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In Search of the Elusive
Black Panther -
Continued Story Contributor: Bob & Lorraine Simonen Edited by: ClassicCar.com VISIT THE CAMARO PORTAL |
 Though
the “Camaro” name was replacing the various project names the car had
been developed under, outside the company some controversy over the
meaning of the new name was causing a potential image problem for the
new car. In an unprecedented national conference call with some 200
journalists, GM released the “ warm & friendly” Camaro name to the
public ahead of the cars introduction to dealer showrooms. The effort
was successful in quashing any “image killing” interpretations of the
new Camaro moniker. In 1967, amidst the phenomenal success of the Ford Mustang, General Motors pulled off a sensational introduction of the Chevrolet Camaro by delivering over 212,000 units to dealer showrooms that year. Keeping in fashion with the Mustang formula, the Camaro was offered with a laundry list of options at both the factory and dealer level. Camaro customers could custom build their own car with a host of options previously only available on Chevrolet’s higher-line models. Desiring the same custom performance treatments being offered by Shelby America for the Mustang, Camaro enthusiasts looked to the dealerships in hopes of finding these performance options. Happily, the folks at Toronto-based Gorries Chevrolet/Oldsmobile dealership answered the call to incorporate their race knowledge into the new Camaro. The result was the “Black Panther” Camaro. |
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