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1970 Chevrolet Camaro
Despite ominous predictions of the collapse of the pony car market, and development delays,
the new Camaro was released with much fanfare and much success late in the 1970 model year.
Most of the credit went to the new styling, which was European-inspired (some would say "
Ferrari inspired") and would prove so popular that it would last until 1982. Still based on the
Nova, the new Camaro was two inches longer and had five inch longer doors, and was now available
only as a coupe (no convertible). It featured a new A-arm front suspension and better noise insultation.
Under the hood, the proposed new 454 blocks never made it and the Camaro SS continued with the 350 and 396
engines. After January 1970, however, the 396 engines no longer displaced 396 cubic inches.
Chevrolet actually enlarged them to 402 cubic inches but the executives decided to name it the 396 to
take advantage of the name recognition and avoid any attention from insurance carriers. The RS option now
included a free standing grill, twin bumperetes, an Endura rubber grill frame, and parking lights between
the headlights and the grill. The SS option included a special black grill, hidden wipers, power brakes,
engine trim, white-letter tires, chrome dual exhausts, and the SS396 also came with black-painted trunk
panels and a special suspension.
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