autoevolution
 

A Visual Guide to the Chevrolet Camaro’s Coming of Age

Born in 1966 as a response to the pony car craze started by the original Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro is the golden bowtie’s most popular sports car. Now at its sixth generation, which makes use of the C7 Corvette’s V8, the time is right to have a chat about the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro’s predecessors.
1967 Chevrolet Camaro – VIN #100001 46 photos
Photo: Chevrolet
1967 Chevrolet Camaro VIN #1000011967 Chevrolet Camaro VIN #1000011967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/281967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/281967 Chevrolet Camaro Grumpy’s Toy1967 Chevrolet Camaro Grumpy’s Toy1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 convertible1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 convertible1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL11969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL11969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Hurst Sunshine Special1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Hurst Sunshine Special1974 Chevrolet Camaro Z281974 Chevrolet Camaro Z281977 Chevrolet Camaro Z281977 Chevrolet Camaro Z281978 Chevrolet Camaro Z281978 Chevrolet Camaro Z281981 Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stock race car1981 Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stock race car1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy Pace Car1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy Pace Car1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z1993 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy Pace Car1993 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy Pace Car1996 Chevrolet Camaro SS1996 Chevrolet Camaro SS2002 Chevrolet Camaro Z282002 Chevrolet Camaro Z282006 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe concept2006 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe concept2007 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible concept2007 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible concept2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS2012 Chevrolet COPO Camaro race car2012 Chevrolet COPO Camaro race carChevrolet Camaro Z/28 Nurburgring test carChevrolet Camaro Z/28 Nurburgring test car2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS
Produced from 1966 to the present day minus the 8-year period prior to the fifth-gen’s arrival in 2009, the Camaro nameplate is all things to all men. It’s got a small-block V8, a lovely rumble, timeless aesthetics, all wrapped up in a four-wheeled package that’s more American than Bruce Springsteen’s musical repertoire.

Without further beating around the bush, let’s uncover the cars that act as the building blocks for the all-new-for-2016 Chevrolet Camaro, one generation at a time.

*** FIRST GENERATION

1967 Chevrolet Camaro – VIN #100001

This is the first-ever Camaro and the first example of 49 hand-built pilot vehicles. Assembled at Norwood, Ohio in mid-1966, this chap was built for evaluation purposes and is animated by a 3.7L inline-six mated to a three-speed manual transmission. After Chevrolet had used VIN #100001 to publicly introduce the Camaro to the public in August 1966, this historical piece of Americana was used for press photographs, promotional appearances and television adverts.

1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

Ah, now we’re talking! Specifically developed to homologate the Chevrolet Camaro for the SCCA Trans-Am road-racing series, the Camaro Z/28 boasts unique chassis and suspension components. The first-ever Z/28 introduced the 302-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) small-block V8. Only 602 units were built in 1967, the year The Velvet Underground & Nico debut album was released.

1967 Chevrolet Camaro Grumpy’s Toy

If you’re into all things Camaro, you have to know about drag racing legend Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins and his iconic 396 V8-powered (6.5-liter) Camaro. This car tore through the NHRA Super Stock class in 1967, setting the stage for Pro Stock in 1970. The Grumpy’s Toy L78-code 396-cubic-inch engine was rated at 375 horsepower.

1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 convertible

A curious example of the breed and a one-of-none special. The Z/28 package wasn’t offered as a convertible. Factually speaking, the Z/28 convertible was built for Chevrolet general manager Pete Estes and helped with convincing him to keep the Z/28 in the lineup for 1969. It featured a number of special parts not offered on regular-production 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 models, including a cross-ram intake manifold, cowl-induction hood and four-wheel disc brakes.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

The first puppy to wear the ZL1 badge is a Cortez Silver Camaro ZL1. 69 were assembled in 1969 – all built through the COPO special order system with an all-aluminum 427 (7-liter) big-block V8 engine. The first 50 were ordered by Illinois Chevy dealer Fred Gibb because that was the minimum number of production vehicles NHRA required for Super Stock class eligibility. If you’re looking for the most valuable production Chevrolet Camaro ever, the 1969 Camaro ZL1 is a sure shot prospect.

1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro

The original Yenko was a COPO special order-based performance model as well. Animated by an iron-block 427 (7-liter) lump, around 200 examples were created by Pennsylvania Chevrolet dealer Don Yenko. Of the approximately 200 Yenko Camaros produced, the one in the photo gallery is just one-of-30 examples equipped with a Turbo 400 three-speed automatic transmission.

*** SECOND GENERATION

1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Hurst Sunshine Special

As Chevrolet’s engineers were busy working on the 360 HP LT1 V8 tower-of-power, the Hurst Sunshine Special of the 1970 Chevrolet Camaro debuted the second generation of the breed. Featuring a solid-lifter camshaft and 11.0:1 compression ratio, the LT1-powered Hurst Sunshine Special Camaro spawned three prototypes with a power-sliding sunroof. The Hurst Sunshine Special spent some time in the wind tunnel to test front and rear spoilers for the golden bowtie’s efforts in the SCCA Trans-Am motorsport series.

1974 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

The first year of the sloping front-end design and wraparound taillights, the 1974 Camaro is a facelifted model that answered the era’s federal bumper standards. The extruded and polished aluminum front and rear bumpers added roughly 7 inches (17.8 cm) to the car’s overall length. Power-wise, under the hood you’ll find the 245 HP 5.7-liter small-block V8 engine. Chevrolet put the Camaro Z28 on a two-year hiatus after ’74.

