Chevy Camaro
Introduced: September 29, 1966, as a 1967 model, to directly compete with the wildly popular Ford Mustang.
Manufacturer: Chevrolet, a division of General Motors (GM).
Project Code Name: Panther — before being renamed “Camaro,” a word GM claimed meant “friend” or “companion” to the Mustang.
Goal: Create a car with the sporty appeal of the Mustang but with Chevrolet’s signature power and engineering.
Platform: Built on GM’s new F-body platform, which it shared with the Pontiac Firebird.
Introduced in 1967 to take on the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro quickly became one of America’s most beloved muscle cars, blending power, style, and performance in a way that captured the nation’s imagination. Designed on GM’s F-body platform, the Camaro offered everything from a modest six-cylinder to roaring V8 engines like the legendary 396, making it accessible yet thrilling for a wide range of drivers. Its success on the street and the racetrack, especially in the Trans-Am series, cemented its reputation as a true performance machine. Over the decades, the Camaro evolved through six generations, surviving changing trends, gas crises, and emissions regulations while maintaining its identity as a driver’s car. From its classic 1960s roots to its modern, high-tech ZL1 variants, and even its transformation into the iconic “Bumblebee” on the big screen, the Camaro has remained a lasting symbol of American speed, rivalry, and innovation — a car that embodies the heartbeat of Chevrolet and the spirit of the open road.