The Chevrolet Camaro has long been one of the most well liked cars in America. One of the classic power or muscle cars ever, the Camaro has gone through many changes over the years and with the excitement over the release of the upcoming 2008 model, here are 7 Things You Don’t Know About: The Chevy Camaro.

1. Considering the standards of the time, the first Camaro was technically classified as a compact car.

2. The Camaro was designed to be Chevrolet’s answer to Ford’s Mustang. In fact production managers, when asked what the name Camaro meant, usually replied that a Camaro was a “small viscious animal that eats Mustangs”.

3. The first generation of Chevy Camaros were in production for three years from 1967 through 1969, the second generation was in production for 11 years, until the third generation came along in 1982. These third generation Camaros would stay in production until 1992. The fourth generation of Camaros started in 1993 and lasted until the model was discontinued following the 2002 production run. The next generation of Camaros is set to be released in the 2008/2009 season.

4. Every Camaro made during the entire 35 year production run was built on General Motors F-Body platform style, as was the Pontiac Firebird.

5. From 1975 through 1989, the Chevy Camaro was the official car of the International Race of Champions (IROC).

6. Singers or bands that have sung about Camaros include: Bruce Springsteen, The Dead Milkmen, The Blue Meanies, The Ramones, and Pearl Jam.

7. Chevrolet was already manufacturing a small sporty car, the Corvair, at the time the Camaro debuted. Chevy knew that for a number of reasons the Corvair couldn’t keep up with the sales of the Ford Mustang and that is why they pursued a new car… the Camaro.

The Camaro continues to be one of car enthusiasts favorite models of cars, a great car from the past and with what little is known, a great car for the future too.