Vehicle Description
Chevy has always gone big with anniversary models, and this 1997
Chevrolet Camaro celebrates its 30th birthday by wearing the same
color scheme as the brilliant 1969 Indy pace car. Add in all the
options, SLP horsepower upgrades, and, of course, limited
availability, and you get a sure-fire collectable that's also a joy
to drive.
The fourth-generation Camaros hold a special place in many
Camaro-lovers' hearts simply because they were such over-achievers.
This car is simply way faster than it should have been and its
performance is legendary today. This one shows 53,431 original
miles, so it's been driven a tad bit, but it has also been treated
like a collector's piece by the 2 owners that have had the pleasure
of owning it, so the bright Arctic White paint with Hugger Orange
decal stripes remains in excellent condition overall. There are no
dents or dings (of course, most of the Camaro was plastic by this
point) and aside from some very minor signs of use, it remains in
outstanding shape. It's got the distinctive SLP ram air hood that
force-feeds cold air to the LT1 underneath and there's a neatly
integrated wing out back. It's worth noting that this is a solid
roof car, no T-tops, so it remains solid and rattle-free and we do
particularly enjoy the way the stripes wrap over the roof. There is
no chrome or other bright trim, and just about everything was
dipped in white paint before being bolted on, so it has a very
clean, monochromatic look that works well.
The bright white seats with black carpets, dash, and door panels
looks flashy but is a step back from the pace car's orange
houndstooth and therefore may be a bit more palatable to today's
buyers. The leather chairs remain in great condition and bely their
age with nice white surfaces and very few signs of age or wear. In
fact, I'd bet with a full-blow detail they would sparkle almost
like new, as white has a tendency to do so. The carpets are equally
nice, protected by a set of monogrammed SS floor mats. Just about
everything was standard, including A/C, power windows, locks,
seats, and mirrors, cruise control, and interval wipers, and this
anniversary edition sports an automatic transmission, making it a
blast to drive under any conditions. The gauges are bright and
clear and it still carries its original AM/FM/CD stereo that sounds
pretty darned good even with the LT1 singing along. Everything
works, of course, and even the trunk is neatly outfitted with a
neat storage compartment that keeps your stuff out of sight.
Chevy's 350 cubic inch LT1 engine really needs no introduction. It
was rumored to have been de-tuned for use in the F-body, but it's
no slouch in the performance department and there's a long list of
upgrades available from the aftermarket. Fortunately, this car has
nothing under the hood and only a killer updated dual exhaust
system underneath, remaining stock-spec and with the SLP
performance parts that came with it, it remains a potent machine
that deserves respect. The big air filter up top and 360 degree air
intake are part of the cold air induction setup, but the rest of
the SLP upgrades are less subtle, improving performance without too
much advertising. The engine bay is clean and well-maintained with
everything still OEM. The 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission
snaps through the gears with real authority and 3.42 gears out back
make it feel very light on its feet. It's also got powerful disc
brakes at all four corners, a cackling dual exhaust system with
electric cut-outs, and those gorgeous A-Mold white SS wheels that
were painted to match and fitted with 275/40/17 Kumho performance
radials.
Factory special editions have always been collectable, and this
fully documented Camaro is a great opportunity to fill in the space
in your collection or get it started on a high note. Offered with
its original build sheet and owner's manuals, this is the one to
own. Call today!
