The Chevrolet pony car launched to compete with the Ford Mustang was the Camaro.
Chevrolet introduced the Camaro in September 1966 for the 1967 model year, after the Mustang had created enormous demand for compact, sporty cars with affordable performance. The Camaro used a conventional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and was built on General Motors’ new F-body platform.
The first-generation Camaro was offered as a two-door coupe and convertible. Its engine range began with a 230-cubic-inch inline-six and extended through several V8s, including 327-, 350-, and 396-cubic-inch options. This broad choice let Chevrolet appeal to both everyday buyers and muscle-car enthusiasts.
The Camaro shared major structural components with the Pontiac Firebird, which also debuted for 1967. It is sometimes confused with the Chevrolet Corvair because the Corvair Monza was Chevrolet’s earlier sporty compact, but its rear-engine design could not compete as directly with the Mustang’s layout. Chevrolet even promoted the new car with the playful idea that a Camaro was a small animal that “eats Mustangs.”