Chevrolet Camaro History
Chevrolet's pony car — launched in 1967 to fight the Mustang, across six generations to 2024.
Photo: “1983 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta, front left, 07-19-2023.jpg” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
History
The Camaro launched for 1967 as Chevrolet's direct answer to the Ford Mustang, sharing its platform with the Pontiac Firebird and immediately becoming a Trans-Am racing and street-performance icon.
After four generations the nameplate was retired in 2002, then revived for 2010 on the back of its 'Transformers' Bumblebee fame. The sixth generation ran 2016–2024 before Chevrolet again paused the line.
Across its life the Camaro has been defined by the SS, the Trans-Am-bred Z/28, and the supercharged ZL1 flagship.
Generations
First generation · 1967–1969
The original pony car; home of the Trans-Am-bred Z/28 and the COPO big-blocks.
Second generation · 1970–1981
Larger, longer-running F-body; muscle early, then detuned through the emissions era.
Third generation · 1982–1992
Photo: “1983 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta, front left, 07-19-2023.jpg” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Lighter, more modern F-body with available fuel injection and the IROC-Z.
1983 Photo: “1983 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta, front left, 07-19-2023.jpg” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
1984 Photo: “1984 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta, front right, 03-13-2023.jpg” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
1986 Photo: “1986 Chevrolet Camaro Sport Coupe, front left, 08-17-2023.jpg” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
1987 Photo: “1987 Chevrolet Camaro (1).jpg” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Fourth generation · 1993–2002
Aero styling and the LT1/LS1 V8; the line was retired after 2002.
Fifth generation · 2010–2015
Photo: “2014 Chevrolet Camaro 2LS, front left, 08-25-2023.jpg” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Retro-themed revival; reintroduced the SS and the supercharged ZL1.
2014 Photo: “2014 Chevrolet Camaro 2LS, front left, 08-25-2023.jpg” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Sixth generation · 2016–2024
Photo: “2017 Chevrolet Camaro LT Coupe, front left, 09-10-2022.jpg” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Lighter Alpha-platform car; ended production after the 2024 model year.
2017 Photo: “2017 Chevrolet Camaro LT Coupe, front left, 09-10-2022.jpg” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
2018 Photo: “2018 Chevrolet Camaro.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
2019 Photo: “2019 Chevrolet Camaro base, front 11.9.19.jpg” by Kevauto / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Body styles
- Coupe
- Convertible
Notable special editions & performance variants
Z/28
Trans-Am-homologation performance Camaro; the 2014 revival used the 7.0L LS7 V8.
SS (Super Sport)
The volume V8 performance Camaro across most generations.
ZL1
Supercharged top model — 580 hp on the fifth generation, 650 hp on the sixth.
COPO
Central-Office-Production-Order big-block specials; revived as a drag-only racer.
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the Chevrolet Camaro
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