Are you wondering about the Chevy Camaro in quest of knowing whether it falls in the category of sports or muscle cars? Well, the answer is a bit trickier than you have otherwise assumed, according to our research. It is the case since Chevy Camaro has different versions. There are significant differences not only among different generations but also within generations. The differences in terms of its specifications correspondingly shift the categorization of Chevy Camaro.
The 1967–1969 Chevy Camaro incorporates I6, small-block V8, and big-block V8 engines. Thus it can take any form, namely sports, pony, or muscle, depending on the engine laid down into it. However, 1970–1981 is a sports or pony car since it carries I6 and small-block V8 engines. The 1982–1992 Chevy Camaro are also sports and pony cars with an I4, V6, and small-block V8 engines. Meanwhile, the fourth generation (1993–2002) and fifth generation (2010–2015) are pony cars with V6 and small-block V8 engines. Finally, the six-generation (2016–present) are sports and pony cars with an I4, V6, and small-block V8 engine.
Nevertheless, it is essential to confess here that the above description does not explain the accurate picture. It only gives you a reductionist overview to simplify the matter. There is much more to know about sports, pony, and muscle cars. The devil resides in the details, as the saying goes. Thus, we will try to judge different versions of the Chevy Camaro in the context of its embodiment of different engine types, the design, the drive system, and the weight. So, let’s jump right into them without further ado.
Engine
One thing that distinguishes a sports car from a muscle car is the engine type that goes into it. As a general guideline, muscle cars usually incorporate a powerful big-block V8 engine. For the record, this engine type weighs far higher than other engine types. Sports cars, on the contrary, possess a range of different engine types. Typically, the engine of a sports car is smaller, such as Inline-4, and Inline-6, because these weigh lesser than big-block V8. Keep in mind here that a lightweight engine helps provide better handling.
It is critical to mention that we do not consider all muscle cars the same, although a muscle car often has a big-block V8 engine. When we talk about the engine, we also come across V6 and small-block V8 engines. The cars incorporated these two engine types are referred to as pony cars.
We have highlighted various engine types Chevy Camaro has used throughout its evolution:
- 1967–1969: 3.8 I6, 4.1 I6, 4.6 V8, 4.9 V8, 5.0 V8, 5.4 V8, 5.7 V8, 6.5 V8, 7.0 V8
- 1970–1981: 3.8 I6, 4.1 I6, 5.0 V8, 5.7 V8, 6.5 V8
- 1982–1992: 2.5 I4, 2.8 V6, 3.1 V6, 5.0 V8, 5.7 V8
- 1993–2002: 3.4 V6, 3.8 V6, 5.7 V8
- 2010–2015: 3.6 V6, 5.3 V8, 6.2 V8, 7.0 V8
- 2016–Present: 2.0 I4, 3.6 V6, 6.2 V8
You will notice that it has drawn a wide range of engines. It includes big-block V8, small-block V8, V6, I4, and I6. The cars incorporated other than the big-block V8 engine are certainly not muscle cars. However, there are only two instances of a big-block V8 engine included in the Chevy Camaro. Those also came along exclusively with the first generation of 1967–1969. The last two versions of it, precisely 6.5 and 7.0, had arrived on the market with a big-block V8 engine.
Apart from big-block V8 engines, the Chevy Camaro also possesses many small-block V8 engines extending between and within different generations. In the same manner, the car also contains I4 and I6 engines. Do you remember that we call a car with these two engines a sports car?
Design
One of the crucial features to identify a car between sports and muscle is its design. To a large extent, the classic muscle cars come along with two doors. It also carries big grills on the front of the car to help ensure maximum airflow in the pursuit to cool the engine.
Surprisingly, sports cars also contain two doors but with one difference. The design focuses on aerodynamics and handling. As a result, the car appears fast and sits low to the ground to offer streamlined handling in corners.
When we see different generations of Chevy Camaro, we primarily come across the attributes matching muscle cars. It includes big tires, big grills, and two doors. Despite that, we cannot assume all cars belonging to Chevy Camaro as muscle cars. It is the case since the engine type plays an essential role in determining a car as either sports or muscle, as mentioned in the previous section. So, a car with a big-block V8 engine is indeed a muscle car. However, I4 and I6 engines demonstrate cars as sports cars, while V6 and small-block V8 engines indicate cars as pony cars.
Also read: Is The Ford Mustang A Sports Or Muscle Car?
Weight
Along with the design, another factor that distinguishes between sports and muscle cars is weight. It is a common understanding that a car that weighs around 3,000 pounds is a sports car. Its lightweight paves the way for better handling.
On the other hand, muscle and pony cars usually weigh 4,000 pounds and above. They are inherently heavier for straight-line speed.
Hence, let’s go through the weights of different generations of the car. The curb weight of the first generation of Chevy Camaro is usually between 3,400-3,600 pounds. In comparison, the second generation is around 3,309 pounds. The third generation stands between 3,086 – 3,362 pounds and the fourth generation between 2,954 – 3,209 pounds. Besides, the weight of the fifth generation is around 3,747 pounds. Lastly, the sixth generation stands between 3,340 – 3,761 pounds.
Interestingly, the weights of different generations stand somewhere between 3,000 – 3,700 pounds. According to the criteria, all the cars that belong to Chevy Camaro should be considered sports, although it is not the case. Then again, considering the type of engine and other factors will indicate better in such a context to identify the type of a car.
Also Read: Is The Dodge Challenger A Sports Or Muscle Car?
Drive System
Among other things, the drive system is an essential feature to identify the type of car. Generally, the cars that have rear-wheel drive are muscle cars. On the flip side, sports cars have rear-wheel as well as front-wheel drive. Other than these two, it can also have an all-wheel drive.
Looking at Chevy Camaro, every generation contains a rear-wheel-drive option. Nonetheless, a car that incorporates a big-block V8 engine is essentially a muscle car. A V8 engine with a small block is a pony car. However, a car with I4 or I6 engine is more probably a sports car.
Does The Chevy Camaro Fall In The Category Of Sports Car For Insurance?
For insurance purposes, it is vital to consider whether a car needed to insure is a sports car or not. It is because sports cars are some of the most expensive cars to insure. There are various reasons for it being expensive.
One of the reasons is the increased horsepower that makes it faster. Understandably, drivers with faster cars are more prone to speed, which ramps up the probability of a car accident. Moreover, sports cars are often more expensive to repair, and the insurance company covers this cost.
Nevertheless, the Chevy Camaro is considered a sports car when it comes to insurance. Insurance costs for Chevy Camaro are linked with the vehicle value. The more recent models, especially from 2018 onward, bear higher insurance costs than older vehicles.
On average, insuring a Chevy Camaro costs $2,294 on an annual basis. In the interim, Progressive auto insurance company turns out the cheapest insurer that charges $1,875 per year.
It is, however, vital to call attention to that the determination of eventual insurance cost is not that straightforward. On the whole, several factors ultimately decide the insurance cost of a car. It spans from the model year to trim levels to driver age.
References
- Autoevolution
- Wikipedia: Overview of Chevy Camaro
- Wikipedia: First generation, separate page
- Wikipedia: Second generation, separate page
- Wikipedia: Third generation, separate page
- Wikipedia: Fourth generation, separate page
- Wikipedia: Fifth generation, separate page
- Wikipedia: Sixth generation, separate page
- Motortrend
- Valuepenguin
- carinsurancecomparison
- caranddriver
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
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