History of the Camaro Timeline 4 Small

Camaro and other Muscle Cars in Pop Culture

Since 1964 , American muscle cars have been a huge part of American automotive culture. Their lightwight bodies and powerful engines became an instant formula for success. Ford, General Moters, and Chrystler have all raced to make the next great pony car and kicked out some great performance cars.

After the successful unveiling of the Mustang, Chevrolet started developing one of their concepts for production. Code named Panther, production of the Camaro was started. It was unveiled in 1966 as the Camaro, which was French for friend or companion. Since then the Camaro, Mustang, and other muscle cars have been in a fierce rivalry to be the best.

General Manger Estes setting off the Camaro explosion.

The film features a Ford Mustang 390 CID Fastback in arguably the best car chase scene to date.

Bullitt - 1968

1960

1964 - Four months after the release of Ford’s Mustang, General Moters beings developing a new competitor.

1962 - One of the clay model concepts in development. This is before the release of the Mustang or any other of the classic muscle cars.

1958 Development starts on the first prototype of a car resembling the Camaro.

History of the Camaro

The classic film features a 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. The success of the movie helped make the car a classic as well.

Smokey and the Bandit - 1977

Camaro offically released for sale to public. It is an instant success and becomes a rival to the Mustang.

September 29,1966

1967-1970

This TV series features one of the most icon classic cars of American culture. The protagonists Bo and Luke Duke drive a ‘69 Dodge Charger nicknamed the General Lee.

Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985)

This amendment was enacted to reduce the growing amount of pollution. Stricter regulations severly hampered the performance of automobiles

Second Generation

Fourth Generation

This TV series features David Hasselhoff as Micheal Knight driving KITT: a high tech, nearly indistructable car with artificial intelligence. KITT is a customized 1982 Pontiac Trans Am.

Knight Rider (1982-1986)

1980 - Emissions cut down enough to now be certified in all fifty states

The third generation introduced new advances in technology. Offered for the first time were: -Factory fuel injection -Automatic transmission in all models -5-speed manual transmission -Four-cylinder engines

1981 - Third Gen. Camaro Released

Third Generation

Even though it was virtually the same as the ‘78 model, 282,571 ’79 Camaros were sold this year. This is a record that still stands to this day.

1979 - Record Sales

1980

1993-2002 1993 2002

Fourth Generation

1984 - Digital Instrumentation Adopted

1982-1992

Third Generation

1977 - First year the Camaro outsold the Mustang

1970-1981

Second Generation

1970 - Clean Air Act Amendment

The new redesigned Camaro would have the last year of high performance engines because of new legislature on emissions.

1970 - Second Gen Camaro

1970 - First Available Automatic Transmission

First Generation

The 1969 Camaro boasts its biggest engines, most horsepower, and rarest models. This has made it the most seeked classic Camaro of car collectors. The rarest ZL-1 model could go 0-60 in just over five seconds. There were just 69 made.

1969 -Arguably the most iconic Camaro

1970

Production Years

First Generation

Fifth Generation

2000

All-American linebacker Gerry Burtier (Ryan Hurst) drives a ‘67 Camaro.

Responding to Ford’s new first gen. inspired Mustang redesign, GM introduces the new Camaro concept car with its roots going back to the classic ‘69 model. The concept car takes Best in Class at the Detroit Auto Show.

This film features both classic and modern cars in todays street racing world. In the picture to the left, a 1970 Dodge Charger is racing a 1994 Toyota Supra.

The Fast and the Furious -2001

-Starting price was $17,000, a great value at the time. - The Z-28 Indy 500 pace care replica was made exactly the same original pace car. That meant someone could buy a Z-28 with the same power as an actual pace car.

Fifth Gen Camaros are featured in Transformers (left) and Hawaii Five-0 (right.)

The latest model revealed boasts a 500+ horspower engine. Along with the Z-L1 model (580 HP), the Camaro is pushing both the competition of muscle and design with other muscle cars.

2013 - Z-28 Returns

The fifth generation Camaro is released in April. More than 10,000 were pre-ordered. Price was drivin up by nearly $5000 because the supply couldn’t keep up with the demand.

2010

2011 - The ZL-1 Camaro stars as Bumblee in the third Transformers film.

2009 - In Transformers 2 - Revenge of the fallen, Bumblebee is again a Camaro, but is upgraded to a ZL-1 concept. Chevy also uses the movie to promote their Corvette Stingray concept and their Chevy Beat concept. The films no doubt helped Chevy’s sales, especially the Camaro. Later in 2009, Chevy would release a Transformers Edition Camaro for sale.

2009 - Camaro is Back

2007 - In the blockbuster film “Transformers,” the new Camaro Concept is used as one of the main characters Bumblebee. The character was also a ‘74 Camaro in the beginning of the film.

2006 - Fifth Gen Concept

Production of the Camaro stopped due to poor sales from a shrinking sports car demand. Sadly, production ending with the Camaro’s 35 year aniversary.

2002 - Camaro on Hiatus

1993 - Fourth Gen. Camaro Released

Remember the Titans - 2000

1990

1986 - First convirtable available since 1969

2010-Present

Fifth Generation