Chevrolet Camaro 1967-1981

This page covers the first 2 generations of the Chevrolet Camaro (1967-1981). The Camaro would see its greatest successes in these years.

For more information of the last 2 Camaro generations, please see the Chevrolet Camaro 1982-2002 page.

First Generation

1967

The Camaro's premier year, being introduced in November, 1966. Like its Mustang competition, the Camaro was also based on a compact, in this case the [[Chevrolet Nova|Chevy II (Nova). It was available either as a hardtop coupe or convertible. The Camaro's construction was quite basic, having a unibody structure from the windshield and firewall back, with a separate steel rail front subframe. The front suspension was independent with double A-arms and a solid leaf-spring axle in the rear. And, like the Mustang, the options list on the Camaro could be quite dizzying with all the options and configurations available. Base engine was a 140 hp 3.8L (230 cid) I6, but a larger 155 hp 4.1L (250 cid) I6 could be had, but unlike its Pontiac Firebird's I6 engines, the Camaro's were a more conventional OHV version instead of Pontiac's OHC designs. A 210 hp 5.3L (327 cid) V8 was the base V8, with 2- or 4-bbl carb. A 295 hp 5.7L (350 cid) V8 was (naturally) standard in the SS-350, but the big kahuna was the big-block 6.5L (396 cid) V8, available in 325 or 375 hp guise. Transmissions included the 2-speed Powerglide and 3-speed Turbohydramatic transmissions, or a 3- or 4-speed manual.

Camaro of course was available with the sport-oriented SS package, but an RS package could also be had that included, in addition to a spruced-up interior, hidden headlights with parking lights below the bumper in the valance panel, and also had unique solid-red taillights with the reverse lights below the rear bumper in the valance. RS and SS packages could be overlapped, but unlike the SS, the RS was available with any engine, including the six-cylinders. SSs could have domed hood with simulated vents and a front "bumblebee" stripe design, or a side stripe. A Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible would pace the Indianpolis 500 this year, all being white with the requisite Pace Car decals and blue interior. Supposedly only 120 replicas were sold, making the 67 Camaro Pace Car one of the most sought-after Pace Cars ever.

Saving the best for last, let's not forget the Z/28. The Z/28 name came from the Z28 RPO code. For its debut year, the Z/28's styling was very understated and quiet (unlike later versions, which couldn't shout it loud enough) with no external badging anywhere, and was equipped with a unique (and underrated) 290 hp 4.9L (302 cid) V8 with a 4-speed manual transmission. This drivetrain was not shared with any other Camaro model. The 302 was produced by installing the crank from the 327 into the smaller 4.7L (283 cid) V8 engine. Only 602 Z/28s were sold this year, making this the holy-grail of Z/28s with many collectors.

1968

There were a few detail changes to the 1968 Camaro. First was the addition of federally-mandated side-marker lights. Front side vent windows were eliminated, thanks to the addition of the new "astro-ventilation". Grilles were different also - it now came to a small point in the center, and (on non-RS models) the parking lights were now oval instead of round. One mechanical change was the addition of staggered rear shocks (one in front, one in back) to help eliminate axle-hop under hard acceleration. Drivetrain choices were the same as in 1967, and the Z/28s now got "Z/28" fender badges.

1969

Camaros were restyled this year, giving it the typical "longer, lower, wider" appearance theme that was popular back in those days. Fenders, quarters, grilles and taillights were all different, but dimensions remained largely the same. The interior got redesigned seats and a new dashboard. A new V8 debuted, a 200 hp 5.0L (307 cid) unit (no relation the the Oldsmobile 307 engine in the 1980s). The 327, 350 and 396 V8s were still available, and could still breathe plenty of fire if equipped properly. RS, SS and Z/28 models (with its unique 302 engine) also continued - the RS still had hidden headlights, but now they were hidden behind glass doors with 3 slats across them (this way in case a door failed to open, they still emitted some light, which was better than none).

