{"id":850,"date":"2019-11-29T17:48:38","date_gmt":"2019-11-29T22:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.autobison.com\/?p=850"},"modified":"2019-11-29T17:49:45","modified_gmt":"2019-11-29T22:49:45","slug":"two-gen-ii-chevy-camaros-all-time-favorite-americans-in-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autobison.com\/2019\/11\/two-gen-ii-chevy-camaros-all-time-favorite-americans-in-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Gen-II Chevy Camaros: all-time favorite Americans in Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"
Photos by Shahab and Ashkan Anisi<\/em><\/p>\n When Ford stormed the market with its Mustang, hitting one million sales in only 18 months, it was a huge surprise to GM and Chrysler. Chrysler thought it had the answer in its 1964 Barracuda but sales were never strong, and Chrysler tried again with a brand new Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Challenger in 1970. GM, though, soon took action against the perfect-selling king of the new 2+2 Pony Car class, the Mustang.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n It took GM almost two years to release the new 1967 Camaro from the Chevy branch. By that time the Mustang had gotten more mature; the new Camaro was a project released in a big hurry, but sales figures showed a great potential.<\/p>\n The story got more interesting when the Camaro came to its second generation. What you are about to read is the short term test drive of two Gen\u2013II Chevrolet Camaros, the 1975 base model (Blue) and 1976 LT-Type (Red).<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Second Generation: The Evolution<\/strong><\/p>\n The second-generation Camaro had a higher budget and more time on the design board because the first generation had unexpectedly good sales figures, so it turned into a serious competitor to the Mustang.<\/p>\n The second generation Camaro (1970-1981) had two major facelifts, one in 1974 and another in 1978, and thus is one of the most diverse Camaro generation (because of the severity of the 1974 changes, the 1974-81 series are usually considered one generation on their own). Both of our Camaros here are from the first facelift of the second generation; these are the most common and the cheapest Camaros to be found in Iran.<\/p>\n Exterior: Too Common Yet Exciting<\/strong><\/p>\n Knowing that the 1974-1977 \u201cF-body\u201d Camaros are the most imported and the most common Camaros in Iran makes us look at them as \u00a0less exciting. The exterior dimensions are as 4963 x 1889 x 1247 millimeters, 178 millimeters longer than the 1970-1973.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Unlike the first generation Camaro, the second generation had swoopy design characteristics, with a more spear-shape body rather than the first generation puffy Coke-bottle design. It is up to one\u2019s taste to pick one design method as their favorite, but it\u2019s worth noting how subtly and slowly the swoopy design took over the second generation, because the design method is not much felt in body work of the 1970-1973 Camaros but became clear with that extra 178 millimeter length.<\/p>\n The facelift did a lot more than adding a few centimeters. A total change in the rear end panel changed four rounded Corvette-like tail lights to two small simplistic triangles; from the huge front grill and a flat fascia to the small conservative grill and a more sloped front fascia.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The differences between our two Camaros here are minimal as they are both from the same era of production, but differences come from the different option and trim levels. The LT, a popular trim level in Iran, has minor differences over the base model, so small that even many cannot tell them apart.<\/p>\n The LT comes with a half-vinyl Landau roof with LT logos on the B-pillars, small chrome lower body liners, and two bumper guards front and rear as final touches. Looking closely, you will find a boot lid spoiler on the base model which the LT-Type is lacking.\u00a0It has always been difficult to me to choose one kind as favorite. Both styles are beautiful on their own terms and that is why many Camaro owners either remove or install them. The same goes with the original rear windshield louvers on the red LT-Type which apparently cover the whole window but from the inside looking out is almost invisible.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Both Camaros have been upgraded with sport aluminum rims and tires. The base model uses the GT Wheel 8 punch hole sport rims on wide 295 tires and the LT-Type enjoys the company of the beautiful American Racing aluminum rims of 285 tires which brings on a lot of attention on the streets as they are rather rare and expensive rims in Iran.<\/p>\n Interior: Here Comes the Second\u00a0Gen<\/strong><\/p>\n The interior of the second generation Camaros are almost the same, a great relief since that is one lovely interior. Simple but driver-oriented, the whole cluster panel is angled like half of a sphere toward the driver including tachometer, speedometer, engine temp, oil pressure, clock and alternator voltage meter plus a four spoke steering wheel right in front of the driver. The rest of the dashboard is completed with an all original AM\/FM Radio (in the base model) and a Camaro molded writings in cursive letter on the glove compartment door.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n That is not just it. The Type LT still has some differences with the base model offered inside. The steering wheel is adjustable with the bluish Type LT logo right on the center cap instead of the three colored Camaro flag on the base model. The Type LT logo goes on the gap of the doors\u2019 upholstery where the manual door window roll handles used to be located, because the Type LT has standard powered windows and the roll handles are not there.<\/p>\n The LT uses slightly different front seats seems a bit taller than the base model which are nicknamed in Iran as the Pilot Seats. The base model has also been modified with powered windows and a tachometer gauge by the prior owner.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Camaro is a 2+2 fast back style coupe bigger and more spacious than European rivals, yet the rear seat is limited in space and leg room. If one is under 1.8 meters of height there would not be much problems but anyone over that is better off taking the front seat or taking a walk.<\/p>\n The Mechanicals: Bulletproof Setup<\/strong><\/p>\n The F-Body Camaro uses a monocoque (unibody) body structure assembled on a two-piece chassis. One piece, from the firewall toward the front, supports the engine, transmission, and front double A-arm independent suspension elements; the other part of the chassis is from under the rear seat toward the rear bumper, supporting the rear axle and its solid leaf spring suspension parts.<\/p>\n