We’ve had a while to prepare for it, and yet many sports car fanatics are still left feeling sad and disappointed at Chevy’s confirmation that the 2024 Chevy Camaro will be the end of not only the highly lauded generation six but of the moniker itself.
Of course, it’s not been that long since the Camaro returned after a brief hiatus, so there are still plenty of enthusiasts who are holding their breath for the magic re-reboot of the car that has captured the heart of performance drivers since it first rolled off the production line in 1966. Scott Bell, vice president of Global Chevrolet, even seemed to confirm that the Camaro will be back in the official Chevy press release, stating, “While we are not announcing an immediate successor today, rest assured, this is not the end of Camaro’s story.”
Still, the American public is driving on roadways that are not dominated by fast, shiny sports cars. Today’s automotive market is led by vehicles that are electric, SUVs, trucks, or some innovative combination of both. As a result, experts like myself feel that we’ll never see another Camaro like the 2024 Camaro.
We don’t want to think of a world without sportscars, so let’s instead look at the bright side of this devastating news: the Chevy Camaro is going out with great fanfare, adoration, and a very impressive Collector’s Edition.
How the Camaro Got Here
In its first year of production, the Chevy Camaro sold nearly 221,000 models. The “personal sports car” segment was still new, and Chevy knew that it would have to step up its game to participate. Little did they know that the model rolling off assembly lines would become a classic to span several generations of drivers.
At the time, Pete Estes, general manager of Chevrolet, was quoted as saying, “The introduction of the Camaro as Chevrolet’s sixth line of cars matches the American public’s growing preference for individualized transportation.” Today, this seems to undermine the impact that the Camaro has had on the American driving scene and pop culture. From the muscle car crowd to the street racing fans, the Camaro is the low, wide, aggressive car the American public has come to recognize regardless of generations of changes.
The Camaro has served as the NASCAR Indianapolis 500 pace car a total of seven times. Camaros have been significant players in the Fast and Furious movie franchise. Bumblebee from Transformers was even a 2010 Camaro, despite the movie being released in 2007. That’s because the Camaro was technically on hiatus at the time. After being discontinued with the 2002 model, Bumblebee’s fifth-generation 2010 siblings managed to sell over 500,000 models for five consecutive years and inspired the Camaro’s 1LE, Z/28, and ZL1 track-ready but street-legal models. With this record, it’s clear that the Camaro has some fans who will hate to say goodbye to this iconic car.
`
Meet the Final Camaro
The 2024 Chevy Camaro is a glorious vehicle by many standards. Sure, every driver has their own preferences when it comes to their own collection (and I might be upsetting a few Dodge or Ford fans here). Still, it’s hard to say that the Camaro isn’t a pretty cool car.
After all, how can you stare in the face of a standard 3.6L V6 engine that provides 335 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque and say that’s not an exciting start? Especially when you have the option to upgrade to a 6.2L V8 engine that makes the trip from 0 to 60 mph in a calm and collected 4.0 seconds? Or better yet, consider the whopping 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque that propel the Camaro ZL1 model with its fine-tuned 6.2L V8 and 1.7L Eaton supercharger. While its 3.5 second 0-60 time is intended for track use only, most of us would admit that practically teleporting off an exit ramp would be awfully handy.
As a further nod to the origin of the Camaro as a performance vehicle, the standard transmission on the 2024 Camaro is a six-speed manual, though a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters is available as well.
All told, there are seven 2024 Camaro trims: 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, LT1, 1SS, 2SS, and ZL1. This lineup should look familiar, and as always, Chevy has ensured each model has just the right number of comfort and convenience features to justify adding a new Camaro to your garage. From Bluetooth connectivity to heated and ventilated seats to what Chevy bills as “interior spectrum lighting with 24 different color selections,” the final year of the Camaro is one all types of drivers can enjoy.
The Final Camaro Collector Edition
So, not only is Chevy making sure that the “cool factor” is consistent between the first and last Camaro in production, but they’re throwing in a few extra bells and whistles to celebrate the Camaro for what it is: a super cool vehicle (at least, in my opinion).
The body has changed significantly since 1966, when the Camaro was first introduced––it’s changed plenty within this generation alone. Still, the Camaro remains highly recognizable, a testimony to the talented designers at Chevrolet for being able to continuously re-imagine an icon without losing its identity.
Not shy about commemorating a milestone, Chevy is offering a limited-run Camaro Collector Edition. Available on all 2024 Camaro trims, this package somehow manages to amp up the good looks and hot performance of the 2024 Camaro.
Drivers of the LT, LT1, and SS trim Camaro Collector Edition vehicles will enjoy a Panther Black Metallic tintcoat with a Black center stripe highlighting the chiseled contours of the car. Special 20-inch forged aluminum wheels are offered in Black or polished iterations, and the rear spoiler and front splitter typically reserved for the ZL1 will be added to these models, as well.
The ZL1 Camaro Collector Edition is painted Panther Black Matte with a Black Metallic center stripe. The 20-inch wheels on this model are Dark Graphite, and those who select a ZL1 coupe can enjoy a visible carbon-fiber weave spoiler and front splitter.
If Matte or Metallic Black is not your thing, fear not. Three Design Packages will also be offered, including fan-favorite colors like Riptide Blue Metallic, Vivid Orange Metallic, Nitro Yellow Metallic, and Radiant Red tintcoat. You’ll still get the 20-inch forged aluminum wheels.
Remembering an Icon
It’s not like the Camaro won’t ever be seen again. We may get a revival like Ford’s return of the Bronco or a new edition in the coming years. Just because the number of brand-new models (as we know them) will slowly dwindle over the next few decades doesn’t mean the Camaro is disappearing entirely. Plenty of drivers will purchase Camaros over the coming decades, and there is still a plan to bring the name back in some way. With 50 years of material to work from, we won’t forget the Camaro any time soon. Still, it is heartening to know that Chevy has chosen to commemorate this solemn event by producing a solid edition that fans will enjoy.
If it could speak, the Camaro would want us to celebrate 650 horsepower, and all things considered, that’s a pretty fantastic place to end things. There’s nothing quite like going out on a high note, after all.
