1964-65
GM begins designing the "F-Car" to compete with other automakers in ways that the Chevy Corvair could not. This was one of the first American cars to use computers extensively in the design process, later lending characteristics to other Chevy nameplates. Collaboration between engineers and designers on handling, performance and fluid-theme styling was realized.

1966
Camaro gets its name. A French dictionary cites it as meaning comrade or pal. Others have said it implies being a part of the owner or personal driving experience. Either way, it would become an American icon prompting songs, movies, plays and books to be written about it.

1967
The first Camaros were sold in 1966 as ’67 models. Unlike its main competitor, Camaro consisted of a sub-frame attached to a uni-body for better road and noise isolation as well as better ride quality. From the Style Trim Group to the Rally Sport Package to the Super Sport, there were a myriad of options. There was even a special edition Z28 with a special small-block V8 engine that was developed as a contender for SCCA's® Trans-Am Racing Series.(1) Recognized for its performance and style, Camaro was selected as the Official Pace Car of the 1967 Indianapolis 500®(2). 220,906 Camaros, including approximately 100 Ermine White Convertible pace car replicas, were produced.

1968
The now-famous Houndstooth cloth made its debut on this model along with astro ventilation. Camaro SS offered two distinctive hoods: one for the 350 engine and one for the 396. 235,147 Camaros were produced.

1969
New sheet metal gave this model a longer, wider stance than the 1968 model and an optional vinyl roof accentuated the new look. At its second appearance, a Dover White Camaro Convertible with Hugger Orange stripes paced the Indianapolis 500®(2). 243,085 Camaros, including 3,675 pace car replicas, were produced.

Generation II: Aerodynamics Actualized (1970-1981)

1970 (1/2)
A short model year beginning in spring introduced the second-generation Camaro. While it maintained the semi-unitized body concept, almost every other part of the car was redesigned with a definite European influence. New SCCA® Trans-Am(1) rules allowing larger engines spurred a more powerful Camaro. The new Camaro Z28 came with a 350ci, 360-hp engine and SS offered an optional 396ci, 375-hp engine. 124,901 Camaros were produced.

1971
While the '71 Camaro was considered a carryover from the prior year's short run, there were
differences, including a new seat design featuring high-back buckets. Horsepower ratings changed from gross to net. And a coincidental drop in compression ratios made the power loss appear greater than it actually was. 114,630 Camaros were produced.

1972
This marked the year of "lasts" for Camaro. These were the last Camaros — only 930 of them to offer big block engines and the second-generation SS made its exit. Grilles sported a new appearance with a coarser mesh and vinyl roof covers played up a "wet" look. But a plant strike and new bumper requirements gave way to reduced production. 68,651 Camaros were produced.

1973
The new Camaro LT, an uplevel trim option, and optional power windows, which had been missing since 1969, spelled luxury for the '73 Camaro. Hydraulic valve lifters replaced the solid lifters on the Z28. And that distinctive Rally Sport front-end treatment made its last showing. 96,751 Camaros were produced.

1974
Federal bumper impact standards facilitated a major facelift. New extruded aluminum bumpers graced the front and rear, adding nearly seven inches to Camaro's overall length. New options included radial tires and an AM/FM stereo. The Arab oil embargo of 1973, coupled with tighter federal emissions and noise regulations, caused Chevrolet to cease production of the Z28. 151,008 Camaros were produced.

1975
A new wraparound rear window provided better rearward views on this model. While the Z28 was absent from showrooms, there was one built and used within the GM corporate fleet. It was never resold, and it is believed the vehicle was scrapped. The Rally Sport Appearance Package became available late in the model year. Unlike the separate front-end treatment of the earlier days, this new package stood out with stripes. 145,770 Camaros were produced.

1976
A bright aluminum fascia panel was added to the LT models between the taillamps. Simulated leather replaced the woodgrain on the instrument panel. The optional vinyl roof cover left a painted band between the vinyl top and rear window, giving it a landau appearance. And, for the first time in Camaro history, no striping package was available. 182,959 Camaros were produced.

1977
Camaro is again the car of choice for the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series. A special custom interior and exterior colors of Black, Brown, Orange, Light Red, Silver, Antique White and Bright Yellow were available. 218,853 Camaros were produced.

1978
T-Tops made their way to the market along with body-color fascias for a cleaner, more aerodynamic look than previous models. Camaro proved it was here to stay when the 2-millionth Camaro rolled off the Van Nuys assembly line in L.A. on May 11, 1978. Owned by a Chevy dealer in Nevada, it still looks as good today. In total, 272,631 Camaros were produced that year.

1979
While exterior styling remained the same, the '79 Camaros received a new instrument cluster design. LT was replaced with the Berlinetta, and Z28s had changes to the air dam as well as several mechanical and appearance modifications. This would be the last year for an in-line,
6-cylinder engine. 282,571 Camaros were produced.

