1997 Chevrolet Camaro SS 30th Anniversary SLP Edition

Description

Chevy has always gone big with anniversary models, and this 1997 Chevrolet Camaro celebrates its 30th birthday by wearing the same color scheme as the brilliant 1969 Indy pace car. Add in all the options, SLP horsepower upgrades, and, of course, limited availability, and you get a sure-fire collectable that's also a joy to drive.

The fourth-generation Camaros hold a special place in many Camaro-lovers' hearts simply because they were such over-achievers. This car is simply way faster than it should have been and its performance is legendary today. This one shows 53,431 original miles, so it's been driven a tad bit, but it has also been treated like a collector's piece by the 2 owners that have had the pleasure of owning it, so the bright Arctic White paint with Hugger Orange decal stripes remains in excellent condition overall. There are no dents or dings (of course, most of the Camaro was plastic by this point) and aside from some very minor signs of use, it remains in outstanding shape. It's got the distinctive SLP ram air hood that force-feeds cold air to the LT1 underneath and there's a neatly integrated wing out back. It's worth noting that this is a solid roof car, no T-tops, so it remains solid and rattle-free and we do particularly enjoy the way the stripes wrap over the roof. There is no chrome or other bright trim, and just about everything was dipped in white paint before being bolted on, so it has a very clean, monochromatic look that works well.

The bright white seats with black carpets, dash, and door panels looks flashy but is a step back from the pace car's orange houndstooth and therefore may be a bit more palatable to today's buyers. The leather chairs remain in great condition and bely their age with nice white surfaces and very few signs of age or wear. In fact, I'd bet with a full-blow detail they would sparkle almost like new, as white has a tendency to do so. The carpets are equally nice, protected by a set of monogrammed SS floor mats. Just about everything was standard, including A/C, power windows, locks, seats, and mirrors, cruise control, and interval wipers, and this anniversary edition sports an automatic transmission, making it a blast to drive under any conditions. The gauges are bright and clear and it still carries its original AM/FM/CD stereo that sounds pretty darned good even with the LT1 singing along. Everything works, of course, and even the trunk is neatly outfitted with a neat storage compartment that keeps your stuff out of sight.

Chevy's 350 cubic inch LT1 engine really needs no introduction. It was rumored to have been de-tuned for use in the F-body, but it's no slouch in the performance department and there's a long list of upgrades available from the aftermarket. Fortunately, this car has nothing under the hood and only a killer updated dual exhaust system underneath, remaining stock-spec and with the SLP performance parts that came with it, it remains a potent machine that deserves respect. The big air filter up top and 360 degree air intake are part of the cold air induction setup, but the rest of the SLP upgrades are less subtle, improving performance without too much advertising. The engine bay is clean and well-maintained with everything still OEM. The 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission snaps through the gears with real authority and 3.42 gears out back make it feel very light on its feet. It's also got powerful disc brakes at all four corners, a cackling dual exhaust system with electric cut-outs, and those gorgeous A-Mold white SS wheels that were painted to match and fitted with 275/40/17 Kumho performance radials.

Factory special editions have always been collectable, and this fully documented Camaro is a great opportunity to fill in the space in your collection or get it started on a high note. Offered with its original build sheet and owner's manuals, this is the one to own. Call today!