Home / Posts tagged 'Muscle Car'

• 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 is a Track Day Titan

  In Auto News / By Tom Anderson / 27 March 2013

  

  A couple years ago, when Chevrolet was fixing to introduce a supercharged, super-capable version of the hit fifth generation Camaro, many motoring pundits figured it would be called the Z28. After all, the “regular” V8 Camaro had already bogarted the SS moniker. But when the sheet finally came off, it turned out it was called the ZL1 (after the aluminum 427 cubic-inch V8 installed in a handful of extra-special order 1969 COPO Camaros). Sometime later, there was word a hardcore track package was in development. Would this be the Z28 revival? Negative, Ghostrider; it’s called the 1LE, an option group available for the manual-trans SS coupe and named for a conceptually similar package offered on late third-gen Z28 and IROC-Z coupes.

  So when word filtered out that Chevrolet would be rolling out the facelifted 2014 Camaro at the New York Auto Show this week, no one expected those three hallowed characters to make an appearance. But maybe that was Chevrolet’s plan all along, for at the end of the brand’s press conference this morning, it rolled out the 2014 Camaro Z/28 (note the old school slash in the name) to a cacophony of gasps, cheers and applause. And like the Z/28s of old, the new Z/28 is designed for attacking a road course with maximum fury.

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• 2014 Roush Performance Ford Mustang Brings Three Stages of Heat

  In Tuning / By Tom Anderson / 14 March 2013

  

  When it comes to giving late model Ford Mustangs more speed and style, Roush Performance is one of the most respected names in the game. This is pretty remarkable when you consider that the company hasn’t been in the game all that long (The first Roush parts for street cars went on sale in 1995.). On the other hand, it isn’t that remarkable, when you consider how much company founder Jack Roush had in drag racing, road racing and NASCAR before that.

  Speaking of remarkable, that’s a great descriptor for the current Mustang GT. The 5.0L “Coyote” V8 makes 420hp (and lots of pleasant noises), and the chassis is as well-sorted as anything with a live rear axle has a right to be. However, the 2014 model year will be the last for this generation of ‘Stang, as a new less retro, more international model is on the way for the nameplate’s golden anniversary. But before that happens, Roush Performance is sending the current Mustang out with not one bang, but three bangs of varying intensities.

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• 2014 Chevrolet SS is a Handsome High-Po Sedan…with One Glaring Omission

  In Auto News / By Tom Anderson / 17 February 2013

  

  We were huge fans of the Pontiac G8 during its tragically-short life. And we were especially fond of the G8 GXP, with its 415hp LS3 V8 and choice of a 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission. In fact, if we had our druthers (and by “our druthers” we mean the money and garage space) we’d have both a G8 GXP and the Holden-supplied Poncho that came before it, the last generation GTO.

  Chevrolet, however, wants to lure us away from its late sister brand with its own Australian immigrant, the 2014 Chevrolet SS. It’s the nameplate’s new representative in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and its new four-door performance leader. In fact, the folks at Chevrolet have, more than once, proclaimed it to be a “four-door Corvette.” So…is it?

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• 2013 “Turbo” Chevrolet Camaro Coupe is a Glorious 700+HP Hollywood Makeover

  In Tuning / By Ari Cox / 9 February 2013

  

  As part of a promotion for the new DreamWorks movie “Turbo” coming out on July 19th, Chevrolet used the Chicago Auto Show to introduce the 2013 “Turbo” Camaro Coupe. If the car looks like a Camaro ZL1 on steroids, that’s because it is based on this platform. The movie centers around a snail morphing into a speed-demon in order to make the cut at the Indy 500. Now, the ZL1 is no snail, but the mods definitely put this car in another class of its own.

  The fact that this car is something special hits you in the face with the Mad Max-style front splitter, a monster rear wing and 5 inch rear exhaust outlets. And let’s not forget the massive supercharger sticking out of the COPO Camaro hood, which allows the V8 engine to produce in excessive of 700hp. All of this power is connected to an automatic transmission.

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• Ultimate Auto Dodge Challenger SRT-8 Widebody is Toned Muscle

  In Tuning / By Tom Anderson / 7 January 2013

  

  Considering how much ink (and zeroes and ones, for that matter) is devoted to the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, we’re surprised the third member of the 21^st century pony car posse – the Dodge Challenger – is largely ignored. Granted, it’s chubbier than its rivals, it was the last of the three to be introduced back in the golden era of muscle cars (three years after the Camaro and six years after the Mustang) and has spent the least time in its maker’s lineup (having been on hiatus from 1975 to ’77 and again from ’84 to ’07). But even so, it’s a great looking car that’s currently available with the very good Pentastar V6 or one of two Gen 3 Hemi V8s.

  Clearly, something more drastic is needed to get larger swaths of the car nut population to start paying more attention to the Challenger, never mind get them chanting “Mopar or no car” in monotone while carving Pentastar logos into their forearms. Ahem. Well, if it’s drastic that you’re after, Ultimate Auto is ready to give you drastic.

