Lobby Displays at the 2006 Portland International Auto Show

These assorted vehicles were displayed in the lobby of the Oregon Convention Center during the 2006 Portland International Auto Show in Portland, Oregon. 

This pair of Chevrolet Camaros were representing the Portland Police Bureau. The unmarked one in the background even had standard-issue Oregon license plates for extra stealth.

Here is a customized version of Chrysler's Hemi-powered, rear-wheel drive sedan, the 300, made to resemble a Bentley. It was even placed with the Bentleys out in the lobby. Pretty convincing.

Here is another customized Daimler-Chrysler product from the lobby, a Dodge Magnum.

This Lotus Elise was representing Dream Cars Northwest, Inc., a Portland company that rents luxury and exotic cars.

This customized Willys Jeep was in the lobby and may have been the oldest vehicle in the show. Its exact year is hard to determine, both due to the customizing and the fact that Jeeps do not change much from year to year, but it appears to be a CJ-3B.

This model of Jeep was introduced in 1953 and was built into the late 1960s.

Also on display in the lobby was this preview of NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett's next #88 car: a Ford Fusion, replacing the Taurus.

1998 Chevrolet Camaro

The fourth generation of the Chevrolet Camaro was introduced in 1993, and In 1998 the Chevrolet Camaro was given a facelift, with aerodynamic flush headlights replacing the recessed headlights that had been a Camaro trademark since the previous generation debuted in 1982. The Camaro's base engine was still the 200-horsepower 3.8-liter V6, but the Z28 and SS featured an all-new aluminum-alloy 5.7-liter LS1 small block V8. The LS1 has the same bore spacing as the LT1 it replaced, but is shorter and lighter, with longer intake runners, a winged oil pan, a .500-inch lift hydraulic roller camshaft, wider camshaft journals, and a coil for each cylinder. The LS1 is rated at 305 horsepower in the Camaro Z28, but with the ram air induction of the Camaro SS is boosted to 320 horsepower, enough to accelerate the Camaro SS from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 161 miles per hour.

1997 Chevrolet Camaro

The fourth generation of the Chevrolet Camaro was introduced in 1993, and 1997 was the last year of the original styling before a major facelift. For 1997, the Camaro's base engine was a 3.8-liter V6, with the Z28 featuring a 275-horsepower 5.7-liter LT1 V8 that would accelerate the Camaro from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 miles per hour. 1997 was the 30th Anniversary of the Camaro, and a limited-edition 30th anniversary model was available for the Z28 in Arctic White with Hugger Orange stripes, patterned after the 1969 Camaro Z28 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

I've already discussed the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro in an earlier post, but here's a look at the SS version of the 2010 Camaro, spotted at Cruisin' Sherwood on June 13, 2009.

Standard equipment for the Camaro SS includes the 400-horsepower LS3 V8 engine with 400 foot-pounds of torque and a six-speed manual transmission. Options on this example include ground effects, 21-inch black wheels, and sunroof. The window-tinting and blackened emblems are aftermarket.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro

One of the most anticipated new American cars is the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. The preproduction model shown here was displayed at the 2009 Portland International Auto Show, in advance of the beginning of production in February, 2009. The Camaro is styled with design cues from the original Camaros of the late 1960s, including the long-hood, short-deck proportions, the shape of the fenders and the gills in the rear quarter panels.

The Camaro will be available in three models:

The base LS model, starting at $22,995, and the mid-level LT are powered by a 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 with variable valve timing, rated at 300 horsepower and 273 foot-pounds of torque and with estimated fuel economy of 26 miles per gallon on the highway.

The high-performance SS model, starting at 30,995, is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine rates at 422 horsepower and 408 foot-pounds of torque with the 6-speed manual transmission or slightly less with the 6-speed automatic. The V8 engine features a cylinder displacement system that shuts off half the cylinders when not needed to deliver fuel economy of up to 23 miles per gallon on the highway. The SS will also feature performance suspension with a lower ride height.

All Camaro models feature a 6-speed transmission, either manual or automatic, six airbags, 4-wheel disk brakes with ABS, stability and traction control, and a choice of 18, 19 or 20 inch wheels. Options include leather upholstery, an ultrasonic rear parking assist system, remote start, XM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth connectivity and GM's On-Star communications system.

The Camaro's interior also features styling cues that recalls the original Camaros, such as the deeply-recessed round gauges in square housings.

Chevrolet also plans a convertible version of the Camaro, that was scheduled for release in the summer of 2010.