Mario's Tribute to the Camaro 1st Generation 1967 to 1969

1 1967 Camaro. The Chevy Camaro is a mid-size American automobile manufactured by Chevrolet, classified as a Pony Car. It first went on sale on September 29, 1966 for the 1967 model year and was designed to compete with the Ford Mustang. This is the only year the Camaro had side vent windows and no side marker lights.

2 1967 Camaro. The Camaro shared its platform and major components with the Pontiac Firebird, produced by General Motors' Pontiac division that was also introduced with the Camaro for the 1967 model year. Before any official announcement, reports began running during April 1965 within the automotive press that Chevrolet was preparing a competitor to the Ford Mustang, code-named Panther.

3 1967 Camaro. On June 28, 1966, General Motors held a live press conference in Detroit's Statler-Hilton Hotel. It was the first time fourteen cities were connected in real time for a press conference call via telephone lines.

4 1967 Camaro. Chevrolet General Manager Peter Estes announced a new car line, project designation XP-836, with a name that Chevrolet chose in keeping with other car names beginning with the letter C. The Camaro name was then unveiled. "A Camaro is a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs".

5 1967 Camaro. Bucket seats were standard equipment. The name Camaro was conceived by Chevrolet Merchandising Manager Bob Lund and General Motors Vice President Ed Rollett. The word Camaro in the French-English dictionary is slang, to mean "friend, pal, or comrade".

6 1967 Camaro. The Camaro was first shown at a press preview in Detroit on September 12, 1966 and later in Los Angeles on September 19, 1966. The public introduction of the new model was on September 26, 1966 and was highly accepted.

7 1967 Camaro. The Camaro officially went on sale in dealerships on September 29, 1966 for the 1967 model year. Sales for 1967 were 220,906.

8 1967 Camaro 383-cu.in. OHV V-8. The base engine was a 230 cu in (3.8 L) inline-6, with a 250 cu in (4.1 L) straight-six or 302 cu in (4.9 L), 307 cu in (5.0 L), 327 cu in (5.4 L), 350 cu in (5.7 L) and 396 cu in (6.5 L) V8s available as options.

9 1968 Camaro. No vent windows due to new Astro Ventilation and new side marker lights as required by law. The first-generation 1968 Camaro debuted in September 1967. It was produced on a new rear-wheel drive GM F-body platform as a two-door 2+2 in hardtop coupé and convertible models.

10 1968 Camaro. Concerned with the runaway success of the Ford Mustang, The Camaro was touted for its conventional rear-drive, front-engine configuration, and layout, the same as the Mustang.

11 1968 Camaro. In addition, the Camaro would borrow parts from the existing Chevy Nova the way the Mustang did from the Ford Falcon. In 1968 I was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune, NC and my friend Sgt Mills had a new 68 Camaro. I went with him on a weekend pass to TN in his new car and it sold me. It truly was The Hugger, hugging the mountain roads of Tennessee. I eventually purchased a new 1969 Camaro.

12 1968 Camaro. The first-generation was available in Super Sport, Rally Sport, and beginning in December 1966 the high-performance Z/28 models. The 1968 Camaro introduced cleaner body lines with no side vent windows, new side marker lights, and a restyled center console.

13 1968 Camaro. The 1968 Camaro came with stripes on the hood and trunk (that could be deleted at no charge), styled rally road wheels, and a special 302 cu in (4.9 L) V8 engine that had been developed for Trans-Am Series racing.

14 1968 Camaro. Beautiful new Console. Sales for 1968 were 235,147 which were higher than 1967.

15 1968 Camaro 396 ci 425 hp V8. Awesome at the 1/4 mile Track.

16 1968 Camaro 396 ci 425 hp V8. Big block with Big Horsepower.

17 1969 Camaro SS350 Indy 500 Pace Car. For some reason the ’69 stands out above the rest, with its Dover White paint accented by sunburn-bright Hugger Orange graphics; its distinctive Rally Sport grille and taillamp treatment; and of course, its unapologetically showy orange and black interior with hounds-tooth upholstery.

18 1969 Camaro SS350 Indy 500 Pace Car. The first-generation Camaro lasted until the 1969 model year and eventually inspired the design of the new retro fifth-generation Camaro. The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro marked the end of the first generation of this iconic muscle car.

19 1969 Camaro SS350 Indy 500 Pace Car. It is celebrated for its aggressive styling, which features more angular body lines and squared-off wheel wells compared to its predecessors.

20 1969 Camaro SS350 Indy 500 Pace Car. This model year is often regarded as one of the best-looking Camaros ever produced, and it played a significant role in the muscle car era of the late 1960s. This was my choice for a new car, a 1969 Camaro SS350.

21 1969 Camaro SS350 Indy 500 Pace Car. New redesigned Instrument Panel. The 396 cubic inch (6.5L) engine was available in the Super Sport (SS) model, producing up to 375 hp. The legendary ZL1 featured a 427 cubic inch (7.0L) aluminum block engine, delivering 425 hp.

22 1969 Camaro SS350 Indy 500 Pace Car. Dimensions: The Camaro had a wheelbase of 108 inches, a length of 166 inches, and a width of 72.5 inches.

23 1969 Camaro SS350 Indy 500 Pace Car. Price when new the Camaro was priced between $2,635 and $2,850.

24 1969 Camaro SS350 Indy 500 Pace Car. Sales for 1969 were 243,085, the highest of all 3 years. Total 1st Generation sales were 699, 138. And I had one of them.

25 My 1969 Camaro SS350 and my fiancée with me in January 1969 at my parents house. Note my fathers 1967 Chevy station wagon on the driveway. We were married in October 1969.