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Camaro History
"The Camaro has evolved into a sophisticated
enthusiasts’ car and
an-all around great performer."
-- Automobile Magazine, November 1997
Camaro SS
Taken to its logical extreme.
Even among Camaros, the SS Coupe
and
Convertible are unique, rare, and
destined to be
especially collectable. They are
also formidable
performers. The 1999 SS Convertible
shares the 320 hp,
LS1 high-output engine, 17-inch
wheels (with
Goodyear Eagle F-1 tires) and functional
hood scoop
with the SS Coupe. Other standard
features include a
special SS rear deck spoiler, High
Performance Ride
and Handling Package and, low-restriction
exhaust
system. Technically, SS is a Z28
Performance
Appearance option. Think of it
as the extreme Z28.
Back in’67, the SS Coupe and Convertible
were the absolute top-of-the-line
Camaros. They still are.
Z28
Everything else is just pretending.
From the striped, spoilered, collectible
’67 to the '99 305 horsepower LS1
edition, Camaro Z28 is a legend
on the street and on the track. Today's Z28
boasts all the right hardware --
4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, new
heavy-duty Zexel-Torsen differential
with a limited slip rear axle, special sport
suspension, and, of course, that
high revving V8. A 4-speed automatic
transmission is standard; a 6-speed
manual is a no-cost option.
Camaro Z28 has always been known
for teaching the competition a thing or
two about performance. For 1999,
there's another lesson in store.
If racing improves the breed, it
doesn't get much better than this.
A Camaro is not mere transportation.
To the
Kendall and Copenhagen racing teams,
it’s a
funny car that’s one of the hottest
competitors
on the NHRA circuit. To the Bragg-Smith
driving school, it’s the perfect
machine for
teaching the art of performance
driving. And
for police departments across the
USA,
Camaro is the ultimate performance
vehicle.
When Camaro is put to these extreme
tests, we learn a lot. And that makes
the Camaro you drive an even better
sports car.
Camaro Time Line
Yes, Camaro is 31 years old and just
gets better with time. Here, you'll find a recap of some of its accomplishments,
from concept car to the present.
April, 1964. Super Nova.
Super Nova made its initial appearance
at the New York Auto Show. With five nameplates already in production,
Chevy officials decided not to produce the car at that time. When Camaro
was in its design phase, many of the ideas from Super Nova were incorporated,
such as a variation on the console and central instrument panel.
August, 1964. GM initiates the F-Car Program.
GM made the decision to go ahead
with an entirely new program to compete with other auto makers in ways
that Chevy Corvair could not. Dubbed the "F-Car" at first, it would later
become an automotive legend called Camaro.
August, 1964. Styling begins.
Chevy engineers and designers worked
in conjunction with Fisher Body Division to see that the performance of
Camaro did not take away from its styling. Computers were used extensively
for the first time, as were other then unorthodox methods. Transparent
quarter-scale bodies let engineers view stresses and part relationships.
February, 1965. "Mule" test drives.
In Camaro prototypes, called "mules,"
as well as in competitor's cars, GM officials took test drives at the GM
proving grounds at Milford, Mich. Longer trips went as far east as New
England, south to Florida, and west to the GM Desert Proving Grounds outside
Phoenix, as well as along mountain roads of California.
February, 1965. First wind-tunnel test.
Chevy sent a quarter-scale model
of the Coupe, along with a staff stylist, a clay modeler and a Chevy engineer
to an aircraft wind-tunnel near Dallas. Not much attention had been paid
to aerodynamics prior to this test, but it proved successful. It was because
of this 11-day test that the Z-28 was designed with a chin spoiler and
a rear spoiler.
August, 1965. Camaro "face" finalized.
The distinctive wide grille and
headlights of the first Camaro went through several changes before getting
the official sign-off. Early designs borrowed from Super Nova, among others.
Date unknown. Camaro fastback.
