A Thing for Cars

The responsibility for building the Chevrolet Camaro fell to the Chevrolet Studio at the GM Design Center, an operation then run by Henry C. Haga. The interior design of the Camaro was the responsibility of a man by the name of George Angersbach, who had been instrumental in the design of the earlier Corvair and Corvette models.

image via Wikipedia

The original GM designs for the Chevrolet Camaro included many different models, including a fastback and a two-seater roadster. These designs were all eventually abandoned as a result of cost cutting efforts by GM, and in the end only two models were built. These two Camaro modles were the coupe and the convertible familiar to car lovers around the country.

by tonylanciabeta via Flickr

Even though only a pair of body styles were available, the Camaro boasted a wealth of engine options, from a six cylinder 230 cubic inch model to a 327 cubic inch eight cylinder model. In addition to these choices GM created a special engine displacement specifically for the Camaro. This 350 cubic inch eight cylinder boasted an impressive 295 horsepower, and it proved to be a hit. In fact this new engine proved so popular that it soon became Chevy’s standard for reliability and power.

Camaro buyers had a choice of transmissions to harness all that power, including a three or four speed manual transmission, a two speed Powerglide automatic or the popular Turbohydramatic transmission design.

Automotive enthusiasts will be interested to know that this powerful new sports car did not have a name during much of its design phase. While the car was in development it had been assigned many different code names, including the Wildcat, the Chaparral and the Panther. Only when the car was introduced was the name Camaro officially unveiled.

by DeusXFlorida via Flickr

Fans of automotive history will also be interested to know that the original 1967 Camaro had a retail price of only $2,466, making it quite a bargain in today’s automotive world. Those who purchased one of the original Camaro models for less than $2,500 may find that their vintage sports car now commands a small fortune on the collector car market.