There’s an undeniable relationship between the American Dream and a great muscle car.
Rubin Spann Jr. still remembers how his grandfather had several Camaros built from the ground up. This vehicle – which ranged from a 250 cubic inch straight-six to the 396 V8 engine – was Chevrolet’s answer to Ford’s popular Mustang. With a long hood, short deck, unitized body construction with a separate front subframe, and seating for four, the Camaro reintroduced to the American public what it means to own one of the most powerful and technically unique American muscle cars.
In 1966, when General Motors organized a multi-city telephone press conference to announce the unveiling of their response to Ford’s Mustang, the answer to what a Camaro is was “a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.” No doubt, cool is intrinsic to the name “Camaro,” but beyond the aesthetic of the vehicle, Rubin’s appreciation of Chevy’s Camaro extends to its internal design. There’s no reason that looks, and functionality can’t go together. Seldom does the car have issues, but when it does, the repairs are cost-efficient and relatively easy to perform. It truly is a “technologically unique” car, something that just sounds right when speaking about American muscle classics.
Rubin Spann Jr.’s love for GM runs deep. As a professional well acquainted with technology across a number of fields, he is drawn to their ability to stay on the cutting-edge of what’s happening. It’s true, that while Chevy did halt production of the Camaro in 2002, the car came back with a vengeance in 2009 for the 2010 model year. Since then, Chevy reclaimed its spot on top with the Camaro, debuting the fifth generation of the vehicle with around 100 more horsepower than the Mustang GT of that time.
Rubin Spann Jr.’s admiration with the Camaro muscle car is not all too unusual, though, as Chevy cites Camaro fans as the most enthusiastic and invested around. But, whether he is alone in the appreciation or not, he knows the feeling of driving a Camaro down a backroad is one that is seldom matched; freedom mixed with a bit of rebellion, or so those in club Camaro will tell you.
As his appreciation and knowledge of the Camaro, General Motors, and GM technology continue to deepen, be sure to follow along as Rubin Spann Jr. writes about the style and technology of his favorite muscle car on the market – the Mustang-eating Camaro – and the history of its legendary name.