JANUARY 2025: WHAT IS A “STARSHIP” 1985 CAMARO BERLINETTA? ITS OWNER ANSWERS THE QUESTION

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We at MyStarCollectorCar believe the car hobby should always be a way for us to learn more about the vintage car and truck hobby-particularly when the car in question is known as a “Starship” model.

A chance encounter with a 1985 Camaro Berlinetta provided an opportunity for us to get another lesson in automotive history because this car was known as a Starship model, and its owner (Bob Glenn) was able to fill in the blanks about his rare ’85 Camaro.

Bob is a big fan of 1980s-era Camaros and owned one before he bought his ’85 Berlinetta 7 years ago. He told MyStarCollectorCar that “most people just see a 3rd-gen Camaro”, but Bob was able to explain why his ’85 Berlinetta is a very special edition GM pony car.

A typical 1985 Camaro had a standard gauge cluster that operated just like any other car at the time. The controls on a non-Starship ’85 Camaro were also standard issue features that were found on just about every other domestic car built 50 years ago.

However, the Camaro people decided to boldly go where no car had gone before at the time and build a unique Berlinetta model that featured instruments and controls that made their drivers feel like they were starship captains.

For example, the instrument panel of Bob’s ’85 Berlinetta is a cluster of electronic digital gauges that were a novel system in the mid-Eighties and a far cry from standard issue mechanical gauge packages. An interesting feature is the car’s digital speedometer that flashes when Bob exceeds the Berlinetta’s velocity threshold as defined by 1985 rules and regulations regarding highway speeds. 

Additionally, a 1985 Berlinetta had a series of control pods that could pulled out to a closer position within the driver’s reach. A driver would also have to adapt to a signal light toggle switch in one of the pods instead of a steering column-mounted turn signal arm found in most vehicles then and now.

Bob’s ’85 Berlinetta has a T-top configuration with even more controls in the center pillar section for extra emphasis on the car’s space age vibe.

The car’s sound system has even undergone a major change from a conventional dash-mounted radio to a swivel configuration that allows easier access to both the driver and front seat passenger. The sound system includes a then-current cassette deck that is disguised within the swivel deck.

A 1985 Camaro Berlinetta still provides an excellent balance of comfort and speed, a combination that appeals to Bob whenever he gets behind the wheel of his Starship Camaro. Its Starship model, provides enough power to maintain a solid pace on the road and “floats along” in Bob’s words.

BY: Jim Sutherland

Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section. 

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