Chevrolet introduced the Camaro in 1967 to compete directly with the Ford Mustang.
The Camaro arrived as a two-door compact sports car with coupe and convertible body styles. Chevrolet offered several engines and trim levels, allowing the car to serve both as an affordable personal car and as a performance model. The high-performance Z/28 package also appeared for the 1967 model year, developed in part to make the Camaro eligible for the Trans-Am racing series.
The launch year is often confused with 1966 because Chevrolet began public promotion and production activity before the first cars were sold as 1967 models. The Camaro became one of the most enduring entries in the American pony-car market. Its first generation continued through 1969, after which Chevrolet released a substantially redesigned second-generation car.