Chevrolet · 1966–2023

Chevrolet Camaro B4C

The Chevrolet Camaro is a mid-size American automobile manufactured by Chevrolet, classified as a pony car. It first went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year, and was designed to compete with the Ford Mustang. The Camaro shared its platform and major components with the Firebird, produced by General Motors' Pontiac division that was also introduced for the 1967 model year. Four generations of the Camaro were developed before production ended in 2002. The nameplate was revived on a concept car that evolved into the fifth-generation Camaro; production started on March 16, 2009. Production of the sixth generation of the Camaro ended in December 2023 for the 2024 model year.

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Background

Before any official announcement, reports began running during April 1965 within the automotive press that Chevrolet was preparing a competitor to the Ford Mustang, codenamed "Panther". On June 21, 1966, around 200 automotive journalists received a telegram from General Motors stating, "...please save noon of June 28 for important SEPAW meeting. Hope you can be on hand to help scratch a cat. Details will follow...(signed) John L. Cutter – Chevrolet public relations – SEPAW secretary." The following day, the same journalists received another General Motors telegram stating, "Society for the Eradication of Panthers from the Automotive World will hold first and last meeting on June 28...(signed) John L. Cutter – Chevrolet public relations SEPAW secretary." These telegrams puzzled automotive journalists. On June 28, 1966, General Motors held a live press conference at Detroit's Statler-Hilton Hotel. It was the first time fourteen cities were connected in real time for a press conference call via telephone lines. Chevrolet general manager Pete Estes started the news conference by stating that all attendees of the conference were charter members of the Society for the Elimination of Panthers from the Automotive World (SEPAW), and that this would be the first and last meeting of SEPAW. Estes then announced a new car line, project designation XP-836, with a name that Chevrolet chose in keeping with other car names beginning with the letter "C", such as the Corvair, Chevelle, Chevy II and Corvette. He claimed the name "suggests the comradeship of good friends as a personal car should be to its owner" and that "to us, the name means just what we think the car will do... go." The "Camaro" name was then unveiled. Automotive press asked Chevrolet product managers, "what is a Camaro?

First generation (1967–1969)

The first-generation Camaro debuted in September 1966. It was produced for the 1967 through 1969 model years on a new rear-wheel drive GM F-body platform as a two-door 2+2 in hardtop coupé and convertible models. The base engine was a 230 cu in (3.8 L) inline-6, with a 250 cu in (4.1 L) straight-six or 302 cu in (4.9 L), 307 cu in (5.0 L), 327 cu in (5.4 L), 350 cu in (5.7 L), and 396 cu in (6.5 L) V8s available as options. Concerned with the runaway success of the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet executives realized that the sporty version of their compact rear-engine Corvair, the Monza, would not be able to generate the sales volume of the Mustang due to limitations with that layout (including its inability to share the whole range of Chevrolet engines) and declining sales, the latter partly owing to the negative publicity from Ralph Nader's book Unsafe at Any Speed. Therefore, the Camaro was touted for its conventional rear-drive, front-engine configuration, and layout, the same as the Mustang. In addition, the Camaro could borrow parts from the existing Chevy Nova in the same way the Mustang did from the Ford Falcon. The first-generation Camaro lasted until the 1969 model year, and eventually inspired the design of the retro-style fifth-generation Camaro in 2009. The first-generation Camaro was available in Super Sport, Rally Sport, and high-performance Z/28 models (the last of which went on sale in December 1966). It came with stripes on the hood and trunk (that could be deleted at no charge), styled rally road wheels, and a special 302 cu in (4.9 L) V8 engine that had been developed for Trans-Am Series racing.

Second generation (1970–1981)

Introduced on February 26, 1970, the second-generation Camaro was produced through the 1981 model year, with cosmetic changes made for the 1974 and 1978 model years. The car was heavily restyled and became larger and wider with the new styling. Based on the F-body platform, the new Camaro was similar to its predecessor. It had a unibody structure, a front subframe, an A-arm front suspension, and leaf springs suspending a solid rear axle. The 1980 and 1981 Z28 models included an air induction hood scoop with an intake door that opened under full throttle. The RS SS package was dropped in 1972 and reintroduced in 1996. Road & Track magazine named the 1971 SS350 one of the 10 best cars in the world in August 1971.

