(Originally published on Z28.com Sept 1999)

MONTREAL - Right from the start - in the fall of 1966 - Chevrolet knew automotive enthusiasts would be looking hard at its new four-seat sportster. This was, after all, Chevy's eagerly awaited "answer to the Mustang." Chevrolet named the car Camaro, and the rest is the stuff of legends.

THE FlRST GENERATlON: 1967 - 1969
The 1967 Camaro was worth waiting for. Two models were available: a sport coupe and a convertible. The long-hood, short-deck styling was smooth and sleek, especially when compared with the sharp-edged Ford Mustang. The standard '67 sport coupe was notably well-equipped and, with sticker prices starting at just $2,466, very affordable. Standard equipment included all-vinyl front bucket seats, a 6-cylinder engine, padded instrument panel and a new energy-absorbing steering column. Both the sport coupe and convertible could be or.dered with Rally Sport (RS) equipment, which added special exterior trim and a distinctive black-out grille with hidden headlamps.For the performance enthusiast, the '67 option list featured the SS 35O package, consisting of a special 295-HP, 35O-cubic- inch, "small-block" V8, heavy-duty suspension, and distinctive "bumblebee" striping around the nose. Mid- 1967 announcements included a "big-block" SS 396 model and - the beginning of a legend the Camaro Z28. The limited-production 1967 Z28 was born to race, and specially modified Z28s soon established themselves as the most winning ears on the transmission-Am raeing circuit. Chevrolet promoted the Z28 as "the closest thing to a 'Vette yet," and it was. Z28 equipment highlights included a high-output 3O2-cubic-inch V8, heavy-duty suspension, 4-speed manual transmission and power front disc brakes. The Z28 was readily identified by its bold ra11y striping on the hood and rear deck. Only 6O2 were built in 1967.The word on Camaro performance was getting around quickly, and in February, 1967, an SS 396 convertible was chosen as the Indianapolis 5OO Pace Car, an honor Camaro would enjoy again in 1969 and 1982.By 1968, Camaro was firmly entrenched as one of America's top-selling sporty cars. Chevrolet advertising described the Camaro as "The Hugger" because of its road-hugging suspension system. Refinements included "Astro Ventilation" (replacing side vent windows), side marker lamps and revised grille and tail lamp designser for 1969, new sheet metal gave Camaro a more muscular look, especially on the Rally Sport-equipped coupes and convertibles.

THE SECOND GENERATlON: 1970 - 1981
The radically restyled "second generation" Camaro arrived to rave reviews in February, 197O. This series of Camaro - good enough that it would continue through 1981 - was available as a coupe only. But performance and luxury options abounded. The sport coupe model offered a choice of a 25O-CiD Six, 3O7-CiD V8 and a 35O-CID V8. The optional RS package had special front-end styling with a Ferrari-like appearance. RS equipment could be combined with the SS35O, SS396, or - Camaro's star attraction - Z28 equipment.The '7O Z28 was the - car for performance enthusiasts and for good reason: the package included a new high-performance 36O-HP 35O-CiD LT-1 V8, 4-speed manual transmission, special suspension, larger wheels and tires, hood and rear deck striping and a rear spoiler. Only minor differences separated the Corvette and Camaro LT-1s - the latter clied a slightly lower (10-HP) horsepower rating, a dual-snorkel air cleaner and exposed distributor and ignition wires.The LT - 1 -equipped Z28 set a new performance standard and the reviews were glowing: "... We'll have to say it's the best American car we've ever driven, and more importantly it's one of the most satisfying cars for all-around use we've ever driven," wrote Road & Track.The Camaro was little changed in the early Seventies, but high resale values, an excellent reputation and uncompromised performance kept loyalists coming back for more. A new luxury version - the LT - lived in 1973, and Federal bumper regulations necessitated new front and rear fascias the following year. The Z28 was discontinued in 1974 - temporarily as it would turn out - a victim ofthe year's energy crisis. Marketing experts who forecasted the Camaro's demise were proven wrong again in the mid-Seventies. Sales reached new highs every year, and the Z28 returned (by popular demand) in mid- 1977. New body-color front and rear bumpers gave a fresh look to the classic Camaro profile in 1978. Z28 sales soared, too. One memorable Z28 advertisement proclaimed, "it'll put butterflies in your stomach, a lump in your throat and a smile on your face." A stylish Berlinetta model replaced the LT for 1979. Other changes included new striping and new aluminum wheels for the Z28. "T-top" removable roof panels were an increasingly popular Camaro option in the late Seventies. A more fuel- efficient V6 replaced the in-line Six as standard equipment in 198O, but most Camaro buyers continued to opt for V8 power. By the early Eighties, though, it was time for a new Camaro. And Chevro1et was ready.

THE THlRD GENERATlON: 1982-1992
The 1982 Camaro was a sensationally styled 2+2 coupe that appealed to enthusiasts with its rear-wheel-drive configuration, available V8 power and precise handling characteristics. in Z28 form, the '82 Camaro was on the cover of every car-buff magazine, won Motor Trend's prestigious "Car of the Year" award and paced the Indianapolis 500 .Performance refinements kept Camaro ahead of its competition in the early 1980s. The most notable included the Z28's high-output 5.0L V8 option and a 5-speed manual transmission in 1983. An iROC option for the Z28 made its debut in 1985, commemorating the International Race of Champions racing series that used Camaros exclusively in the 198Os.Corvette-inspired features included 16-inch unidirectional tires . and a 5.0L V8 with Tuned Port Fuel injection. The Camaro convertible came back in 1987 - after an 18year absence - to rave reviews from the car critics. Motor Trend wrote, "Out on the street, no One doesn't notice this car...The iROC-Z convertible will be one of the most desirable cars of this decade." For 1989, the RS nameplate returned, now signifying an upgraded standard Camaro that looked like a Z28. Chevy called it the "more practical, easy-to-own Camaro." Camaro entered the Nineties with the Personal Automotive Security System (PASS-Key) theft-deterrent system and a driver's side air bag, for reduced insurance rates and greater safety.Camaro's heritage runs deep in both professional and amateur racing circles, and to date the Camaro has 63 SCCA transmission-Am series race wins - the most first-place finishes for any model in the series' 27-year history.Camaro celebrated its 25th Anniversary in the 1992 model year. Chevrolet released a Heritage Appearance Package as optional equipment that included emblems, bold "Sixties-sty1e" hood and deck stripes, a body-color grille, black headlamp pockets and body-color wheel treatment.Technological advancements further improved Camaro's build quality and body integrity for 1992, including silicon-impregnated weather.striping, a water management system for T-tops and the use of structural adhesives on convertible and T-top models.

1993 - A NEW GENERATlON OF PERFORMANCE
Now a new generation ofthis American classic makes its entrance. The 1993 Camaro is designed and engineered to offer outstanding value in the competitive sporty coupe market. Available in two coupe models - standard and an uplevel Z28 - the '93 Camaro offers enthusiasts an outstanding combination of technology, safety features and quality. The 280-HP LT 1 V8-equipped Z28 is Chevy's highest-performance regular production Camaro and, as always, "the closest thing to a 'Vette yet."