As of
the end of late-2012, over 300,000 fifth-generation
Camaros have been sold since the car debuted in April,
2009 as a 2010 model. With sales figures like that, it
didn't take long for Camaro to reestablish itself as a
platform of choice for Chevrolet fans who like to
customize, accessorize or modify their cars.
Demand
for 5th Gen Camaro aftermarket products and services has
exploded and the variety of what's available is
astonishing. There are even Chevrolet dealers which sell
Camaros already equipped with performance enhancing
modifications and customized appearance. One of these
special dealers which "upfits" or "tunes" Camaros can
sell you a turn-key, personalized, hot rod version of
Chevrolet's iconic sports coupe.
Among
the first to toss his hat in the 5G Camaro "tuning" ring
was Bakerstown, Pennsylvania Chevy dealer Tom Henry
whose performance car subsidiary, Tom Henry Racing,
announced its "THR Camaro" early in 2009.
The "Tom
Henry Racing Camaro" appeals to a narrow slice of the
rear-drive sports coupe market segment: enthusiasts
demanding an interpretation of Chevrolet's musclecar as
distinctive in its appearance as it is in its enhanced
performance. Indeed, Tom Henry's special, 5th-gen
Camaros are unique. Since first one was delivered back
in late-June 2009, only 62 of have been built.
Tom Henry Racing Camaro serial number
18, delivered in early December 2009,
has the full THR treatment, including
the supercharged engine, special
suspension tires and wheels and, of
course, Rally Stripes. Image: Tom Henry
Racing.
The THR
Camaro builds on the reputation established by Tom Henry
Racing when it sold upfitted "Tom Henry SS"
fourth-generation Camaros in 2001 and 2002. "We've
always been partial to Camaro," Tom Henry said at the
THR Camaro launch in the spring of 2009 at his
dealership, 15 miles north of Pittsburgh. "Our special
Camaros have always been products targeted for hard core
enthusiasts. We want the look and feel of a road racing
car. Our appearance upgrades and performance
modifications are intended to give our customers that
road race ambience.
"Unlike
the SSes we did near the end of fourth-gen production,
the new, Tom Henry Racing Camaro program allows our
customers many more choices in appearance and
performance enhancements such that they can create just
the THR Camaro they want."
A Tom Henry Racing Camaro begins with either a V6 LT or
the V8 SS. Tom Henry Racing can also install its package
on any ILE or Hot Wheels Edition Camaro. You can have a
Tom Henry Racing Camaro in any factory color.
The car shown on this page is Summit
White. A THRC owner gets a choice of one several visual
enhancements for the car's exterior: twin rally stripes
in any color, inspired by the popular look of the first
generation Camaros; the "Hockey Stick" stripe package
popular on the '69 models; right front fender "hash
marks", an attractive visual cue popularized by some
past Corvettes; a traditional center stripe on the hood
and deck or two side stripes along the doors and rear
quarters, a popular graphic on Camaros of the '60s.
Various stripe packages are pictured on the THR Camaro
option page.
Those
wanting to give Mustang and Challenger drivers a visual
cue to remember after a THR Camaro passes, can fill the
space between the tail lights can be with one of two
"tail panels." A body-color "duck tail" spoiler will be
another appearance choice. See the THRC option page for
more details on each of these appearance items.
The
car's suspension reflects Camaro's road racing heritage.
Stock suspension parts are swapped for a Pedders
Suspension upgrade which firms-up the car's ride,
sharpens its handling and improves its appearance with a
3/4-inch drop in ride height. Either American Racing or
BBS aluminum wheels will replace the stock parts. The
combination of the lower ride height and different
wheels better fill the wheel wells giving the Tom Henry
Racing Camaro that road racer look desired by some of
Camaro Nation's hard-core enthusiasts.
Kate's Walkaround #4: Highlights of THR
Camaro Options.
Powertrain modifications are the meat-and-potatoes of
the Tom Henry Racing Camaro. Both V6 and V8 versions
come with a THR, low-restriction X-pipe-equipped,
exhaust system; a low-restriction, cold-air intake
system, and custom Tom Henry Racing ECM programming. In
addition, V8s can be fitted with Tom Henry Racing
long-tube headers and THR low-restriction, metal-matrix
catalytic converters. Taken as a package, these changes
should increase a manual transmission LS3's power from
the stock 422-hp to about 450-hp. Similar modifications
will be available on the L99/automatic cars, but with
slightly less power output. Some of the Tom Henry Racing
Camaro components, such as the V8 headers and exhaust,
are also available separately. For more information on
THR headers and exhausts,
click here.
The
ultimate in THR Camaros comes with a supercharged,
6.2-liter V8. If a Tom Henry Racing Camaro customer
selects the optional, THR Supercharger along with THR
custom tuning, horsepower from the manual transmission
LS3 goes to about 575 at the flywheel and the automatic
trans L99 goes to about 550 at the flywheel. The core of
the Tom Henry Racing blower is the same Eaton
"Twin-Vortices Series" R2300 rotor set used for the LS9
engine in the 2009-2013 Corvette ZR1. Tom Henry Racing
adds its own supercharger case and inlet manifold. The
THR supercharger system includes a charge air cooler
with a separate cooling system. One nice thing about the
THR Supercharger system on Tom Henry Racing Camaros is
no aftermarket hood is required. The supercharger
installation is done at Tom Henry Racing by THR techs
and the ECM tuning is done on a chassis dynamometer
before the car is delivered to the customer.
As of November 2012, THR Camaros are exceedingly rare with
thirty-four '10s, twelve '11s, twelve '12s and four '13s sold.
For the 2013 model year, THR can do its Camaro enhancement
packages on both 1LE and Hot Wheels Editions.
Tom Henry
Racing is one of only three Camaro tuners whose products are
listed in Mike Antonick's Camaro
White Book.
This 160-page reference is a treasure-trove of information such
as window-sticker prices, options and option codes, exterior and
interior colors and codes, and production numbers. In print
since 1985, the Camaro
White Book,
published by Michael Bruce Associates, is an important source of
data for the Camaro hobby. The fifth edition was updated and
expanded to include statistics from the 2011 model year
The Tom Henry Racing Supercharger is a four-lobe, high-helix,
modified-Roots type blower which bumps an LS3 to about 575-hp.
Image: Tom Henry Racing.
All Tom
Henry Racing Camaros have a unique number plate riveted
onto the left A-pillar. On the plate is stamped the
model year and the THR serial number. All THR Camaros
get a Tom Henry Racing windshield header along with
special THR badges on the front fenders. Optional is a
Tom Henry Racing badge on the rear tail panel. While
some of the THR Camaro parts may be available
individually, only complete THR Camaros sold by Tom
Henry Racing will have the unique serial numbers,
windshield headers and badges.
The concept for the Tom Henry Racing
Camaro was this early rendering of a 5th
Gen. The BBS wheels, the red caliper
covers, the fender hash-marks and the SS
grille were all part of the original THR
Camaro idea. Image: Tom Henry Racing.
