Automotive

50th Anniversary Camaro celebrates the evolution of an icon

50th Anniversary Camaro celebrates the evolution of an icon
The Camaro 50th Anniversary gets unique styling and a tweaked interior
The Camaro 50th Anniversary gets unique styling and a tweaked interior
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The fifth-generation Camaro
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The fifth-generation Camaro
Chevy's fifth-gen Camaro starred in Transformers
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Chevy's fifth-gen Camaro starred in Transformers
The reborn Camaro joined a more modern Mustang as the leader in up-to-date muscle car motoring
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The reborn Camaro joined a more modern Mustang as the leader in up-to-date muscle car motoring
The fourth-generation Chevrolet Camaro
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The fourth-generation Chevrolet Camaro
A quick look at this car's profile reveals how Chevy tried to reinvent the Camaro nameplate
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A quick look at this car's profile reveals how Chevy tried to reinvent the Camaro nameplate
The drop-top Camaro has become a favorite for tan-obsessed crusiers
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The drop-top Camaro has become a favorite for tan-obsessed crusiers
The third generation Camaro was a looker, but lacked power
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The third generation Camaro was a looker, but lacked power 
The 1982 Chevy Camaro
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The 1982 Chevy Camaro
The second generation Camaro was hamstrung by tough emissions laws
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The second generation Camaro was hamstrung by tough emissions laws
With an angular design, the third-gen Camaro is a product of its time
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With an angular design, the third-gen Camaro is a product of its time
However you dressed it up, the second-gen Camaro couldn't match the first for power or good looks
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However you dressed it up, the second-gen Camaro couldn't match the first for power or good looks
The first-gen Camaro launched in 1967
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The first-gen Camaro launched in 1967
A look at how horsepower has bulged over the years
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A look at how horsepower has bulged over the years
The first-generation Camaro is an icon of the motoring world
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The first-generation Camaro is an icon of the motoring world
The 50th Anniversary Camaro is a styling special to celebrate the nameplate's birthday
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The 50th Anniversary Camaro is a styling special to celebrate the nameplate's birthday
The Camaro 50th Anniversary gets unique styling and a tweaked interior
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The Camaro 50th Anniversary gets unique styling and a tweaked interior
The 50th Anniversary gets unique 20-inch wheels
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The 50th Anniversary gets unique 20-inch wheels
How many years since the Camaro launched?
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How many years since the Camaro launched?
That stripe design is unique to the 50th Anniversary car
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That stripe design is unique to the 50th Anniversary car
The sixth-generation Camaro is a looker
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The sixth-generation Camaro is a looker
Special badging means better resale for 50th Anniversary owners
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Special badging means better resale for 50th Anniversary owners
The sixth-generation Camaro SS
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The sixth-generation Camaro SS
View gallery - 22 images

Modern muscle cars might be comfortable, capable sports cars, but the family line started as unsophisticated beasts launched in the 1960s. Chevrolet is celebrating this evolution with the Camaro 50th Anniversary Edition, a car with the same fashion sense as its forebears, but a far more modern, efficient setup under the retro suit.

As is often the case with birthday special editions, the Camaro 50th Anniversary Edition is a sticker special for buyers with an eye on resale values. That said, it still looks pretty good, with its unique 20-inch wheels, sticker kit and front grille helping it stand out from the crop of EcoBoost Mustangs and V6 Chargers doing the rounds.

Because there's no extra performance kit under the hood, the cabin retains its wide seats and creature comforts like air conditioning. This isn't a stripped back racer, it's an everyday Camaro that just happens to be celebrating the nameplate's birthday.

A look at how horsepower has bulged over the years
A look at how horsepower has bulged over the years

Taking a look at Chevrolet's Horsepower Through The Years infographic is evidence of just how far the breed has come since generation one launched in 1967. Available with between 140 and 375 hp (104 and 280 kW) at its debut, the Camaro nameplate didn't see a bigger peak power figure until the start of the fifth generation in 2010.

What happened in between? Well, emissions regulations hamstrung second- and third-generation cars, leaving some buyers with a Camaro putting out less than 100 hp (75 kW). Even the best-off, range-topping third generation cars only had just over 240 hp (179 kW), while the most powerful fourth-generation cars were making around 320 hp (239 kW).

The sixth-generation model this special edition is based on can be had as a 335-hp (250-kW) V6, or in SS trim with a 455-hp (339-kW) LT1 V8. There's also a 275-hp (205-kW) four-cylinder available but we'd go for the V8, especially considering it's more powerful than the equivalent Mustang, which is crucial in the inevitable drunken games of Top Trumps.

The 50th Anniversary Camaro is a styling special to celebrate the nameplate's birthday
The 50th Anniversary Camaro is a styling special to celebrate the nameplate's birthday

As well as creating a sticker special, Chevy will be celebrating the Camaro's 50th anniversary with a celebration at the plant where the car is built, a special Camaros and Coffee event in Detroit, and a heritage display on the Woodward Dream Cruise.

Source: Chevrolet

View gallery - 22 images
2 comments
2 comments
Daishi
The Camaro has a faster Nürburgring lap time than a Bugatti Veyron. The 2014 Z/28 has a 7:37. The 2017 C6 ZL1 has a 7:23. The 2005 Veyron is 7:40. I think Bugatti tried again in 2012 but chose not to publish their results.
In 2009 the Nissan GT-R became famous for breaking 7:30 in a ~$75,000 car (which is now a $110k car but also faster) and I think the ZL1 will MSRP for $59k. I think it's the cheapest new car you can buy that will post a sub 7:30 time by a decent margin and it seats 4 people.
habakak
The 6th Gen Camaro is a looker. So beautiful. Unfortunately it's time is coming to an end.