was a V6 model.
As a life-long Mustang fan, I have only one thing to say about the ZL1:
That thing is frickin’ bad-ass! The commercial appeals to any motorhead, especially with the V8 idling at the end.
There are now 3 GM vehicles I like: CTS, ZR1, ZL1. Must be the common drivetrain.
Well, make hay while the sun shines!
+1 on the RS making a comeback. How bout give me the V8, manual trans, and the interior and suspension from the V6? That way I can pay the minimum amount for the maximum engine, then spend money on modifications as the money becomes available. (PS: I’d love the same sort of thing for the Mustang. Heck they could bring back naugahyde interiors and I’d be happy.)
“naugahyde interiors” Ha ha ha! Make mine 1969 Camaro “houndstooth”. Beats “leatherette”!
I could go for the houdstooth, but it goes best with that pale yellow color. Do they still offer it?
It also goes well with Hugger Orange and plain white, too. If you get a white one, you need orange stripes, it’s the law!
Agreed. The last time Ford did that was the 1994 or 95 Mustang GTS. Similiar to the LX as well. Basic coupe with the 5.0 and 5-speed.
I wouldn’t even spend money on modifications, just drive it. Heck, even a basic AM/FM/Aux radio would be fine. And bring back the old pull-style headlight switch too.
I’d take it the other way: the V6 is plenty powerful, but it would be nice to get the performance parts from the other models without the frippery.
The video in this story has me giggling like a crazy man. I’ll probably never see one of these outside of a car show, but just the thought that I can order one makes me proud to be American today.
Could they bring back the Old Spirit of America paint schemes for this?
This is going to be a car for the ages. As long as the price stays within reason.
MSRP will probably be reasonable, but I’m guessing GM dealers will mark it up to CTS-V levels.
Now that is an amazing looking and sounding car. 305s on the back stock, my God. If I ever had any issues with the standard Camaro this one has addressed them all and then some. ZL1 is an appropriate name for it too. With Z28 out that means GM can come up with a BOSS302 answer now.
Not a big fan of the new Camaro, but this thing is serious kick a$$ goodness!
Why would it be rumored that the Z28 trim would be the top of the range?
With the last camaro it was below the SS?
Originally (in general for the entire GM line) the SS was an appearance package only – not sure about the Camaro in this regard. But during the 70’s the RS, SS and Z28 packages went away completely and the Z28 was brought back and then later the RS was brought back. It wasn’t until the 90’s that the SS made a comeback. So this might be the reason behind their thinking. Though I would agree, just due to the recent order of things in the 90’s, that the SS should be the top of the line model with the Z28 b/t the RS and the SS.
The 4th generation Camaro was the only Camaro do have SS as the top model. The Z28 was always the better car. It was a mistake on the 4th gen. If you look at the longer history of this, the Z cars were always on top (while there is not Corvette SS, they have Z51, Z06, and ZR1). This generation is correcting the mistake of the 4th generation car using the wrong trim level names.
Originally the Camaro SS was top-of-the-line. The Z28 was a stripper special with the 302 and special brakes/suspension, built to satisfy SCCA Trans-Am rules and about as close to race-ready as you could get in a production car. The SS came with the 350 standard, there were a couple 396’s as options.
In 1970, GM pulled out of SCCA’s Trans-Am series and the Z28 adopted more features and a 370-horse 350 carrying the option code LT1.
The Camaro SS disappeared after 1973 I believe. It came back for a couple years in the Gen IV car. The Z28 became the top-of-the-line model although it was not produced for a couple years in the 70’s. Since GM supplied cars for the International Race Of Champions for a few years, there was also an IROC-Z model…sometimes as an additional model, sometimes in place of the Z28.
I believe it was only the full-size Chevies and some years of Chevy II/Nova where you could get most any engine and suspension with the SS package, making it a de facto appearance package. I once owned a ’68 SS with a 307/Powerglide.
Tacky styling.
I’m imagining this engine is a Commodore or a Caprice.
Maybe I should just be glad that the LSA isn’t a premium super-exclusive Cadillac only engine like the 2.8T.
The 2.8T won’t be around much longer anyway.
Cue Carly Simon:
“…these are the good old days, these are the good old days, these arrrrreeee (drum) the good old days!”
Or, more accurately, cue Nektar’s “Remember the Future“, whose advertising line for the album went like: “…remember all the good times you’re gonna have!” The Carly Simon song is too close to “Anticipation”, which makes me think about ketchup!
“We are going to exceed your expectation”
Uh – that is what you have been saying with this car since 2007, and frankly, I’ll believe it when I actually see it.
And I sure hope it looks a whole lot less like a cartoon Hot Wheels than it currently does. How could they top it? By going all the way and putting a Jeff DeGrandis Rat Fink stuffed rat head holding an oversized shifter on the roof.
Rat Fink it!
To me it all depends on how much it costs. If they price it in the range of the Shelby Mustang (which it probably will be) I’d rather have a stock Corvette. Less hp but overall a much more desirable car IMO.
That would look so much better if I were driving it…
I read somewhere that it would be in the $50,000 range.
If it’s in the $50k range which it probably will be I’d much rather have the Vette.
A great car harpooned by the worst styling of any Camaro, ever.