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Decades ago the car during development was kept so under wraps that it had a code name: Panther. The vehicle was eventually unveiled to a panting press corps following months of PR tease including puzzling telegrams from General Motors referring to “the Society for the Eradication of Panthers from the Automotive World.” It was the first time in history...




Decades ago the car during development was kept so under wraps that it had a code name: Panther. The vehicle was eventually unveiled to a panting press corps following months of PR tease including puzzling telegrams from General Motors referring to “the Society for the Eradication of Panthers from the Automotive World.” It was the first time in history that 14 cities were connected via telephone lines for a press conference, according to Wikipedia.

View full sizePhoto by James Gaffney/The Times-PicayuneFLIRTING THE ISSUE: Above, sporty front and backseats make the 2012 Camaro 2SS convertible a head-turning, Corvette-lite party girl on the prowl. Below, sculpted hiplines and a chevron-shaped, angular front fascia coupled with high-performance Brembo brakes add to the Camaro's allure as an all-American muscle car.

Such was the hoopla surrounding the introduction of the Camaro.



Unveiled in 1966 (for the 1967 model year) when the Beatles’ “Revolver” ruled the pop charts, “Star Trek” made its debut on television and everyone was racing to movie theaters to see “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, the Chevrolet Camaro likewise became a near overnight cultural sensation. Designed to compete against the Ford Mustang in what would become known as the “ponycar wars,” the automotive press and consumers alike feted the Camaro from the get-go as one of the hottest (and coolest) looking American muscle cars ever to roll off the assembly line.



A star was born.



Times flies. Things change. Following 35 continuous years of production, Camaro ceased production in 2002, much to the chagrin of aficionados. So, it wasn’t too surprising in 2009 when GM decided to once again begin manufacturing the car that one of the country’s preeminent muscle cars was met with thunderous applause.

View full sizePhoto by James Gaffney/The Times-Picayune

The same kind of thunder I heard from the 6.2-liter V-8 engine (the same one that powers the Cadillac CTS-V and Corvette ZR1!) during the week I spent test driving the 2012 Camaro 2SS convertible. Most times I dropped the retractable soft-tonneau top, wrapped a wool scarf around my neck and cranked the heater to buffet myself against the winter chill, and roared through the night against the wind feeling younger than I have in ages. A guttural growl under the hood coupled with the roar of ancient gods emanating from the dual chrome-tipped exhausts reminded me how lucky I am to be an American and not some Euro-dandy smooth operator with slicked-back hair and a vintage Gucci cigarette case.



At 40, the Camaro age-wise has shifted comfortably into mid-life, but it certainly shows no signs of slowing down. Perhaps not so ironic is the fact that a major consumer demographic for the reintroduced ponycar isn’t the twenty- and thirtysomething market that originally flocked to showrooms in droves to buy it back in 1966, but rather middle-aged baby boomers pushing 50 and beyond, who are eager for the chance to slide behind the wheel of a beloved icon from their past.

View full sizePhoto by James Gaffney/The Times-Picayune

Theoretically cheaper (and less messy) than a divorce or endless years of therapy spent screaming at puppets, the Camaro is not so much emblematic of a mid-life crisis as it is, in many ways, a mid-life solution.



Make no mistake, though, this is not your 1960s Camaro.



Rock your world

For starters the new and improved, fifth-generation version of this road-warrior princess will likely rock your world the first time you sprint from 0-to-60 in just under five seconds, its hefty 4,100-pound cur

Tags: Chevrolet, is-featured

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MIDLIFE AT THE OASIS: Camaro at 40 still has power to charm was originally published by New Orleans Auto Reviews: Chevrolet. Read the full story by clicking here.