History of the Camaro

Part 2 - 1971 to 1981 Tim Boles

1971
If you cannot tell the difference between a 1970 and a 1971 Camaro, -join the club! There is very little difference. There were virtually no external changes. The one obvious change was the high back seats, which were introduced in 1971.

Some optional wheelcovers, 12 new paint colours, revised interiors and thinner windscreen glass were the only major differences. However, under the bonnet all Camaros had lower power outputs as a result of GM's across the board reduction in compression ratios to enable unleaded fuel to be used. The high power L34 and L78 396 V8's were replaced by a single 396 CID engine rated at "only" 300 bhp. The L34 had previously been rated at 350 and the L78 375 bhp. The compression ratio was dropped from 11:1 to 9:1 for the Z28 resulting in fewer bhp and 20 fewer lb. of torque. The Z28 was also available for the first time as an automatic - sacrilege?

1972
The main news in 1972 did not concern the car, but rather the UAW strike, which caused 1,100 cars to be scrapped at the end of the year, because they were unable to meet new federal regulations.

Again, horsepower dropped although it was now quoted as SAE (net horsepower). The Z28 was rated at 255 bhp (down 10 hp) and 280 lb. ft of torque (20 point loss). No differences in compression ratio nor heads over the 1971 were in evidence.

No cars were built at Van Nuys, California. 1972 was the last year of the big block. New interior door panels were introduced with map pockets and a coin shelf. The 1972 Camaro had white tail light protectors. Only 68,656 Camaros were produced in 1972.

1973
For 1973 there were new bumper impact regulations but Chevrolet managed to maintain the Camaro's front end styling without resorting to the "rubber baby buggy bumpers" adopted by other car makers. Chevrolet engineers did this by means of some ingenious reinforcing bars supporting the bumpers which were moved further away from the body. The trend away from performance continued with the Z28 losing 10 bhp and the arrival of the LT type (Luxury Touring) version. Other changes included, the solid lift cam, high rise aluminium intake and Holley carb were replaced with conventional Chevrolet items and no big blocks were available. The powerglide transmission was deleted and space saver tyres were introduced. There was a radiator recovery bottle added, as a result of an higher operating engine temperature. New turbine style wheels were introduced and power windows became available with controls on the centre console.

1973 was the last year of the "type A" second generation Camaro, a total of 96,756 were produced and the year probably saw the end of an era. The Oil crisis was only months away and the federal restrictions were getting more and more stringent. The Camaro was about to enter its blackest metamorphosis yet!

The period 1974 - 1977 saw the "type B" second generation Camaro and spanned a time during which some significant things happened.
The Rally Sport and the Z28 options both departed and then returned. Unleaded fuel and catalytic converters became mandatory; power was drastically cut throughout this period and yet the Camaro finally outsold the Mustang.

1974
The styling for 1974 - 1977 was marked by the addition of aluminium bumpers which saved weight over equivalent steel bumpers but the cars did weigh more. This period of Camaro metamorphosis is known as the 'Type B', for several reasons these cars are the least favoured amongst Camaro collectors.

Engine selection was confusing, comprising:-

Base 250 6 100 hp RPO L22 six
Base 350 V8 145 hp RPO L65 V8
Base 350 V8 160 hp RPO LM1 V8 (CA only)
HiPO 350 V8 185 hp RPO L48 V8

But a Z28 V8 could be ordered with 245 hp.

Other changes included:-seat belt interlock, this device prevented the car from being started unless the seatbelts were done up. Infuriating everybody, this device was soon removed by all drivers who carried shopping on the front seat! Fuel capacity was increased from 18 to 21 gallons and high-energy ignition debuted in 1974 along with radial tyres.
All in all, 151,008 1974 Camaros were sold despite being the heaviest Camaros (3429lbs) and the least powerful yet produced.

1975
Sad news for this year was the demise of the Z28, although you could make up the same package by ordering the gymkhana suspension package, together with the 350 V8 and M20 transmission. A much larger rear window was introduced for 1975 to eliminate the "blind spot". Unleaded fuel became mandatory and radial tyres were standard.

145,770 Camaros were built and factory weight had gone up to 3530lbs. Engine selection dwindled still further; from the fourteen available in 1969, the Camaro only offered three in 1975 (and only two for California !).

1976
The 1976 Camaro was largely unchanged from 1975 although the 305 V8 was introduced as base V8 with 180hp. Power brakes became standard on all models. A landau-type vinyl roof was new. The 1976 Camaro weighed 3513lbs but still sold 182,959 models.

1977
The good news for 1977 was the return of the Z28 but emissions had effectively choked the power and it only produced 185hp. As recently as 1974 the Z28 350 produced 245hp. But the Z28 re-emergence was based around a considerably better designed suspension set up.
The base 6 cylinder engine power crept up 5hp to 110hp except in California where it was just 90hp. The 350 V8 was rated at 135hp in California, 145hp elsewhere. The RPO LMI 350 V8 was 160 hp in California, 150hp elsewhere and the Z28 engine 185 hp. No manuals were sold in California. Delay wipers were introduced for the first time. 198,755 1977 Camaros were sold despite the car's weight of 3456lbs. This was only the second year that Camaro outsold its great rival, the Mustang.

1978
This was the first year of the last metamorphosis of the second generation Camaro known as Type C. New body coloured bumpers front and back were a welcome change from the aluminium ones of group "B". Removable "T" roofs were new and often leaked. They were also very expensive to replace. The Z28 model had 185hp and came with a duct bonnet scoop that was non functional. The suspension on Z28s was tuned to give a somewhat softer ride and manual transmissions were not sold on Z28s for California.

1979
For 1979 a new chin spoiler was added to the Camaros which improved looks and performance, together with stripes which did neither. The LT model was replaced by the Berlinetta and the Z28 engine was further detuned to give just 175hp. But a new dashboard replaced the earlier antiquated design.

1980
The best news for 1980 was an upgrade in power to 190hp for the Z28. This was brought about by the reintroduction after eleven years of a cowl induction bonnet. The wheels were restyled, and wing louvres allowed engine heat to escape. The straight six engine was dropped in favour of the Buick designed 231 CID V6 (for California) and the 229 CID V6 for other states. Bill Mitchell introduced 90 Camaro "Huggers" with the IROC front spoiler, Minilite wheels and better suspension. These were sold in Florida and were painted orange.

1981
The computer age dawned as the 1981 Camaro was the first year of the Camaro super chip "command control". But you could no longer order the 350 V8 Z28 manual. Power dropped back to 175hp in the LM1 350 V8 but Don Yenko built a turbo charged Camaro.
The Camaro almost died on several occasions but each time it was reprieved although the engine power ratings declined throughout this period. There are momentary blips here and there as engineers learned new ways to pull more power from increasingly emission strangled engines, but the decline was obvious. Despite having a beautiful body which was designed in the late Sixties, the Camaro carried too much weight for a changing world in which safety, fuel consumption and emissions took precedence over power.

'Type C' Model production:
1978 272631
1979 282571
1980 152005
1981 126139

The Camaro of this period was a dinosaur in terms of chassis design, packaging, and engine management systems. But the product was successful and Chevrolet did not stray far from the Camaro's roots when faced with a redesign of their old war-horse. Despite the success of the Golf GTI, which debuted in 1979 and created an icon, Chevrolet kept much of the original blueprint for their new redesign for the third generation Camaro.