GM third gen mule
#1
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GM third gen mule
Could be a test bed for new crates or something similar. Or maybe just a GM honcho wanting to drive something that's actually fun to drive?
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/07/new-prototype-appears-to-be-testing-a-future-camaro
/
Sorry, can't seem to post/link a picture.
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/07/new-prototype-appears-to-be-testing-a-future-camaro
/
Sorry, can't seem to post/link a picture.
Last edited by tom3; 07-16-2019 at 06:05 PM.
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Re: GM third gen mule
Something is going on under the rear, seems to sit high and almost looks like dual exhaust in another picture.
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Re: GM third gen mule
It probably has correct stock springs which is why it sits high.
#7
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Re: GM third gen mule
It's not exactly news that GM likes to keep thirdgen camaros around for experiments. There have been several photos and articles over the years showing in some cases the same exact car with multiple drivetrains and paint jobs. It's probably not a coincidence this car is yellow just like the Ramjet car.
Really though, what other vaguely modern GM better represents the typical GM project car? Anything newer had half the engine hidden under the cowl/windshield, and was a gen II or III or whatever ridiculous technological marvel they're onto now. It's a logical test car for the same reason it's a popular project.
Really though, what other vaguely modern GM better represents the typical GM project car? Anything newer had half the engine hidden under the cowl/windshield, and was a gen II or III or whatever ridiculous technological marvel they're onto now. It's a logical test car for the same reason it's a popular project.
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#8
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Re: GM third gen mule
I was on the hot rod power tour back in 2004 and it was sponsored by GM performance parts. They had a yellow thirdgen with them that at the time was sporting a ramjet 350 motor. Could be the same car I saw in 2004 with the latest crate motor setup they are planning on offering.
heres a link about the car I saw in 2004 that I think is the same car.
http://www.superchevy.com/features/0...aro-rs-feature
heres a link about the car I saw in 2004 that I think is the same car.
http://www.superchevy.com/features/0...aro-rs-feature
Last edited by burnout88; 07-17-2019 at 12:33 AM.
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Re: GM third gen mule
I was on the hot rod power tour back in 2004 and it was sponsored by GM performance parts. They had a yellow thirdgen with them that at the time was sporting a ramjet 350 motor. Could be the same car I saw in 2004 with the latest crate motor setup they are planning on offering.
heres a link about the car I saw in 2004 that I think is the same car.
http://www.superchevy.com/features/0...aro-rs-feature
heres a link about the car I saw in 2004 that I think is the same car.
http://www.superchevy.com/features/0...aro-rs-feature
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Re: GM third gen mule
How can they have cars like this used as test mules on their proving grounds, but produce the current car with that crazy high beltline? You'd think the goal would be to build something that looks even better than a 3rd gen.
Put this body on the 6th gen chassis, maybe make a few very small tweaks just to say it's not an exact copy. Modernize the interior with better materials. Build it.
Put this body on the 6th gen chassis, maybe make a few very small tweaks just to say it's not an exact copy. Modernize the interior with better materials. Build it.
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Re: GM third gen mule
How can they have cars like this used as test mules on their proving grounds, but produce the current car with that crazy high beltline? You'd think the goal would be to build something that looks even better than a 3rd gen.
Put this body on the 6th gen chassis, maybe make a few very small tweaks just to say it's not an exact copy. Modernize the interior with better materials. Build it.
Put this body on the 6th gen chassis, maybe make a few very small tweaks just to say it's not an exact copy. Modernize the interior with better materials. Build it.
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Re: GM third gen mule
I've definitely heard that theory. Over at gminsidenews.com, there is a member who used to work in design at GM, for both Cadillac and Pontiac. He was gone before the 5th and 6th gen cars were rolled out. He said that the beltline was a stylistic choice more than a safety requirement.
I drive an ATS coupe Same chassis. The beltline there isn't overly high.
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Re: GM third gen mule
This car has been in the GM stable as a test mule for a long time. I remember reading an article about it, but I can't seem to find it now. I believe it is a 1987 and it was never sold to the public. This may be the car that was originally used to develop the ZZ3 350/HO conversion kit.
There is another thirdgen test mule in the GM stable. It's a 1992 RS with no rear spoiler that was the original prototype for the 25th Anniversary Heritage Package, which was supposed to be an LT1/6-speed. At the time, it was white with black stripes and black Trans am crosslace wheels. It was later painted yellow and was used for the Ramjet turnkey crate engine testing.
http://www.superchevy.com/features/0...aro-rs-feature
Using the thirdgen platform for crate engine testing makes a ton of sense. In this case, my guess is that they are testing one of the supercharged LT-based plug and play crate engines. The add on hood bulge was probably done for clearance reasons.
