The Word Camaro - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

40again · 08-06-2010, 10:19 PM

I have always been curious as to the origin of the Camaro name. Anyone out there have any ideas?

67for/me · 08-06-2010, 10:28 PM

GM was to name camaro Panther but changed the name to Camaro right before the big press release in 1967. Camaro is a French word for Old Friend.

Gerry

Texhawk · 08-06-2010, 10:29 PM

Camaro- "a small vicious animal that eats mustangs"

40again · 08-06-2010, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ontheaccount

I think it means a car made by Chevrolet, a GM company. To me it sounds like..............VICTORY!

I agree with the VICTORY! RED that is!

Capthowdy · 08-06-2010, 10:32 PM

CAMARO Can Always Make A Race Over......SEEya.........

Coldpants · 08-06-2010, 10:32 PM

From ls1 tech

As the launch date neared, the car still had no name. It had been called various names by GM, including Nova, Panther, Chaparral, and Wildcat. Chevy also considered using the letters "GM" in the name, and came up with G-Mini, which evolved into GeMini, and finally Gemini. General Motors Headquarters killed that name, because they didn't want the letters "GM" used in case the car was a failure.

Finally, the car was introduced to the press as the Camaro, considered to be a good name because nobody knew what it meant. Chevrolet produced an old French dictionary showing that the word meant "friend" or "companion", but Ford found an alternate meaning in an old Spanish dictionary-"a small, shrimp-like creature."The automotive press had a good laugh over that, and an even bigger one when one journalist found yet another meaning-"loose bowels." It didn't take long for the laughter to stop after the introduction of the stunning 1967 Camaro!

40again · 08-06-2010, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67for/me

GM was to name camaro Panther but changed the name to Camaro right before the big press release in 1967. Camaro is a French word for Old Friend.

Gerry

Gerry,

Thanks for the info! I guess I could have Googled it but this is much more fun. Since my Camaro fits me like a glove and I only have 350 miles on the odometer it already feels like an "Old Friend".

Rgds,
Dave

67for/me · 08-06-2010, 10:40 PM

Camaro’s first tv add.

Panther add

Gerry

40again · 08-06-2010, 10:41 PM

Coldpants,

Thanks so much for the info. Between you and Gerry I now have the answer to my age old question.

This forum rocks!

lets_go_bills · 08-06-2010, 10:42 PM

It means friend.

Capthowdy · 08-06-2010, 10:43 PM

a friendly small shrimp like creature with loose bowels???WTF??

Coldpants · 08-06-2010, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capthowdy

a friendly small shrimp like creature with loose bowels???WTF??

That eats mustangs.

40again · 08-06-2010, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capthowdy

a friendly small shrimp like creature with loose bowels???WTF??

The only loose bowels are the sound of the exhaust pipes!

40again · 08-06-2010, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67for/me

Camaro’s first tv add.

Panther add

Gerry

OMG, the video is great! By the way, any idea how much HP the original 350 SS had?

08-06-2010, 10:19 PM	#1
40again Drives: 2011 LS V6 6spd manual Victory Red Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Waldorf, Md. Posts: 534 View My Garage	The Word Camaro I have always been curious as to the origin of the Camaro name. Anyone out there have any ideas?

08-06-2010, 10:32 PM	#6
Coldpants Nerdy one Drives: #000000 & #FF8000 2010 Camaro Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: (elba), ct Posts: 806 View My Garage	From ls1 tech As the launch date neared, the car still had no name. It had been called various names by GM, including Nova, Panther, Chaparral, and Wildcat. Chevy also considered using the letters "GM" in the name, and came up with G-Mini, which evolved into GeMini, and finally Gemini. General Motors Headquarters killed that name, because they didn't want the letters "GM" used in case the car was a failure. Finally, the car was introduced to the press as the Camaro, considered to be a good name because nobody knew what it meant. Chevrolet produced an old French dictionary showing that the word meant "friend" or "companion", but Ford found an alternate meaning in an old Spanish dictionary-"a small, shrimp-like creature."The automotive press had a good laugh over that, and an even bigger one when one journalist found yet another meaning-"loose bowels." It didn't take long for the laughter to stop after the introduction of the stunning 1967 Camaro! __________________ Dave McFly: Modern cars are awash in “It-goes-to-11” ergonomics. No one asked for it. It’s just in your car because—like black mold or a carjacker with herpes—it can be. SHORT FAT ROUND NINJA

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
GM unveils Jay Leno Camaro, Camaro Synergy, Camaro Chroma, Camaro Dusk at SEMA	irocnroll	5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions	101	02-27-2012 01:25 PM
Gran Turismo 5... No Camaro?	5thGenOwner	5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions	111	12-06-2011 11:06 AM
GM memo to dealers	Moose	5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions	41	02-04-2010 08:33 PM
The DEFINITIVE EXPLANATION OF CAMARO SUSPENSION, ISSUES, AND UPGRADES	Info@PeddersUSA.com	Suspension / Brakes / Chassis	106	10-19-2009 07:08 PM
Answeres to questions I have stumbled on	dieseldave24v	5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions	13	02-23-2009 07:56 PM

08-06-2010, 10:28 PM	#2
67for/me Drives: 1967 Camaro Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: AZ Posts: 84	GM was to name camaro Panther but changed the name to Camaro right before the big press release in 1967. Camaro is a French word for Old Friend. Gerry

08-06-2010, 10:29 PM	#3
Texhawk Drives: 69Camaro,87IROC,96 SS,Z06&Stingray Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Longview, Tx Posts: 275	Camaro- "a small vicious animal that eats mustangs"

08-06-2010, 10:32 PM	#5
Capthowdy Drives: 2010 2SS RS IOM Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Fort Lauderdale Fl Posts: 1,048	CAMARO Can Always Make A Race Over......SEEya.........

08-06-2010, 10:41 PM	#9
40again Drives: 2011 LS V6 6spd manual Victory Red Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Waldorf, Md. Posts: 534 View My Garage	Coldpants, Thanks so much for the info. Between you and Gerry I now have the answer to my age old question. This forum rocks!

08-06-2010, 10:42 PM	#10
lets_go_bills Drives: 2011 Camaro 2LT/RS CGM M6 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 815	It means friend.

08-06-2010, 10:43 PM	#11
Capthowdy Drives: 2010 2SS RS IOM Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Fort Lauderdale Fl Posts: 1,048	a friendly small shrimp like creature with loose bowels???WTF??