Chevrolet is celebrating 50 years of its Camaro muscle car, releasing details of a new 50th Anniversary Edition along with a pair of videos that feature rare historic footage of the first Camaros.
Half a century since the Camaro was publicly revealed in its first generation, Chevrolet is also commemorating its iconic car with a series of celebratory events, including tours of the Camaro factory, car meets and a special Camaro heritage display.
Now in its sixth generation, the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro 50th Anniversary Edition is available as a special package on both the regular 2LT and V8-powered 2SS variants in coupe and convertible bodies.
Chevrolet says the special edition “honours the distinctive looks and performance that have always set the Camaro apart” and includes an assortment of exterior and interior enhancements.
Outside, the limited-edition Camaro features “Nightfall Gray” metallic exterior paint — convertible models feature a black roof — along with 50th anniversary stripes and badging, 20-inch 50th anniversary alloy wheels with 50th anniversary centre caps, satin-chrome grille accents, body-coloured front splitter and orange brake calipers — front only on the LT variant.
Inside, the anniversary edition adds a special black leather-trimmed interior with suede inserts and contrasting orange stitching. Various 50th anniversary “treatments” adorn the instrument panel, headrests and steering wheel.
First introduced in 1967, the Camaro’s engine output has ranged from just 88 horsepower (65kW) to a peak of 580 horses (432kW) in its fifth incarnation.
The recently launched sixth-generation Camaro continues to push power outputs north, with the track-focused ZL1 variant claiming 640hp (477kW) from its 6.2-litre supercharged V8, mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission co-developed with traditional rival, Ford.
Although the current Camaro and its more recent predecessors never made it to Australian showrooms, there could be some hope for Aussies wanting a V8-powered Holden once production at the Elizabeth plant in South Australia ends in 2017.
In January 2015 Stefan Jacoby, General Motors’ executive vice-president, said a V8 Holden sports car would feature in the brand’s line-up to replace the eight-cylinder Commodore sedan once Australian production ceases.
“We will bring a Holden sports car in the near future,” he said.
More recently at the 2016 New York motor show, chief engineer of the Chevrolet Camaro Al Oppenheiser said the company was looking at opportunities in right-hand drive markets, hinting that a Holden-badged Camaro could become a reality.
Other possible candidates to become Holden’s V8 halo car include the Chevrolet Corvette and a performance version of the next-generation Opel Insignia — also widely tipped to replace the Commodore as the brand’s family sedan offering.
— CarAdvice.com.au