First-generation Chevrolet Camaro

First-generation Chevrolet Camaro
Manufacturer	Chevrolet
Parent company	General Motors
Production	1967-1969
Successor	Second–gen Camaro
Class	Pony car Muscle car Sports car
Body style(s)	2-door coupé 2-door convertible
Layout	FR layout
Platform	GM F platform
Related	Pontiac Firebird

The first-generation Chevrolet Camaro appeared on 26 September 1966 for the 1967 model year on an all brand new rear-wheel drive GM F-body platform and would be available as a 2-doors, 2+2 seating, coupé or convertible with a choice of six-cylinder and V8 powerplants. The first-gen Camaro would last up through the 1969 model year.

1967

The debut Camaro shared some mechanicals with the 1968 Chevy II Nova. Almost 80 factory and 40 dealer options, including three main packages, were available.

The RS was an appearance package that included hidden headlights, revised taillights, RS badging, and exterior rocker trim. It was available on all models.

The SS included a 350 (5.7L) V8 engine and the L35 and L78 396(6.5L) big-block V8's were also available. The SS featured non-functional air inlets on the hood, special striping and SS badging on the grille, front fenders, gas cap, and horn button. It was possible to order both the SS and RS to receive a Camaro SS/RS. In 1967, a Camaro SS/RS convertible with a 396(6.5L) engine paced the Indianapolis 500 race.

The Z/28 option code was introduced in December 1966 for the 1967 model year. This option package wasn't mentioned in any sales literature, so it was unknown to most buyers. The Z/28 option required power front disc brakes and a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission. The Z/28 featured a 302(5.0L) small-block V-8 engine, 3" crankshaft with 4" bore, an aluminum intake manifold, and a 4-barrel vacuum secondary Holly carburetor of 780CFM. The engine was designed specifically to race in the Trans Am series (which required engines smaller than 305(5.0L) and public availability of the car. Advertised power of this engine was listed at 290hp (216kW). This is an under-rated figure. Chevrolet wanted to keep the horsepower rating at less than 1hp per cubic inch, for various reasons (e.g. insurance and racing classes). The factory rating of 290hp occurred at 5300 rpm, while actual peak for the high-revving 302 was closer to 360hp (with the single four barrel carb) to 400hp (with optional dual-four barrel carbs) (269 to 298kW) at 6800-7000 rpm. The Z/28 also came with upgraded suspension, racing stripes on the hood, and 'Z/28' emblems for the fenders (in 68 & 69). It was also possible to combine the Z/28 package with the RS package.

Only 602 Z/28s were sold in 1967. The 1967 and 1968 Z/28s did not have raised cowl induction hoods as was optional on the 1969 Z/28s. The 1967 Z28 received air from an open element air cleaner or from an optional cowl plenum duct attached to the side of the air cleaner that ran to the firewall and got air from the cowl vents. 15-inch rally wheels, were included with Z/28s had while all other 1967-9 Camaros had 14-inch wheels.

The Camaro's standard drivetrain was a 230 (3.8L) straight-6 engine rated at 140hp (104kW) and backed by a Saginaw three-speed manual transmission. A four-speed manual was also available. The two-speed "Powerglide" automatic transmission was a popular option in 1967 and 1968 until the three-speed "Turbo Hydra-Matic 350" replaced it starting in 1969. The larger Turbo 400 three-speed was an option on L35 SS396 cars.

Production numbers:

RS:	64,842
SS:	34,411
Z28:	602
Total:	220,906

1968

1968 Penske-Godsall Racing Sunoco Camaro at the 2004 Watkins Glen SVRA

1968 saw the deletion of the side vent windows and the introduction of Astro Ventilation, a fresh-air-inlet system. Also added were side marker lights on the front fenders, a more pointed front grille, a front spoiler, and divided rear taillights. The front running lights (on non-RS models) were also changed from circular to oval. The big block SS models received chrome hood inserts that imitated velocity stacks. The shock absorber mounting was staggered to resolve wheel hop issues and higher performance models received multi-leaf rear springs instead of single-leaf units. A 396 cid (6.5 L) 350 hp (261 kW) big block engine was added as an option for the SS, and the Z28 appeared in Camaro brochures. 7,199 Z28s were sold in 1968.

