Elusive Black Panther

While Ford was fighting off the early successes ofIn 1967, amidst the phenomenal success of the Ford
the Chevrolet Corvair and Chevy II with theirMustang, General Motors pulled off a sensational
introduction of the Mustang in August of 1964, GMintroduction of the Chevrolet Camaro by delivering
began work on a counter-punch experimental projectover 212,000 units to dealer showrooms that year.
named XP-836. The XP-836 project directly targetedKeeping in fashion with the Mustang formula, the
the Ford Mustang mystique and the new youthCamaro was offered with a laundry list of options at
market that emerged from almost nowhere in theboth the factory and dealer level. Camaro customers
eyes of GM marketers. The surprising popularly ofcould custom build their own car with a host of
Ford’s Mustang framed the XP-836options previously only available on
project from the very start and incorporated theChevrolet’s higher-line models.
“Mustang formula” in the earlyDesiring the same custom performance treatments
years of production.being offered by Shelby America for the Mustang,
In the winter of 1965, the XP-836 project turned outCamaro enthusiasts looked to the dealerships in
a proto type car based on some cobbled up Chevyhopes of finding these performance options. Happily,
IIs. While crude, the new Chevrolet was shaping upthe folks at Toronto-based Gorries Chevrolet
to run well along side Ford’s Pony car.Oldsmobile dealership answered the call to incorporate
Now named the “Panther”, thetheir race knowledge into the new Camaro. The
project and the proto-types were written about inresult was the “Black Panther”
great length by the automotive press with all theCamaro.
excitement of a pending rivalry with the Mustang.Already known in racing and rally circles with their
Given a name that the public could latch onto, thework on the Corvette, Gorries’s geared
“Panther” was quickly beingup to modify a limited number of Camaros into Black
promoted as GM’s Mustang-fighter.Panthers, giving the Camaro some real street muscle.
Sometimes called “Chevy’sModifications such as heavy-duty front coils, rear leaf
Mustang” the “Panther”stiffeners, tubular shocks, 10” front disc
evolved conceptually using much of the Mustangbrakes, power assist brakes and steering, 500
marketing formula.magnum wheels and low profile Uniroyal 8.55 X 14
Now branded with the “Panther”tubeless tires were added to the dealer-modified
script and leaping-cat emblems similar to that used bycars. Brake balancing valves and other small tuning
Jaguar, the proto-types advanced with an outwardpoints remarkably improved the handling and the
confidence that Chevrolet’s sleek new catdrivability of the standard production car.
would be chasing down the Mustang. By early 1966,All Gorries Black Panther Camaros were of course
Ralph Nader was doing a hatchet job on the Corvair,painted black, with a painted gold band around the
and GM management sought to tone-down thenose. The Black Panther nameplate was fixed to the
image of their new car in hopes of not drawing theforefront of each fender and on the rear deck lid. A
attention of safety crusaders with the aggressivegold stripe was added along the bodyline above the
“Panther” name.rocker panel area and a Gold pin stripe was added
Seeking a “clammier” image forjust below the upper side bodyline.
the new car, the marketing department looked toThe Panther’s came with a deluxe Gold
their current line of Chevrolet monikers, the Corvair,interior and any of the regular factory options a
Corvette, Chevelle, and Chevy II for inspiration.customer might desire. This first Panther out of the
Desiring another “C” name brand,Gorries shop was equipped with the
merchandising manager Bob Lund and GM Car &“007” James Bond panel as a bit
Truck Group vice-president Ed Rollert poured throughof a joke. Simply enough, a console was added in
French and Spanish dictionaries and came up withplace of the glove box lid between the seats. The
“Camaro”. Meaning,console featured a row of six or eight toggle
“warm friend”, the new nameswitches labeled, Seat Ejector, Machine Guns, Smoke
offered GM an excellent label to compliment theEjectors, etc. What began as a joke later turned out
current Chevrolet line and introduce their new carlater to be a customer demanded option that even
with a much tamer image.the most reserved customers opted for.
Though the “Camaro” name wasGorries offered both the 327 and 427 V-8 engine
replacing the various project names the car had beenoptions for their Panthers. The 327 offering was the
developed under, outside the company some275HP L30 engine, at 10:1 compression and made
controversy over the meaning of the new name was355FT pounds of torque at 3,200 RPM. The optional
causing a potential image problem for the new car. Inblueprinted 427 - 435HP, ZL1 engine with its neck
an unprecedented national conference call with somesnapping 460FT pounds of torque at 4,000 RPM put
200 journalists, GM released the “ warm &some real teeth in the Panthers. At 12:1 compression,
friendly” Camaro name to the public aheadthe ZL1 engine with its large 925 CFM 4-barrel
of the cars introduction to dealer showrooms. Thecarburetor proved to be a formal opponent for the
effort was successful in quashing anyShelby GT-500 Mustangs, which carried the 428
“image killing” interpretations ofbig-block Ford engine, but only developed 355HP in
the new Camaro moniker.1967.