By Berger
In 2000, Berger Chevrolet, one of the few remaining family owned and operated dealerships celebrated its 75th anniversary. To mark this occasion the Berger family brought back the dealer modified Camaro popularized in the late sixties - and the Berger SS Camaro was reborn. Over a three year period, Berger Chevrolet built a total of 100 Berger SS Camaros to be purchased. We are fortunate enough to own car number 93 of the limited production Super Sports produced by Berger and GMMG, Inc.
Our car was ordered as a special commemoration for the 35th anniversary of the Camaro. 2002 would mark a hiatus for one of the most popular cars in the country - a car that defines Chevrolet. #93 was built to my personal specifications, along with some help from my friends, which makes it a truly unique expression of my love for the Camaro.
Berger Chevrolet applied the beautiful Corvette Electron Blue Metallic paint with heritage stripes in Arctic White. This is the only Berger SS produced utilizing a current generation color. Powered by a “Phase II” 435 horsepower aluminum LS1 small block V8, boasting 410 pound feet of torque and a 10.4:1 compression ratio, this Camaro has the power to match its looks. Free breathing is accomplished through a high flow air box, ported throttle body, long tube headers and a GMMG chambered exhaust similar to the vintage Camaros. Power is transferred to the tires through a six speed manual transmission with a Hurst shifter to a 3.73:1 rear gear. For 2002 Berger added lightweight Fikse FM5 three piece forged aluminum wheels with road grabbing B.F. Goodrich g-force TA KDW tires to help put the power to the pavement. Extra control through the curves is provided by added suspension components including Eibach progressive rate coil springs, Koni double adjustable shocks 1LE bushings and 1LE sway bars. Bringing all this forward motion to a halt are red powder coated Camaro calipers with dimpled rotors. Enhancing the interior are Ebony leather seats with perforated Torch Red leather inserts, Camaro SS front and rear deck floor mats.
All Berger SS Camaros are adorned with a black billet aluminum front grille featuring a vintage “SS” emblem. They also carry a classic satin black rear panel reminiscent of the big block SS’s as well as distinctive “by Berger” and “Prescribed Power” badges inside and outside the car, marking it's well deserved place in automotive history.
Berger SS Camaro History tidbits:
Our car was ordered as a special commemoration for the 35th anniversary of the Camaro. 2002 would mark a hiatus for one of the most popular cars in the country - a car that defines Chevrolet. #93 was built to my personal specifications, along with some help from my friends, which makes it a truly unique expression of my love for the Camaro.
Berger Chevrolet applied the beautiful Corvette Electron Blue Metallic paint with heritage stripes in Arctic White. This is the only Berger SS produced utilizing a current generation color. Powered by a “Phase II” 435 horsepower aluminum LS1 small block V8, boasting 410 pound feet of torque and a 10.4:1 compression ratio, this Camaro has the power to match its looks. Free breathing is accomplished through a high flow air box, ported throttle body, long tube headers and a GMMG chambered exhaust similar to the vintage Camaros. Power is transferred to the tires through a six speed manual transmission with a Hurst shifter to a 3.73:1 rear gear. For 2002 Berger added lightweight Fikse FM5 three piece forged aluminum wheels with road grabbing B.F. Goodrich g-force TA KDW tires to help put the power to the pavement. Extra control through the curves is provided by added suspension components including Eibach progressive rate coil springs, Koni double adjustable shocks 1LE bushings and 1LE sway bars. Bringing all this forward motion to a halt are red powder coated Camaro calipers with dimpled rotors. Enhancing the interior are Ebony leather seats with perforated Torch Red leather inserts, Camaro SS front and rear deck floor mats.
All Berger SS Camaros are adorned with a black billet aluminum front grille featuring a vintage “SS” emblem. They also carry a classic satin black rear panel reminiscent of the big block SS’s as well as distinctive “by Berger” and “Prescribed Power” badges inside and outside the car, marking it's well deserved place in automotive history.
Berger SS Camaro History tidbits:
- All have body color painted roof hoops.
- In 2000 the Phase I engine was rated at 375 hp.
- In 2001 and 2002 the Phase I engine was rated at 380 hp.
- All Phase II engines were rated at 435 hp.
- 2000 had stock fixed mast antennas.
- 2001 and 2002 had GM power antennas.
- In 2001 the rear view mirror was by Gentex with compass and auto dimming.
- In 2002 the rear view mirror was same as 2001 but added outside temperature.
- For 2000 Berger chrome plated the OEM Camaro SS 10 spoke wheel.
- For 2001 Berger chrome plated the Mallett 396 wheel.
- For 2002 the wheel was the Fikse Classic FM5.
- The badging in 2000 was unique for the dealership’s 75th anniversary.
- There were 2 custom painted in 2000, Daytona Yellow Coupe and Millennium Yellow Convertible (Dale Berger's).
- There was 1 custom painted in 2001, Hugger Orange Coupe (Matt Berger's).
- There were 6 custom painted in 2002, Chrome Illusion Coupe, Electron Blue Coupe, Hugger Orange Convertible, Daytona Yellow Coupe, Rally Green Coupe, and Lemans Blue Coupe.
- All custom painted cars started life as Onyx Black cars. They were meticulously taken apart at Berger’s dealership and repainted the color of choice.
- All custom painted cars received painted stripes.
- In 2001 there was 1 Phase II, Matt Berger’s Hugger Orange Coupe.
- In 2002 there were a total of 9 Phase II's ordered from the dealer. The 6 custom painted cars, 2 Arctic White and a Navy Blue. (Many have been up fitted after the fact by GMMG)
- There are only 2 Hardtop cars, both 2002’s (both started as Phase 1's but were upgraded by GMMG). One Rally Red and one Sebring Silver.
- In 2000 Berger built 2 Prototypes, PR-1 (Rally Red) used for media promotion and car shows, and PR-2 (Onyx Black) the whereabouts of PR-2 are unknown. There were 29 regular production numbered cars.
- In 2001 Berger built 28 regular production numbered cars. There was one Prototype built labeled as PR-2 (Navy Blue) but it is also car number 30 of the series.
- In 2002 for the last great year of the 4th generation Camaro they built 43 regular production numbered cars as well as Prototype PR-3 (Arctic White) and number 00.
- There are a grand total of 104 cars built, PR-1 (2000), PR-2 (2000), PR-3 (2002), cars 1 through 100 and car number 00. (Matt Berger’s Daytona Yellow 2002)