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The Chevrolet Camaro is a "pony car" made in North America by the
Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors. It was introduced on 26
September 1966 as a 1967 model year and was designed as a competing model to
the Ford Mustang. The car shared the platform and major components with the
Pontiac Firebird, also introduced in 1967. Four distinct generations of the
car were produced before production ended in 2002. A new Camaro is expected
to roll off assembly lines in January 2009 , although listed as a 2010
model.
Origin
Though the car's name was contrived with no meaning, GM researchers
reportedly found the word in a French dictionary as variation of informal
speech (slang) for "friend", "chum", or "companion." In some automotive
periodicals before official release, it was code-named "Panther", however,
the project designation for the Camaro was XP-836 and some early GM photos
show the final Camaro body labeled "Chaparral". 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 fit
Chevrolet's "C" naming structure that included Corvair, Chevelle, Chevy II,
and Corvette.
The Camaro was initially advertised on contemporary hit radio (Top 40) AM
stations of the day in an attempt to woo the young adult market. Technically
a compact (by the standards of the time) pony car, but depending on the
selected optional equipment, the Camaro could also be classified as a sporty
muscle car or an economical grand tourer.
First generation
The first-generation Chevrolet Camaro debuted in September 1966, for the
1967 model year, on 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 V8 powerplants. Concerned with the runaway success of
the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet executives realized that their compact sporty
car, the Corvair, would not be able to generate the sales volume of the
Mustang due to its radical rear-engine design, as well as declining sales,
partly due to bad publicity from Ralph Nader's book, Unsafe at Any Speed.
Therefore, the Camaro was touted as having the same conventional rear-drive,
front-engine configuration as Mustang and Chevy II. In addition, the Camaro
was designed to fit a variety of power plants in the engine bay. The
first-generation Camaro would last until the 1969 model year and would
eventually inspire the design of the new retro fifth-generation Camaro.
Second generation
Introduced to market in February 1970 and ending in 1981, the
second-generation Chevrolet Camaro would be in production for a total of 11
years. This generation of Camaro was the best-selling ever. The car grew
somewhat larger and wider with the new styling, thus resulting in a much
heavier car. Still based on the F-body platform, the new Camaro was
engineered much like its predecessor in that it still used a unibody
structure with a front subframe, leaf springs in the back and A-arms up
front for suspension. The car would see major changes in both styling and
performance as time progressed from the introduction through the end of
second-generation production in 1981. Also, the Z28 model became popular
once again.
Third generation
The third-generation Chevrolet Camaro was introduced for the 1982 model
year. It continued to use General Motors' F-body platform and would produce
a "20th Anniversary Commemorative Edition" for 1987 and "25th
Anniversary Heritage Edition" for 1992. These were also the first
Camaros with factory fuel injection, four-speed automatic transmissions,
five-speed manual transmissions, four-cylinder engines, 16-inch wheels,
hatchback bodies, and a rear window third brake light. It was during the
third generation that the famous IROC Camaro (International Race Of
Champions) was available, which included upgrades such as better flowing
exhaust manifolds
The third-generation Camaros would continue through the 1992 model year.
Fourth generation
The fourth-generation Chevrolet Camaro debuted for the 1993 model year on an
updated F-body platform. It would retain the same characteristics since the
first-generation's introduction back in 1967; 2-doors, 2+2 seating,
available as a coupé or convertible (with the latter introduced in 1994),
rear-wheel drive, and a choice of V6 and V8 powerplants. Options included
the 3.8 L (231.9 cu in) SOHC 200 hp (149 kW) V6 and the 5.7 L (347.8 cu in)
LT1 V8 engine that had been introduced in the Corvette one year earlier, as
well as an optional six-speed manual transmission. The 1998 model year was
refreshed and revised with both exterior and engine changes. Replacing the
LT1 with GM's all-aluminum 5.7 L (346 cid) LS1 which had been introduced
with the Corvette C5.
The fourth-gen Camaro would last up through the 2002 model year, at which
point production of the F-Body platform was stopped due to slow sales, a
deteriorated sports coupe market, and plant overcapacity.
Fifth generation
On
9 January, 2006, the first official word regarding a fifth-generation Camaro
from General Motors came at the 2006 North American International Auto Show,
where the 2006 Camaro Concept was released. The concept is powered by the
400 hp LS2 V8 and equipped with the T-56 six-speed manual transmission. GM
also showed the 2007 Camaro Convertible Concept on 6 January, 2007 at the
2007 North American International Auto Show. The Camaro will be offered with
both V6 and V8 engines, and have available automatic and manual
transmissions. Pricing has not been officially announced yet, however, GM
has stated that it will be competitive with the Ford Mustang. The Camaro
will be built at Oshawa Car Assembly in Ontario.
Racing
Camaros were one of the prominent vehicles in the Trans-Am Series, having
won the title in 1968 and 1969 (piloted by Mark Donahue) and were in use in
the league until the late 1990's. The Camaro was the official car of and the
car used in the International Race of Champions from 1975 to 1989. Third and
Fourth generation Camaros are also currently raced in the SCCA American
Sedan series and other SCCA classes. It is also one of the most popular cars
in NHRA Sportsman Drag Racing.
Appearances in pop
culture
Due to its persistent popularity and long production run, the Camaro has
been referenced, shown, or used in nearly all forms of media since the
introduction of the 1967 model.
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Bumblebee depicted as a 1976
and 5th-gen Camaro.
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The Camaro is referred to in a countless number of songs such as Camaro
Man by Blue Meanies, Bitchin' Camaro by Dead Milkmen, Go Lil'
Camaro Go by The Ramones, Camaro by Kings of Leon, The List
by Metric, Wishlist by Pearl Jam, and Teenage Dirtbag by
Wheatus. Bruce Springsteen, a lifelong fan of Chevrolets, refers to the
Camaro in Racing In The Streets.
In
addition, the Camaro continues to find its way into modern day fiction. The
vehicle mode of the character Bumblebee in the 2007 film, Transformers,
is first a 1976 model Camaro and later a fifth-generation concept variant. A
1979 Camaro, referred to as the Blue Heaven is featured prominently
in the 2008 independent feature film The Other Side of the Tracks,
starring Chad Lindberg -- best known for his role as Jesse, in The
Fast and the Furious (2001 film).
Top Gear's American fly-drive special featured a third-generation
Camaro, bought by presenter Jeremy Clarkson for US$800 in Miami. During the
filming, Clarkson became rather attached to the car, at one point stating
that "I'd rather be in this now than an Enzo."
Various models of the Camaro have been featured in game series such as Forza
Motorsport, Gran Turismo, L.A Rush, Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix, Need
for Speed series, and Sega GT 2002.
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