The Camaro once again paced the Indianapolis 500, so a Pace Car was naturally offered again, which was white - but this time, however, instead of a blue interior, this one had an orange "houndstooth" interior and dual orange hood and decklid stripes. The Pace Car was based on the RS/SS convertible, and could have either the 350 or 396 V8 engine. The Pace Car is often known among Camaro'rs by its RPO code Z11, but during the model year, some northern-tier Chevy dealers complained that they couldn't move a convertible very easily... so Chevrolet offered a Z10 Pace Car hardtop coupe as an alternative to the convertible during the mid-year to satisfy their wishes. Other limited edition Camaros included the 7.0L (427 cid) V8 engine COPO 9561 models (Central Office Production Order), which included the Yenko, and the 425 hp COPO 9560 427 ZL-1 Camaros, in which only 69 were built, making this a true holy-grail Camaro among many collectors.

Due to the late introduction of the 2nd generation Camaros, the 1969 Camaros got an extended model year to the end of December, 1969. This would also be the highest-selling year of the first generation Camaro, and among many Camaro enthusiasts, the most desirable.

2nd Generation

1970

Despite the runaway success of the 1969 Camaro, GM, in a very bold move, nonetheless completely redesigned the Camaro (and Pontiac Firebird) for 1970. This would be an entirely different animal from the first generation model, this one taking many obvious styling cues from Ferrari and other European exotics which caught some people off-guard a little at first, but the buying public didn't take long at all to accept it, and it would ultimately be one of GM's most successful designs ever offered. Since this new design didn't debut until late in the 1970 model year (February), it is known by many as a "1970 1/2" model. A 2-door coupe was now the only bodystyle offered - no more convertibles, and the rear-seat room and trunk space would shrink a little compared to the 1st gens.

Base engine was now the 155 hp 250 cid I6, with the 200 hp 307 and 350 with 2- or 4-bbl carb as options - the 327 was no more. SS models had the 300 hp 350-4 as standard but could have a 350 hp or 375 hp 396 V8. 3- or 4-speed manual transmissions were offered or a 2-speed Powerglide on the I6 or 307 V8. A 3-speed automatic was available with any engine. This generation had an RS, but this time the RS consisted of a unique front clip with round parking lights beside the headlights and split front bumpers, instead of large rectangular parking lights below a full-length front bumper on standard versions. Taillights on both models were round with a matching round reverse light beside it, much like a Corvette.

The star of the show in this generation would be the Z/28, being promoted from a small supporting role in the last generation. The Z/28 would no longer have the high-winding 290 hp 302, but instead a 360 hp 350 LT-1, and unlike the previous Z could have an automatic transmission in addition to the 4-speed manual. Dual hood and decklid stripes were standard-fare, but they could be deleted if so desired.

1971

Not a whole lot of changes in store for 1971. High-back bucket seats replaced the lower-back seats with adjustable headrests, and the Z/28 would now share the larger 3-piece spoiler with the other Camaro models, losing its unique low-style one piece unit. The LT-1 350 unfortunately suffered a 30 hp drop to 330 hp (an unfortunate sign of things to come), but other engines would continue as before with subsequent drops as well, due to lower compression ratios.

1972

A United Auto Worker's strike hugely hampered F-body production, almost prompting GM to drop the F-body entirely. This severly crippled overall 1972 sales, even causing many models to ultimately be scrapped because they couldn't be updated to pass the new front-bumper crash standards. It is for this reason that 1972 is the rarest of the 2nd gen Camaros, which of course is a boon for collectors. All horsepower rating were rated under the net rating (as opposed to the gross rating), resulting in more horsepower drops across the board. The SS hung in for one more year, and still could have the big-block 396 (really a 402 by now, but still called 396) but was now rated at 240 hp - actually a bit lower than the top 350 that was now rated at 255. All models got a slightly revised grille but were otherwise identical to the 1971s.

1973

Another slightly revised grille and stronger front bumpers were changes for this year, even though the bumpers still mostly looked the same.

To be continued...