There is another thirdgen test mule in the GM stable. It's a 1992 RS with no rear spoiler that was the original prototype for the 25th Anniversary Heritage Package, which was supposed to be an LT1/6-speed. At the time, it was white with black stripes and black Trans am crosslace wheels. It was later painted yellow and was used for the Ramjet turnkey crate engine testing.
http://www.superchevy.com/features/0...aro-rs-feature
Using the thirdgen platform for crate engine testing makes a ton of sense. In this case, my guess is that they are testing one of the supercharged LT-based plug and play crate engines. The add on hood bulge was probably done for clearance reasons.
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Re: GM third gen mule
You have to wonder when someone takes a look at the yellow Camaro, and then looks at the current one or the 5th gen, if they think, "What the hell are we doing?"
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Re: GM third gen mule
I think its cool. Love the old school tires too. Low profile tires are common and boring. Not to say that I don't appreciate a great, modern performance car, but third gen's are cool just the way they were designed.
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Re: GM third gen mule
3rd gen tires were probably considered low profile in their day. 245/50-16. I guess they're better performing, but a little more profile, in my opinion, is a nicer look.
I'm having second thoughts about low profile tires. Drove my ATS in a construction zone the other day where the workers left a large seam in the road between the new road and the old. It said "bump" on a sign next to the road. Felt like I hit a wall. Sidewall torn, being replaced right now. I've read many other accounts like this, though the problem seems to be worse with run-flats rather than just standard low-profile tires.
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Re: GM third gen mule
To me, all the new cars have gotten huge yet the insides feel really cramped. Also, the tail end of the new cars have gotten very tall to the point it's hard to see rearward out of the car.
#19
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Re: GM third gen mule
Seems like two different cars here. The SuperChevy article is about a 92 Heritage car, this deal looks to be a late 80s model. But as that article says they're on the look out for suitable test mules in those years.
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Re: GM third gen mule
That’s correct. There are 2 different thirdgen test mules that I was referring to. Both are yellow, so it can be a bit confusing. The 92’ has surfaced a couple of times, and this one, which I believe is an 87’ has come up before as well.
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Re: GM third gen mule
Regarding the mules thing and why 3rd gens, for what it's worth.
In the late '80s back before I even bought my first Firebird in 1990, I had a neighbor in Virginia that built and raced his own cars. He bought used 3rd gen f-bodies then modified them for the track. He told me that it was the best platform for racing on the market. He believed that it was the toughest and also the best handling chassis available, and could handle very high-powered engines.
Just his opinion, but he had 3-5 cars at any one time, so he must have had some idea of what he was talking about. He also used whatever car he was working on for regular driving, so I'd often have one of his cars sitting right next to mine in our parking lot, with his number, a big painted "53," on the sides and roof.
Based on that, maybe I can see why 3rd gens would be around as crate engine test mules.
In the late '80s back before I even bought my first Firebird in 1990, I had a neighbor in Virginia that built and raced his own cars. He bought used 3rd gen f-bodies then modified them for the track. He told me that it was the best platform for racing on the market. He believed that it was the toughest and also the best handling chassis available, and could handle very high-powered engines.
Just his opinion, but he had 3-5 cars at any one time, so he must have had some idea of what he was talking about. He also used whatever car he was working on for regular driving, so I'd often have one of his cars sitting right next to mine in our parking lot, with his number, a big painted "53," on the sides and roof.
Based on that, maybe I can see why 3rd gens would be around as crate engine test mules.
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Re: GM third gen mule
Id bet its an LS or LT watever style crate engine setup they are testing. Probably a drop in plug and play kit. Probably sell like hotcakes too.
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Re: GM third gen mule
From the comments on the Jalopnik site link...
7/15/19 8:52pm
Patrick, I can solve this mystery for you. And so I shall.
This is an engine test mule for GMPP. And how can I tell that? Because third gen Camaros are available with the garbage engines by the truckload, cheap, and therefore the #1 target market for a $12k drop-in 5.7L V8 to replace the Iron Puke? DING! And they built a million of them. No, literally one million of them - well, 1.5 million to be exact. But I digress.
