Camaro & Firebird - GM's Power Twins

FOREWORD

By Brian Earnest

ROOM FOR TWO

It's been a bittersweet past couple years for lovers of General Motors' legendary F-body siblings — the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird. Connoisseurs of both nameplates went into mourning when The General discontinued both nameplates following the 2002 model year, and it would be seven long years before Camaro nation could celebrate again with the release of the awesome 2010 model.

Alas, the news was tainted a bit with the realization that the Camaro would have to go it alone in the future. In April of 2009, it was announced that Pontiac would go the way of the woolly mammoth — and countless other car brands — and be discontinued by the end of 2010.

Perhaps the Firebird/Trans Am will resurface again at some point under one of the other GM banners and the Camaro and 'Bird will ride together again. But even if that doesn't happen, auto enthusiasts have a long, glorious run to look back on. For 36 years, the two pony/muscle cars thrilled car enthusiasts with their similar ability to match style and performance in a variety of packages that most car buffs could actually afford.

In these pages, we salute both the Camaro and Firebird — two of the coolest rides ever to roll off American auto assembly lines, and two that live on together in the hearts of millions of fans.

1960s CAMARO

THE 1967 Z/28 WAS A FAVORITE OF RACING ENTHUSIASTS.

1967

The original 1967 Camaro was introduced to the public on Sept. 26, 1966, as Chevrolet's belated answer to Ford's enormously popular Mustang. Camaro is band-box new by Chevrolet and a freshly styled example of how fine an exciting road machine can look, said the first sales catalog for the new car, which described it as a go as well as show machine.

It was the fourth totally new line of cars that Chevrolet had introduced since the Corvair first appeared late in 1959. Each of these cars — Corvair, Chevy II, Chevelle and Camaro — filled a different niche in Chevrolet's marketing scheme. While inspired by the pony car segment that the Mustang had carved out of the marketplace, the first Camaro was really promoted as more of a Junior Corvette that gave the family man with a hunkering for a real sports car the opportunity to buy one with four seats.

Chevrolet copywriters put major emphasis on the Camaro's wide stance stability and big-car power and explained how enthusiasts could personalize their Camaro Sport Coupe or convertible by adding extras and option packages. There was the base version with bucket seats and carpeting as standard equipment, the Rally Sport option with hideaway headlights and the SS 350 with its bumblebee stripes and powerful standard V-8. An optional 396-cid V-8 was released for the Super Sport after November 1966.

To these basic building block options the buyer could add a custom interior, a variety of engines and transmissions and accessories such as vinyl roofs and Rally wheels. Those who wanted to customize their Camaro even further could combine some extras to create such model-options as the now-highly-desirable RS/SS variant.

A TOTAL OF 602 Z/28S WERE MADE FOR 1967, ALL OF THEM WERE SPORT COUPES.

When all the possibilities were added up, Chevrolet reported the production of 154,698 Camaros in Lordstown, Ohio, 65,008 in Van Nuys, California. In its heyday — during the late 1970s — the Camaro would capture some 260,000 customers for smiling Chevrolet dealers.

CAMARO — SERIES 23/24 — SIX/V-8

The 1967 Camaro rode a 108-in. wheelbase and measured 185 in. stem to stern. Sport Coupe and convertible body styles were offered. It had a unitized body with a bolted-on front frame section to carry the engine, front suspension, steering and sheet metal components. Its overall appearance included a long hood and short rear deck with the popular Coke bottle shape dominating the design. Many options and options packages were available with some model-options that essentially turned the basic Camaro into several distinct models. Standard equipment included a satin silver horizontal bars grille with six vertical dividers, inset headlights and parking lights, twin-segment taillights with integral back-up lights on the inboard segment, all-vinyl front bucket seats, an all-vinyl rear bench seat, elegant new interior door styling with bright metal inserts, shielded door handles, a three-spoke steering wheel with circular Camaro horn button, a new gauge cluster with large round speedometer and fuel gauges and monitoring lights, standard cowl side vents and two adjustable vent-ports mounted on the instrument panel, an energy-absorbing steering column, seat belts with push-button buckles for all passenger positions, shoulder belts for the driver and right front passenger with push-button buckles and a convenient storage provision on Sport Coupe models, a 230-cid 140-hp Turbo-Thrift inline six-cylinder engine or a 327-cid 210-hp Turbo-Fire V-8 and a fully synchronized three-speed manual transmission with column-mounted gearshift. The convertible also had a manual convertible top, bright windshield moldings, a bright windshield header with convertible top latches, special sun visors, special inside rear quarter panels with built-in armrests, dual courtesy lights and a convertible top boot.

