Chevrolet Camaro

Chevrolet Camaro at a glance: segment, body styles, where it is built

The Camaro is a two-door pony car: a compact, sporty rear-drive coupé or convertible aimed at the same buyers as the Mustang. Chevrolet first presented it to the press on 28 June 1966, and the development project is usually quoted as XP-836, codenamed "Panther".

The Camaro moved between plants: the fourth generation was built at Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, the fifth at Oshawa, Ontario, and the sixth at Lansing Grand River Assembly in Michigan. Its place in the brand's story is covered in the history of Chevrolet.

Chevrolet Camaro generations

Chevrolet built six Camaro generations on three platforms: the F-body from 1967 to 2002, shared with the Pontiac Firebird, the Zeta platform for 2010–15 and the Alpha platform, shared with the Cadillac ATS, for 2016–24. Some catalogues list seven, but that count is an error.

US outputs were rated gross until 1971 and net from 1972, so early and later figures are not directly comparable.

First generation (1967–69)

Production ran from 29 September 1966 to November 1969. The base engine was a 3.8-litre (230 cu in) straight-six with 104 kW (140 hp), and buyers could choose V8s up to the 396. The Z/28 package arrived for 1967 with a 302 cu in V8 built for SCCA Trans-Am racing, rated at 216 kW (290 hp); only 602 were made that year, but more than 20,000 in 1969. The 69 COPO ZL1 cars had an aluminium 7.0-litre 427 rated at 321 kW (430 hp) gross. An RS/SS convertible paced the 1967 Indianapolis 500. Its contemporaries are collected under classic cars of the 1960s.

Second generation (1970–81)

The second Camaro arrived in early 1970 (the "1970½") as a coupé only. The 1970 Z/28 used the LT-1 350 V8 with 268 kW (360 hp) gross. Outputs then fell, partly through the 1972 switch to net ratings: a 1975 350 V8 made 108–116 kW (145–155 hp), and a 1980 267 V8 only 89 kW (120 hp). Sales still peaked in 1979 at 282,571 cars, the best year for any Camaro and the year the Berlinetta was added. The 1970 Camaro has its own article.

Third generation (1982–92)

The third generation went on sale in December 1981 as a hatchback about 227 kg (500 lb) lighter than its predecessor. Engines ranged from a 2.5-litre four of 66–69 kW (88–92 hp) to the 5.7-litre L98 V8 of 168–183 kW (225–245 hp). The 1985–90 IROC-Z added Delco-Bilstein dampers and optional tuned-port injection. Production totalled 1,567,657, including 31,439 convertibles.

Fourth generation (1993–2002)

The fourth generation arrived in January 1993. The 5.7-litre LT1 V8 gave 205 kW (275 hp) until 1997, and the LS1 that followed in 1998 is quoted at about 227–231 kW (305–310 hp). SLP Engineering built 108 cars in 1997 with the 246 kW (330 hp) LT4. Sales fell to 29,009 in 2001, and GM ended production on 27 August 2002, citing slow sales, a shrinking sports-coupé market and spare plant capacity.

Fifth generation (2010–15)

Fifth-generation production started at Oshawa on 16 March 2009, almost seven years after the fourth ended, for the 2010 model year. The SS used a 6.2-litre V8: the LS3 with 318 kW (426 hp) with the manual gearbox, or the L99 with 298 kW (400 hp) with the automatic. The supercharged ZL1 of 2012 reached 433 kW (580 hp) and 754 Nm (556 lb-ft). The 2014 Camaro Z28 used the 7.0-litre LS7 with 377 kW (505 hp).

Sixth generation (2016–24)

Unveiled on 16 May 2015 in Detroit, the sixth generation is quoted as about 91 kg (200 lb) lighter than the fifth. Updates included the 1LE track package for 2017, the ZL1 1LE for 2018 and a facelift with new LED lights for 2019. The Camaro ZL1 topped the range at 485 kW (650 hp). A Collector's Edition marked the final 2024 models, with the ZL1 version limited to 350 cars.

Engines, transmissions and performance

The sixth generation offered four engines, all driving the rear wheels:

• 2.0-litre LTG turbo four: 205 kW (275 hp), 400 Nm (295 lb-ft).
• 3.6-litre LGX V6: 250 kW (335 hp), 385 Nm (284 lb-ft).
• 6.2-litre LT1 V8 (SS): 339 kW (455 hp), 617 Nm (455 lb-ft).
• 6.2-litre supercharged LT4 V8 (ZL1): 485 kW (650 hp), 881 Nm (650 lb-ft).

Gearboxes were a 6-speed manual or an 8- or 10-speed automatic. Chevrolet quoted 0–60 mph in 4.0 seconds for the SS and 3.5 seconds for the ZL1, with a ZL1 top speed of 319 km/h (198 mph). These are manufacturer figures, as is the 7:16.04 Nordschleife lap claimed for the ZL1 1LE.

Dimensions and key specifications

The fifth generation was about 4.84 m long on a 2,852 mm (112.3 in) wheelbase and weighed about 1,700 kg (3,750 lb). The sixth is shorter and lighter, with kerb weights from about 1,515 kg (3,340 lb) for the 2.0 LT to about 1,760 kg (3,880 lb) for the ZL1.

Camaro SS (sixth generation) key specifications

Trims and equipment

Across six generations, RS has meant appearance, SS big-engine performance, Z/28 (later Z28) track-focused cars and ZL1 the top model. The fifth generation used LS and LT for the V6 cars, and the sixth added the 1LS entry trim (dropped, with the 2.0-litre engine, for 2024) and the 1LE package.

Safety ratings

Only the sixth generation has a published crash-test result: the IIHS tested a 2016 Camaro SS coupé and applies the ratings to 2016–23 cars.

Basic means optional forward collision alert without automatic braking; no Top Safety Pick award was found. There is no Euro NCAP rating and no published result for the first five generations; Cadillac ATS results do not apply to the Camaro.

Reliability and recalls

No independent reliability survey covering the Camaro was found, so generations are not ranked here. The best-documented issue is a fifth-generation recall: on 13 June 2014 GM recalled 464,712 Camaros from the 2010–14 model years in the USA, or 511,528 including Canada, Mexico and exports. A driver's knee could hit the key fob and turn the key out of the "run" position, which could cut engine power.

GM knew of three crashes with four minor injuries and called the fault unrelated to its Cobalt ignition-switch recall. The fix separates the key from the fob, and a used 2010–14 car should have it recorded.

Rivals: how the Camaro compares

The Camaro was Chevrolet's answer to the Ford Mustang, a rivalry that ran through all six generations. In the late 1960s the class also included the Plymouth Barracuda and the Camaro's own F-body twin, the Firebird.

US sales of the sixth generation fell from 72,705 in 2016 to 21,893 in 2021 and 24,652 in 2022, before rising to 31,028 in 2023 as production wound down.