[Tran]

The Eighties Called.....
1) What the heck is an M-plated 1980s Camaro doing testing right in the thick of a proper General Motors test group in the Rocky Mountains? When GM commits the resources to sending loads of manpower and machinery to a remote testing location, it's serious business, and the manufacturer's plate affixed to this old-school red F-body strongly suggests this car is somehow part of the GM empire.

2) The 80s F-body test car was seen running with the Camaro prototype and a camouflaged Cadillac ATS. What originally seemed like a strange bit of happenstance became more interesting when the M-plate was spotted, and when the car was eventually loaded onto a open transporter with some other cars that had been part of the Rocky Mountain tests.

3) The photgrapher has a mechanic's background, and he swears that the 80s Camaro was rocking an intercooler, and sounded like some sort of turbocharged V6.

What's With The Roof Camo?
The 2016 Camaro prototypes had some new camouflage covering the entire roof--all the way from the A- to the C-pillars. Until now, every Camaro prototype spotted testing has had the area between the A- and B-pillars uncovered (except for the graphic wrap). Some of the cars could be Camaro convertibles, although a close look at the pillars and window frames and seals seems to point to a fixed room and not a traditional soft-top situation. It seems unlikely that the next Camaro convertible would be fitted with a retractable hard top of any kind. Could we be looking at prototypes for some sort of T-top/Targa Top design that's coming to the next-generation Camaro? There's nothing definitive to be gleaned from these amateur's photographs, but it does raise some questions that deserve further analysis.

[Tran]

[djcfuzz]

My uneducated guess is convertible

[ilirg]

I love GM's originality in covering up their mules, bet that 3rd gen is a mule for a new engine lol!

[SS22]

There does not seem to be any break along the top of the side windows, so I don't see how this could be a convertible or t-top. But then why the roof camo? I'd love the return of T-tops though. BTW the wheels on the 6th gen mule are nice.

[MikesZ]

Judging by the wheels, the top two photos indicate a base car???

[MikeT]

I have no idea what they're doing with the '80s Camaro, but if they really are using cars like that to test new powertrains... I just gotta say... how freakin' cool is that? Drive around something with the outward appearance of a mild-mannered mid-80s base model Camaro... that actually has a twin-turbo V6 in it? Of course, we don't know that they're doing that, but it'd be awesome if they were.

[ChocoTaco369]

Man, I would love to see T-tops make their return. Of course, assuming GM can make a design that doesn't leak

[PYROLYSIS]

T-tops would be the cats meow but how awesome is it that the third gen is mixing it up with the sixth gens? Millions of possibilities for that. Don't see why they would put an LF3 in it since it's already used in other vehicles. Maybe they're trying to gauge interest for a turbo 6 Camaro?

[BaylorCamaro]

I can just picture Scott sitting at his computer laughing his a$$ off, saying something like "GUYS, LOOK AT THIS! They think the 3rd gen has something to do with the 6th gen testing LOL."

Originally Posted by MikesZ

Judging by the wheels, the top two photos indicate a base car???

Agreed. Brake calipers are small.

[Bhobbs]

Maybe the camo is covering the sunroof. I don't see any break in the window seals to indicate a T top or convertible top.

[AZCamaroFan]

it's probably a convertible.
as for the 3rd gen, i don't know why they'd test a powertrain in that considering the big weight difference.

[alan91z28]

wow, that is really great... i love third gens and have 8 of them in my garage along with an original GM 3rd gen billboard on the wall as you can see in my sig

my black 85 iroc in the sig has a pumped up GMPP crate LS3 with TVS2300 so 3rd gens can be pretty powerful sleepers (although if you look close i do let the supercharger peek out of the hood!)

i really hope they bring back t-tops option as that is my preference. if the 6th gen is back in the similar size range as the 3rd gen i will be getting some of them!

gm keep up the good work showing off new and your heritage models it makes it exciting!

[Vroom_vroom]

I am not in a hurry to pick up another new car but t-tops would change that


Sent from the desert.