A CUSTOM INTERIOR COULD BE ORDERED IN SEVEN DIFFERENT COLORS.

THE 1967 CONVERTIBLE CAMARO WAS CHOSEN TO PACE THE INDY 500.

CAMARO RALLY SPORT — SERIES 23/24 + Z22 — V-6/V-8

From hideaway headlights to unique tail-lights this Camaro says swinger from all angles, boasted the 1967 Camaro sales catalog in the section devoted to the Rally Sport model-option. The RPO Z22 Rally Sport package cost Chevrolet dealers $76 and retailed for $105.35. In addition to or in place of the standard equipment listed above for base Camaros, cars with the Rally Sport package also featured a vertical ornament with an RS emblem in the center of the grille, a similar emblem on the round gas filler cap at the center of the rear body panel, an RS emblem on the circular steering wheel horn button, a black-finished full-width lattice grille with electrically operated concealed headlights, lower body side moldings, a black accent below the body side moldings (with some body colors), color-keyed body accent stripes, sporty styling for the front parking and turning lights, sports-style back-up lights, a distinctive edged-in-black taillight treatment with two lamps in each taillight unit for driving, braking and turn signal direction, bright metal front wheel opening moldings, bright metal rear wheel opening moldings and a bright drip rail molding on Sport Coupes. The Rally Sport option could be added to any Camaro with any engine. The prices given immediately below are for base Camaros with the Rally Sport package added. To determine the cost of other model-options with Rally Sport equipment installed add the package price of $105.35 to the factory prices for the specific SS or Z/28 model.

CAMARO SS — SERIES 24 — V-8

The go machine look outside tells everyone you've got the new 350 V-8 inside! said Chevrolet about what was the hottest available option for its new Camaro — at least at the start of the year. The RPO Z27 SS 350 package cost Chevrolet dealers $152 and retailed for $210.65. In addition to or in place of all of the standard equipment listed above for base Camaros, the SS 350 package included a special hood with raised simulated air intakes, a big SS 350 emblem for the center of the grille, a 350-cid 295-hp V-8, a color-keyed bumblebee type front accent band, SS identification inside the breaks on the bumblebee striping, SS 350 identification on the round fuel filler cap at the center of the rear body panel, red stripe wide-oval tires on 14 × 6-in. wheels and the F41 suspension with stiffer shock absorbers and springs. After the beginning of the model year, two engine options based on the 396-cid big-block Turbo-Jet V-8 were offered. They included the L35 with 325 hp and the L78 with 375 hp. When either of these motors was added, the engine call-outs on the grille emblem and fuel cap emblem were deleted and the rear body panel carried flat black finish.

