The Camaro was originally going to be called the Chevrolet Panther. This feline-inspired name was a strong contender before the car ultimately received its iconic designation.
The Journey to "Camaro": From Prototype to Production Name
Before it became the beloved Camaro, this revolutionary vehicle underwent several naming considerations and internal designations:
- Initial Code Name: The very first prototype for the Camaro was internally known by the General Motors (GM) code name XP-836. This was a development designation, not intended for public use.
- The "Panther" Phase: Designers soon gravitated towards a more evocative and marketing-friendly name. They decided on Chevrolet Panther, embracing a "feline name" theme that was popular for powerful cars of that era. This decision was so firm that mockups of Panther emblems were created, featuring a dynamic leaping cat design.
Despite the significant development and design work put into the "Panther" concept, GM eventually chose "Camaro," a name that fit their "C" car naming convention (Corvair, Chevelle, etc.) and was said to derive from a French word meaning "friend" or "comrade" – though famously, GM executives quipped it was "a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs."
| Naming Phase | Description |
|---|---|
| XP-836 | The internal GM code name for the Camaro prototype. |
| Chevrolet Panther | The intended production name, complete with emblem mockups. |
| Chevrolet Camaro | The final name chosen for the production model. |
Why the Change?
While the reference doesn't explicitly state why "Panther" was dropped, the automotive industry often undergoes extensive market research and branding exercises before settling on a final name. The eventual choice of "Camaro" aligned with Chevrolet's established naming conventions and proved to be a highly successful and memorable brand.