Third generation (1982–1992)

The third-generation Camaro was produced from 1981 (for the 1982 model year) until 1992. These were the first Camaros to offer modern fuel injection, Turbo-Hydramatic 700R4 four-speed automatic transmissions, five-speed manual transmissions, 14-, 15- or 16-inch road wheels, a standard OHV 4-cylinder engine, and hatchback bodies. The cars were nearly 500 pounds (227 kg) lighter than the second-generation model. The IROC-Z was introduced in 1985 and continued through 1990. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations required a CHMSL (Center High Mounted Stop Lamp) starting with the 1986 model year. For 1986, the new brake light was located on the exterior of the upper center area of the back hatch glass. Additionally, the 2.5 L Iron Duke pushrod 4-cylinder engine was dropped, and all base models now came with the 2.8 L V6 (OHV). For 1987 and later, the CHMSL was either mounted inside the upper hatch glass or integrated into a rear spoiler (if equipped). In 1985, the 305 cu in (5.0 L) small block V8 was available with indirect injection called "tuned port injection" (TPI). In 1987, the L98 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 engine became a regular option on the IROC-Z, paired with an automatic transmission only. The convertible body style returned in 1987 after being last produced in 1969, and all models came with a unique "20th Anniversary Commemorative Edition" leather map pocket. The 1992 models offered a "25th Anniversary Heritage Package" with stripes and a unique spoiler plaque. In 1988, the 1LE performance package was introduced, optional on street models and for showroom stock racing in the U.S. and Canada. The B4C, or "police" package, was made available in 1991. This created a Z28 in more subtle RS styling.

Fourth generation (1993–2002)

The fourth-generation Camaro debuted in 1993 on an updated F-body platform. It retained the same characteristics since its introduction in 1967: a coupé body style with 2+2 seating (with an optional T-top roof) or convertible (reintroduced in 1994), rear-wheel drive, pushrod 6-cylinder, and V8 engines. The standard engine from 1993 through 1995 was a 3.4 L V6; a 3.8 L V6 was introduced in 1995. A 350 MPFI (LT1) Small Block V-8 engine, which was introduced in the Corvette in 1992, was standard in the Z28. Optional equipment included all-speed traction control and a new six-speed T-56 manual transmission; the 4L60E 4-speed automatic transmission was standard on the Z28. The automatic transmission was optional on the V6 models, which came with a 5-speed manual. Anti-lock brakes were standard equipment on all Camaros. A limited quantity of the SS version (1996-1997) came with the 330 hp (246 kW; 335 PS) LT4 small block engine from the Corvette, although most were equipped with the 275 hp (205 kW; 279 PS) LT1 version. The 1997 model included a revised interior, and the 1998 models included exterior styling changes and a switch to GM's aluminum block LS1 used in the Corvette C5. In 1998, the 5.7 L LS1 was the first all-aluminum engine offered in a Camaro since the 1969 ZL-1 and was rated at 305 hp (227 kW; 309 PS). The SS versions (1998-2002) received slightly improved exhaust and intake systems, bigger wheels and tires, a slightly revised suspension for improved handling and grip while retaining ride comfort, an arc-shaped rear wing for downforce, and different gearing ratios for faster acceleration, over the Z28 models. Chevrolet offered a 35th anniversary edition for the 2002 model year. Production of the F-Body platform was discontinued due to slowing sales, a deteriorati

Fifth generation (2010–2015)

The Camaro received a complete redesign and new platform in 2009 for the 2010 model year. Based on the 2006 Camaro Concept and 2007 Camaro Convertible Concept, production of the fifth-generation Camaro was approved on August 10, 2006. The Oshawa Car Assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, began producing the new Camaro, which went on sale in spring of 2009 as a 2010 model. The new body used styling cues from the 1969 Camaro, including the grille, roof styling, quarter windows and side trim. Unlike the 1969 model and the 2006 concept, the production model's quarter windows were fixed and hid a thick B-pillar behind the glass. Following the development of the Zeta architecture and because of its position as the GM global center of RWD development, Holden in Australia led the final design, engineering, and development of the Camaro. Production of the coupé began on March 16, 2009, in LS, LT, and SS trim levels. LS and LT models include a 3.6 L (220 cu in) V6 producing 312 hp (233 kW; 316 PS) for the 2010 and 2011 models mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic with manual shift. The SS features the 6.2 L (376 cu in) LS3 V8 producing 426 hp (318 kW; 432 PS) and is paired with a 6-speed manual. The automatic SS has the L99 V8 rated at 400 hp (298 kW; 406 PS). The RS appearance package available on the LT and SS featured 20-inch wheels with a darker gray tone, halo rings around xenon headlamps, a unique spoiler, and red RS or SS badges. In addition to the original 2012 LS model, Chevrolet offered a 2LS model with a 2.92 rear axle ratio that increased fuel economy. The base engine 2012 model had a higher redline than previous V6 models, now reaching 7200 rpm. Almost all 2LS models had various styles of rear spoilers. On April 1, 2010, the Camaro was named the

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Chevrolet Camaro

Manufacturer

Chevrolet (General Motors)

Production

1966–2002, 2009–2023

Model years

1967–2002, 2010–2024

Class

Pony car

Body style

2-door coupe, 2-door convertible

Platform

F-body (1967–2002), Zeta platform (2010–2015), Alpha platform (2016–2024)

Layout

FR layout

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5094380CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_CamaroCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1368370945 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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