CAMARO Z/28 — SERIES 24 + Z/28 — V-8

The Z/28 package first appeared in December 1966. During the second half of 1967 a limited number of Camaros were built with the new option, which was available for Camaro Sport Coupes only. It was most sought after by enthusiasts with a serious interest in racing. In addition to or in place of the standard equipment listed above for the base Camaro, all Z/28s included a high-performance 302-cid small-block V-8 engine, a 2 1/4-in. diameter dual exhaust system, dual deep-tone mufflers, a heavy-duty suspension, special front coil springs, special Mono-Leaf rear springs, heavy-duty front and rear shock absorbers, 21.4:1 quick-ratio steering, 15 × 6-in. wheel rims, special 7.35 × 15 nylon white-stripe high-performance tires, a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio and paint stripes on the hood and rear deck lid. In the first year there were no Z/28 emblems on the exterior of the vehicle. Z/28s were also required to have the following extra-cost options: a close-ratio or heavy-duty close-ratio four-speed manual transmission and power front disc brakes or heavy-duty front disc brakes with metallic rear linings. Adding a positraction rear axle was recommended. The Z/28's 302-cid V-8 included a special camshaft, mechanical valve lifters, an aluminum tuned inlet manifold, a high-capacity oil pump, special oil pan baffling, a dual-belt fan drive, an external bypass water pump, a thermostatically controlled five-blade cooling fan, a chrome-plated air cleaner cover, chrome-plated rocker arm covers, a chrome-plated oil filler tube and a chrome-plated oil cap.

CHEVROLET CONTINUED ITS COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A FAST, SPORTY CAR WITH THE 1968 Z/28 SPORT COUPE.

Jerry Healey photo

1968

Camaro No. 2 came along in 1968 and was little more than a slightly modified version of the first edition that gained a big-block 396-cid V-8 during the year. To spot a 1967 model you can look for vent windows. To spot a 1968 model you should look for no vent windows, plus the addition of front and rear side marker lights (required to conform with new federal safety regulations). There were engineering refinements that Chevrolet said were designed to keep the '68 Camaro the finest car in its field.

Glamour was the strong point of the 1968 Rally Sport package and husky performance was the calling card of the Camaro SS option. The base Camaro engine was again a 230-cid inline six-cylinder, while the 327-cid small-block remained the base V-8. A 350-cid V-8 was standard in the Camaro SS, but the Turbo-Jet 396-cid V-8 was the hot ticket for the lead-footed set. Cars with this engine were treated to a black-finished rear body panel to set them off as something special.

CAMARO — SERIES 23/24 — SIX/V-8

Standard equipment included a satin-silver horizontal bars grille with six vertical dividers, inset headlights and parking lights, twin-segment taillights with integral back-up lights on the inboard segment, new one-piece curved side windows, new rear side marker lights ahead of the rear bumper ends, new front side marker lights behind the front bumper ends, all-vinyl front bucket seats, an all-vinyl rear bench seat, new interior door styling with bright metal inserts, shielded door handles, a three-spoke steering wheel with circular Camaro horn button, a new gauge cluster with large, round speedometer and fuel gauges and monitoring lights, a 230-cid 140-hp Turbo-Thrift inline six-cylinder engine or a 327-cid 210-hp Turbo-Fire V-8 and a fully synchronized three-speed manual transmission with column-mounted gearshift. The convertible also had a manual convertible top, bright windshield moldings, a bright windshield header with convertible top latches, special sun visors, special inside rear quarter panels with built-in armrests, dual courtesy lights and a convertible top boot.

THE RALLY SPORT CONVERTIBLE, THIS ONE WITH A 327 V-8, HAD HIDDEN HEADLIGHTS AND A FEW OTHER CLASSY FEATURES.

CAMARO RALLY SPORT — SERIES 23/24 + Z22 — V-6/V-8

Chevrolet described cars equipped with the optional Rally Sport package as a more glamorous version of the Camaro. The RPO Z22 Rally Sport package cost Chevrolet dealers $81.35 and retailed for $105.35. In addition to or place of the standard equipment listed above for base Camaros, cars with the Rally Sport package also featured concealed headlights, a special full-width grille, small rectangular parking and directional signal lights mounted below the bumper instead of in the grille, an RS emblem on the center of the grille, small rectangular back-up lamps mounted below the rear bumper (both taillight segments had red lenses), an RS emblem on the round gas filler cap in the center of the rear body panel, bright lower body side moldings with black lower body finish under the molding, bright Rally Sport scripts on the upper front fenders behind the wheel openings, a bright roof drip molding on Sport Coupes and a bright belt line molding. The Rally Sport option could be added to any Camaro with any engine. The prices given immediately below are for base Camaros with the Rally Sport package added. To determine the cost of other model-options with Rally Sport equipment installed add the package price of $105.35 to the factory prices for the specific SS or Z/28 model.