1977 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

After the two-year absence, the Camaro Z28 returned to the lineup with greater emphasis on handling. The 1977 Camaro Z28 is distinguished by blacked-out trim and a wicked intake scoop-inspired hood graphic. In terms of grunt, the bangs came from a 5.7-liter small-block V8 rated at 185 horsepower and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque. The V8 is mated to a Borg-Warner four-speed stick shift with a unique gear set. Go-faster shocks, stiffer springs and large stabilizer bars join the list of standard equipment. With 218,853 Chevrolet Camaros sold in the returning year of the Z28, the Camaro outsold the popular Ford Mustang for the first time ever.

1978 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

This version of the Camaro introduced the controversial body-color molded urethane front and rear fascias. The updated appearance of the Chevrolet Camaro and the Z28 track-focused machine were special enough for customers to buy a mind-boggling 247,437 units that year.

1981 Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stock race car

In the Camaro’s Pro Stock history, nothing beats the Reher-Morrison drag racer’s appeal. It was driven by Lee Shepherd in 1981 to the first of four consecutive NHRA Pro Stock titles. From 1981 to 1984, Lee Shepherd reached the finals in 44 of 56 NHRA national events, winning 26 of them.

*** THIRD GENERATION

1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy Pace Car

For first year of the third-generation Camaro, the nameplate was selected as the Indy 500 Pace Car. Based on the Z28, the primary Pace Car introduced electronic fuel injection and an all-aluminum version of the 5.7-liter small-block V8, producing 250 horsepower. Chevy produced 6,360 replica cars, all powered by the 5.7 Cross-Fire Injection engine.

1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

Baptized after the International Race of Champions series, the IROC-Z brought a higher degree of performance to the streets of the post-Malaise Era automotive ecosystem. It is animated by a 5-liter Tuned Port Injection V8, rated 215 horsepower. Four-wheel disc brakes, special 16-inch wheels, bewitching graphics and additional exterior appointments helped the 1985 Camaro IROC-Z rack up 21,177 sales in its first year.

*** FOURTH GENERATION

1993 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy Pace Car

Then’s all-new Camaro generation was selected as the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. For the fourth generation of the pony car, the performance-oriented Z28 on which the Pace Car was based introduced the Gen II small-block V8. Bearing the name of LT1, the 5.7-liter motor built on the design features of the previous TPI V8 with additional updates, including a reverse-flow cooling system. It was rated at 275 horsepower, the most grunt in a V8-powered Camaro since 1971. Chevrolet sold 645 replicas of the 1993 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy Pace Car to the general public.

1996 Chevrolet Camaro SS

Marked with a bold hood scoop, tall rear spoiler and 17-inch wheels from the ZR1, the return of the Camaro SS in 1996 introduced a stronger LT1 engine. The 5.7-liter V8 sucked more fresh air through the hood scoop, which helped with churning out 305 horsepower. Additional performance optional equipment included a Hurst short-throw shifter, cat-back exhaust system, Torsen limited-slip differential and a “Level II” suspension pack.

1998 Chevrolet Camaro SS

The Chevrolet Camaro’s front fascia styling was updated in this mid-generation model year. The 1998 Camaro SS is powered by the Gen III small-block V8, known as the LS1. It was rated at 305 horsepower in the Z28 and 320 horsepower in the SS. The LS1 small-block vee-eight motor features an all-aluminum construction and a composite intake manifold.

2002 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

All of a sudden, Chevrolet suspended production of the Camaro on August 27, 2002, in its 35th anniversary year. A red Chevrolet Camaro Z28 convertible you can admire in the adjacent gallery was the last car off the line that day. More than half of Camaro production sold that year featured the LS1 V8 engine, which was rated 310 horsepower in the Z28. Approximately 24 percent of production matched the LS1 lump with a six-speed manual transmission.

*** FIFTH GENERATION

2006 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe concept

This is where modern Camaro history begins. A silver pre-production concept vehicle was introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Borrowing design cues from the first generation of the Camaro, the concept was an appreciated departure from the fourth-generation Camaro that ceased production in 2002. Visual-wise, there’s not much between the Camaro concept and the production car, isn’t it?

2007 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible concept

Following the 2006 Camaro Coupe concept, an orange pre-production concept vehicle was introduced at the 2007 North American International Auto show. The precursor to the fifth-gen Camaro convertible, the color of the concept vehicle pays homage to the classic Hugger Orange hue. The houndstooth interior is a clear nod to the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

The fifth-gen Camaro was introduced in spring 2009 as a 2010 model. Thanks to the heritage-inspired aesthetics, the 2010 Camaro became an immediate hit, generating 61,648 sales in the first year. Sales grew to 88,249 by 2011. The SS introduced a 6.2-liter LS3 small-block V8 with 426 horsepower at the driver’s disposal. What a way to be born again...

2012 Chevrolet COPO Camaro race car

Essentially the first production model of the factory-built drag racers designed for NHRA Stock and Super Stock competition, only 69 COPO Camaro vehicles were built that year. Each is equipped with racing-spec equipment, including a roll cage, a choice of racing engines, motorsport-oriented instrumentation and a drag racing-capable solid rear axle instead of the production Camaro’s independent rear suspension.

Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Nurburgring test car

With 1.15 million views on YouTube, the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28's lap of the Nurburgring is Internet 2.0 stardom. The engineering prototype vehicle was used for the 7:37.40 run around Germany’s toughest circuit. Other than extra safety equipment and camouflage on the bodywork, the Nurburgring test car is outfitted with the same content of the production Z/28. Except for the 7-liter LS7 V8 rated 505 HP, the Z/28 is equipped with go-faster goodies such as spool-type dampers and a helical-gear limited-slip diff.

What will #CamaroSix do to follow up its predecessors’ heritage?
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories