1996 to 1997 Camaro RS

97 RS, unknown mileage

Backstory:

Allow me to give some backstory, before I dive into details. Chevrolet, in their ordering guide for 1997, recommended RS coupes and Z28 coupes to be ordered by dealers as "feature" vehicles. The alternative were "focus" vehicles, which were models that were chosen for their saleability—models equipped with product features that customers tended to want most. Generally, the "focus" vehicles are the "volume" vehicles that comprise the majority of the build. The "focus" vehicles were not RSes, but here's more details on those, since I think it's good for forming a historically accurate perspective:

1997 "Focus" vehicle ordering recommendations:

Camaro Coupe with Preferred Equipment Group I (1SB)

Additional Options:

• • 4-Speed Electronically Controlled Automatic Transmission

  • Electric Rear Window Defogger

  • Body-Side Moldings, Color-Keyed

  • 16" Aluminum Wheels

  • P235/55R-16 Blackwall Tires

Camaro Z28 Coupe with Preferred Equipment Group 2 (1SJ)

Additional Options:

• • Same as Camaro Coupe, except for 16" Aluminum Wheels (which it already comes with, standard)

Popular colors: Bright Red, Black. Arctic White and Bright Green Metallic

The "Feature" vehicles are the "image" models that Chevrolet profiled most in its advertising. Generally they were vehicles that did the best job of capturing the attention of and creating consumer awareness. The Feature vehicles for 1997 were Camaro RS Coupes and Camaro Z28 Coupes.

1997 Standard Camaro RS Coupe and Camaro Z28 features include:

• • Driver and Front Passenger Air Bags

  • Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System

  • Analog Gauge Package with Tachometer standard

  • P235/55R-16 Blackwall Tires

  • 16" aluminum wheels

  • Tilt-Wheel Adjustable Steering Column

  • AM/FM Stereo with Cassette Player

Camaro RS Coupe Lead Colors: Bright Purple Metallic or Bright Green Metallic (note: these were the two new exterior paint colors this year)

Camaro Z28 Coupe: Bright Red

How to identify an RS by its RPO codes:

There were potentially several ways to order an RS. The single RPO code associated with RS in 1997 was Y3F (sales package - RS). This code is only mentioned 1 time in the entire 1997 ordering guide (82 pages... and mentioned on page 74).

However, I don't know if every single RS ended up with that code, as it was not necessarily 100% required based on the ordering guide.

Based on the ordering guide, the way to select an RS was via the RPO code that determined which equipment group would be applied to the vehicle.

The first one has base preferred equipment group (which means very few options). The second has preferred equipment group 1 (generally things like cruise control and fog lights). The third has preferred equipment group 2 (generally power locks, windows, mirrors, etc).

97 coupes (1FP87) came in 3 different specs: 1SA, 1SB, 1SC

97 convertibles (1FP67) came in: 1SD, 1SE, 1SF

97 RS coupes (1FP87) came in: 1SN, 1SP, 1SQ

97 RS convertibles (1FP67) came in: 1SR, 1SS, 1ST

97 Z28 coupes (1FP87) came in: 1SG, 1SH, 1SJ

97 Z28 convertibles (1FP67) came in: 1SK, 1SL, 1SM

Therefore, on the RPO code sticker, a 1997 RS will have 1SN, 1SP, or 1SQ if it is a coupe... or 1SR, 1SS, or 1ST if it is a convertible.

To complicate this further, RPO code R7R means CAMARO RALLY SPORT IDENTIFIER.