Since the dawn of muscle cars, Camaros have garnered the reputation of being among the very best regardless of their make or model and are one of the most iconic lines of muscle cars ever made. Chevy introduced the Camaro to compete with Ford's Mustang, and has since managed to sell over five million examples to date!
Being an embodiment of power and class, Camaros have more than just looks, several models have insane track capabilities, while a lot of models are great for daily driving as well! In essence, Camaros are for everyone. Without further ado, here are the 10 best Camaros of all time.
10 1967 Camaro
The original Camaro was introduced on Sept 12th, 1966, and this four-seater convertible/coupe dawned a heavy-duty look. Offered across three trims, RS, SS, and Z/28, Chevrolet offered a large number of factory options as well as dealer accessories, making it highly customizable!
It was offered with V-8 engines or an inline six-cylinder. While the standard '67 Camaro equipped with a 5.7-liter V-8 was capable of 325 horsepower, '67 Camaros equipped with a 6.5-liter big block could put out 375 horsepower. Roughly, 220,906 Camaros were sold, rendering Chevrolet's strategic release of this muscle car highly successful! Without a doubt, the 1967 Camaro was one of the most exquisite cars you could get your hands on!
9 1968 Camaro Z/28
Arguably among the rarest Camaros, was the '68 Camaro Z/28. It was specially made by Vince Piggins for Pete Estes, who was the General Manager of Chevrolet. Initially, it was designed to be a track-only Camaro, but later a decision was made to make it available to the public as well.
There was a total of 7,199 '68 Camaros Z/28 built but there one just one special 68 Camaro built for Pete Estes, hence it was called the "Estes Camaro". The ‘68 Camaro z/28 came with a V-8 engine (302 cubic inch) which was a powerhouse, churning out a whopping 400 horsepower, and it could go a quarter mile in 14.8 seconds.
8 1969 Yenko Camaro
With only 201 models of the 1969 Yenko/SC Camaro, this rare Camaro was definitely special for many reasons. These models were specially ordered via COPO (Chevrolet’s Central Office Production Order program) by Don Yenko, a renowned racer and the owner of the Pennsylvania Chevrolet dealership, and sold these models through the same dealership.
This beauty came fitted with an L72 engine (425 horsepower), two exhaust systems, better cooling, and revised suspensions. The L27 472 engine, as we know could produce 425 horsepower but with free-flow exhausts and extra headers, the Yenko could churn out 450 horsepower. The 1969 Yenko Camaro needed only 5.4 seconds to hit 60mph. It goes without saying that the 69 Yenko Camaro is one of the most popular cars and Don Yenko’s racing heritage adds more value to it.
7 2012 Camaro ZL-1
Well known for its speed, the 2012 Camaro ZL-1 is powered by an LSA 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine with an output of 580 horsepower. The 2012 Camaro ZL-1 came with two transmission options, you could either choose a Hydra-Matic 6L90 six-speed automatic or Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual. While the manual transmission takes four seconds to reach 60mph, the automatic transmission only took 3.9 seconds. On the tech front, the 2012 Camaro ZL-1 was ahead of its time with a rearview camera and universal remote transmitter which included the option of “remote start” as well.
6 2022 Camaro SS 1LE
One of the best muscle cars of this decade, the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE is among those muscle cars that retain the analog characteristics of the golden era muscle cars. Additionally, the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE has a lot of upgrades owing to the incorporation of the 1LE Track Performance Package.
This Camaro comes with a naturally aspirated V8 engine that can produce up to 455 horsepower. Although the 2022 Camaro ZL1 had multi-matic suspensions and the 1LE came with a magnetic ride suspension, ensuring your ride is as smooth as it gets! Although muscle cars aren’t known for their safety, the 2022 Camaro SS 1LE managed to get a 5-star rating in the crash safety section. Yet, another factor as to why the 2022 Camaro SS 1LE is on this list.
5 1977 Camaro Z28
The very first Chevrolet Camaro that outsold the Ford Mustang, the 1977 Camaro Z28 definitely was one of the best of its era. Given the fact that this particular Camaro wasn’t built for speed but the handling it offered was second to none.
It came with a 5.7L V-8 engine that could produce 185 horsepower and could reach 60 mph in just 8.1 seconds. The Chevrolet 1977 Camaro Z28 was quite the massive car for a coupe and at the time, it would cost you nearly $5000, making it quite inexpensive and affordable as well. Additionally, Chevrolet also offered multiple upgrades as well!
4 2014 Camaro Z/28
Considered to have outstanding track capabilities, the 2014 Camaro Z/28 is an absolute beast. The 2014 Camaro Z/28 offers great stability and can go from 0 mph - 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and can complete a quarter-mile in just 12.7 seconds. This, of course, is a result of including the 7.0L V8 that can churn out an astounding 505 horsepower
The 2014 Camaro Z/28 was nearly 300 pounds lighter than the Camaro ZL1 and had even better downforce. It came with modified suspension which was a part of the Camaro 1LE package but with lighter tires and wheels (19 inches), anti-roller bars, and better shocks. Although the 2014 Camaro Z/28 cannot beat the Camaro ZL1 in a straight line, it is definitely much faster than the ZL1 around the track owing to refined grip and brake power.
3 2021 Camaro ZL1
With the capability of producing a mind-blowing 650 horsepower, the 2021 Camaro ZL1 stands out as one of the most track-capable cars. The 2021 Camaro ZL1 comes with a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine with the standard six-speed manual transmission or you also have the option of including a 10-speed automatic.
The 2021 Camaro ZL1 can hit 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds making it an absolute beast on the track. In addition to this, the 2021 Camaro ZL1 has a decent amount of tech upgrades including Android Auto integration and Wireless Apple CarPlay.
2 1985 Camaro IROC-Z
If you’re an ‘80s kid, you might remember this car as part of your Hotwheels collection. The 1985 Camaro IROC-Z was the first of the third-generation Camaros. The name came from the “International Race of Champions” which is befitting! Being one of the best cars of its decade, the 1985 Camaro IROC-Z came with a fuel-injected V-8 engine that could produce a respectable 205 horsepower. As of today, it still is one of the most recognizable Camaros out there because of the prominent door tag, and it brought back the convertible body style which wasn’t seen on the Camaro since 1969.
1 1970 1/2 Camaro Z28
The very first car of the second generation Camaro, the 1970 1/2 Camaro Z28 was introduced in Feb 1970. The '70 Camaro had a modified exterior making. It was much wider and longer than the first-generation Camaros and offered much better handling as well.
Included in the 1970 1/2 Camaro Z28 was LT 350-cubic inch V-8 taken from the Corvette that could propel the car from 0mph - 60mph in 5.8 seconds. The 70 Camaro could produce 350 horsepower which was a step up from what the first-generation Camaros had to offer. The 1970 1/2 Camaro Z28 was, without a doubt, one of the most exquisite cars of its era