Welcome to a nostalgic journey back to 1967, a pivotal year that introduced the world to the Chevrolet Camaro. This muscle car quickly became a symbol of performance and style that captured the hearts of automotive enthusiasts everywhere. In this blog, we’ll dive into 10 fun facts about the first-year Chevrolet Camaro that highlight its design, its innovations and its immediate impact on car culture. Whether you’re a longtime Camaro fan or just appreciate classic cars, these insights will deepen your appreciation for this iconic vehicle. Let’s rev up the engines and explore the legacy of the 1967 Camaro!1) The Camaro grew out of the ‘Super Nova’ concept car.Looking for a design that could both spark the public’s imagination and serve as an answer to the 1964 Ford Mustang, Chevrolet debuted the Super Nova concept car at the New York Auto Show in April 1964. Built on the same chassis as the 1964 Chevy II Nova, the Super Nova featured a number of styling choices that would eventually find their way into the production 1967 Camaro, including the windshield rake, roofline, rear sail panels, basic back glass and trunklid shape, and hints of the pronounced rear fender bulges that would become a hallmark of first-gen Camaro styling.
2) The Camaro was originally going to be known by a more feline name.Though the original GM code name for the Camaro prototype was the XP-836, eventually designers arrived at the name Chevrolet Panther, going so far as a make mockups of Panther emblems featuring a leaping cat. The name was reportedly abandoned as “too aggressive” by GM brass, however, after auto safety crusader Ralph Nader went after the Chevrolet Corvair. After leaving behind the “Panther” name, Chevrolet considered “Chaparral,” before Chevrolet General Manager Elliott M. “Pete” Estes decided on “Camaro,” announcing the name to the press on June 28, 1966, only weeks before production began.
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3) The name “Camaro” was probably made up.Chevy has a long history of starting vehicle names with the letter “C” to create alliteration with “Chevrolet,” including vehicles like the Corvette, Cavalier, Cheyenne, Chevelle, Chevette, and many others. Once the “Panther” name was dropped, Chevrolet scrambled for a new name and came up with “Camaro,” which Pete Estes claimed was obscure French slang to mean “pal, friend or comrade.” After automotive journalists could find no historic basis for the name, Estes famously quipped that the real definition of Camaro is a “vicious animal that eats Mustangs.”
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4) Other Camaro models were considered, but abandoned.In addition to the coupe and convertible model that went into production, other versions of the 1967 Camaro were considered for production, including a “fastback” model with a lengthened roofline to compete with the Mustang 2+2, an El Camino-like pickup version with a small truck bed, and a sporty two-door station wagon.Discover the 2024 Chevy Camaro
5) The 1967 Camaro shared its running gear with a less-glamorous stablemate.Seeking to cut costs by sharing parts between models, the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro shared the front subframe and semi-unibody design with the 1968 Nova.
6) The famous 1967 Z/28 was a “secret” option package.Now one of the most famous muscle cars of all time, the rare 1967 Z/28 – whose name comes from GM’s internal code for the car: RPO Z28 Special Performance Package – was available for order as a factory-built race car, but only if you happened to know a particular sequence of options to request to trigger its construction, including ordering power disc brakes and the Muncie 4-speed close-ratio manual transmission. Created by GM specifically to compete in Trans Am Series racing with few modifications, only 602 1967 Z/28 models were built.
7) The Camaro was introduced in a media blitz.When the Chevrolet Camaro debuted to the public on September 21, 1966, Chevrolet pulled out all the stops to promote their new Mustang-fighter, including producing a half-hour movie about the development of the car called “The Camaro,” narrated by then-popular cartoonist Milton Caniff and shown on TV and in movie theaters.
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8) It was a media blitz that also included a touring stage play.One of the events GM orchestrated to build excitement about the new Chevy Camaro was a musical stage play called “Camaro!” which debuted in September 1966. Performed by four different acting troupes, the show toured 25 cities in the U.S. and Canada, and featured an orchestra, dancers, a chorus and a 1967 Camaro coupe and convertible.Chevy’s Top Picks for Spring Cruising
9) And it was a line of women’s clothing.Another promotional tie-in cooked up to promote the launch of the 1967 Camaro was a line of womens’ fashions inspired by the Camaro created by New York designer David Crystal. Sold under “The Camaro Collection” with the tagline “Fashion Goes Motoring,” the six dresses in the Camaro Collection were sold in over 450 stores across the country beginning in January 1967, with those who purchased fashions in the collection automatically being registered for a drawing to win a free Camaro.
10) Some 1967 Camaro models were built outside the U.S.While nearly every 1967 Camaro sold was built at GM’s production plants in Norwood, Ohio and Van Nuys, California, a limited number of Camaros were built at plants in countries with laws on the books that required all vehicles operated in that country also be constructed there, including the Philippines, Belgium, Switzerland, Venezuela and Peru.
This iconic muscle car not only set the stage for a legacy of performance and innovation but also became a beloved classic that continues to ignite passion among car enthusiasts around the world. The 1967 Camaro’s blend of style, power and historical significance makes it a standout model in automotive history. Whether you’re a collector, a restorer, or simply someone who appreciates the allure of classic cars, the first-year Camaro is a testament to the era it emerged from and the lasting impact it has had. Keep cruising through history and appreciating these timeless machines that have driven their way into our hearts.
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