The Chevrolet Camaro was introduced in North America by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors at the start of the 1967 model year as competition for the Ford Mustang. Camaro advertising would first be found on AM top-40 stations of the day - stations which appealed to young adults. Although it was technically a compact car (by the standards of the time), the Camaro, like the entire class of Mustang competitors, was soon known as a pony car. It may also be classified as an intermediate touring car, a sports car, or a muscle car. The car shared the same platform and major components with the Pontiac Firebird, also introduced in 1967. Production of both cars ceased in 2002 with only the Camaro going back into production in 2009.
Though the car's name was contrived with no meaning, GM researchers reportedly found the word in a French dictionary as a slang term for "friend" or "companion." In some automotive periodicals before official release, it was code-named "Panther." Historical examples exist of Chevrolet product managers being asked by the automotive press "what is a Camaro?", with the tongue-in-cheek answer being "a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs," a sideways reference to the competing Ford Mustang.
The Camaro was the flagship for Chevrolet, and was for many years one of its most popular models. If its frequent inclusion in automotive enthusiast magazines is any indication, the Chevy Camaro is one of the most popular cars for modification in automotive history.
2001
2001 was the lowest production year ever for the Camaro, partially due to production ending earlier than usual to begin work on the 35th Anniversary cars. Only 29,009 Camaros were built this year. The Z28 and SS models received the intake manifold from the LS6, the engine used in the fifth generation Corvette Z06. Accordingly, stated power ratings were increased to 310 hp for the Z28 and 325 hp for the SS, although both models likely produced about 350 hp.
Though the car's name was contrived with no meaning, GM researchers reportedly found the word in a French dictionary as a slang term for "friend" or "companion." In some automotive periodicals before official release, it was code-named "Panther." Historical examples exist of Chevrolet product managers being asked by the automotive press "what is a Camaro?", with the tongue-in-cheek answer being "a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs," a sideways reference to the competing Ford Mustang.
The Camaro was the flagship for Chevrolet, and was for many years one of its most popular models. If its frequent inclusion in automotive enthusiast magazines is any indication, the Chevy Camaro is one of the most popular cars for modification in automotive history.
2001
2001 was the lowest production year ever for the Camaro, partially due to production ending earlier than usual to begin work on the 35th Anniversary cars. Only 29,009 Camaros were built this year. The Z28 and SS models received the intake manifold from the LS6, the engine used in the fifth generation Corvette Z06. Accordingly, stated power ratings were increased to 310 hp for the Z28 and 325 hp for the SS, although both models likely produced about 350 hp.