Automotive News, Media & Press - The Final Days of St. Therese Camaro and Firebird Assembly

Not sure if anyone has posted this before. Came across it on U Tube and thought it was worth watching...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMBzD-PfjaQ

One of the members here made that video. He posted it a while ago. That lone firebird at 4:07 is a real tear jerker.

Wow, good stuff. Never thought I could actually get 'emotional' :cry: watching some video of a automobile factory LOL, Billy Joel helped a little bit with that as well. :D
I have owned my ordered/bought new Camaro Z28 for over 12+ years now, I suppose it's also not too uncommon to feel that way after so many joyful and trouble free miles with a car that came from that very same plant. :thumb:

Very nice and sad video, really makes me miss my Z28 and my old V6 both were amazing cars I even got to meet a few members of the Camaro team and Scott Settlemire even signed the engine bay of my V6.

To this day I would still have my old V6 (with a motor swap by now) since I loved that car and having his signature made me enjoy it even more.

Cool video, I love these cars. I'll have my Camaro until I'm too old to drive it :usa:

This video makes me sad, i will also be keeping my car FOREVER!

A local guy claims to have the last bird (sold to the public). I think it is black, haven't seen it in a while now.

Iirc the last bird was a red Trans Am vert and it is in GMs private collection. Could be wrong though.

Iirc the last bird was a red Trans Am vert and it is in GMs private collection. Could be wrong though.True, but 'the last one' and 'the last one sold to the public' can be two different cars of course. :nod:

Who knows maybe one day they will be worth more then we payed for them... I also will try & keep my Camaro Z28 for as long as I can

I hadn't seen that before, thanks for posting.

Who knows maybe one day they will be worth more then we payed for them...

Inflation is helping that along. My KBB value went up $300 between last year and this year, and I daily drive the vehicle.

Check this out on ebay, supposedly the last Z28 to roll off of the assembly line. Can't believe someone paid 71k for it when new though, I almost don't believe that.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Camaro-Documented-last-one-sold-off-the-assembly-line-Sold-for-71-500-in-02-KRUSE-/170840504616?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item27c6e33928#ht_758wt_754

I know that it has become "cool" for some to hate on these cars now that many are worn, having been driven hard and put away wet for many years. They are old tech with old styling and aren't stuffed with gadgets and luxuries (a negative to some, but not to me) that many seem to think are a necessity even in a muscle car these days. People like to complain about 4th gen ride comfort, "refinement", interior materials, etc. Nobody was focused on those aspects of the car in 1998 when the LS1 F-body was about 100hp ahead of it's closest rival, for nearly the same base price. These cars were king of their class, in their day - and for that they will always have my respect. I realize that many of the younger crowd around here didn't get the chance to own these cars when they were brand new, and faster than any other new stock car on the road that was comparable to their MSRP. I also realize that many people's first experience with these cars have been high mileage used examples that may not have been in the best of condition. But as a person that has bought two of these cars brand new, and owned a total of four over the last 13+ years, I will always remember them for the great cars they have been to me, and the memories they have made possible that will always be recalled fondly. I have truly enjoyed all my years of owning, caring for and experiencing my 4th gen F-bodies, and I plan to keep at least one of them in my collection for the rest of my life.

Here are some color photos that I saved years ago, they are images that were also show in the video:

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o180/RPM_CamaroZ/Endof4thgenproduction2-1.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o180/RPM_CamaroZ/Endof4thgenproduction1-1.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o180/RPM_CamaroZ/Endof4thgenproduction3-1.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o180/RPM_CamaroZ/Endof4thgenproduction4-1.jpg

I know that it has become "cool" for some to hate on these cars now that many are worn, having been driven hard and put away wet for many years. They are old tech with old styling and aren't stuffed with gadgets and luxuries (a negative to some, but not to me) that many seem to think are a necessity even in a muscle car these days. People like to complain about 4th gen ride comfort, "refinement", interior materials, etc. Nobody was focused on those things in 1998 when the LS1 F-body was about 100hp ahead of it's closest rival, for nearly the same base price. These cars were king of their class, in their day - and for that they will always have my respect. I realize that many of the younger crowd around here didn't get the chance to own these cars when they were brand new, and faster than any other new stock car on the road that was comparable to their MSRP. I also realize that many people's first experience with these cars have been high mileage used examples that may not have been in the best of condition. But as a person that has bought two of these cars brand new, and owned a total of four over the last 13+ years, I will always remember them for the great cars they have been to me, and the memories they have made possible that will always be recalled fondly. I have truly enjoyed all my years of owning, caring for and experiencing my 4th gen F-bodies, and I plan to keep at least one of them in my collection for the rest of my life.:werd: :thumb: :nod:

As of right now I have NO intentions of ever selling my 2000 Z28 (12 years, 4 months and counting so far). :cool:

i bought my 02 hardtop onyx black m6 ss brand new. with .5 miles.
i sold it to buy a home. i regret selling that car. out of all the fbodys ive owned that one hurts the most.i built the motor for it, everything. i sold it to a guy. i tried contacting him and looking for him. but never found him. i know he sold the car to someone else. i wanted to buy it back.
:(:nono::thumbsdow:evil::wave-fing:upyours::shocked::takethat::disgust:

I've been toying with selling mine for a couple years now, but it represents so many things to me that I doubt I'll be able to let it go. Some people can change cars with the same frequency as they change shoes, but I grow an attachment to my vehicles.

