Unearthing Automotive History: The Journey of the First Camaro Prototype

Unearthing Automotive History: The Journey of the First Camaro Prototype

Production started on August 7 at the Norwood Plant, OH and it still lasts, with short suspension throughout large part of two thousands. First Camaro ever built features VIN plate number 123377N100001, and it was partly assembled by Fisher Body before finishing works being conducted at the Norwood plant. The project was top secret at the time. It was so secret in fact, that even Fisher Body company didn’t know that they were making history. Before the name The Birth of a Legend: First Ever Camaro Revealed

Discover the iconic first-ever Camaro, VIN N100001, a historic vehicle built at Norwood Plant. A rare look at the hand-crafted prototype with its unique Granada Gold paint.

Explore the ultra-rare, hand-crafted first Camaro, one of the 52 prototypes, and a National Historic Vehicle, with VIN N100001 from Norwood and its straight six engine.

Step into automotive history with the very first Camaro, an ultra-rare historic vehicle code-named Panther from the Norwood Plant, with its straight six engine.

Camaro was chosen, though, new car was supposed to go by the name Panther. GM even produced $100,000 worth of Panther badges before switching to Camaro. Our first Camaro was part of the 49 hand-assembled pilot cars that featured the original 230 ci straight-six engine, 3-speed transmission, Grenada Gold paint, a push-button radio, whitewall tires, de luxe seatbelts, and 110-volt static lighting display used exclusively on sales conventions and auto shows.

First Camaro’s first owner was R.T. Ayers; Chevrolet dealer from Yukon, OK. Just like the GM, R.T. Ayers too kept it as display model for two and a half years before selling it for quite a sum at the time. Successive owners recognized the resale potential of the first Camaro as well, and it changed hands three times before being put in 20-year long-term storage. Last owner before the storage, disassembled the car and used it for drag racing. He did, however, recognize the significance of the first Camaro ever built, and saved all the original parts of the car. Camaro was finally pulled out of the storage in 2009 and sold to the current owner. Interesting fact is that first four owners all bought it for similar amount of around $2,500.

With original parts recovered, first Camaro went through an exhausting 2-year long restoration process. All parts apart from carpets and one seat cover are GM originals. When it was finally completed, Camaro VIN number N100001 went full circle and got reintroduced to the Norwood plant workers who hand-crafted it 50 years ago