Rare Camaro History

[Lee Stewart]

IMO . . . GM was still selling 3x2 engines in muscle cars during the 1966 model year: GTO and 442. The Camaro was to debut in Sept. 1966. There was no 396 option. Just the new 350 4bbl. A 3x2 option would offer higher horsepower which the Camaro would need to compete with the new restyled 1967 Mustang's 390/320 HP option.

Then the mandate came where only the Corvette would get 3x2 options and all other GM cars would lose their 3x2 engine options for the 1967 model year. And the SB 3x2 option was cancelled.

It had nothing to do with racing and everything to do with the growing muscle car market.

[William]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

IMO . . . GM was still selling 3x2 engines in muscle cars during the 1966 model year: GTO and 442. The Camaro was to debut in Sept. 1966. There was no 396 option. Just the new 350 4bbl. A 3x2 option would offer higher horsepower which the Camaro would need to compete with the new restyled 1967 Mustang's 390/320 HP option.

Then the mandate came where only the Corvette would get 3x2 options and all other GM cars would lose their 3x2 engine options for the 1967 model year. And the SB 3x2 option was cancelled.

It had nothing to do with racing and everything to do with the growing muscle car market.

Sounds like a plausible explanation; the GTO lost tri-power for the '67 MY also.

One of these 3 x 2 manifolds turned up at a Pomona swap meet in the '80s. Think that one had a '0-' part number. The L70 was intended to be an option for the Camaro SS350. If it had proven viable, it could have been sold OTC as the cross-ram was.

[rlw68]

Originally Posted by William

Sounds like a plausible explanation; the GTO lost tri-power for the '67 MY also.

Yea but no one writes songs about a Hyundai