5th GEN CAMARO - Modern or Retro styled..Opinions?

[JohnnyGMachine]

Hey all,

I'm currently working on designs right now for what I think the 5th generation Camaro should look like atleast in my mind. I will be posting pics of these designs hopefully by the first week of September. While working on my design the thoughts that I keep in the back of my mind while I'm doing this is whether it should be Modern or Retro. Retro would be very much like what Ford did with the Mustang, a modern interpretation of what a late 60s Mustang would be like today. Modern would be no retro cues really, and would be very high-tech, low slung, and pushing the envelope as far as a fresh new approach to what a modern Camaro would look like. I've drawn a 5th Gen Camaro in what I thought a modern direction would be with mixed but positive results. This was done for a 5th gen design contest on GMI website a year or so ago. It came in a close second to a more retro themed design. It wasn't about winning but I thought it might help me to prove a point and I think it did to an extent. On that very website and many other GM enthusiast based websites, the new Mustang and Jay Mays were being bashed for not being original and that retro design is just a cop-out. Then when the design contest results were final, everybody loved the retro themed Camaro idea...hhhhhhmmm. Fast forward to today - The new Mustang is a runaway hit! They can't make 'em fast enough and I've even heard dozens of GM, even Camaro enthusiast, say that they just may have to buy that new Mustang and that they wished GM would do something like that. Well now with GM possibly showing a Camaro concept, according to rumors, it sounds like the Camaro guys are getting their wish.
So the question is - what would YOU buy...a RETRO designed 5th gen Camaro or a MODERN design 5th gen Camaro?

Hey Scott, maybe we should have a poll on this what do you think?

John

[XcYZ]

Poll added, John. :thumbsup:

[Steve1968LS2]

Modern but you have to be able to tell it is a camaro.. in other words it needs to show it's heritage.

That is the problem with the new GTO.. It is like they just stuck a GTO badge on a random car (which they did). You don't look at it and say "GTO"..

The Camaro should retain some styling cues or past Camaros.. but the whole retro thing can get out of hand. The new mustang is good example. It looks good but if it got any more retro it would start to look strange.

Did that makes sense? I think Hortons guess was one of the better ones so far and I am dying to see what you come up with.. Sounds like a future Speed Reading story to me!! :thumbsup:

[Steve1968LS2]

Poll added, John. :thumbsup:

You need one more.. "Modern with a touch of retro heritage"

[XcYZ]

Good call, Steve. I added it.

[Musclerodz]

It is going to have to be retro '69 with a twist of modern to even compete with the new Mustang. I don't see how any other platform could compete.

Mike

[Kris Horton]

Right now all signs point to retro. Inside sources, etc. I think the Camaro subject has been beaten to death, and finally the concept is hitting the shows in January.

I'm surprised the upcoming Dodge Challenger hasn't been discussed more. I think this will actually demolish the new Camaro if my sources are right. I'd like to see some artist's take on what that car could be...

Looking forward to seeing your ideas John, should be impressive as always!

Kris

[Steve1968LS2]

Right now all signs point to retro. Inside sources, etc. I think the Camaro subject has been beaten to death, and finally the concept is hitting the shows in January.

I'm surprised the upcoming Dodge Challenger hasn't been discussed more. I think this will actually demolish the new Camaro if my sources are right. I'd like to see some artist's take on what that car could be...

Looking forward to seeing your ideas John, should be impressive as always!

Kris

I know the Charger is SUPPOSED to offer a manual trans but Daimler hates manual boxes so I will believe it when I see it..

The Camaro will slap the Charger around and then sell it to his cellmate for a pack of cigs.. ;)

[Kris Horton]

I know the Charger is SUPPOSED to offer a manual trans but Daimler hates manual boxes so I will believe it when I see it..

The Camaro will slap the Charger around and then sell it to his cellmate for a pack of cigs.. ;)


No no, Challenger. 2 doors, Hemi, evil. And word has it, it's not just going to be a shortened Charger. We might have a battle of epic proportions on our hands if both the Challenger and Camaro come out as low-slung, retro-styled pony cars.

[evilzee28]

Right now all signs point to retro. Inside sources, etc. I think the Camaro subject has been beaten to death, and finally the concept is hitting the shows in January.

I'm surprised the upcoming Dodge Challenger hasn't been discussed more. I think this will actually demolish the new Camaro if my sources are right. I'd like to see some artist's take on what that car could be...

Looking forward to seeing your ideas John, should be impressive as always!

Kris
I think it's gotta be retro with a modern slant to compete with the Mustang. Anyone have any info on what it's gonna look like, any drawings etc?

