26 -— Friday, August 21, 1998 — North Shore News

IT’S hard to believe
that 32 years have
passed since the first
Camaro was introduced
in the summer of 1966.

The Camare was a some-
what hurried, but successful
response to the phenomenally
successful Mustang which was
introduced in April of 1964.
The Mustang-inspired other
Pony cars toa: the Plymouth
Barracuda, Pontiac Firebird,
AMC Javelin and AMX,
Mercury Cougar and Dodge
Challenger. Today only the
Mustang, Camaro and
Firebird remain. (The new
Cougar has defected to the
front-wheel-drive camp.)

All three of these cars
retain the same basic charac-
teristics that made them suc-
cessful in the 60s: compact
size, a long hood and short
rear deck, 2+2 seating, rear-
wheel-drive, a base six-cylinder
engine and optionai V8, rea-

rty handling, and
y- Base 1998
Camaros, for example, start at
$22,790, while Z28 models
go for $27,840.

Their demise has been pre-

dicted for years — I think it

"1998 Camry CE

north shore news

2 AUTO

THE 1998 Chevrolet Camaro has a revised front-end styling, and 20 more horsepower on the 228 modei. In addition, the high perfoimarice
SS mode! has returned with a whopping 320 hersepower. The Camaro is built in St. Therese, Quebec. :

started with the 1974 oil crisis
— but they continue to find a
dedicated niche of owners.
Despite aging engine and
chassis technology, relatively

¢ fucl consumption, and

igh insurance rates, pony cars
er

a “meaty,” North
American: performance feel
that hasn’t been duplicated by
front-wheel-drive sporty

* Power windows, & locks, air-conditioning,

coupes from Japan or Europe.
The current Chevrolet

Camaro continues the North

American performance tradi-

_ tion with even more horse-

power than last year. Base
models offer a 200 horsepow-
er 3.8-litre V6 engine, but the
more popular Z28 model has
an upgraded 305 horsepower
V8 engine (the same engine

ory,

used in the Corvette), up
trom 285 horsepower last
year.

If that’s not enough,
there’s also a limited edition
SS model that has 2 320
horsepower version of the
same motor. SS Camaros also

ave a gigantic hood scoop
chat’s big enough to suck in
an errant bird or two, 17-inch

alluy wheels, a stiffer suspen-
sion, and a rear trunk spoiler.
The Camaro’s front-end
styling was changed this year,
the first time since 1993.
New round headlamps are
now covered by a plastic
cover, the grille is about twice
as big, the hood has some
extra lumps in it, and the
square fog lamps have been

replaced by small projector.
beams on the outside of the
bumper. ~

T’m still not sure if T like
the change

The Camaro, like tradi-:
tional pony cars, uses
body on a ladder frame‘

cassette, 16 valve, DOHC engi

O 1998 4-Runner S

AM/FM cassette, dual airbags

1998 Tercei

scorn rt be

i dilelpeni on 4s mo. lease. Camry $3,300 oN, TP §15.204; RAV 4 $2.842 pn, TP $13. 786; a es.

183 HE DOHC V6, air-conditioning,

5 Passenger, 1.5 L DOHC, 16 valve
p/windows, locks and mirrors, A.B.S

@- engine, 51 MPG Hwy, AM/FM casserte

22 Mercedes 380 SEL
Super cond. tixide & ort,

doaded. targa roof, § speed,
loaded $12,595

leaiber $24,595

a9 Nicsan Sentra
Auta, ais cent, preat
rulue $4,995

91 Nissan Sentra 93 Lexus LS400
4 dr, very suomy, excellent All options,
$5,495 immaculate $29,988

92 Maets HNG
excellent cand, touds of
options $9,866

7 passenger

Fleet returns, ute, air feet rehiris, auto
value

conditioning $15,988 $23,995 condition
Pride af the Narih Shore

== JIN PATTISON TOYOTA

Low km excelent cond, uir
. * $13,999

‘r fieet
A (returns