The final Chevrolet Camaro is a manual ZL1 1LE
Chevrolet wrapped up production of the sixth-generation Camaro this week, the automaker confirmed to Hagerty, bringing an end to the sixth-generation pony car’s nine-year run. Chevrolet hasn’t offered up any plans to field a successor, leaving a question mark on the future of Chevrolet’s sporty coupe. It’s sure to leave a noticeable gap in the brand’s performance lineup as the C8-generation Corvette’s entry price climbs closer to $70,000.
While the future of the Camaro is up in the air, we did get confirmation from Chevrolet that the last sixth-gen to roll off the line at Lansing Grand River Assembly was a ZL1 1LE equipped with a manual transmission. The end is bittersweet, but at least the last Camaro of the run was a variant that, even at the close of its production run, could be counted among the most potent track cars on the market.
“Camaro is a passion product,” reads Chevrolet representative Trevor Thompkins’ emailed statement. “It has developed a fan base across the world and has brought people into Chevrolet dealerships for generations. The sixth generation specifically represented athleticism and composure—exuding confidence on the road and dominance on the track.”
Unlike the fifth-generation Camaro, which brought the nameplate back from hiatus since the 2002 model year and took a bit of honing and tweaking before it shined, the sixth-generation Camaro was a phenomenal driver’s car out of the gate. The SS was a well-balanced and sporty pick, but 1LE variants of the LT1-powered car as well as the V-6 and turbo-four variants were particularly rewarding on track. The LT4-powered ZL1 was an absolute beast and the 1LE variant of that supercharged monster punched far above its pricetag, lending an aura of track superiority to the entire Camaro lineup.
There was writing on the wall, however, that Camaro wouldn’t live past its current form. There haven’t been any seventh-generation Camaros spotted testing, the car’s engineering team got reassigned to other projects, and there never was a long-rumored Z/28 variant. For the last three years, it seemed that the writing was on the wall and Chevrolet was no longer putting any effort into special editions of the Camaro and even the farewell package for the model was lukewarm.
If you’re already mourning the Camaro’s demise, you can at least revel in its rich history by clicking here to read our recent 11-story elegy to the beloved GM pony car.
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I wonder if this one was chosen for The GM Heritage Collection?
Yes it was destined to the Heritage Collection.
I really tried to like this car. I test drove a number of times, but just could never get past the feeling I was piloting a submarine. I’m 6′, but the view past the pillars and dash/hood just never inspired confidence. And, thanks Chevy, but you always made the interior feel cheap. My first Camaro was driven off the showroom floor in ’77, so I will miss the model, but who was the target market for the last 5 years? (always playing catch up to the Mustang?) Farewell.
As it should be. I owned a 1969 Z-28. Too bad I was 20 years old and trashed it.
Sad to see it go. A better drivers car than the Mustang but the less practical interior hurt the Camaro.
Love your articles and videos. I don’t think I’ll ever sell my ZLE. The manual is what set it apart from the GT500 (also wonderful). Truly sad to see them go.
I own a 2016 1SS Camaro. I love it.
The car was originally bought out of a dealership in California, shipped to Driven Performance in Kellogg, Idaho, where they installed their Hurst Elite Performance package, that includes Flowmaster exhaust, cold air intake, a Hurst pistol grip shifter among other Hurst badging making it a one of one, since Driven Performance only installed this package on this car. If a person wanted you could buy the package from them and have it installed elsewhere. Nothing negative to say on my part.
HAD 2 CAMAROS, #1-1970 350/350 4 SPEED. NICE CAR, NOT GOOD IN THE SNOW. WENT TO A BONNEVILLE A.K.A. THE TANK. #2-1984 Z/28 H.O. AUTO. WIFE DRIVEN MOSTLY, GOOD CAR UNTIL THE MOTOR BLEW. BOUGHT ’95 VETTE, LIKED THE LOOKS OF THE REBORN CAMAROS, HOWEVER INTERIOR WAS JUST TOO TIGHT AND HARD TO SEE OUT OF. STAYED WITH CORVETTE. HAVE A VERY NICE C-6 CONVERT TRIPLE BLACK. PLENTY FAST, GOOD LOOKING. GOOD RUNNING MACHINE THAT LS. CAMARO, COME BACK AS A TWO SEAT LITTLE BRO TO THE VETTE MUCH AS THE AMX WAS TO THE JAVLIN. GOD FORBID CHEVY PUTS THE CAMARO NAME ON ANOTHER MINI STATION WAGON!