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Revived muscle car to save industry jobs
Waterbury Republican-American ^ | August 22, 2006 | Greg Bensinger

Posted on 08/22/2006 6:59:41 AM PDT by Graybeard58

General Motors Corp. will save about 2,500 jobs in Oshawa, Ontario, by building a revived Chevrolet Camaro sports car there in two years, the union that represents the workers said.

Production of the 2009 Camaro will begin at the end of 2008 as part of a $662 million investment, the company's Canadian unit said Monday. GM, the world's largest automaker, made the previous Camaro in Ste. Therese, Quebec, until 2002.

Members of the Canadian Auto Workers paved the way for the decision by agreeing in March to concessions that included shorter break times and use of contract employees.

GM said the investment is designed to give the plant flexibility to build a variety of vehicles. The Oshawa plant now makes Buick Lacrosse, Pontiac Grand Prix and Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Impala cars.

"We are thrilled about this, it means that any job losses will be through attrition, the workers' own decision," Peter Kennedy, a union spokesman, said in an interview. "But this doesn't solve everything. We're hopeful that ($662 million) investment means something else will come in to sustain the business there."

About 100,000 Camaros will be built annually, Kennedy said.

He provided the estimate of jobs saved, from about 6,000 workers at the factory.

The Detroit-based automaker said earlier this month it would bring back the Camaro. GM built the so-called muscle car from 1966 until 2002, when annual sales dwindled to 28,404 from a peak of 260,201 in 1978.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News
KEYWORDS: automakers; camaro; generalmotors; musclecar
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To: massgopguy
I had a 1978 Camaro with a 305 Small Block. One turn of the key and all I could hear was Highway Star.

Me too, it was the best car I ever had, it never left me stranded anywhere and always got me home. It had 182,000 miles on it and was still running when I had to let her go. I have a '02 Camaro which I have never had any problems with & it has 77,000 miles.

I think some people just find it fashionable to bash American cars. I've only had one American car that I had any trouble with - a '99 Pontiac Grand-Am and even then it wasn't major problems just annoying.

81 posted on 08/22/2006 10:59:25 AM PDT by Smittie
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To: RexBeach

I bought the GM "Toyota" and like it quite a bit.

It doesn't need an anemic, old 400c.i. engine. It puffs along quite nicely on the 6.0Liter 400hp engine. I had a 400 in my 1972 Catalina. 200hp, I think, if I was lucky.

Nice interior, fast as hell and gets 24mpg on the hwy at 80mph.

If I were younger the only thing more I could ask for in it would be a bigger back seat.

The GTO was doomed from the start. GM never anticipated importing it for more than a few years plus they were constrained by UAW contract from importing more than 18,000 vehicles in a single year. No advertisement, $5k more than their target price and limited stock = no sales.

Don't matter. I got mine - and cheap.


82 posted on 08/22/2006 10:59:38 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Rabid ethnicist.)
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To: Graybeard58

Muscle car?

If I were in the market for an automobile, I would purchase PRIMARILY on fuel efficiency.


83 posted on 08/22/2006 11:02:20 AM PDT by WhiteGuy (It's about the People Who Count the Votes................. - Wally O'Dell)
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To: massgopguy

Had a 1967/327 that I wish I still had. Good looking, fast and trouble free.


84 posted on 08/22/2006 11:08:51 AM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: Graybeard58

She's 22 now, and 6 months pregnant.


85 posted on 08/22/2006 11:28:22 AM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: RexBeach
"new" Pontiac GTO. That was an utter disaster.


My three girls, one of which is a GTO!

86 posted on 08/22/2006 12:01:36 PM PDT by Harrius Magnus ("As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy than to create." - Capt. Spock)
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To: Harrius Magnus

I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Your neighborhood looks like a back lot at MGM. Very nice, though. :)


87 posted on 08/22/2006 12:10:51 PM PDT by RexBeach
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To: Harrius Magnus

Looks nice minus the spoiler. My wife said ours looks better with it on. In the interest of continued harmony, I agreed ;)


88 posted on 08/22/2006 1:14:18 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Rabid ethnicist.)
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