For many friends of US cars, the Camaro is considered the eternal number two among the muscle cars. But in his 50-year history drove Chevrolets Answer to the successful Ford Mustang not always behind.
The huge success of the 1964 introduced Mustang countered arch-competitor Chevrolet two years later with the Camaro. When journalists asked about the meaning of the harmless-sounding name, Chevrolet employees responded, "A small, evil animal that eats mustangs." However, he was unable to live up to this claim in sales figures. 220.000 sold Camaro 1966 were a proud result, but little compared to 680.000 Mustangs.
To make a career as a mustang killer, hot engines were needed. This role initially took over an 6,5-liter V8 with "SS" type code. Even more toxic was the 1967er Camaro with Z / 28 performance package. An 4,9-liter small-block V8 officially made only 213 kW / 290 PS for a favorable insurance rating. In fact, the 4,69 Meter unleashed short and 1.390 kilogram light Chevy up to 298 kW / 400 PS. Even more fire for the image and higher sales figures brought 1969 the top version ZL-1 of the entire series. An 7,0-liter V8 officially released 316 kW / 430 PS, but in reality 550 to 580 PS. However, the unbeatable quarter-mile racer also provoked record-breaking fuel consumption by 50 liters.
With the 1970 launched second generation of the Camaro, the arms race among the muscular pony cars was temporarily completed. Rising insurance premiums and consumption regulations caused the number of registrations to shrink. The oil crisis of 1973 / 74 and the notorious 55 miles speed limit did the rest. More decisive than Vmax was therefore a fast-looking form. Thanks to this, the second Camaro remained in production for twelve years and reached its all-time high only in model year 1979 with 283.000 approvals. On four-cylinder as in the Mustang Chevrolet waived preliminary, but the 85 kW / 115 PS weak 3,8-liter V6 1980 also hit a low point.
1982 followed the almost European clear contoured, third generation sports coupe with downsized four-cylinder. After all, there were optional even a V8 and this from 1987 even in the respectable 5,7-liter displacement format. As an image carrier, 1985 was also added to the Camaro IROC-Z. 1990 strengthened the V8 on 182 kW / 248 PS - the best value since 16 years and a nice final for the edged Camaro generation.
Smoother, 1993 continued, first with a 3,4-liter V6 and in the Z28 top model with the 5,7-liter V8. Ostensibly, the fourth Camaro seemed to bring along everything that the zeitgeist demanded. However, there was a lack of temperament. So profane Japanese four-cylinder coupes already outperformed the 118 kW / 160 PS of the six-cylinder Camaro, whose sales plummeted. For Chevrolet occasion to discontinue the sports coupé 2002.
But the segment made a comeback with the Nissan Z, Mazda RX and Ford Mustang. There's something going on, Chevrolet thought, transforming the 1969er Camaro's shapes into 21. Century. In addition to a successful look, there was more horsepower per dollar than ever before. The beasts with 318 kW / 432 PS hearts roared to burnouts, to the delight of their mostly extroverted drivers finally back in Germany. Even better today is the sixth Camaro, the 2017 also comes as ZL1 - 478 kW / 650 PS strong and 300 km / h fast! (Tungsten nickel / SP-X)
