Good Morning: Camaro debuts

[Okla-homey]

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

[SoonerStormchaser]

And state troopers everywhere rejoice...

[Okla-homey]

And state troopers everywhere rejoice...

I bet more 17 y/o's have died in Camaros and Firebirds than any other US car model.:eek:

[bri]

Jeez, that 2009 model looks like a new Mustang and a new Charger had a Down's baby.

[bonkuba]

Man that brings back memories of high school :D :D

[sooneron]

Man that brings back memories of high school :D :D

http://www.pelsor.com/mullet/camaro1.jpg






:D

[Collier11]

This article is inaccurate, the pictures shown are not of the cars described...ex: that first pic is not a 67 and the new model may be inspired by the 67' but it is taken directly from the 69'

[SoonerInKCMO]

http://www.pelsor.com/mullet/camaro1.jpg






:D

Who's the skinny dude with Dean?

[sooneron]

dOleO?

[Frozen Sooner]

What's IROC stand for?

[Okla-homey]

This article is inaccurate, the pictures shown are not of the cars described...ex: that first pic is not a 67 and the new model may be inspired by the 67' but it is taken directly from the 69'

the point is, the '09 Camaro was inspired by the First Generation Camaro. Or not, I don't care. It looks a lot more like that early Camaro than any of the subsequent incarnations. But what do I know? I never had a mullet or a Camaro. No parachute pants worn with hi-top Reeboks either.;)

1967 Camaro:
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PTGPOD/233199~1967-Camaro-RS-SS-Posters.jpg

[pergdaddy]

the '09 Camaro is cool.

In the eternal words of Bobby Bolivia, "Driver don't pick the car. Car pick the drive. There's a mystical bond between man and machine."

I'd take one.

The '09 camaro that is.

[Partial Qualifier]

What's IROC stand for?

International Race of Champions

[Frozen Sooner]

International Race of Champions

Italian Re-re Out Cruising

[OULenexaman]

International Race of Champions??

[OULenexaman]

oops too late..

[SoonerJack]

Cruisin downtown, in your camaro
REO speedwagon on the stereo
Kinda catchy, kind of a virus
got the hair like Billy Ray Cyrus.

The Phantom Mullet, by Five Iron Frenzy

[soonerboomer93]

Rollin' in my 5.0
With my rag-top down so my hair can blow

[MR2-Sooner86]

International Race of Champions??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Race_of_Champions


Anyway, the title of this thread should be "GM steals Mustang idea, Camaro debuts."

And 40 years later they're still copying the Mustang ;)

[bri]

Rollin' in my 5.0
With my rag-top down so my hair can blow

That actually references a Mustang.

Which is fitting, since the Camaro references the Mustang. And by "references", I mean "totally tries to rip off". :D

[Collier11]

That actually references a Mustang.

Which is fitting, since the Camaro references the Mustang. And by "references", I mean "totally tries to rip off". :D

The mustang doesnt hold a candle to the Camaro, that is unless you are talking about the new look then it is def a rip off :D

[MR2-Sooner86]

The mustang doesnt hold a candle to the Camaro

It's alright to be a little bitter. You hang in there champ and I'm sure one day your Camaro will be modded up enough to where the Mustang's tail lights won't be that far ahead ;)

[Collier11]

Dont have a Camaro, I just know the diff between a good car and a great car ;)

[bri]

Yes, that must be why Mustang is an iconic example of American muscle, and Camaro is the punchline to a white trash joke. Because Camaro leaks excellence.

[Collier11]

Yes, that must be why Mustang is an iconic example of American muscle, and Camaro is the punchline to a white trash joke. Because Camaro leaks excellence.

say what you will but Camaro is a much better vehicle, Notre Dame is an iconic example of college football and look at them. Its about how it runs, not how it looks and is talked about

[Boomer_Sooner_sax]

GM products = teh suck!

[Collier11]

GM products = teh suck!

:D

[KC//CRIMSON]

And mullets everywhere rejoice...