Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 128: In the Bear's Claw

Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 128: In the Bear's Claw

As promised in the previous post in this series, I decided to create the entire model line-up for the '80s muscle/pony car I worked on after a round of my CEL Challenge Remix. I called it the Bearclaw, so here it is:

Above: The full line-up for the Bearclaw - an 80s American muscle/pony car from a recent round of my CEL Challenge Remix.

There are a total of seven trims spanning the years 1980 to 1989. They are as follows:

• Back row, far left: 1980 5.0 GT (silver) - original version with 175-bhp carbureted 5.0L OHV V8, 4-speed manual and clutched LSD. Not the fastest, but a sound basis for what comes next.
• Back row, left: 1982 5.0 GT SFI (dark blue) - first minor update, introducing 200-bhp SFI (single-point EFI) version of the same V8, yielding a slight but noticeable performance boost.
• Back row, center: 1984 5.0 GT EFI (black) - a major facelift, removing the upper grille and moving the indicators above the bumper. Multi-point EFI becomes available for the first time; power increases to 225 bhp, and the differential is upgraded to a geared LSD, while a 5-speed gearbox is now standard.
• Back row, right: 1987 5.0 GT EFI Competition Pack (white) - similar to the above trim, but with a stiffer suspension tune and a revised engine, although output is unchanged. The Competition Pack is optional on the 5.0 GT EFI, but is not compatible with the Touring Pack (see below).
• Back row, far right: 1987 5.7 GT EFI Competition Pack (yellow) - identical to the above trim, but for the fitment of a 5.7-liter V8 developing 240 horsepower. The Competition Pack is standard with this engine.
• Front row, left: 1987 5.0 GT EFI Touring Pack (green) - a comfort-focused trim with a softer suspension tune and a detuned version of the 5.0L EFI V8 developing 200 horsepower. The Touring Pack is only available with this engine variant and is not compatible with the Competition Pack (see above).
• Front row, right: 1989 5.7 GT EFI Final Edition (red) - the final facelift of the Bearclaw, with new head- and taillights. The 225-bhp EFI V8 is now the base engine for the GT, but the Competition Pack is now optional, and even then only for the 5.7 GT, which receives 10 extra horsepower. The Touring Pack is dropped this year. Production of this generation continues until 1991, after which the Bearclaw receives a full redesign.

All trims of the Bearclaw GT have a premium interior and sound system (8-track at launch, cassette from 1984 onwards) either as standard or as an option, with a 2+2 (2 full-size seats up front and 2 smaller seats in the rear) seating configuration. Suspension is by McPherson struts in the front and a coil-sprung live axle at the rear. Brakes are vented discs at all four corners (except for the original 5.0 GT, which had solid discs at the rear), with ABS assistance being optional on the Final Edition. Wheels are cast-alloy items measuring 15 or 16 inches wrapped in medium compound or high-performance tires (depending on trim level and year). Although an automatic transmission is optional, and would have had 3 speeds at launch, then 4 speeds from 1984, I chose not to make any trims fitted with this feature.

Overall, I had a lot of fun creating the Bearclaw and fleshing out its evolution over time. In particular, I had a field day designing its interior using various 3D fixtures, something that I have become fond of for my most serious builds. See you again next time!