Chevy stylists optimistically mocked
up this fastback version of Camaro to compete with Ford Mustang 2 + 2.
The car never went into production.
June, 1966. The Camaro name.
Just weeks before production began,
the name "Camaro" was decided on. General Manager, Elliott M. "Pete" Estes,
announced the name publicly, quipping, "I went into a closet, shut the
door and came out with the name." Camaro is French for "comrade, pal, or
chum," according to an obscure 1935 French-to-English dictionary.
September 21, 1966. Camaro for sale.
The 1967 Camaro hit dealer showrooms
and was eagerly accepted by the public. The basic Sport Coupe had a standard
six-cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission with a base price
of only $2,466. More than 80 options, including a 327 cu. in. V-8 engine,
the SS-350 Package (with 350 cu. in. V8) and RS Package, among others,
were available, which could bring the price of delivered cars to more than
$3,500.
September, 1966. Camaro: The Movie.
To help launch the new car, Chevy
put together an hour-and-a-half long movie. In color, the movie, The
Camaro, was narrated by cartoonist Milton Caniff and told the story
of the F-Car. It was shown extensively in Detroit theaters and on television,
and featured cameo appearances by GM staffers Dave Holls, Don McPherson,
Alex Mair and Bob Lund.
September, 1966. Camaro: The Play.
An elaborate stage revue called
Off
Broadway was performed by four different road companies throughout
25 U.S. and Canadian cities. Its purpose: To promote awareness of Camaro.
It featured a small orchestra, dancers, a chorus and, as centerpieces,
a '67 Coupe and Convertible. Automotive News called Off Broadway,
"... some of the fanciest, gaudiest and costliest entertainment ever to
hit the boards."
September, 1966. Camaro: The Clothing.
Perhaps the most unlikely of Camaro
promotions was a line of women's fashions by a New York designer. Known
as the Camaro Collection, the dresses were available in 450 shops and cost
between $20 and $40. Who knows? This may have set precedent for the stylish
houndstooth trim inserts in the '68 model.
May, 1967. Indy 500 Pace Car.
In just its first production year,
Camaro was recognized for its performance and style when selected as Official
Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500, the first of four times Camaro would
be so honored. In all, 100 or so Camaro pace car convertible replicas were
made, most of them SS-350s with the Powerglide® automatic
transmission.
1967. The Penske Era.
After losing races early in the
year due to handling problems, Roger Penske's new Camaro Z-28 won its first
Trans-Am race, in Marlboro, Md. Chevy engineers, along with Penske's team,
tackled the handling problems with computer aides and, finally, through
trial and error. The Z-28 beat out Mustangs, Cougars and Javelins to take
the checkered flag.
October, 1967. The Need for Speed.
In a Smokey Yunick Z-28, three
drivers -- including Bunkie Blackburn -- set world speed records on the
salt at Bonneville. The USAC\FIA-sanctioned event saw the Yunick Camaro
crush old records with speeds upwards of 174 mph.
1968. Minor differences.
Camaro experts can tell you about
the many subtle changes made between '67 and '68 model years. Here are
a few: Square sidemarker lights were added to each fender. "Ventipanes"
were deleted on '68s. The '68 had rectangular parking lamps instead of
round, and the grille mesh was now silver in color, rather than black.
An added option was houndstooth seat trim inserts.
May 1969. Indy 500 Pace Car Part II.
In its second appearance as pace-setter,
a 1969 Camaro Convertible, painted White with Hugger Orange stripes and
trim was used. The car had a 396 Turbo Jet V-8 engine with Turbo Hydra-matic
three-speed automatic transmission and attained the required 120-mph pace
lap speed without breaking a sweat.
1969. Mr. Popular.
The 1969 Camaro won its second
straight SCCA Trans-Am championship, set the pace at Indy and was selected
NASCAR official pace car for its eight major stock-car races. CAR AND DRIVER's
readers' poll named it "the year's best sporty car," and Chevrolet sold
more models than ever.