1980
A new decade gave way to new engines. For the first time, a V6 was available on a Camaro. But while 49 states received a 229ci engine, California received a 231ci. Z28s featured a new hood with a rear-facing scoop and intake door that was solenoid-controlled. A variety of radios, including the popular integral CB, were available. 152,005 Camaros were produced.

1981
Appearance changes for the last year of the second generation were limited to color and trim and the absence of the Rally Sport model. In addition, this was the last year to order a 3-speed manual transmission in Camaro. However, even Chevrolet's advanced Computer Command Control — a new electronic diagnostic system that adjusted for changes in temperature, altitude and barometric pressure — couldn't tackle the slow economy. 126,139 Camaros were produced.

Generation III: Camaro Rocks with IROC (1982-1992)

1982
This third generation started off right with the "Car of the Year" award from Motor Trend magazine and, coincidently for the third time, the Official Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500®.(1) For the first time in 12 years, Camaro's body was totally redesigned, this time with a futuristic look and a hatch instead of the traditional trunk. Another first for Camaro: a 4-cylinder engine available in the Sport Coupe. 189,747 Camaros, including 6,360 Silver pace car replicas, were produced.

1983
A 5-speed manual transmission and a 4-speed automatic were new options this year. Then, in mid-model year, a new 190-hp V8, known as the 5.0 Liter H.O., was available with a 5-speed. Because cassette tapes had gained growing favor, the 8-track tape player was left out of the '83 model. 154,381 Camaros were produced.

1984
While Road & Track magazine named the '84 Camaro "one of the 12 best enthusiast cars of 1984," the Berlinetta model received the most attention. A brand-new dashboard featuring digital readout for speed, a vertical electronic tachometer and movable control pods on either side of the instrument readouts distinguished the Berlinetta from Sport Coupes and Z28s. The turn signal lever was locatedon the left control pod and was activated by a "paddle" of sorts. The radio was located in a swivel pod mounted to the console and could be rotated for use by either driver or passenger. The Berlinetta featured a roof console that was also optional on all other Camaro models. 261,591 Camaros were produced.

1985
A special Z28 sport equipment package, IROC-Z, commemorated the International Race of Champions that featured identically equipped special Camaros. This package allowed the Camaro to pull .92 gs on the skidpad. The V6 engine received Multi-Port Fuel Injection, and top horsepower came with the LB9 Tuned-Port Fuel Injected 305ci engine rated at 215 hp. Ten of the 12 colors available on Camaro were new this year along with revised interior fabrics and colors. 180,018 Camaros were produced.

1986
All 1986 Camaro Sport Coupe models received a host of new standard equipment that added greatly to the appearance of the base model. This included, among other things, styled wheels, dual tailpipes with tuned exhaust, black sport mirrors, power steering and brakes, lower-body accent color, and an upgraded sport suspension. Standard 5-speed manual transmission replaced last year's 4-speed manual, and the Berlinetta model was discontinued. 192,219 Camaros were produced.

1987
After an 18-year hiatus, the Camaro Convertible was brought back to life. An engine similar to that used in Corvette was available on the IROC-Z and rated at 225 hp. However, Camaro's heads and exhaust manifolds were made of iron instead of aluminum and stainless steel. The Norwood, Ohio, assembly plant closed at the end of this model run. 137,760 Camaros were produced.

1988
The Z28 model and the LT option once again disappeared as all production took place at the Van Nuys assembly plant in L.A. The Sport Coupe model received the Z28-style fascia from the previous year and the IROC-Z saw an increase in horsepower to 230 along with an optional 16-inch wheel. Chevy planned to use a three-piece spoiler on all IROC-Z models and a one-piece spoiler on the Sport Coupes. However, early Sport Coupes were built with a one-piece spoiler that featured a center, high-mounted stoplamp that was discontinued during the model run. 96,275 Camaros were produced.

1989
Success with a regionally offered RS model two years prior led to nationwide distribution in 1989, acting as the base model. Visually, the change was primarily a set of body-color ground effect panels which were not offered on the 1988 sport coupe. Only 111 1LE Special Performance Components Package Camaros — targeted for the SCCA® Showroom Stock racing series — were built. They came with an aluminum drive shaft, larger front brakes, fuel tank baffles, specific front and rear shocks, different jounce bumpers, 4-wheel disc brakes, a dual converter exhaust, and P245/50ZR-16 tires. 110,739 Camaros were produced.

1990
This short production run gave way to a new 3.1 Liter V6 engine rated at 140 hp. All 1990 Camaros received a driver-side air bag along with a standard tilt wheel, tinted glass, intermittent wipers and halogen headlamps. Yellow instrument graphics replaced the traditional white ones. 34,986 Camaros were produced.

1991
While IROC-Z was no longer, Z28 made a comeback this year. All '91 Camaros featured new ground effects. Z28 Coupes received a much taller rear spoiler, while RS Coupes had the same spoiler as 1990, but the center brakelight was relocated to the upper inside of the hatch window. The Special Service Package (B4C), better known as the Police Package, helped put speeders in their place. 100,838 Camaros were produced.

