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Follow-Up Test: 2002 35th Anniversary Chevrolet Camaro
A Legend Laid to Rest
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By Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
Date posted: 02-04-2002
We had been hearing rumors for some time, but on September 25, 2001, General Motors finally made it official: The Camaro, and its sister car, the Pontiac Firebird, would cease production after the 2002 model year. After 35 years of tire smoking, Mustang-spanking fun, the Camaro would be no longer.
To some, it's nothing more than a slow-selling Chevrolet getting pulled from the lineup. But to others, specifically those with appetites for big-time horsepower and even bigger burnouts, the death of the Camaro marks the end of an era.
With the Camaro gone, Chevrolet is left with only one true performance car — the Corvette. Compare this to the '60s when Chevrolet's stable included not only the Camaro and Corvette, but a full lineup of V8 bruisers like the Chevelle, Impala and Nova, and it's easy to see why the Camaro's departure looks like yet another nail in Chevrolet's coffin.
In a last-ditch attempt to soothe the aching hearts of Camaro fans everywhere, Chevrolet commissioned one last special edition of its legendary sport coupe — the 35th Anniversary SS.
Available in either coupe or convertible form, the 35th Anniversary edition takes the already dressed-up SS model and adds a host of cosmetic add-ons. Most noticeable is the Bright Rally Red paint and full-length silver racing stripes that crumble into checkered flags as they streak down the hood. Black machine-faced wheels are added along with commemorative badges on the quarter-panels and silver-painted nameplates front and rear.
Drivers will also notice a few commemorative touches in the interior, as well. The black leather seats are embossed with the "35th Anniversary" logo, while a special rear shelf/trophy mat covers the cargo bay. And just in case those aren't enough to remind you that you're driving something special, every anniversary edition also sports a dash-mounted badge that says, you guessed it, "35th Anniversary Camaro."
Cosmetic enhancements aside, this Camaro is still first and foremost a performance machine. Continual upgrades over the years have made it somewhat more driver-friendly, but there's no getting around the fact that this car's best attribute is going fast.
A few hard runs through the gears is all it takes to remind yourself that the Camaro's LS-1 V8 is one of the most incredible eight-cylinder engines available anywhere, in any car. The power starts early and never stops, and it's always delivered with a throaty growl that makes you want to pin it to the redline at every opportunity. An optional Hurst shifter makes banging though the gears that much more fun.
Unlike Camaros of the past, this latest edition can do more than just go fast in a straight line. Huge 17-inch Goodyear Eagle F1 tires and a performance-tuned suspension provide serious grip in the corners. Vague steering and an overly large steering wheel make for awkward handling at first, but once you get used to it, there's plenty of fun to be had in the corners. Just make sure to go easy on the gas pedal. Ill-advised stabs of the throttle will send the Camaro's backend dancing. But rest assured — immensely powerful disc brakes are on hand to slow things down.
As powerful as it is, the Camaro is still plenty tame for less enthusiastic driving. Loaf along in fifth or sixth gear, and you would hardly know that there's more than 300 ponies under the hood. Unfortunately, the absence of engine noise only serves to make the tire noise that much more prevalent, but it's never overbearing.
Although time behind the wheel of a Camaro is always a treat for the senses, it's impossible not to notice the ergonomic and aesthetic shortcomings, undoubtedly the main reasons for its unfortunate demise.
The sharply raked windshield and low seating position make for poor forward visibility, while the small side mirrors and large spoiler hamper the rear view. The front seats are quite comfortable, and there's a surprising amount of room in back. Storage space in the hatch is minimal, but there are handy storage slots for the t-tops that come standard on Anniversary coupes.
Camaros have never been known for their elegant interiors, but when you're talking about a nearly $33,000 car, you can't help but feel disappointed with the low-buck plastics and marginal seat leather. Build quality on our test car was decent, but we could still pull off any number of interior trim pieces with our hands, so don't expect it to stay rattle-free forever.
Looking back on the long history of the Camaro, there's little doubt that this final Anniversary Edition is one of the fastest, best-handling Camaros of all time. Too bad it's stuck in an ill-proportioned, overweight body that hasn't been redesigned in almost 10 years. We love the power and the performance, but it's hard to look past the poor packaging.
GM has cited slow sales of sport coupes in the broader market as the main reason for the Camaro's demise, but we all know better. The 2002 model is almost 10 inches longer than the original '67, not to mention being wider, heavier and taller. With so much to carry around, even a remarkable engine like the LS1 isn't enough to make the Camaro feel nimble and fun, and that's what sport coupe buyers want.
Diehard Camaro fans will likely find the 35th Anniversary Camaro a fitting tribute to an American automotive legend. To us, however, it's just another reminder of how poorly GM supported one of its most enduring and well-known nameplates. We can only hope that when the company decides to resurrect the Camaro in the future, it will learn from its mistakes.
See all the Ratings: 2002 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 2dr Hatchback (5.7L 8cyl 4A) Road Test Scoreboard
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