Okla-homey
8/11/2008, 06:16 AM
August 11, 1966: The Camaro makes its debut
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/9209/camchevroletcamarojz7.jpg
1967 Chevy Camaro
42 years ago today, in an effort to regain market share lost to the wildly popular Ford Mustang, the first Chevrolet Camaro drove out of the manufacturing plant in Norwood, Ohio, in 1966.
The 1967 Camaro coupe was named just weeks before production; General Manager Elliot Estes, when publicly announcing the name, quipped, "I went into a closet, shut the door and came out with the name."
The automotive press asked Chevrolet product managers "What is a Camaro?", and they were told it was "a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs". The name conveniently fits Chevrolet's "C" naming structure that included Corvair, Chevelle, Chevy II, and Corvette.
Camaro is actually French for "comrade, pal, or chum." The Camaro was a hit with the public, sporting a base price of only $2,466 for a six-cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission.
The first-generation Chevrolet Camaro debuting on this day in 1966 (for the 1967 model year,) featured a brand new rear-wheel drive GM F-body platform and would be available as a 2-door, 2+2 seating, coupe or convertible with a choice of inline-6 and 302 cu in (4.9 L),307 cu in (5.0 L), 327 cu in (5.4 L), 350 cu in (5.7 L), or 396 cu in (6.5 L) V8 powerplants.
The car shared the platform and major components with the Pontiac Firebird, also introduced for the 1967 model year.
The Camaro underwent major modification at approximately ten year intervals thereafter until Chevrolet pulled the plug in 2002 ending 35 years of production.
Camaro Evolution
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/7595/cam800px1970chevroletcagy7.jpg
Second Generation Camaro - 1970
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/2271/camcamaro1sn0.jpg
Third Generation Camaro - 1982
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/558/cam800px2002chevroletcacc5.jpg
Fourth Generation Camaro - 1993
A new Camaro is planned for the 2009 model year -- if GM remains in business that is.
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/5214/cambumblebeecamarovw6.jpg
2009 Camaro -- inspired by the original
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/9209/camchevroletcamarojz7.jpg
1967 Chevy Camaro
42 years ago today, in an effort to regain market share lost to the wildly popular Ford Mustang, the first Chevrolet Camaro drove out of the manufacturing plant in Norwood, Ohio, in 1966.
The 1967 Camaro coupe was named just weeks before production; General Manager Elliot Estes, when publicly announcing the name, quipped, "I went into a closet, shut the door and came out with the name."
The automotive press asked Chevrolet product managers "What is a Camaro?", and they were told it was "a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs". The name conveniently fits Chevrolet's "C" naming structure that included Corvair, Chevelle, Chevy II, and Corvette.
Camaro is actually French for "comrade, pal, or chum." The Camaro was a hit with the public, sporting a base price of only $2,466 for a six-cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission.
The first-generation Chevrolet Camaro debuting on this day in 1966 (for the 1967 model year,) featured a brand new rear-wheel drive GM F-body platform and would be available as a 2-door, 2+2 seating, coupe or convertible with a choice of inline-6 and 302 cu in (4.9 L),307 cu in (5.0 L), 327 cu in (5.4 L), 350 cu in (5.7 L), or 396 cu in (6.5 L) V8 powerplants.
The car shared the platform and major components with the Pontiac Firebird, also introduced for the 1967 model year.
The Camaro underwent major modification at approximately ten year intervals thereafter until Chevrolet pulled the plug in 2002 ending 35 years of production.
Camaro Evolution
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/7595/cam800px1970chevroletcagy7.jpg
Second Generation Camaro - 1970
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/2271/camcamaro1sn0.jpg
Third Generation Camaro - 1982
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/558/cam800px2002chevroletcacc5.jpg
Fourth Generation Camaro - 1993
A new Camaro is planned for the 2009 model year -- if GM remains in business that is.
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/5214/cambumblebeecamarovw6.jpg
2009 Camaro -- inspired by the original