CAMARO SS — SERIES 24 — V-8

Chevrolet boasted that the 1968 Camaro SS (Super Sport) was dedicated to the fun crowd. The sales catalog said it was a husky performer and looks it. Big engines, a beefed-up suspension and special equipment features made this model-option stand out. The prices of the RPO Z27 SS package varied according to engine. With the L48 V-8 the dealer paid $152 and got $210.65 at retail. With the L35 engine the dealer cost was $190 and the retail price was $263.30. With the L34 V-8 the dealer cost was $266 and the retail price was $368.65. The L78 version of the SS wholesaled for $361 and retailed for $500.30. The L78/L89 version with aluminum cylinder heads retailed for $868.95 (dealer cost unknown).

CAMARO Z/28 — SERIES 24 + Z/28 — V-8

In 1968, the popularity of the Camaro Z/28 Special Performance package started to climb based on the car's first-year racing reputation. During the later part of the 1967 model year, only 602 Z/28s had been released and Chevrolet wasn't sure if it wanted to market the option strictly for racing or to the public. Output climbed to 7,199 cars in 1968, making it clear that a decision had been made. The Z/28 package was available for Camaro Sport Coupes only. It came in four different variations. In addition to, or in place of, the standard equipment listed above for the base Camaro, all Z/28s included a high-performance 302-cid small-block V-8 engine, a dual exhaust system, deep-tone mufflers, special front and rear suspensions, a heavy-duty radiator, a temperature-controlled de-clutching radiator fan, quick-ratio steering, 15 × 6-in. wheel rims, E70 × 15 special white-letter nylon tires, a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, paint stripes on the hood and paint stripes on the rear deck lid. Z/28s were also required to have the following extra-cost options: a close-ratio four-speed manual transmission and power front disc brakes or heavy-duty front disc brakes with metallic rear linings. Adding a Positraction rear axle was recommended. The least expensive version of the Z/28 was the standard Z/281 option as described above. It cost dealers $288.80 and retailed for $400.25. Next came the Z/282 option with a plenum air intake. It cost Chevy dealers $345.80 and retailed for $479.25. The Z/283 version came with exhaust headers. It wholesaled for $562.40 and retailed for $779.40. Finally, there was the Z/284 version with both the plenum air intake and exhaust headers. This ultimate Z/28 had a dealer cost of $619.40 and retailed for $858.40.

A '68 RS/SS 396 WITH YELLOW AND BLACK EXTERIOR. THIS ONE HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND DELUXE INTERIOR PACKAGE.

Gene Stransky photo

THE 1969 CAMARO WAS THE LAST OF THE FIRST-GENERATION CAMAROS AND IS A FAVORITE AMONG ENTHUSIASTS. THIS RS/SS IS A SHOW WINNER THAT BOASTS A 350-CID L48 ENGINE AND FOUR-SPEED TRANSMISSION.

Chip Myers photo

1969

The SS 396 Camaro was big news for the go-fast set, but the 1969 model went one step further with big news for every class of buyer. It sported a heavy exterior facelift featuring muscular-looking new sheet metal.

The last of the first-generation Camaros is considered by many enthusiasts to be the most popular one. The concept behind the new design was to make the Camaro look more aggressive. The new body provided a longer, lower and wider appearance and had sculpted body sides. The wheel wells were flattened with sculptured feature lines flowing off them toward the rear of the car and rear-slanting air slots ahead of the rear wheel. An RS/SS convertible with a 396-cid Turbo-Jet V-8 under its hood paced the 1969 Indy 500 and this time Chevrolet sold replicas of the pace car to the public starting on Feb. 4, 1969. Experts say 3,675 of these Z11 convertibles were made, along with a few hundred hardtops with a rare Z10 Indy Sport Coupe package.

