By Jeff Bartlett
Motor Trend Magazine, February 1997 Issue. All Rights Reserved Petersen Publishing Company
Horsepower-obsessed SLP engineers have made an unholy pact with Chevrolet to concoct a witch's brew of Camaro performance
that only 100 fortunate souls will be privileged to own. The revered Corvette LT4 engine, the finest ingredients
from SLP Engineering parts bins, and the street-proven SS moniker have been stirred in a bubbling caldron to produce
a special anniversary edition that should capture the interest of enthusiasts for generations.
Power and prestige for these extreme street-dominating Camaros come from replacing the standard muscular LT1 V-8
engine with even more firepower: the C4 Corvette's LT4. While official output figures rate the Camaro-fitted engine
at 330 horses, that figure likely is conservative for the balanced-and-blueprinted powerplant, even before factoring
in the forced-air induction system, ported exhaust manifolds, and the free-flowing stainless steel exhaust system.
The SS LT4 features the full round of go-fast equipment available on the milder SS, plus a few spellbinding original
pieces. The most notable change on all '97 SS models is the softened suspension, addressing the coccyx-bruising
tautness of previous models. The SS LT4 further benefits from the revised Level II suspension package featuring
specially tuned Bilstein shocks, progressive-rate springs, and revised rear lower control arms.
Body type: | 2-door, 4-passenger |
Drivetrain: | Front engine, rear wheel drive |
Engine: | 90 degree 5.7-liter V-8, OHV, 2 valves/cylinder |
Horsepower, hp @ rpm: | 330 @ 5800 |
Torque, lb-ft @ rpm: | 340 @ 4500 |
Transmission: | 6-speed manual |
Wheelbase, in./mm: | 101.1/2568 |
Base curb weight, lb: | 3560 (est.) |
Brakes: | Vented disks/disks, ABS |
Acceleration, 0-60 mph, sec: | 4.9 |
Quarter mile, sec/mph: | 13.2/108.8 |
Braking, 60-0 mph, ft: | 106 |
Slalom, 600-ft, mph: | 65.8 |
Skidpad, 200-ft, lateral g: | 0.92 |
Base price: | $24,199 |
Price as tested: | $35,000 (est.) |