Cranswick on Camaro 1967-1981

Author: Marc Cranswick Published by: Veloce Publishing ISBN: 978-1-787116-68-9

I have several books written by author Marc Cranswick and they are without exception well researched, informative and entertaining to read. His new book on the first two generations of Chevrolet’s Camaro maintains the standard. The Camaro and its Pontiac sibling, the Firebird, were developed in direct competition to Ford’s surprise success, the Mustang. It took a couple of years, starting from scratch, to get the Camaro into the showrooms, but it soon showed it was a viable alternative to Ford’s pony car and a popular choice for ‘bowtie’ fans who wanted a sports car, but whose loyalty to the brand would not consider a ‘blue oval’ product.

Sales success at the time could often be measured by success on the track and this was something that Chevrolet took to heart. Within a short time the Camaro was winning races on both road courses and the quarter mile, which translated into sales and enabled Chevy to further develop the cars, despite the legislative restrictions of the Seventies. Cranswick’s history covers both the showroom and the race track sides of the story. Comprehensively written and copiously illustrated, with contemporary adverts, extracts from brochures, photos of restored examples of the marque from 1967 to 1981 and racing action from years past, it will not disappoint. With particular emphasis on the Z-28, it’s clear from this account why Ford’s control over the pony car market was short-lived. An excellent account!