1970. The Next Generation.
The first major redesign of Camaro
was ruled mostly by designers. And, the unique shape and style of the car
made it an instant hit. One version of the new Camaro that (thankfully)
never made it to production was Camaro Station Wagon. If it were produced,
however, you would have presumably gotten your groceries home in record
time.
1970. Big Bad Z-28.
Camaro Z-28, in conjunction with
an SCCA rules change, upgraded the stock V-8 engine from a 302cid to 350;
essentially the same LT-1 engine that was in the Corvette that year. It
blew the doors off almost anything on wheels.
1974. Whoops!
By mistake, the Z-28 decals on
'74 models were printed with White as a background color instead of Transparent.
As a result, only decals on White 1974 Z-28 models look as intended.
1974. Farewell to Z.
The Arab oil embargo of 1973, coupled
with tighter federal emissions and noise regulations, made the future of
Camaro Z-28 bleak. As designer Jerry Palmer put it, "Chevrolet took the
position that we'd rather kill the car now before it died a slow, lingering
death." Production ceased after that model year until 1977.
1974. IROC.
Penske Racing made the switch from
Porsche to Camaro models for the International Race Of Champion series.
Incidentally, Camaro won every IROC race that year. Then again, it couldn't
lose.
1977. Z-Revival.
Due in large part to TV coverage
of IROC, the popularity of Camaro once again soared. Chevy made the decision
to bring back the Z-28, this time with more emphasis on handling, to accurately
reflect the races.
1978. The T-Top.
When people think T-Tops, they
think Camaro. The winter of '78 saw these grey-tinted, lift-out glass panels
enter production. They were cool.
1982. Third Generation. Third Indy 500.
For the third time ever and the
first time in 12 years, Camaro underwent a major redesign. The results
were a success as Camaro was selected to pace the Indianapolis 500, also
for the third time. The Z-28 was fully-loaded with a twin-TBI V-8 and available
T-Top.
1985. IROC-Z Package.
Minor exterior revisions were made
for the model year and a special Z-28 Package was offered, commemorating
the International Race Of Champions.
1985. The Music Industry.
Camaro was immortalized in music
when the neo-punk group "The Dead Milkmen" released their college radio
surprise hit song, Bitchin' Camaro.
1987. Convertible.
Even with T-Tops, some people still
feel claustrophobic. Never fear, the Camaro Convertible is here.
1991. If You Can't Beat 'em, Join 'em.
Camaro made its debut as a law
enforcement vehicle, making it quite easy for the men in blue to track
down Ford Mustangs on high speed chases.
1993. Fourth Generation. Fourth Indy 500
With a totally redesigned body and significant
mechanical improvements, fourth-generation Camaro debuted. Retained were
the Camaro hallmarks -- a long hood, a short deck, beefy tires, a menacing
stance and its reputation as a racer. Camaro was selected Official Pace
Car for the Indianapolis 500 a record fourth time.
1997. The Big Three-Oh.
Yes, Camaro was 30 years old, and looking better
all the time. The optional 30th Anniversary Package, available on Z-28
Coupe and Convertible, features a White exterior with Hugger Orange striping,
white aluminum wheels and black-and-white houndstooth seating surfaces
with available leather accents reminiscent of the 1969 Camaro Indy 500
Pace Car. Camaro was selected to pace the Brickyard 400® at the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway in its 30th anniversary colors.
1998. New Look, More Muscle & All-American
Attitude
Camaro’s new front-end design hints of its predecessors
and sets high standards for aggressive beauty. Put your foot down and the
200 hp, 3800 V6 responds with enthusiasm. The Z28 also grows some muscle
in `98 thanks to the 305 hp LS1 V8 under the sleek hood. And back for 1998,
the ultimate -- Camaro SS, with its LS1 V8 pumped up to 320 hp! Dramatic
style, awesome power and all-American attitude -- there’s just no catching
Camaro.
History section is brought to you by www.chevrolet.com.
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