History of the Chevy Camaro

Chevrolet Camaro was made by the General Motors through its Chevrolet Motor Division in North America. The Chevrolet Camaro was initially manufactured on the same platform where Pontiac Firebird was made and even major components of Pontiac’s Firebird were used in Camaro. Originally, General Motors marketed Chevrolet’s Camaro to compete with the famous model of Ford’s Mustang. 

Chevrolet’s Camaro production can be divided in four distinct generations of the car until the year 2002 when further production was stopped.  However, Camaro production is expected to start again in 2009.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

The history of the car goes back to 1966, when the first generation Chevy Camaro was introduced in the year 1967. The model was available as a two door, four seater models with its rear wheel drive features. The model was available either as a convertible or a coupe. It is interesting to note that this first generation Camaro which was going to be the design base for the latest fifth generation Camaro to be marketed in 2009.

The second generation Chevy Camaro was made in 1970.The car was larger in size, heavier and stronger. The car undergone lot of changes in design and performance in successive years as the second generation model ended its journey in 1981.

The third generation of Chevy Camaro came into being in 1982. The Chevy Camaro was still manufactured in the Pontiac’s Firebird platform and had the distinction of producing two important editions namely”20th.Anniversary Commemorative Edition” in 1987 and”25^th.Anniversary Heritage Edition” in 1992. The important features of these editions are fuel injection system , four speed automatic transmissions or five speed manual transmission , 15 inch or 16 inch wheels, hatchback body, provision of a rear window and a third brake light. 16inch Z rated tyres and improved suspension were also introduced in this phase. The third generation phase ended in 1992.

The fourth-generation Chevy Camaro was produced in 1993 on the updated earlier platform of Firebird. The model retained the characteristics of the first generation’s features like two door, four seater model with its rear wheel drive features, either a coupe or a convertible design ,  also having the choice of V6 or V8 engines  and  the option to choose six–speed manual transmission. New interior was introduced in 1997. In 1998, the exterior of the car was revised and there was a change in the engine with GM’s all-aluminium LSI (346 ci). The fourth generation Camaro lasted up to 2002 which heralded continuous production of Camaro for 35 years.

The pronouncement from General Motors with regard to the fifth generation Chevy Camaro came at the North American International Auto Show 2006 when the Chevy Camaro concept was made public. As per the announcement, the Chevy Camaro concept car is supposed to be powered by 400hp engine (V8) the vehicle will be available with manual and automatic transmission. The pricing of the model as announced by GM, will be competitive, keeping Ford’s Mustang in mind. The Chevy Camaro Concept will be marketed sometime in 2009.