1970-1981 2nd Generation Camaro - a European/American Styling Masterpiece

Imagine that you're a designer at Chevrolet, and you have the challenge of leading the elite GM design team to create the 2nd Gen Camaro, which will debut in the 1970 model year. What an honor and certainly also a stressful opportunity you'd have in front of you. Reimagining Chevrolet's nearly perfect and much beloved 1st generation Camaro and taking it up a notch in terms of style, comfort, performance, and increased sales...no pressure there, eh? Join us as we take a look at the styling inspiration for the 1970 2nd generation Camaro and how the design evolved through the end of its production run in 1981.

European Inspiration for the 2nd Generation Camaro

As automotive historians will recount and GM's yearly sales figures from the time confirm, the 1970-1981 2nd generation Camaro was a smashing success. European styling influences included the sublime 1963-1964 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta Lusso. The 250GT Lusso was penned by famous Turinese coachbuilder Pininfarina. At the time this Ferrari was considered the most elegant Prancing Horse ever produced. Unlike many other Ferraris of the era, it wasn't intended to go sports car racing. Its reason for being was to be the most distinguished gran turismo (grand touring; GT) road going Ferrari.

1970-1973 Camaro: Early 2nd Generation

From examining the three-quarter front and three-quarter rear photos of both the 1970 RS Camaro and the 1964 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta Lusso, one can see how GM's designers were influenced and inspired by the exceptional silhouette of the 250GT Lusso. Both cars have gun barrel front fenders. Each sport a long hood that curves gracefully over the V8 and V12 powerplant (respectively) underneath. While each vehicle is also equipped with a short deck lid. Both have an egg-shaped grille, though the 250GT Lusso's is wider and skinnier. The body sides of the Camaro and the 250GT Lusso also flow similarly. There are many common design themes here.

Yet, it's so remarkable that the Lusso appears purely Italian and European, while the Camaro still somehow has an American pony car essence to it, perhaps with some European grace and sophistication mixed in to set it apart from its all-American pony and muscle car rivals. If you're still a bit confused by the 1970 Camaro's appearance, all you need do is lift the hood to find an American V8 inside. Equally with the 250GT Lusso, there's a 3.0-liter V12 mill not far behind its wide egg-shaped grille - Italian muscle at its finest.

Notice how the Camaro and the Ferrari have body and door panels that curve inward down to the rockers? That's so to accentuate the width of the tires and the two vehicles low and wide road hugging stance.

The 1970-1981 Camaro is longer, wider, and rides lower to the ground than the 1st generation Camaro of 1967-1969. It was built to compete head on with its chief foe, the Mustang. For several of the years during this generation, the Camaro outsold the Mustang.

1974-1977 Camaro: Mid-Cycle Updates

Above and below: This 1974 Camaro is the last Camaro that the famous GM performance Nickey Chevrolet dealership in Chicago converted to being equipped with an L88 427-cubic inch V8 engine (the license plate reads LAST 1). The custom hood bulge is to fit over the 427 big-block V8, which is shown below. Federal safety regulations required 2.5 mph impact front and rear bumpers, starting in 1974. In years 1974-1977, GM's engineers complied with this mandate by using rubber cushion-clad, beefy aluminum bumpers attached to leaf spring brackets front and rear.

1978-1981 Camaro: Final Years of the 2nd Generation

For model years 1978-1981, the Camaro had urethane rubber front and rear bumpers backed by crash bars to meet the federal safety mandate. The new exterior design included sporty front and rear spoilers, fender vents, and T-Tops for those must-have wind in the hair open air motoring cruises.

Above and below: With the urethane bumper covers and the other exterior styling changes, the 1978 Camaro has a more modern look. Meanwhile, the updated interior is as comfortable and accommodating as it looks.

The sleek 1978-1981 version of the Camaro closed out the 2nd Gen in high style and comfort. Given the U.S. government's push to quell the fuel inefficient muscle cars of days gone by, horsepower and torque ratings were way down for all U.S. auto manufacturers from the glory days of the American pony and muscle car. Still, Chevrolet met this challenge head on by engineering and designing the 2nd Gen Camaro to handle better, achieve better fuel economy, be more comfortable and safer to drive, and continue to have modern exterior styling that was the envy of and an aspirational target for the engineers and designers at Ford/Lincoln/Mercury and Chrysler.

Above and below: 1981 Camaro Z28. All car photos are with permission of Mecum Auctions.

Parts Unlimited Interiors Provides a Plethora of Parts for Camaros

Whether you need seat covers, package trays, door panels, window felts, or pretty much any interior item for your Camaro, there's a great chance that Parts Unlimited Interiors can make your Camaro's cockpit brand new once again. If you also need new carpet, you could also insulate your Camaro's cockpit with a Flatline Barriers sound, heat/cold state of the art pre-cut insulation kit for your 2nd generation Camaro.