We’re also still waiting on the federal rule that would make engine swaps legal. The E-Rod crate engines are still not legal. (No, they are not. It’s tampering with an emissions control system when you swap an engine, and that’s against Federal law. Period.) This could be being used to test the emissions legal Low Volume Manufacturer legal engine.
The other probability is that it’s a suspension test mule. I’m skeptical only because GMPP doesn’t do those for anything but current generations. But it is most definitely a GMPP car. How can I tell you this for certain? Rear passenger bumper. That’s a GM Performance Parts badge. I’d bet the ones on the rockers are too.
7/15/19 8:52pm
Patrick, I can solve this mystery for you. And so I shall.
This is an engine test mule for GMPP. And how can I tell that? Because third gen Camaros are available with the garbage engines by the truckload, cheap, and therefore the #1 target market for a $12k drop-in 5.7L V8 to replace the Iron Puke? DING! And they built a million of them. No, literally one million of them - well, 1.5 million to be exact. But I digress.
We’re also still waiting on the federal rule that would make engine swaps legal. The E-Rod crate engines are still not legal. (No, they are not. It’s tampering with an emissions control system when you swap an engine, and that’s against Federal law. Period.) This could be being used to test the emissions legal Low Volume Manufacturer legal engine.
The other probability is that it’s a suspension test mule. I’m skeptical only because GMPP doesn’t do those for anything but current generations. But it is most definitely a GMPP car. How can I tell you this for certain? Rear passenger bumper. That’s a GM Performance Parts badge. I’d bet the ones on the rockers are too.
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Re: GM third gen mule
Every one reads really hard in to this, it makes sense they're testing a crate engine or connect and cruise package GMPP. Those probably still have to be road tested for some engineering data generation right? Used in soft ware calibration or some sort of validity testing of the components/software in a real word situations. Going to have to put it in some thing? If it was a first or second gen Camaro people would be like oh cool, GM is testing crate engines with a 1st Gen, Heritage, no one would bat an eye.
#28
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Re: GM third gen mule
How can they have cars like this used as test mules on their proving grounds, but produce the current car with that crazy high beltline? You'd think the goal would be to build something that looks even better than a 3rd gen.
Put this body on the 6th gen chassis, maybe make a few very small tweaks just to say it's not an exact copy. Modernize the interior with better materials. Build it.
Put this body on the 6th gen chassis, maybe make a few very small tweaks just to say it's not an exact copy. Modernize the interior with better materials. Build it.
From the comments on the Jalopnik site link...
7/15/19 8:52pm
Patrick, I can solve this mystery for you. And so I shall.
This is an engine test mule for GMPP. And how can I tell that? Because third gen Camaros are available with the garbage engines by the truckload, cheap, and therefore the #1 target market for a $12k drop-in 5.7L V8 to replace the Iron Puke? DING! And they built a million of them. No, literally one million of them - well, 1.5 million to be exact. But I digress.
We’re also still waiting on the federal rule that would make engine swaps legal. The E-Rod crate engines are still not legal. (No, they are not. It’s tampering with an emissions control system when you swap an engine, and that’s against Federal law. Period.) This could be being used to test the emissions legal Low Volume Manufacturer legal engine.
The other probability is that it’s a suspension test mule. I’m skeptical only because GMPP doesn’t do those for anything but current generations. But it is most definitely a GMPP car. How can I tell you this for certain? Rear passenger bumper. That’s a GM Performance Parts badge. I’d bet the ones on the rockers are too.
7/15/19 8:52pm
Patrick, I can solve this mystery for you. And so I shall.
This is an engine test mule for GMPP. And how can I tell that? Because third gen Camaros are available with the garbage engines by the truckload, cheap, and therefore the #1 target market for a $12k drop-in 5.7L V8 to replace the Iron Puke? DING! And they built a million of them. No, literally one million of them - well, 1.5 million to be exact. But I digress.
We’re also still waiting on the federal rule that would make engine swaps legal. The E-Rod crate engines are still not legal. (No, they are not. It’s tampering with an emissions control system when you swap an engine, and that’s against Federal law. Period.) This could be being used to test the emissions legal Low Volume Manufacturer legal engine.
The other probability is that it’s a suspension test mule. I’m skeptical only because GMPP doesn’t do those for anything but current generations. But it is most definitely a GMPP car. How can I tell you this for certain? Rear passenger bumper. That’s a GM Performance Parts badge. I’d bet the ones on the rockers are too.
495hp in the C8, I believe. They got creative with the accessory drive; I'm waiting for someone to try and swap that into a third gen or other platform.
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