Remembering the Camaro
The legend under the Highway 1 banner says “Autos California Style.” It is not a boast but a promise we try to keep each week. This week’s issue is one of the better examples as readers reminisce about the Camaros in their lives.
That legend really should say “Autos Southern California style,” because almost nowhere else has the automobile become so much more than a mere conveyance. Our jobs, families and homes may reflect who we are, but our cars and trucks often project who we want to be, how we want to be seen. That’s why we dress them up in custom wheels and paint, in graphics and aerodynamic kits, in chrome and leather. We want them to look good because that makes us look and feel good.
Rare is the Californian who cannot recount in exquisite detail his or her first car. Some vehicles, though, evoke more emotion than others; reliable and technologically advanced as they are, it is hard to get choked up about a new Accord or Camry. But turn the conversation to Mopars and Mustangs, roadsters and rods, and see where it goes.
We recently remarked on the passing of one of those automotive icons, the Camaro, which General Motors Corp. launched in 1967 to fight Ford’s Mustang and killed last month, along with its Pontiac Firebird twin.
The last Camaro, a red Z28, rolled off the assembly line Aug. 27. The final Firebird had rolled off the line just minutes before. Weakening sales, caused by years of corporate tinkering that reduced the Camaro’s sportiness and appeal, caused its demise.
We asked readers to share Camaro memories, and the letters and e-mails came from as far away as Texas and as close as downtown Los Angeles. Some sent bittersweet stories, others funny tales. They were a joy to edit, and we think you’ll have fun reading this selection.
John O’Dell
*
25 Years and Going
The Camaro has left an indelible imprint on my life. It was my first car out of high school.
I learned a lot of what Bob Seger calls “Night Moves” in the back seat of one. Unless you are a pygmy or contortionist, this should be left to professionals.
Like most young kids with their first hot rod, I did quite a bit of racing with it, both officially sanctioned and otherwise. Yeah, it was a lot of fun beating up on a rival Mustang or Firebird.
For 25 years now I have always owned a Camaro and I will continue to do so, even though Chevy has decided to discontinue the model. They can discontinue the car but they can’t discontinue the memories. Memories of simpler times, I guess. Memories of times when American performance was supreme. When they build one like the original, I’ll be back.
Jon Mello
Lompoc
*
The Man Magnet
She was not called a muscle car in January 1969 when she arrived with a bow affixed to her gold hard top. She was the coolest car a college coed could get for graduation, though. And I knew she was a “she” because she attracted men right from the start.
She was my first car and she continues to bring me pleasure in spite of the obstacles of aging. She has outlived smog testing and leaded gas, and her replacement parts now are from JY--junk yards--not GM.
She attracts more men than ever. Men have climbed out of their trucks to ask if she’s for sale. Some have stood patiently beside her in parking lots, waiting for me to come back so they could ask about her.
Many have told me sad stories of how they once owned one like her, but traded theirs in and now regret it. Sometimes, while we’re stopped at a traffic light, men in their cars check us out, smile at us or give us a thumbs up.
She has been a reliable pal, and I take good care of her. The older she gets, the more fun we have.
Joanne Adler Grant
Los Angeles
*
To the Moon and Soon Back
I am still driving a 1968 six-cylinder Chevrolet Camaro I acquired new from the dealer in 1969.
Because it now has 386,655 miles on it, it has been as far as the moon and is now on the way back. The car also has appeared in a television show spotlighting my research on California Indian astronomy.
I intend to pilot the Camaro to a safe return to Earth and an odometer reading of 476,160 miles.
E.C. Krupp
Director, Griffith Observatory
Los Angeles
*
Like Father, Like Son
In 1978, my wife, Christine, our son Sean and I welcomed two new additions to our family: first, a new Z28 Camaro, and then, after a midnight race to the hospital, a new baby, Patrick.
The Z28 was school-bus orange; Patrick was pinkish and clashed a little with the Camaro during his ride home from the hospital, but we kept them both anyway.
In the fall of that year our little family headed north through California and the Pacific Northwest. It was probably the perfect time for us to take the trip. Each of us fit into our assigned seats, the Camaro was fun to drive, and we have no negative memories of our road trip with a baby, a toddler and a late ‘70s GM car.
Patrick’s experiences in our Z28 during his first year of life must have left an indelible impression. Two years ago, at age 22, Patrick bought his own new Camaro Z28--from the same dealership where we purchased ours in 1978.
Michael Green
Temple City
*
Ageless Appeal
How devastating that GM is killing the Camaro and Firebird.
I bought my first Camaro (a dark-green beauty) in 1978 and kept it for six years. Then in 1984 I bought a silver-gray Firebird that kept me happy for 14 years. In 1998, I bought a 1995 black Camaro, which I still own. So, I’ve driven only Camaros or Firebirds for the last 24 years.
For me, they have always been the most stylish, the most fun and the most affordable sports cars on the market (especially if you can’t afford a Corvette or the new Jaguar convertible).
More to the point: Don’t ever think that these fabulous sports cars just appeal to the younger crowd. I celebrated my 68th birthday this year.
Kim Garfield
Los Angeles
*
Blissful End to Search
My future wife and I purchased our very first brand-new car in May of 1969. It was a Z28 Camaro, Dusk Blue with blue interior, and in August my brother drove us away from the church in it on our wedding day. A year later, I was transferred to California with my job, and we could no longer afford the $102 monthly car payments because my wife was no longer working, so my brother got the car.
