As part of Chevrolet's Centennial celebration, fans were asked to vote for their favorite vehicle from Chevrolet’s 100-year history, of which the 1969 Camaro won.
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So, nearly 125,000 Chevrolet fans spoke out, naming the 1969 Camaro the “Best Chevy of All Time,” according to GM media coverage of the 100 year anniversary of Chevrolet. And during the four-round, elimination bracket, the 1969 Camaro garnered 25,058 of the 124,368 votes cast, edging out the 1970 Chevelle SS in the final round.
As part of the media report at media.gm.com, Tom Peters, Chevrolet Design director, believes the ’69 Camaro is not only one of the best vehicles in Chevrolet’s history but one of the best vehicles ever. He is reported to be a little biased, though, having owned the same 1969 Camaro for nearly 20 years.
“I can vividly remember seeing one for the first time as a kid,” Peters said. “The intent of the Camaro was instantly understood, even to a 14-year old like me, because it possessed a very powerful personality and an elegant, simple design. The Camaro was so cool because it offered this great style, high performance, and yet was attainable for someone just getting out of school.
“Today, the ’69 Camaro has become one of the best examples of timeless design in the industry,” Peters said. “Like the very best designs, the Camaro is much more than just a machine because it evokes powerful emotions in people of all ages. That’s why we looked to the ’69 for inspiration when designing the fifth-generation Camaro, and why the ’69 Camaro is an example of the timeless vehicles Chevrolet will strive to deliver for the next 100 years.”
More on the ‘69 Camaro
I was 19 years old in 1969 and attest the Camaro was indeed extremely popular. For the record, that design was the final year of the Camaro's original iconic design, and thus it ended its design as a classic.
The '69 Camaro even paced the Indianapolis 500® for the second time. It was the first and only year the legendary aluminum ZL1 engine was offered, and the Z28® SS/RS performance package qualified the '69 Camaro to compete in the Trans-Am racing series.
The '69 Camaro was still considered one of the hottest-looking rides of the classic muscle car era, but recall that it was more affordable than a Corvette, plus it at least had a back seat for young guys with a very small family. According to the GM website, the Z28 with ZL1 engine had a 290-horsepower rating but tested at close to 400.
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About the Reporter: After 39 years in the auto industry as a design engineer, Frank Sherosky now trades stocks, futures and writes articles, books and ebooks like, "Perfecting Corporate Character," "Awaken Your Speculator Mind", and "Millennial World Order" via authorfrank.com. He may be contacted here by email: FrankS@TorqueNews.com and followed via Twitter @Authorfranks
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