New Camaro sales might be spiraling in the wrong direction, but Chevrolet’s muscle car still has plenty to offer. And while the range-topping ZL1 is certainly speedy, arguably the best trim in the lineup is the Camaro SS 1LE. But if you want to save some cash and don’t like dealing with dealers, you don’t have to buy a new one. Instead, you could bid on the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE currently listed on Cars & Bids.
The 1LE Package took the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS from retro to racetrack-ready
2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE | Chevrolet
| 2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE | |
| Engine | 6.2-liter ‘LS3’ V8 |
| Horsepower | 426 hp |
| Torque | 420 lb-ft |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual |
| Curb weight | 3860 lbs |
| 0-60 mph time | 4.3 seconds |
When Chevy brought the Camaro back in 2010, it also started trickling out some beloved historic trims. There was the V8-powered SS, naturally, later joined by the ZL1. And in 2013, the fifth-gen Chevrolet Camaro brought back an ‘80s favorite: the 1LE.
Introduced on the third-gen Camaro IROC-Z, the 1LE was developed to improve the car’s SCCA racing performance. And it was originally a ‘secret menu’ kind of package that required checking some specific order-sheet boxes. But while the 2013 Camaro SS 1LE was significantly easier to order, it kept the original’s racetrack spirit intact.
Firstly, the 2013 Camaro SS 1LE packs a reinforced version of the standard car’s Tremec transmission with a dedicated cooler as well as a short-throw shifter. It also has a shorter axle ratio for better acceleration and stouter rear-axle half shafts. Plus, it borrows some hardware from the contemporary ZL1, including its high-capacity fuel pump, wheel bearings, aluminum wheels, Goodyear Eagle Supercar G:2 tires, toe links, and rear shock mounts.
Speaking of shock mounts, the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE has sportier monotube dampers, rather than the standard car’s dual-tube ones. And in addition to stiffer, bigger sway bars, it has a strut-tower brace, front splitter, and rear spoiler. Also, despite being wider than standard, the 1LE’s wheel-and-tire combination weighs less. Finally, it has a matte-black hood and a flat-bottom steering wheel.
Although it’s not quite as nimble as the Alpha-platform sixth-gen 1LE, the 2013 Camaro SS 1LE is still a blast to drive. It ran Car and Driver’s Lightning Lap eight seconds faster than the standard SS, all the while feeling “tighter” and “more graceful,” with delightfully sharp steering and turn-in. Furthermore, it beat the contemporary Mustang Boss 302’s time on the same circuit by 1.3 seconds. It’s not just a muscle car—it’s a sports car.
You can bid on a first-year fifth-gen 1LE right now on Cars & Bids
2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE front 3/4 | Cars & Bids
Besides those standard features, Chevrolet offered the 2013 Camaro SS 1LE with several luxury and performance options. And the example currently listed on Cars & Bids has several of them.
In addition to all the suspension and transmission mods, this Camaro SS 1LE has a dual-mode performance exhaust, Brembo brakes, and a limited-slip differential. Also, it has heated front sport seats, leather upholstery, navigation, remote keyless entry, a heads-up display, and a power sunroof. And the seller, who is also the original owner, gave it tinted windows and taillights, HID headlights, some carbon-fiber-look badges, and wider-than-stock Goodyear tires.
2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE interior | Cars & Bids
Apart from some paint chips, wheel curb rash, and shifter trim, this 2013 Chevrolet Camaro is in great shape. And it only has 20,522 miles on the clock. Plus, in addition to a zero-accident history and extensive service records, the seller recently changed the oil and filter. They also rotated the tires last year, roughly 2000 miles ago.
A fifth-gen Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE makes an excellent budget track day tool
As of this writing, this 2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE is listed at $15,000 with three days left in the auction. That’s a considerable drop from its original $43,125 MSRP. And the next-cheapest fifth-gen 1LE on Autotrader costs almost $8000 more and has eight times the mileage.
Even at its original price, the fifth-gen Camaro 1LE was a genuine performance bargain. But an example like this is even more of one. And with such low mileage, it’s practically begging for some more track time.
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Keyword: Cars & Bids Bargain of the Week: 2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE