Gen 4 1993-2002 Camaro History

Gen 4 Camaro History

In recent years, the fourth generation Camaro has been touted as the best Camaro to come from the General to date. How times have changed. The 1993 Camaro, the oldest sibling in the fourth generation, was met with mixed reviews.

The nose was long and pointed, while the rear of the car had tall quarter panels and a rounded shape. This was achieved through the use of fiberglass composite panels throughout the car. This Camaro sat much lower, and the interior seating positions were reminiscent of the Corvette, with its tall interior rocker panels.

Despite its unusual looks, the Camaro was chosen to pace the Indianapolis 500 once again. And the history of the Camaro can be reassuring to all of us as the years go by. The turnaround of the fourth gen proves there is hope for everyone no matter the ravages of time. Somehow this generation of Camaros, initially perceived as ugly ducklings by some, transformed into beautiful swans over the years. Increasingly popular with collectors, Camaros from this generation have recently sold at an average price of $16,566, according to Classic.com. The highest price recorded was $165,000.

The fourth generation can be divided into two distinct periods: "Pointed Nose" (1993-1997) and "Flat Nose" (1998-2002).

The Pointed Nose fourth generation launched in 1993 with the Z/28 using the 350 LT1 V8 and the base Camaro sporting the 3.4L V6 engine. GM shifted its manufacturing strategy too. The new body style was built in Canada rather than Van Nuys.

Different types of Camaros appeared in this new generation. The SS Camaro made its return in 1996. SLP (Street Legal Performance) converted the cars for GM with suspension, engine and other go-fast modifications to push Camaro performance even further. SS cars had their own separate window sticker and special codes on their ID plate decals.

The year 1997 marked the 30th anniversary of the Camaro. General Motors celebrated the milestone, of course. True 30th anniversary editions were all white with orange stripes and had either a white leather or white leather with a houndstooth cloth insert. The SS Camaros were also available with the 30th anniversary package. Fewer than a thousand 30th anniversary SS Camaros rolled off the GM assembly lines.

The Flat Nose fourth generation featured the same body but with a different front fascia that was less pronounced. There were mixed reviews of the new front end. But one thing was certain. The new Camaro styling was wrapped around an incredible powertrain. This car could go.

The all-aluminum LS1 made its way to the Camaro as a supposedly "detuned" version. But that appeared to be just a way to appease the insurance gods, because you could not buy a faster car for the money. Plus there were very few cars out there that could really hang with the new Camaro, period.

Near the end of the production run in 2002, Chevrolet had run out of the LS1s; so, many later-production Camaros actually had the LS6 straight from the Corvette gracing their engine bays. In 2002, yet another anniversary dawned, the Camaro's 35th. Naturally, Chevrolet celebrated with a special edition. This time, however, the 35th anniversary package could only be purchased on the SS platform as a conversion once again by SLP.

During the fourth generation run, there were many dealer spinoffs of the Camaro offering more horsepower and body modifications created by GMMG Inc. A few examples include Berger, Tom Henry, the Dale Earnhardt Intimidator and the wide-body Camaro. Some of these cars had horsepower ratings in excess of 600hp, and they carried a warranty from the participating dealer.

These classic cars aren't getting any younger, so restoration and repairs become increasingly common for collectors as well as daily drivers and those who simply like to go fast. With the fourth-generation Camaro lending itself well to modification, there has to be somewhere to get parts and accessories. Rick's Camaro is your one-stop shop for your fourth-gen Camaro. Let our experts help you keep your Camaro looking good and running its best. Choose from a huge inventory of quality parts and call us toll free or email us with any questions.