Chevrolet started promoting the Camaro as the Hugger this year and even had a Hugger Orange paint color for those who really wanted to catch attention on the street. The name, however, did not really stick and was rarely heard after 1970.

A new 307-cid base V-8 was added to the Camaro's engines list, as was an optional 250-cid straight six with 15 hp more than the standard inline six. Performance buffs could chose between the 350-cid and 396-cid V-8 offerings. Those who wanted to go even faster down a drag strip had the option of visiting a handful of dealerships across the country that would gladly stuff a 427-cid Rat motor into a Camaro for mucho bucks.

Chevy built 211,922 Camaros at Norwood in 1969, plus 31,163 more in Van Nuys.

THE SS-396 WAS AVAILABLE WITH THREE DIFFERENT ENGINES, GENERATING BETWEEN 325 AND 375 HP.

Jerry Heasley photo

CAMARO — SERIES 23/24 — SIX/V-8

At the front of standard Camaros was a grille with 13 slender vertical moldings and five horizontal moldings forming a grid surrounded by a bright molding. A badge with the Chevrolet bow-tie emblem was in the center. There were single round headlamps near both outer ends of the grille. The full-width bumper integrated with the body-color outer grille surround and there was a license plate holder in the center of the valance panel. Round parking lights were positioned on either side of the license plate. At the rear were wider taillight bezels with triple-segment lenses. Standard equipment included an Argent Silver radiator grille, a bow-tie radiator emblea 230-cid 145-hp Turbo-Thrift inline six-cylinder engine or a 327-cid 210-hp Turbo-Fire V-8 engine, a three-speed manual transmission and E78 × 14 two-ply (four-ply-rated) black sidewall tires. (Note: In January 1969 a 307-cid 200-hp Turbo-Fire V-8 replaced the 327-cid V-8 as the base V-8 engine).

CAMARO RALLY SPORT — SERIES 23/24 + Z22 — V-6/V-8

The RPO Z22 Rally Sport package initially cost Chevrolet dealers $101.65 and retailed for $131.65. In May, after automakers issued revised prices, the dealer cost of this option rose to $104.15, but the retail price remained unchanged. The Rally Sport package included a special grille that filled only the space between where the headlights normally appeared in full view, instead of going fully across the front of the car like the standard grille. The grille had an RS emblem in its center. The license plate was still mounted below the center of the full-width bumper and the round parking lamps flanked it. The headlights were actually there, but they were hidden behind triple segmented doors that flanked the grille. Chevrolet even included a fail safe system to open the headlight doors if the vacuum motor failed and headlight washers. The headlamp covers actually consisted of a body-color outer door with three horizontal openings in it and a chrome door that was slotted to allow light to shine through if it if the system wasn't operating. Other Rally Sport content included fender striping (except when the sport striping or Z/28 options were added), bright accents on the air vents ahead of the rear wheel opening, front and rear wheel opening moldings, black body sills (except on cars painted Dusk Blue, Fathom Green, Burnished Brown or Burgundy), Rally Sport fender nameplates, bright taillight accents, bright parking light accents, back-up lights below the rear bumper, an RS steering wheel emblem, black steering wheel accents and bright roof drip moldings on coupes.

CAMARO SS — SERIES 24 — V-8

The Camaro SS (Super Sport) was a performance-oriented option package that initially cost Chevrolet dealers $228.51 and retailed for $295.95 early in the 1969 model year. On May 1, 1969, there was an increase in Chevrolet pricing and the dealer cost of the Z27 package rose to $246.63, which increased the retail price to $311.75.

CAMARO INDY SPORT CONVERTIBLE (INDY