Quite frankly, no one expected the fourth-generation Camaro to be so damned good. Modest improvements in ride, handling and performance were expected, but the '93 Z28 exploded out of the hole with levels of performance previously only seen in the Corvette. A 275-horse small-block, six speed manual transmission and a sophisticated short/long arm suspension system combined to deliver stellar performance and race-ready handling.

Chevrolet caught everybody off guard with the fourth-generation F-body, including the press and the competition. Normally jaded auto writers had to be pried from behind the wheel at press events for the car. Even Ford was caught unaware.

It's no secret that Ford's 5.0-liter Mustang has enjoyed a cult following among modern performance enthusiasts. And much to the dismay of third-generation owners, Ford's pony car was kicking sand in the faces of Z28 owners. That changed the day the first fourth-generation Z28 rolled up next to a 5.0 at a stop light and sucked the blue oval off its grille. The new Z28 didn't just kick sand at Mustang owners, it buried them up to their necks.

It's hard to believe, but '97 not only marks the 30th consecutive year of production for the Camaro, it's also the fifth anniversary for the "new" Camaro. The model year includes the first significant interior and exterior changes since its '93 intro. New taillamps, windshield wipers and wheels mark exterior changes, while a new dashboard and console design distinguished '97 Camaros from previous models. Also, you'll be able to spot a '97 Camaro coming down the road, because its equipped with daytime running lights. For 1998, the Camaro received a new nose and headlight assembly. The Camaro trademark quad headlight system gave way to a pair of "aero" lamps, while the front bumper got a large, mouth-like grille opening with the fog lights pushed out towards the sides of the body. The V6-powered RS model was discontinued, but RS-style ground effects are still an option on Z28s. The new F-body was fitted with a slightly detuned version of the '97 Corvette LS1 small block which will be churning out 305 horsepower and 335 foot pounds of torque.

Already, the performance world has been shaken by the outright performance of fourth-generation F-body, and the relative lack of power from Ford's new Mustang. In short, no one expected the Z28 to offer such a high level of performance. For its roughly $20,000 price tag, the Camaro continues its 30-year tradition of performance with value, and has become the performance buy of the decade.