First launched in 1966, the Chevrolet Camaro was built with the intention of introducing an American muscle car experience to sports car enthusiasts and to the average driver. In its earliest days, the Camaro came in two models, Sport Coupe and Convertible. Today, six generations of the Camaro are in existence, but to truly appreciate this automotive beauty and all that it stands for, one must explore Camaro’s roots.
The 1966 and ‘67 coupe models competed directly with the Ford Mustang as the Camaro had a similar front engine to the Mustang in addition to a similar rear drive configuration. Then in 1970, the second-generation Camaro was born.
February of 1970 brought forth the somewhat restyled Chevy, making it longer and wider. Some of the key differences that came with this Camaro were the A-arm suspension at the front of the vehicle, a front subframe, and a stronger rear axle. This model was able to make its way onto the top ten list of best cars in the world.
Queue the 1980s: hatchback bodies were becoming increasingly popular throughout the automotive world, with the 1982 third generation Camaro being no exception. Chevy kicked it into overdrive with this model, adding a four-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmissions, and a lightweight frame, allowing it to reach top speeds unlike its predecessors. The 1986 Camaro’s then came with 2.8-liter V6 engines, later replaced by a 5.7-liter V8 in 1987.
In 1993 came the fourth generation Camaro, which had a much sleeker design than its 1987 relative. This model was aimed at improving the aerodynamics of the vehicle while also upgrading it to a more modern style, which included a longer windshield, a rear spoiler, and an engine cooling configuration.
The fifth generation Camaro began production in August of 2006 bringing about a totally new design, with the convertible alternative being introduced in 2009. The coupe version then followed suit in SS, LT, and LS trim levels, using V6 and V8 engines with 400 horsepower. This went on to win World Car of the Year in 2010.
Today, the sixth generation Camaro reigns supreme, introduced in 2016. While these new models are similar in style to the fifth generations, they do sport a “gill” styled grill with a lower, wider frame. With the right colors and striping, you’d be hard pressed to differentiate this from a professional motorsport model. While they seventh generation Camaro has yet to surface, we can only speculate what that future model may resemble. One thing is guaranteed, however; this car’s innovative nature and continued success in the automotive industry is sure to remain true.