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• Nelson Racing Engines 1969 Camaro Has Absolute Power, Corrupts Us Absolutely

  In Tuning / By Tom Anderson / 20 November 2012

  

  As classic muscle cars go, the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro is easily one of the most popular among collectors, restorers, customizers and enthusiasts. On the one hand, we’re happy that’s the case, because it’s such a great looking body style (Fun fact: Delays in the introduction of the second generation Camaro forced Chevrolet to continue building the 1969 body style into early 1970; hence, the initial second gens are commonly referred to as “1970½” models.) and there’s such an abundance of parts (including complete reproduction bodies) available. On the other hand, there are only so many ways to build such a ubiquitous car. Modern wheels and tires, LS-series engines and snazzy paintjobs have, alas, become like belly buttons.

  So how can anyone make a ’69 Camaro really stand out from the herd? Well, one good way is to give it a powerful engine. And when we say “powerful,” we mean “exponentially more horsepower than anyone could ever need.” And the murdered out, RS-grilled coupe built by Nelson Racing Engines you see here definitely qualifies in that regard.

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• Mecum Auctions Holds Its First Collector Car Sale in Anaheim

  In Featured / By Tom Anderson / 20 November 2012

  

  When we heard a few months ago that Mecum Auctions would be holding a collector car auction at the Anaheim Convention Center (located literally across the street from Disneyland), we were beyond stoked. Yes, we’ve been to a couple of Barrett-Jackson auctions before, and have watched countless Barrett-Jackson and Mecum auctions on TV, but we were curious to experience a Mecum sale in-person. Also: We rarely turn down the chance to check out hundreds of cool cars and trucks all in one place.

  So behind the Orange Curtain we ventured, and into the main hall we walked (The auction occupied three of the convention center’s four sprawling ground-floor halls.). Immediately, we saw row upon row of gleaming sheetmetal (and, in the case of the scores of Corvettes on offer, fiberglass). And much of the content of many of those rows was really high quality. The paint, panel fitment and other indicators of how much time, money and effort were spent on a restoration on dozens of cars was terrific.

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• Ford Racing Mustang Cobra Jet Twin-Turbo Concept Wooshes into SEMA [w/ Video]

  In Motorsports / By Tom Anderson / 30 October 2012

  

  In 2008, Ford and its motorsports and performance parts arm, Ford Racing, reintroduced the world to the idea of a purpose-built, turn-key drag car from a major manufacturer with the Mustang Cobra Jet. These dragstrip-only Mustangs, which are unregisterable for the street thanks to the lack of a VIN, quickly began to dominate the amateur ranks in the NHRA and elsewhere. More significantly, the success of the Cobra Jet program inspired Dodge and Chevrolet to get in the game with the Challenger Drag Pak and Camaro COPO, respectively.

  The latest version of Dearborn’s dynamite doorslammer is offered with the Mustang GT and Boss 302’s 5.0L “Coyote” V8 in either naturally aspirated or supercharged form. However, while the 2.9L Rootes-type supercharger – supplied by Whipple – adds a considerable amount of power, Ford Racing engineers say the blower takes about 100 horsepower to spin. By contrast, turbochargers add massive amounts of power without adding a massive amount of what’s known as parasitic drag, since their compressors are spun by exhaust gas pressure rather than being mechanically driven by the crankshaft. In fact, turbocharging is at the center of Ford’s popular line of EcoBoost engines. So why not set up turbos and the Cobra Jet on a blind date? Well, Ford Racing finally has, and this pairing has definitely clicked.

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• Australian Coachbuilder Crafts a Gullwing Door Bumblebee Camaro Limo [w/ Videos]

  In Offbeat / By Tom Anderson / 29 October 2012

  

  When the production version of the fifth generation Chevrolet Camaro was first introduced, a handful of coachbuilders took to chopping the roof off the retro-sinister coupes to create convertibles. Naturally, the introduction of the Camaro Convertible eliminated the demand for aftermarket conversions. And since Chevrolet’s Mustang masher has only ever been offered to the public as a coupe and a convertible (We aren’t counting t-top coupes or the über-yummy second generation based Kammback shooting brake styling proposal.), there are no other obvious body styles for automotive body modifiers to create.

  Of course, some people would argue that creating a limousine out of the fifth gen Camaro would be an obvious choice. Sure, the whole lack-of-rear-doors thing is a definite hurdle, but the newest Bowtie pony car’s muscular styling, burbling V8 soundtrack and Transformers star status are hard to ignore. And one limo company in Perth, Australia, has not.

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• HSV 25th Anniversary GTS is an Extra Hot Holden

  In Tuning / By Tom Anderson / 2 October 2012

  

  In 1987, GM’s Australian division, Holden, and Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) got together and formed a new quasi-in-house tuner of cars wearing the red lion badge. In the quarter century since, Holden Special Vehicles (more popularly known as HSV) has built over 70,000 extra muscular Commodores, Caprices, Utes, Monaros and other Holden models and sold them to excited owners throughout Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.

  So considering a 25^th anniversary for anything is one of the biggies (It is, after all, called the silver anniversary.), it should be no surprise that HSV is making a big deal about it. Such a big deal, in fact, that it’s releasing a special model to commemorate the occasion. But if you think the HSV 25^th Anniversary GTS is just a decals-and-numbered-dash-plaque job, you’d be wrong.

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