Forgotten 1st Generation Camaro And Firebird Prototypes Come To Life

Just like we did with the Mustang a few days ago, let’s take a look at what the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird could have been if GM had chosen different designs. The images posted here are all realistic recreations of actual prototypes and clay models GM developed while working on the first generation of the Camaro and Firebird.

It all dates back to the Super Nova Concept from 1964. It wasn’t really a direct answer to the Ford Mustang since both cars appeared around the same time. But the concept clearly shows GM was already thinking about a sporty 4-seat coupe long before the Chevrolet Camaro officially arrived. Ford simply moved much faster and managed to get the Mustang into production years ahead of GM’s effort.

Still, while it became a missed opportunity for GM, the Super Nova design heavily influenced the first-generation Camaro and Firebird. Some of the proportions and overall sporty attitude eventually made their way into the final production cars. Looking back today, it is fascinating to imagine how different the entire pony car segment could have become if GM had approved one of these earlier concepts for production.

This early prototype design shows GM designers were aiming for something even more aggressive and sophisticated than the Super Nova. It’s an incredibly clean shape, with styling that almost resembles some European grand touring coupes from the 1960s. The low roofline, simple surfacing, and balanced proportions give it a very upscale look. It was obviously rejected before production, but it could have become one of the most elegant American sporty cars of its era.

This is an early version of the final design we all know ( and love?) It appears the front end was the main area redesigned before production. The overall body shape remained very close to what eventually became the 1967 Camaro and Firebird, proving GM had already found the right formula fairly early in development.

And of course, just like Ford did with the Mustang, GM also considered a wagon version for a short time. Just like the Mustang wagon prototype, this one only had 2 doors. It was essentially a hatchback trying very hard to preserve the look of the coupe with a traditional trunk instead of adopting a true fastback profile. In my completely unprofessional opinion, it looks rather awkward. The roofline and rear proportions never really work together, and it’s definitely not a design many enthusiasts would regret losing.

The first-generation Chevrolet Camaro ended up being a huge success. Sales ranged from around 221,000 units in 1967 to over 243,000 in 1969, its final production year before the all-new second-generation model arrived for 1970. The Pontiac Firebird also helped GM establish itself as a serious player in the growing pony car segment, even if the company initially arrived later than Ford. Both cars remain icons today and continue to inspire modern muscle car design decades later.

We’ll expore more generations soon.