The Chevrolet Camaro is the No.3-selling muscle car in America for 2021, and there is talk of an all-electric reboot in Camaro’s future. It may be third in sales, but it is a king beast on the asphalt.

When Americans clamored for a muscular, powerful, sporty car for the street and for tire-smoking bragging rights in the early 1960s, GM answered the call, attacked the genre, and put out a vehicle to compete for the 1967 model year … the Camaro. When Chevrolet product managers were asked what “Camaro” means, they responded with “a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.” And The Pony Wars of American muscle was born.

Through six generations, 5.5 million Camaros have been sold, with its first four generations produced from 1967 through 2002, and it’s most recent two generations built from 2010 through the present.

For 2021, There are only a couple of changes to the Camaro ZL1 lineup for 2021. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are now on its roster of features, and Chevy offers a new extra-cost paint color: Wild Cherry. And for 2022, expect only some color palette changes, and a loss of some wheel and cosmetic options.

In the front-engine, rear-drive formula that drove iconic muscle cars back in the day, the 2021 Camaro is available in eight trims and convertible and coupe configurations. The top-of-the line 2021 ZL1 is powered by a 650-hp/650 lb-ft of torque, 6.2-liter LT4 supercharged V-8 engine with direct injection. EPA rated at 21mpg/highway and 14 mpg city in manual … the “only” way to drive a muscle car for some of us … this power-packed street beast can fly from zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and finish off a quarter-mile in 11.5.

Built to hug the road, Camaro is 52.4 inches high, 74.7 inches wide and 190.2 inches long, on a 110.7-inch wheelbase. That translates to a close-to-the-pavement sticky ride, and a cozy interior with only 36.6 inches of front headroom and a hunched over 33.4 inches in the rear – a convertible is much more comfortable with better sightlines. The coupe weighs in at 3853 lbs for the stick shift version, and the manual shift convertible weighs 4120. On the road, the wide ride is giving to passengers and secure  for the driver, with quick, powerful acceleration, responsive handling and cornering and strength, grace and style in every situation. ZF rack-mounted electric, power-assisted and variable ratio rack-and-pinion steering with 20-inch rear tires and 19-inch front Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R rubber make for a ride-on-rails performance.

Inside the well-appointed high-tech cabin, legroom is an ample 42.7 inches in front and a crunched 29.9 inches in the rear. Shoulder room is comfortable with 55.5 in front and 50.3 in row two.

Infotainment includes an 8-inch diagonal color touch screen and available Navigation system. Built-in Wi-Fi hotspot is onboard with available 4G LTE data.

Safety is attended to with an airbag system consisting of dual- stage frontal, thorax side-impact and knee, driver and front passenger, and head curtain side-impact (head curtain airbags on coupe only). Standard items include Passenger Sensing System. There is a standard tire pressure monitor system, HD rear-vision camera, Head-Up Display, Forward Collision Alert in the coupe only, Rear Park Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert.

Available in coupe and convertible configuration in eight trims, starting at $26,195. My test ZL1 was top of the line and started at $64,195 for the manual coupe and $65,790 for the automatic. In Summit White (though I would have preferred Red Hot, and Premium paints are available), the exterior was mated to a Jet black set trim with red accents.  The ZL1 1LE Extreme Track Performance Package with rear bench seat, visible carbon fiber weave hood insert, Satin Black hood wrap and performance suspension with DSSV dampers added an additional $7500.  Premium carpeted floor mats with ZL1 logo added $185. With gas guzzler tax of $1700 and destination freight charges of $1195, my test 20231 Camaro ZL1 was priced at $73,580.

You can expect to see six generations of Camaros and all things GM, from antique to classic to present and future at the 2022 Carlisle GM Nationals, June 24-24 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

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