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Camaro vs. Mustang Rivalry Blog Post
Filename of URL: http://blog.advanceautoparts.com/2016/camaro-vs-mustang-rivalry
Title Tag: Camaro vs. Mustang. Advance Auto Parts details the decades old rivalry
Meta Description Tag: With the introduction of the Ford Mustang in 1964, the timeless muscle car rivalry between the Mustang and the Chevy Camaro began…despite the fact that the Camaro wouldn’t be introduced for another 3 years. Learn about the first American muscle cars and check out the highlights, lore, and long history of competition behind these two behemoths of the automobile world.
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Wile E. Coyote vs. the Roadrunner. New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier.
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It was an instant sensation, with more than 22,000 sold on opening weekend and nearly 420,000 sold in the first year. Prices started at just $2,368.
It was late 1966 when Chevrolet finally introduced the Camaro. Like the early Mustang, the original Camaro was more pony car than muscle car.
The ultimate American automobile showdown, the Trans American Sedan Championship Series, held its first race on March 25, 1966. In 1967, Mark Donohue entered the Trans Am Series, driving for Roger Penske, and a legend was born. In 1969, his Penske-prepared Camaro waged a season-long war with Parnelli Jones' Ford Mustang. Donohue prevailed, but only after winning six of the final seven
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As the old saying goes, “win on Sunday, sell on Monday.”
Slamming On the Brakes in the ‘70s
In the early 1970s, a muscle car crisis appeared on the horizon. Tighter government safety regulations and nationwide gas shortages led to a dramatic shift in automaker and consumer priorities. The public wanted practicality over pizzaz, and Mustang and Camaro followed suit. In 1974, Ford put out the Mustang II, using the lowly Pinto’s platform, and Chevy did only slightly better, launching a redesigned Camaro with a hatchback body.
This sudden change in America’s car culture lasted nearly two decades. Both Ford and Chevy attempted redesigns in the late 70s and early 80s, but none of those efforts had the appeal of their 1960's counterparts. However, from the perspective of the muscle car fanatic, there was reason for hope.
Rising From the Ashes
In 2005, Ford redesigned the Mustang to look like something straight out of 1965. In 2010, Chevy followed suit by bringing the Camaro out of an eight-year