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The Rallye Red paint, rumbling exhaust and wide silver stripes punctuated with checkered flags make it hard to be discreet in Chevrolet’s 35th Anniversary limited-edition SS Camaro.

Introverts may want something that generates a little less attention, extroverts will love the way it elicits stares from strangers and driving enthusiasts will revel in its brute power and sports-car handling. Collectors will find it attractive because it is the best Camaro to date and the last of its generation. Although there is no official word about the Camaro’s future, it is pretty certain that the 2002 will be the last one built in the Ste. Therese plant in Quebec. Rumors continue to hint that another Camaro will emerge at some point in the future.

I remember seeing the first Camaro in a Chevy showroom back in 1967. Its lines were clean and uncluttered, the honeycomb grille vaguely resembled a Ferrari’s and the rear fenders bulged like biceps. Thirty-five years later it is still one of the best Camaro designs ever, but the current model is certainly the most accomplished. The SS performance package ($3,625) has 325 horsepower, a fresh air scoop in the hood, a unique rear spoiler, a low-restriction exhaust system and either a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Seventeen-inch aluminum wheels, painted black with polished spokes, mount Goodyear F1 tires that do their best to transfer the abundant power to the road.

The 35th Anniversary package ($2,500), available on either the coupe or convertible, includes special badging, stripes, a dash plaque and an embroidered logo on the headrest of each front seat. A sizable “trophy/rear-shelf mat” with giant logo is also part of the package. With a sticker price of $37,460 for the convertible I drove, this becomes a pretty expensive package.

The 5.7-liter aluminum V-8 is derived from the Corvette, and in SS guise it pumps out 325 horsepower, 15 more than the regular model because of the fresh-air induction system. In spite of that, fuel mileage is rated at 19 miles per gallon city and 28 on the highway. Torque is so readily available that the traction control system is easily invoked if you get frisky with the throttle, particularly in wet conditions. Abundant torque also makes the car easy to drive in the city because gear selection is not all that important: It pulls away from a stop in second gear almost as easily as first, and, in fact, the transmission automatically forces you to shift from first to fourth when you’re driving easy. This “skip shift” feature is there to meet federal mileage requirements, and is easily defeated by accelerating briskly.

Camaro convertibles generally have a fair amount of body shake, but this one felt tighter, more solid, than the last one I drove. Perhaps the special SS suspension contributes to a tighter feel. The front-engine, rear-drive layout is reasonably well balanced, and the cornering, especially on smooth pavement, is impressive. On roug h pavement, however, it feels less certain because of the lack of compliance in the solid rear axle design.

The Camaro’s interior is where the age of the original design is most obvious. It feels crowded, and the back seat is functionally a place for packages or pets rather than full-size people. The deep bucket seats of the 35th Anniversary model are deeply contoured, which provides excellent support. Minor restyling of the instrument cluster and radio/heater section in recent years was an improvement, but the fit, finish and the quality of materials used for the interior is just not on par with newer models. This will not be an issue with Camaro diehards who are lured by the basso profundo exhaust note and seat-squashing acceleration, not the number of cupholders or how easy it is to work the radio.

Regardless of the Camaro’s future, there’s nothing like going out with a bang, and the 35th Anniversary limited-edition does exactly that. Whatever its replacement, it will b difficult to match the raw power and visceral appeal of this model.

Price
The base price of a Camaro convertible is $29,390. The SS performance package is $3,625, the 35th Anniversary model adds $2,500, a 12-disc CD player is $595, traction control is $450 and the Hurst short-throw shift linkage adds $325.

The sticker price was $37,460.

Warranty
Three years or 36,000 miles.

Point: The limited-edition 35th Anniversary Camaro is not exactly a low-profile package, what with its stripes and all, but it is wrapped around the mechanical pieces of a Camaro SS that boasts 325 horsepower and a special suspension. Power is plentiful, handling sure on smooth pavement and collectibility is an added factor since this is likely to be the last model of this generation.

Counterpoint: The cabin is crowded and somewhat dated despite a fairly recent restyling of the instrument cluster. Fit, finish and quality of materials is not on par with newer designs.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 5.7-liter, 325-hp V-8
Transmission: Six-speed Rear-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 101.1 inches
Curb weight: 3,554 lbs.
Base price: $29,390
As driven: $37,460
Mpg rating: 19 city, 28 hwy.
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