History

So exactly what is the meaning of Camaro? Is it really a word in the French lexicon for “friend” or “companion”, or are the “shrimp-like creature” or “loose bowels” translations more accurate? Ask a product manager who worked for Chevrolet in the late sixties and they’d tell you it was a small, vicious animal that likes to eat Mustangs, a description that was more befitting of the “Panther” or “Wildcat” monikers that were early considerations for Chevy’s new F-body. Whatever its definition may be, the fact is the Camaro is one of the most respected American nameplates in automotive history with over 4.8 million copies sold in its 35 year existence from 1967 to 2002. One thing’s for certain, it definitely wasn’t “just another car”.

Introduced in September of 1966, the Camaro was GM’s inescapable answer to the phenomenal success of the Ford Mustang. Like its pony-car opponent, the Camaro was fashioned in the same long hood, short deck formula that made the Mustang so popular, but the Camaro’s design was considered by some to be easier on the eye. Surprisingly, the Camaro didn’t offer a true fastback model like the Mustang, but it was available from day one as a coupe or convertible with nearly 80 available factory options and 40 dealer accessories.

Topping off the options list were three remarkable packages, Rally Sport (RS), Super Sport (SS), and the legendary race-proven Z/28 package, although the latter wasn’t widely advertised to the buying public in 1967 as its primary goal was to satisfy homologation requirements for racing in the Trans-Am series. As a result, only 602 Z/28’s were produced in 1967. The RS package was purely an appearance upgrade which included things like hidden headlights and special badging, among other exterior and interior improvements. Similarly, the SS package featured its own visual cues, like special striping and badges, but the real boost was under the hood.

Standard with the SS package was a 295-hp flavor of the all-new 350-ci small-block. If that wasn’t enough to make you king of the neighborhood, Chevy had a pair of optional pavement pounding 396-ci big blocks hiding behind the curtain, the L35 which was good for 325-hp and the L72 which pumped out a whopping 375 ponies. Chevy made the Camaro even more appealing by allowing the RS package to be ordered in combination with either the SS or Z-28 packages, giving buyers an even longer list of available features.

Although the Camaro failed in its first year to outperform the Mustang in sales, production totals toppling 220,000 were more than enough to make Ford and the rest of the automotive world take notice. By the end of its first-generation which ran from 1967 through 1969, the Camaro managed to sell close to three-quarters of a million copies, and with back to back Trans-Am Championships between 1968 and 1969, the pony car wars were officially in full swing. Today, the first-generation Camaro’s are revered as one of the most popular sports coupes of all time and are some of the most desirable cars among enthusiasts and collectors. They are, by definition, an American icon.

The Model

Interestingly enough, the first generation Camaro’s are among the most popular subject material in the scale modeling industry. This is particularly true in 1/18-scale diecast. With practically 250 variations produced to date in street and race trim, the market is fairly saturated with 1967-1969 Camaro replicas and it’s a wonder there’s room left for originality, but GMP is showing us there is. The Winder, Georgia based manufacturer is carving a trendy niche with their Pro-Touring inspired Street Fighter series which includes a trio of Camaro’s, covering the 1967-1969 model years.

GMP’s latest is a tight ’67, finished in an arresting red with white racing stripes that are indicative of the early Z/28’s, not to mention the personality of the model that is based upon the same mold GMP used for their 1/18-scale ’67-’68 Trans-Am Camaro, which just so happens to be the perfect candidate for the foundation of a true Pro-Touring g-machine. Most of the race-bred traits can be seen in the Street Fighter’s flared bodywork, the bumper-delete front and rear valances, and the classic competition style rear deck-lid spoiler. Conversely, parts like the carbon-fiber chin spoiler, custom wheels, and low profile performance rated tires imply that this isn’t your father’s Camaro.

Further evidence of this Street Fighter’s heritage is enclosed between a pair of realistically hinged doors. Within the Camaro’s utilitarian interior, you’ll find such items as a 10-point roll cage and a basic set of gauges behind a 3-spoke steering wheel that suggest that this street machine was at one time a race car. Pro-Touring enthusiasts will appreciate the more modern mods like the bullet style side mirrors, the custom center console with up-to-date gauges and short throw shifter, and the pair of competition bucket seats, each of which are detailed with carbon-fiber backsides and a 5-point racing harness with photo-etched clasps. Inside the opening trunk you’ll find an aluminum fuel cell with a detailed fuel filler neck and the appropriate fuel lines and fittings as well as a heavy duty battery complete with cables, adding to the list of racecar inspired goodies.

While this Camaro incorporates many vintage touches, it lives up to the Pro-Touring definition by employing several state-of-the-art performance technologies, like the 6.0-liter LS2 resting under the cowl induction hood, the same engine that powers the Corvette and GTO, producing 400-hp and 400lb-ft of torque in stock form. You might have guessed, the LS2 in GMP’s Street Fighter Camaro is anything but stock, pumping out a projected 520-hp and 495lb-ft of torque. Fully wired and plumbed, I love how the LS2 looks in this ’67 Camaro, from the carbon-fiber fuel rail covers to the aluminum heads and accurately molded 90-mm throttle body that mounts a high flow air filter which barely clears the aluminum radiator. Other standard equipment includes a pair of genuine scissor style hood hinges along with a detailed master cylinder and remote mounted oil filter, both of which have been assembled with flexible braided lines with red & blue anodized fittings.

From the underside of the Street Fighter you can view a few additional items attached to the LS2, like the deep sump oil pan, the long-tube headers joined to a precisely fabricated exhaust system, and an authentic reproduction of the high-tech T56 6-speed transmission coupled to a lightweight aluminum driveshaft. The detailed chassis also features front coils and lowered rear leaf springs, the finished belly of the earlier mentioned aluminum fuel cell, and individual fuel lines and brake lines, the latter of which are properly routed to the Camaro’s brake calipers.

Traveling through the painted calipers at each of the Camaro’s four corners are slotted and drilled rotors that are bolted to a set of forged Kinesis Motorsport K18 10-spoke wheels. Bar none, these are the best wheels I’ve ever seen on a GMP replica. Painted in a charcoal finish, the K18’s have been accurately constructed with polished outer rims, matte black Kinesis center caps, individual lugnuts, valve stems, and exactly 40 miniature aircraft quality bolts. I don’t have time to modify my diecasts these days, but if GMP decides to offer sets of their Kinesis K18’s, you better believe I’ll be buying a few, even if only for display purposes.

Pro-Touring is one of the fastest growing trends in the hot rod culture and the principle of bringing together the style and performance of classic American muscle with modern comforts and technologies has made the movement widely popular with masses of automotive enthusiasts. Because of it’s appealing design, a wide array of readily available parts, and an easy to modify chassis, the first generation Camaro is to Pro-Touring what the ’32-’34 Ford was to the traditional hot rodder. GMP’s 1/18-scale ‘67 Street Fighter Camaro is an extraordinary representative of the genre and the overall build quality and execution of the various details and working features are top notch. And with a limited production of only 1,608 copies, the term “Street Fighter” is quickly going to become synonymous with “sold out”. One thing’s for certain, it isn’t just another Camaro.

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