Chevrolet Camaro Production is Now Over, Next Chapter Still Murky
Following the Chrysler 300C, another storied American nameplate is retiring. Chevrolet has indeed ended production of the Camaro sports coupe, which was originally introduced in 1967 as a response to the Ford Mustang.
The company has yet to send out an official press release, so we don’t know exactly what the final unit looked like as it rolled off the line in Lansing Grand River, Michigan.
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In a statement issued to U.S. magazine Road & Track, Chevy said the Camaro “has developed a fan base across the world and has brought people into Chevrolet dealerships for generations. The sixth generation specifically represented athleticism and composure—exuding confidence on the road and dominance on the track."
It’s the second time the Camaro bows out. The first one came in 2002, and back then the car was built in Boisbriand, Quebec, just north of Montreal. Chevrolet resurrected the Camaro for the 2010 model year with a fifth generation manufactured in Oshawa, Ontario, and a sixth generation launched for 2016, with production shifting to Michigan.
Earlier this year, enthusiasts were offered a special edition that pays tribute to “Panther,” the original codename for the program that became Camaro in the 1960s. The Collector’s Edition equips LT/RS, LT1 and SS trims with a new Panther Black Metallic Tintcoat paint, black accent stripes and 20-inch Satin Black wheels (or optional polished forged wheels). There’s also a front splitter from the 1LE package, and coupes receive the rear spoiler from the ZL1 package.
The special model could be ordered with the 650-horsepower Camaro ZL1, too. Here, the car features a Panther Black Matte exterior colour—the first matte paint offered on the Camaro from the factory. It gets the front splitter from the ZL1 1LE and the rear wing from ZL1 1LE on coupes. Completing the exterior look is a Black Metallic ZL1 stripe, plus red brake calipers and black lug nuts. Only 350 units were built for the North American market.
As we reported in March, Chevrolet has hinted the Camaro will continue to exist in some shape or form and have “another sequel.” The brand’s global vice president, Scott Bell, went on to say that “while we are not announcing an immediate successor today, rest assured, this is not the end of Camaro’s story.”
Similar to the Dodge Charger, which will survive as an electric car previewed by the Charger Daytona SRT concept, a battery-powered Camaro in a different body style seems like a real possibility. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we hear about new developments.
