2010 Berger Camaro SS

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN; 15 November 2009: Berger Chevrolet is celebrating 85 years of exclusive devotion to the Chevrolet brand and the dealership’s performance heritage by producing a very special limited edition 2010 Berger SS Camaro with 550 horsepower.

According to current fourth-generation Berger President, Matthew Berger, “I have never seen enthusiasts who are as passionate about their automobiles as Camaro and Chevy performance car owners. My first car was a Camaro and I have owned quite a few of them over the years. We sell a lot of Corvettes and SS models of other Chevrolets, however, the Camaro has always held a special place in the hearts of our very loyal customers and our dealership.”

Berger continued, “The most important aspect of the new Berger SS Camaro is that even though the performance level of the 2010 production car has been raised substantially over previous generations, our version maintains the exceptional drivability and reliability of the factory production car, but posts even more impressive benchmark numbers. As the first true performance successor to the 60s Chevy ‘pavement-melter’ musclecars, the 5th generation Camaro’s retro styling cues and huge performance increase over the previous generation, form the perfect platform for us to recreate and recall the great history behind the Bowtie brand’s most popular musclecar. The new Berger SS Camaros pay homage and are dedicated to those who owned, now own or just dream of owning a car like this.”

“Our goals for this project were to emphasize the highest possible quality in all areas, choosing proven performance improvements wisely for the best-bang-for-the-buck and using only OEM or better parts throughout.” Berger added.

Back in the 60s, Berger Chevy sold, sponsored, raced (at sanctioned track events) and modified some of the wildest, most outrageous and now valuable Chevrolet musclecars the world has ever seen: Camaro SS, ZL1, Z-28, Chevelles, Novas and Corvettes; including forty of the very rare COPO
(Central Office Production Order) 427 cubic inch Camaro factory performance specials.

Berger will produce a total of twenty Berger SS Camaros and one prototype for the 2010 model year. The car is based on the brand new Camaro 2SS RS model package that features all of the goodies most performance-minded buyers order. This specific model also includes Xenon headlights and a 60’s retro-style gauge package for the console stack. The base Camaro SS 6.2 liter V-8 engine produces a prodigious 426 hp (for the manual transmission-equipped version). Berger adds airflow modifications, a reprogrammed ECU engine management system, a stainless-steel-chambered exhaust system and the supercharger to up the ante to a very substantial 550 hp. Guiding all that power is a brand new Hurst short-throw shifter that makes a big improvement in shifting effort, feel and precision.

Besides larger wheels and tires, the Berger SS Camaro features carefully specified suspension modifications that further improve the stock Camaro SS’s excellent handling. One of the most noticeable results is the quicker and even more precise steering feel upon turning into a corner. The 2010 Camaro has a new independent rear suspension and a much stiffer and refined new chassis, which greatly resists torsional twisting loads. These production upgrades combine with the Berger mods to produce one of the best handling Camaros to ever hit the street. The Camaro SS comes from the factory with such superb Brembo brakes, that modifications were deemed unnecessary.

“We resisted the temptation to add any bodywork, spoilers, flares or the like as we are extremely happy with the 2010 Camaro’s blend of retro-modern styling and the factory aerodynamic package.” Matt Berger said.

Many of the go-fast parts, features and accoutrements the dealership specifies for the 2010 Berger SS Camaro, can trace their lineage back to Berger Camaros of the past from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and early 2,000 model years. Performance parts like the special chambered exhaust, airflow modification hardware; bigger wheels and tires, etc. have been used on Berger Camaros since the mid 1960s. Visual cues like the blackout rear panel trim, Berger Prescribed Power decal in the engine compartment and front fender panels, custom painted rally stripes (the factory versions are just decals), etc. are the same as those used on Berger cars as far back as the very first years of Camaro production. Cost for the Berger package is $19,994, plus the price of a 2010 Camaro SS. At least half of the cars available are already sold.