1992
A special plaque on the instrument panel of all Camaros celebrated its 25th birthday. Plus, an exclusive Z03 Heritage Package featured a body-color grille, heritage stripes and badging. It came in white with red stripes, bright red with black stripes, purple haze with silver stripes, black with red stripes, or polo green with gold stripes. This memorable year was the last model run for the Van Nuys plant. 70,008 Camaros were produced.

Generation IV: A New Plant, A New Generation, Another Indy (1993-2002)

1993
With a totally redesigned body and significant mechanical improvements, the fourth-generation Camaro debuted. All models included dual air bags(1) along with analog instrument displays and tachometer. The V6 bulked up from 140 hp to 160 hp and the Z28 received an LT-1 V8 similar to that used in the Corvette and rated at 275 hp. Camaro's fourth appearance at the Indy 500® was a Z28 with striking black-over-white exterior with special multicolored stripes and interior seat covers. 40,224 Camaros, including 633 pace car replicas, were produced.

1994
The fourth-generation convertible was introduced with a power top, full headliner and heated rear window. Sequential Fuel Injection was added to the LT1 V8 engine and Z28's standard 6-speed manual transmission featured Computer-Aided Gear Selection. New options included Remote Keyless Entry and leather seating surfaces in graphite or beige. 119,799 Camaros were produced.

1995
This year Camaro focused on handling and performance improvements. Traction Control became an option on Z28 as well as a new all-season tire to complement the system. For V6 buyers, an optional 200 hp was offered. This was also the first year customers would see body-color roof and mirrors with the T-Top option. And the optional 5-speaker sound system blew away the 3-speaker system from the previous year. 122,738 Camaros were produced.

1996
Two models were reborn for the '96 model year: the Rally Sport Coupe and the Rally Sport Convertible. They sported front and rear fascia extensions, ground effects along the sides, and a three-piece rear spoiler extension. Now standard in all base models was the 3.8 Liter, 200-hp engine, available with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The SS Package made a comeback with up to 310 horses, a composite hood with a functional hood scoop, restyled rear spoiler, revised suspension and 17-inch Corvette ZR-1-style wheels. It was available nationwide, but only through special arrangements with SLP Engineering. 61,362 Camaros were produced.

1997
To commemorate its 30th anniversary, the '97 Camaro was chosen to pace the Brickyard 400® at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in August of '96. Reminiscent of the '69 Indy 500® pace car, this Camaro was Arctic White with Hugger Orange heritage stripes and featured a special black-and-white Houndstooth interior. While all '97 models boasted a 30th anniversary logo on the front seats, a special Z4C Anniversary Package replicated the Brickyard 400 pace car. 60,201 Camaros, including 4,534 anniversary models, were produced.

1998
Camaro continued to make a statement this year. A completely restyled front end with new reflector optic headlamps, fenders, hood, grille and bumper fascia were just a few of the new parts and components this year. The biggest was the all-new, all-aluminum Corvette-derived 5.7 Liter V8 engine. Horsepower was beefed up to 305 on Z28 and 320 on SS. Plus, the 4-wheel disc brake system included a new integral ABS system from Bosch. 49,218 Camaros were produced.

1999
Z28 was the racing choice for 1999. 50 identical Z28s were chosen for driver introductions at the Indy 500® and the Brickyard 400®. Hugger Orange, Bright Blue Metallic and Pewter Metallic were new on the color palette. Minor improvements included a larger gas tank than the '98 model and Traction Control available on all '99 models. 42,098 Camaros were produced.

2000
SS remained a favorite this year, and Brickyard 400® at Indianapolis used 50 of them. On the inside, a new Congo-Lexington cloth replaced the previous basketweave style, while Camaro's aluminum wheels — both 16- and 17-inch — were restyled for a fresher look outside. 45,461 Camaros were produced.

2001
Still the race-inspired performer it was designed to be, the 2001 Camaro is as spirited as ever with more horsepower than last year's model. SS takes the lead with 325 hp and Z28 follows closely with 310 hp. The hot new color, Sunset Orange Metallic was also introduced this model year. 29,009 Camaros were produced.

2002
For 35 years Camaro has remained true to its brand promise of offering honest American performance with rear-wheel drive, sport-tuned suspensions, exceptional power and eye-catching, fluid-themed styling. To celebrate, a limited number of 35th anniversary Camaro T-Top Coupes and Convertibles were built featuring a special graphics and interior, and are offered through a limited number of dealers. This also marked the final production year (for now) of the Camaro of which few cars have had such a loyal following of enthusiasts!

Farewell to the F-body!
The GM St. Therese plant in Canada produced the very last Camaro and Firebird which rolled off the assembly lines Tuesday, August 27th 2002. Both cars were red convertables and are on display in GM's Heritage Collection.

The St. Therese plant officially closed Wednesday, August 28th 2002.

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