Production numbers:

RS:	40,977
SS:	27,884
Z28:	7,199
Total:	235,147

1969

1969 Chevrolet Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car

The general appearance of the 1969 Camaro did not change much compared to the first two years, having kept the basic body lines and basic "look". This slight transformation was similar to the changes made to the 1968 model to make it look different than the 1967 model. The 1969 Camaro carried over the previous year's drivetrain and major mechanical components, but all-new sheetmetal, except the hood and trunklid, gave the car a substantially sportier look. The grille was redesigned with a heavy "V" cant and deeply inset headlights. New door skins, rear quarter panels, and rear valance panel also gave the car a much lower, wider, more aggressive look. This styling would serve for the 1969 model year only. Collectors often debate the merits of smooth, rounded lines of 1967 and 1968 model versus the heavily creased and sportier looks of the 1969.

Several new performance options were available for the 1969 model year.

To increase competitiveness in the SCCA Trans Am racing series, a four wheel disc brake option, RPO JL8, was made available during the year. This system used the 4 piston brake components from the Corvette and made for a major improvement in the braking capability and was a key to winning the Trans Am championship.

A GM corporate edict forbade Chevrolet from installing engines larger than 400 cid (6.6 L) in the Camaro. But requests from dealers (notably Yenko) who were dealer installing 427's in the Camaro, caused Chevrolet to use an ordering process usually used on fleet and special orders (taxis, trucks, etc) to offer 427 engines in the Camaro. Two Central Office Production Orders (COPO), numbers 9560 and 9561, were offered in the 1969 model year. The COPO 9561 option brought the solid lifter L72 big-block engine, making an underrated 425 hp (317 kW) gross. Dealer Don Yenko ordered 201 of these cars to create the now-legendary Yenko Camaro. Other dealers also became aware of the L72 engine package and ordered it. Around 1,015 Camaros were fitted with the L72 engine option.

Even rarer was the COPO 9560. This option installed an all-aluminum 427 cid (7.0 L) big-block called the ZL-1 and was designed specifically for drag racing. Just 69 ZL-1 Camaros were produced, probably because the engine alone cost over US$4,000 — nearly twice that of a base coupe with a V8. Though rated at 430 hp (321 kW) gross, the ZL-1 made closer to 550 hp (410 kW), making it both the fastest and rarest of all Camaros.

The 1969 model year was exceptionally long, extending into November 1969, due to engineering problems that delayed the introduction of the second generation model planned for 1970. It is a popular myth that late-'69 Camaros were sold as 1970 models (due to GM publicity pictures of the 69 Camaro labeled as a 1970), but they were all assigned 1969 VIN codes.

Production numbers:

RS:	37,773
SS:	34,932
Z28:	20,302
Total:	243,085

First-generation engines

• 1967-1969: L26 230 cid (3.8 L) 230 I6 140 hp (104 kW)
• 1967-1969: L22 250 cid (4.0 L) 250 I6 155 hp (116 kW) @ 4200 rpm, 235 ft•lbf (319 N•m) @ 1600 rpm
• 1967-1969 Z28: 302 cid (4.9 L) Small-Block V8 290 hp (rated) 340-350 hp actual
• 1967-1969: LF7 327 cid (5.4 L) Small-Block V8 210 hp (157 kW)
• 1967-1968: L30 327 cid (5.4 L) Small-Block V8 275 hp (205 kW)
• 1969: LM1 & L65 350 cid (5.7 L) Small-Block V8 255 hp (190 kW) and 250 hp (185 kW)
• 1967-1969 L48 SS350: 350 cid (5.7 L) Small-Block V8 295 hp (1969-300hp)(220 kW) @ 4800 rpm, 380 ft•lbf (515 N•m) @ 3200 rpm
• 1967-1969 L35 SS396: 396 cid (6.5 L) Big-Block V8 325 hp (242 kW) @ 4800 rpm, 410 ft•lbf (556 N•m) @ 3200 rpm
• 1967-1969 L78 SS396: 396 cid (6.5 L) Big-Block V8 375 hp (280 kW) @ 5600 rpm, 415 ft•lbf (563 N•m) @ 3600 rpm
• 1968-1969 L34 SS396: 396 cid (6.5 L) Big-Block V8 350 hp (261 kW) @ 5200 rpm, 415 ft•lbf (563 N•m) @ 3200 rpm
• 1968-1969 - L89 aluminum cylinder head option for the SS396/375 engine - lightened the engine by ~100 lbs.
• 1969 COPO 9561/L72: 427 cid (7.0 L) Big-Block V8 425 hp (317 kW) @ 5600 rpm, 460 ft•lbf (624 N•m) @ 4000 rpm
• 1969 COPO 9560/ZL1: 427 cid (7.0 L) Big-Block V8 430 hp (321 kW) @ 5200 rpm, 450 ft•lbf (610 N•m) @ 4400 rpm