|
When
it comes to the Camaro, the car has been at the front of the pony
car era since the beginning, in 1967. It was Chevy's answer to
the drivers who may not want the Ford Mustang, which came out
two years before in 1965-1966.
It's
survived many design changes through the years, but horsepower
and handling has been in it's genes since the first car was bred
at GM, and continues to be a force in the muscle car stable today.
With
special editions, from the Baldwin Motion dealership cars, to
the COPO 427 models, the Camaro has been used as a test base car
for just how much power and engine can be stuffed into a midsize
car.
From
the Camaro SS to the Camaro Z28 options, the sky was the limit
when it came to engines. Big block or smal block, with a wide
range of horsepower ratings, you could get a variety of performance
packages to suit your driving needs.
These
model kits reflect the range of possibilities, and just about
every example of Camaro's heritage can be built. The early 1967-1969
series, the 1970-1981 bodies, and the ever popular 1982-1992 kits.
The 1993-2002 styles are well represented, many which sport the
all new LT1 engine.
Of
course, there was a lull between generations, as the Camaro brand
tried to find a way to balance power with fuel mileage, and loose
it's bloated body shape. By the time 2010 rolled around, GM had
figured out how to make the Camaro perform, as well as be stylish
again with an all new body.
There
are many kits of this new hot style, and they have become quite
the popular kits recently. (Chevy skipped making Camaros from
2003 to 2009 - and when they brought it back in 2010, they made
the cars in Canada. Maybe this is Canada's pony car?)
The
2010 and 2015 years are well represented in model form, and Round2
/ AMT is coming out with the new 2016 car models soon.
Camaro
1967-1969
The Camaro was developed to compete with the Ford Mustang pony car, which was introduced in 1964-65.
The cars were known as the GM "F-Body". It was introduced with two engine options, a V8 or a straight 6.
Optional models were the Z28, RS, and SS (Super Sport). You could also get a convertible.
Special Yenko Camaros were built by Don Yenko Cheverolet dealerships in Pennsylvania.
1970-1981
For 1970 Chevy redesigned the Camaro, making it larger with an all new body style.
The convertible option was dropped.
Chevy began using their small block 350 LT1 engines as an option.
Minor changes were made over the years. The metal bumpers were soon replaced with plastic ones, and the taiilight treatments were updated. But the basic shape of the car did not change.
1982-1992
In 1982 the Camaro recieved an all new body style and suspension from the ground up.
The front had a strut suspension, and the rear traditional leaf springs were gone, replaced by coil springs.
Optional engines were a 5.0 V8 or 2.5 Litre 4-cylinder.
The IROC edition was introduced.
1993-2002
Chevy once again changed the Camaro body, making it appear even larger (and bulkier) than it's previous models.
In 1993 The All-American Chevy Camaro was made in Ste. Therese, Quebec - Canada. Up till 2002.
The convertible option was re-introduced.
Six speed manual transmission and rack & pinion are introduced to the Camaro line.
Standard engine as a V6, but a V8 was optional for the Z28 models.
2003-2008
Chevy no longer produced Camaros during these years.
2009-2015
Chevy started building Camaros again. This time thery were based on a Holden (Australian) chassis.
The cars themselves were made in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
Rear independant suspension was introduced.
Optional engines were a V6 on up to a V8 with a supercharger and 500+ horsepower.
2016-2022
Chevy once again introduced a new Camaro body style.
Many of the parts were unique to these cars and not carried over from previous offerings.
This newest camaro is based the the GM / Cadillac Alpha platform.
Engine options are the 2.0 litre 4-cylinder, a V6, and the (Corvette) V8 making 455+ horsepower.
|