RPM WS6 - Excellent post.

Lots of times I really miss my Z28 even with its rattles and what not, as much as I love my GTO for its comfort and all that I still wish I had the Z28 still at many times.


To bad I couldn't have both :(

I know that it has become "cool" for some to hate on these cars now that many are worn, having been driven hard and put away wet for many years. They are old tech with old styling and aren't stuffed with gadgets and luxuries (a negative to some, but not to me) that many seem to think are a necessity even in a muscle car these days. People like to complain about 4th gen ride comfort, "refinement", interior materials, etc. Nobody was focused on those aspects of the car in 1998 when the LS1 F-body was about 100hp ahead of it's closest rival, for nearly the same base price. These cars were king of their class, in their day - and for that they will always have my respect. I realize that many of the younger crowd around here didn't get the chance to own these cars when they were brand new, and faster than any other new stock car on the road that was comparable to their MSRP. I also realize that many people's first experience with these cars have been high mileage used examples that may not have been in the best of condition. But as a person that has bought two of these cars brand new, and owned a total of four over the last 13+ years, I will always remember them for the great cars they have been to me, and the memories they have made possible that will always be recalled fondly. I have truly enjoyed all my years of owning, caring for and experiencing my 4th gen F-bodies, and I plan to keep at least one of them in my collection for the rest of my life.


:thumb: This is one of the best posts I've seen on this site since I've been here.

I'm a guy from the younger crowd that you speak of, I've always been into cars however. I mean, I was only 9 when my Dad bought his brand new 2002 WS6. But ever since then, F-Bodies were my favorites. To this day, they are still my absolute all time favorite cars over everything else. They represent much more than just being fast, cheap late model cars to me. So, I'm with you, I'll have other stuff, but I'm pretty much committed to my Camaro, that's not going anywhere.

I bought my 02 Z28 back in 2/04 with 5,500 miles and it was the happiest day of my life. I was 19 years old at the time and do I have some memories with that car. Sadly I got into an accident with it and is gone forever. Even though it has been replaced by my Z06 I still miss the fun factor of the 4th gen.

I've had more fun owning, driving, modding, tuning, and dragging my 2000 A4 Formula than any other car I've ever owned. It's been 15 years since I bought my first Formula and I've owned five. Like RPMWS6, there'll always be at least one in my stable, along with a 68-70 GTO.

I remember the day I took my first ride in an LS1 4th gen back in August of 2000. I was turning 25 in a month, and decided to buy my first new car with my wife's blessing as an early birthday present. I got the GM employee discount at the time and started looking for exactly what I wanted and finally found my 2000 Light Pewter Metalic Trans Am at a dealership a few states away.

The dealership told me when it was going to show up and I took a vacation day from work to go to the dealership to wait for the car carrier to show up with it. I wish I had a digital camera back then because I can still see the car on the carrier clear as day in my head. It seemed like forever for them to unload the car, and get me the keys. I had already done all the paperwork, so I spent the rest of my day off just cruising around in my first ever new car, and first v8 muscle car as well. When it came off the carier, it had 7 miles on it, and by the end of the first day, I already had 187 miles :).

I think I can count on one hand how many people have driven it besides me. I spent 8 days on the 2006 Hot Rod Power tour with my dad in my car, and hope one day to do the power tour in my car with my son.

It might not be worth much to other people, but it means the world to me.

I remember the day I took my first ride in an LS1 4th gen back in August of 2000. I was turning 25 in a month, and decided to buy my first new car with my wife's blessing as an early birthday present. I got the GM employee discount at the time and started looking for exactly what I wanted and finally found my 2000 Light Pewter Metalic Trans Am at a dealership a few states away.

The dealership told me when it was going to show up and I took a vacation day from work to go to the dealership to wait for the car carrier to show up with it. I wish I had a digital camera back then because I can still see the car on the carrier clear as day in my head. It seemed like forever for them to unload the car, and get me the keys. I had already done all the paperwork, so I spent the rest of my day off just cruising around in my first ever new car, and first v8 muscle car as well. When it came off the carier, it had 7 miles on it, and by the end of the first day, I already had 187 miles :).

I think I can count on one hand how many people have driven it besides me. I spent 8 days on the 2006 Hot Rod Power tour with my dad in my car, and hope one day to do the power tour in my car with my son.

It might not be worth much to other people, but it means the world to me.:thumb: :cool:

Nice video. I've never seen it before.
I ordered my Firehawk in February of 2002 and was concered if I'd accually receive it. I took delivery in April of 2002 and still own it today.

Great video. Thanks for posting it. RPM WS6 said it best. I bought my 98 TA in early 99 with much anticipation of running the car at the track and it didn't disappoint. It ran 13.2's bone stock even after hot lapping. Running neck and neck with a 99 C5 the same day (much to the disappointment of the owner) was well worth the price of admission. The car have seen several iterations since then. I still enjoy it and have no intention of selling it.

Amen rpm ws6

I bought my first one in february 99. I sold it in january 2002 because my job went south and could no longer afford it. I told myself as it left my driveway that someday I would own another one. In march of this year I finally got that one. It will never leave.