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Competing with the Ford Mustang, the 1st-gen Camaro boasted a unique exterior style and the most potent V8 engines that handily outperformed the rest.

Ever since the Ford Mustang sparked the segment in the mid-60s, Pony cars became the center of attention. In 1967, Chevrolet gave a solid response to the Ford Mustang: the Camaro.

Built on the brand-new rear-wheel drive GM F-body platform, the first-generation Camaro was available in four different trim levels: basic, RS, SS, and Z/28. Numerous further customization options were available, allowing buyers to stock their vehicles with their preferred features. The Rally Sport package, for instance, was available with air conditioning, hidden headlamps, an automatic transmission, and two manual transmission system.

With so much on offer, the Camaro was an instant hit and became an established icon in the American automotive landscape. The first-generation Camaro was unique and recognizable thanks to the dual-plane grille design and the speed lines stamped into the fenders and doors.

Even today, Few American muscle cars have the power and style of the Chevrolet Camaro First Generation vehicle. Having been around for more than half a century, no one can see an end to the adoration that the entire globe has for this iconic American muscle automobile.

We'll delve into the Camaro's past and all the characteristics that made it one of the top pony cars in the industry.

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Back in the early '60s, Ford saw the expanding youth market and felt it needed a car for it. They took their small Falcon and transformed it into a more elegant package, and thus the Mustang was born. The styling of the Mustang, with its tall hood and short deck, was enormously popular and prompted a slew of competitors.

Shortly afterward, GM did the same to the Chevy Nova compact, turning it into a hot Pony car. So, the Chevy Camaro is essentially a reskin of the Nova, just as the Mustang is a reskin of the Falcon. Because it was easy and inexpensive to produce, Chevy made and sold a lot of Camaros.

Following the pony body style set by the forerunner, the Chevrolet Camaro took on a simple, yet aggressive exterior styling. The Camaro received a slew of unique bodywork, beginning with a sharply angled grille and slimmer doors, fenders, and quarter panels.

The Camaro shared some mechanical components with the 1968 Chevrolet Nova, including a unibody structure with a sub-frame supporting the front end. While the unibody portion made the F-car lightweight and less expensive to produce, it came with a few shortfalls, mainly because it caused squeaking sounds in the cabin. Plus, the metal was less concealed, making the body prone to rust.

The RS had numerous cosmetic upgrades, including RS badging, disguised headlights, reworked taillights, and external rocker trim. The SS came with non-functional hood air inlets, distinctive striping, and SS badging on the grille, gas cap, and horn button. Users could also enjoy the best of both worlds with the Camaro SS/RSS, which combined the best attributes of the two trims. The Z28 option unlocked racing stripes, a typical flat hood, and bigger 15-inch Rally wheels. In 1968, Chevy updates the front end with new rectangular turn-signal lights.

Additionally, it had separated back taillights and a pointier front grille, giving it a more aggressive look. The 1969 model year introduced a new silver or black grid grille, wider taillights, and a relocated gas cap. Another notable change was the wheel openings, which took on a more squared-off look.

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While there’s an infinite number of changes that the aftermarket will help you make to this car, there’s also a massive number of things that GM did to the Camaro off the line. There were around 80 manufacturers and 40 dealer choices available for the first-generation Camaro, including three primary packages.

At one point, there were more than 10 engines on sale. The least-powerful engines were the 230 cu in L26 inline-6 and the 250 cu in L22 inline-6, with 140 horsepower and 155 horsepower respectively. This got interesting from the 302 cu in Z28 V8, which peaked out at 290 horsepower.

Anyone in need of more throttle authority, better acceleration, and road dominance could opt for the 327, the two 350s (standard on the SS trim), the 396, and the most powerful of them all, the 427 cu in V8.

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The first-generation Camaro, the RS/SS convertible Camaros to be exact, became appointed as the Pace Car for the renowned Indy 500 Pace Car event in 1967 and 1969. These vehicles either packed a 350ci or 396ci engine.

Chevy specially built two Camaros to participate in the event, one of which was the backup. Other Pace car replicas served as parade rides, hauling the VIP and visiting journalists at the race. Along with the two genuine Pace Cars and the other Pace Cars present during the race, Chevy sent Pace Car replicas to dealers for public sale.

As opposed to the pace cars, which were solely used for warm-up laps, the Z28 represented the Camaro line in motorsports. Competing in the Trans-Am road-racing competition, the Z28 had a monster 12-bolt rear axle, a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission, and a 302 cc, 290-horsepower V8 engine. Front and rear springs were precisely adjusted, and the package included larger 15-inch wheels and rear bumper guards.

While it wasn’t the first pony car in the business, the Chevrolet Camaro certainly hit the sweet spot in the market. Like the Mustang, the first generation was flashy, powerful, and fun to drive. Another reason why they became so popular is that they were infinitely customizable. And that hasn’t changed.

The Camaro's absurdly large selection of engines, though, continues to pose a dilemma for consumers. While you might assume that you just need the one with the largest motor and greatest power, little blocks actually handle a little better than huge block variants - and stop a little better, too. The best approach to choosing an engine is to consider your intended purpose and your driving style. But, if you can overlook the added weight, the Z28s handled better and the big block stuff accelerates better.

All in all, the first-generation Camaros also hold their value pretty well. They are the most desired, have the cleanest and most straightforward styling, and are the first of the breed.

Wilfred Nkhwazi is a screenwriter, actor, and sports car enthusiast from Blantyre, Malawi. He has written 2 feature films and a thriller trilogy. Wilfred is pursuing an Electric Car Technology program and spends a lot of his time writing for hotcars.com, penning down fast whips, celebrity collections, and everything else in-between. When he isn't writing, he loves to take long drives around the city, make music, and drink hot chocolate.