[JohnnyGMachine]

I do also have a couple desing renderings of what I called Project: SUPER'CUDA. I did it old school - all marker, pencil and pastels with the webril cotton wipe pads. No computer aid at all, sometimes I miss those days back in school. I should maybe post that. I am stoked to see the muscle car wars on the verge of being fired back up and now with Mopar joining the scrap! SWEET!
Part of me would like to see something new and fresh but I think the a modern sculpted version of a 1st gen Camaro...basically Retro is the best way to bring the Camaro back. The direction I'm taking on my designs is exactly that.

Scott, thanks for setting up the poll. I think it'd be very interesting to see how the results look after a week.

John

[jannes_z-28]

The different artwork of the new Camaro has mostly been influenced by the 1st gens in a retro style.

I thought of something, wouldn't it be nice if you could get a retro look that included both 1st and 2nd gens Camaros. I like the nose of the 70-73's, mix that with the bodylines of a '69 in to a modern retro look.

What do you think Kris? Is it possible?


Jan

[vanzuuk1]

John

Post the camaro and cuda sketches, please.

[XcYZ]

It's more than just a sketch, John's 5th Gen is a concept. It's awesome. :thumbsup:

[JohnnyGMachine]

OK, OK, OK, I will post the 2010 hemicuda Concept sketch. I tried to clean up the background as best as I could without messing with it too much but the paper is pretty yellowed on it since it's pretty old. I do plan on redoing this sketch and cleaning it up along with a couple 3/4 views but you know how it goes - a million projects and no time.
I was even thinking Mopar needed a hemi even way back in the late 90s! Now I know this thing looks impossible but remember it's a sketch that probably took me about 30 minutes from design to tight lineart to color. The roofline is probably impossible, the wheels look like 26 inchers and it's very forward thinking but I think with a little tweaking of the proportions I think there's a good start for a hemicuda. I could even see how I could modify the proportions a little to make a Challenger AND maybe even a Charger from it. It probably could use a shaker hood too.

John

[XcYZ]

That thing is pretty wild.

[vanzuuk1]

John

Thanks, I really like it. The rear quarters are perfect, the car looks like its squating down on the rims.

The nose has a little viper in the lights, how about a two inch high cuda grill with tiny projecter lights?

I notice you show the rims on the far side of the car, I never thought of that.

Your stuff is too good, its making me not want to draw! I cant wait to see the camaro concept.

[vanzuuk1]

Thanks again for sharing this stuff.

[Y-TRY]

I second everything on here. I'd hate to see them re-badge like with th GTO, Malibu, and Charger. A return to the short-deck, long-hood look of the Camaro would be good. I'm not a fan of the high-door panel look (a'la 350Z, Audi TT, or G-35), even though they give the look of a "choped hood. I just don;t like the window sills about even with my ears, sitting straight up.

There's a problem with the newer cars bolting on big wheels. They lose the effect when they build the car around them. The new Mustang is a good example. Those are the silliest 18's I've ever seen on a car.

The best example is probably the Ford GT, as far as mixing the new/old factor.

One of my favorite Camaro charateristics that was lost were the headlights of the 3rd gens. They carried over with the LT1 cars somewhat but went all girly on the LS-1's, IMHO.

I'll bet Chevy brings back the RS lights of the 70-73 like Ford did with the new GT. I actually kinda like them, though.

But we have 35 years of Camaros, with 4 generations of styling to sponge from. I'm crossing my fingers that they make us proud.

[Hooligan]

No no, Challenger. 2 doors, Hemi, evil. And word has it, it's not just going to be a shortened Charger. We might have a battle of epic proportions on our hands if both the Challenger and Camaro come out as low-slung, retro-styled pony cars.


Yay return of the pony wars:yes: :D :thumbsup:

[JohnnyGMachine]

Sometimes it's tough when you see a concept car with huge 20s on it and giant fender wells. Then when it goes into production, they stuff a 16" in there for the base model" 18s on the new Mustang look like 16s did on the fox-chassis Mustangs. The base wheel for a 6 cylinder should atleast be a 17, 18s for the base wheel on the GT, offer an optional 19 incher and maybe the Shelby would have 19s or 20s. The Saleen 05s look great and I beleive they have either a 19-20" wheel and tire combo and the proportions look good. The wheel size trend is definately going in the bigger direction though. Maybe not good for potholes.

I really like the new 2005 Mustang GT - Even being a long-time Mustang enthusiast the new 05 did have to grow on me some. I love the Shelby GT500!!!