We were transferred back to the Chicago area in late 1971 and wanted to get the car back, but he had sold it.
We spent the next 30 years searching for a replacement because we had such fond memories of the original Camaro. We finally found a close match on the Internet earlier this year, and after shipping it out from Houston, we have spent seven months restoring it. So far, we’ve invested $50,000.
Jim and Judy Covone
Huntington Beach
*
A Cats’ Camaro
In 1967, I had to have a Camaro. However, at that time the largest engine was the 350, and the only one available had Chevy’s “wonderful” 2-speed automatic.
Bought the car, and in 20 months put over 75,000 miles on it.
Loved the car, absolutely.
The only problem I encountered concerned the fan guard, which was rather long.
Cats would crawl in and sleep by the radiator to keep warm. This was fine, but they were still there when I fired it up at 5:30 a.m.
Three cats and three fan belts were involved, and none of them were ever the same.
Merle E. White
Westlake Village
*
Urge to Merge Remains
It was May 1982. Graduation was six weeks away. I was offered the ultimate bribe: If I stayed home and went to the local university, I would get a car; if I went away, I’d have to depend on public transit. I took the car.
She was bright, shiny and red--a new model that made heads turn. I became the stylin’ girl on campus, getting envious glances from girls and head nods from guys. People stared when I drove down the street. I loved watching them through the rearview. I was 18, it was summer, I loved my life, I loved my car, I loved to merge.
After six months, more bright, shiny red new-model Camaros started competing with my popularity. The first scent of “lemon” came when the inside door handle popped off. By the time we parted 11 years later she had stranded me three times on the 405 Freeway, had gone through differentials, timing chains, carburetors and a transmission.
She was high-maintenance. But when all was well, I was queen of the road and she was No. 1 in my heart. I loved her, I miss her and merging has never quite been the same.
Karen Soma Melkonian
Anaheim
*
The ‘Work Truck’
I own a 1984 Camaro Berlinetta that I bought new. It has 238,000 miles on it (one rebuilt engine, two transmissions).
I have kept it up with paint, body work and maintenance and primarily use it now as my “work truck.” It runs better than the other family cars and looks great--on the outside. I actually removed the front seat so that I could carry long loads in it (two-by-fours, etc.). The back seat has been turned down since I bought the car, so it’s like new.
Great car! I’ll never give it up!
Pat Moorehead
Long Beach
*
Old Faithful
We were the best of pals for 27 years, my shiny red ’68 Camaro and I. On her maiden voyage we drove with friends in un-air-conditioned splendor to Las Vegas to see “Fiddler on the Roof” and to rub elbows with Elvis in the casino lobby.
She was a handsome 3-speed, the recipient of many an admiring glance.
She faithfully carried me back and forth to work in the Conejo Valley through fires, floods and snow--yes, there was enough snow on the Ventura Freeway in Westlake one winter that it was hard to stay on the road!
She had a few mishaps along the way.
One foggy September she caused my husband to be late to work on the first day of his teaching job when a horse collided with her.
The school principal laughed and said that now she’d heard all the tardy excuses. My poor friend needed extensive body work.
As she aged, she had the typical geriatric ills--broken muffler, carburetor problems, old wires. We became friends with the new men in our lives: auto club tow truck drivers.
In 1994 she was given a new home, in the Midwest. I cried as she was driven out of sight.
Lynn Dickhoff
Topanga
*
Car of Opportunity
I was saddened to read that Chevrolet is going to discontinue production of the Camaro. Growing up in the 1960s and ‘70s, I always thought that a Camaro symbolized the ultimate in muscle cars.
I got my first Camaro in 1986 and later bought the 25th anniversary edition (in 1992).
I put over 86,000 miles on that car and did nothing but change the oil and put on a new set of tires.
Camaro provided those who couldn’t afford the Corvette the opportunity to still feel the excitement of a fine road car. Too bad that has to end.
Ron Gohner
Dallas
*
Roots in Van Nuys
My passion for Camaros came at an early age. Having experienced cruising Van Nuys Boulevard in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, and having family and friends that worked at the Van Nuys GM plant, you could say that Chevys are in my blood.
Now that I can own and restore these cars, I have two: a 1969 RS/SS and a 1967 RS. Both were built at the Van Nuys plant.
I don’t know what’s more fun, building or driving these cars.
A.L. Landeros
Simi Valley
*
From a Trident to a Ticket
In 1969, at age 70, my grandmother said she wanted to own and drive a “real” car after spending several years with a Trident three-wheel electric cart after having had a heart attack. She purchase a used 1967 RS with a 327-cubic-inch V-8 for $2,300 and my mother taught her to drive.
“Oma” passed her driver’s test and started making up for all the time spend on the Trident. She got pulled over for speeding on Colorado Boulevard, and I’ll never forget the look on the officer’s face when he handed her the ticket and she asked, “What should I do with this?” I cannot listen to Jan and Dean’s “Little Old Lady From Pasadena” without smiling.
Oma passed away in 1977. I own the car now, with 39,000 miles on the odometer.
We didn’t go far, but we sure got there fast!
Heidi Marfoglia
Sierra Madre
