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Very first Chevy Camaro found and restored

Restoring an important classic car can lead people down rabbit hole upon rabbit hole of discovered history in a process that's essentially automotive genealogy. Take the recent rejuvenation of the very first Chevrolet Camaro as an example. The owners started with a strong hunch that the vehicle might be something special and spent years researching to figure it all out before the mechanical work even began. Fisher Body kicked off work on the first Camaro on May 17, 1966, and it was delivered to General Motors just a few days later for final assembly. While the model has earned a place as an American performance icon since then, the original was built more to develop the production process and boasted just a 230-cubic-inch (3.8-liter) inline six and 3-speed transmission. After spending its first few months appearing in promotions, a Chevy dealer in Oklahoma got the gold car in December of '66. It was touted on the sales floor there for years, and the first private owner didn't come until 1969. This short documentary goes into astonishingly comprehensive detail about every bit of the first Camaro's history. If you just want to hear the story of the latest owners and their work to get the vehicle restored since 2010, skip about 11 minutes into the video. Or, of course, you could just enjoy the whole thing. News Source: PilotCarRegistry via YouTube, Camaro NewsTip: Chris P. Chevrolet Automotive History Auto Repair Maintenance Coupe Classics Videos history

GMC Envoy could be returning as GM files for 'Envoy' trademark

The GMC Envoy could be on its way back, if a recent GM trademark filing is any indication of the future. To be exact, GM's trademark filing is for the name "Envoy," and is applicable to "motor vehicles, namely, sport utility vehicles, engines therefor and structural parts thereof." A victim of the recession and high gas prices, the original Envoy – related to the Blazer, and more recently the TrailBlazer and similar GM SUVs – was discontinued after the 2009 model year. In today's SUV-happy market of low gas prices, unearthing the somewhat familiar Envoy name makes a certain amount of sense. As soon as gas prices start trending in the other direction, we'll all be saying the opposite, though. What this SUV will take shape as is the big question now. With the Chevrolet Blazer well and truly on its way, there's every reason for a GMC version of Chevy's stylish new crossover sporting the Envoy name. Another, less likely, possibility is a Traverse-sized vehicle to slot between the shorter Acadia (10 inches shorter than the Chevy Traverse) and the body-on-frame Yukon. GM could come out of left field and make the Envoy a Buick too. It fits the bill with the "En" beginning, and Buick undoubtedly has crossovers in the works. We think that's even more unlikely, but it's important to remember that we're still in the speculation phase. Soon we'll drive Chevy's new Blazer, and perhaps have more news then. Check in next week for that. Related video:

2016 Chevrolet Camaro design teased

Chevrolet just can't seem to help itself from continuing to tease the next-gen Camaro. The pony car gets its official debut at a big event on Detroit's Belle Isle on May 16, but the upcoming model's new exhaust, suspension components, and wheels are already well known. With this latest taste, we're finally getting an official glimpse at what the coupe actually looks like. The 2016 Camaro's shape hasn't completely been a secret, and even Chevy showed it testing while covered in camouflage in March. Still, these shots are a great opportunity to check out some undisguised details for the new model. The styling is supposed to be "more athletic," according to Chevy, and the aluminum hood looks especially good with crisp, straight lines forming the design. "It's a more expressive evolution of the Camaro's iconic character – and one that complements its leaner size and sharper reflexes," GM global design boss Ed Welburn said in a statement. These two photos suggest a more angular, futuristic shape for the upcoming pony car. We're looking forward to seeing it all in a couple weeks. Sculpted Exterior Reflects 2016 Camaro's New Athleticism 2015-04-30 DETROIT – For the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, the design team set out to create a leaner, more athletic design that complemented the new driving experience. "The Camaro went to the gym and came out with a lithe, more athletic physique for the sixth generation," said Ed Welburn, vice president, GM Global Design. "It's a more expressive evolution of the Camaro's iconic character – and one that complements its leaner size and sharper reflexes." The exterior design vocabulary is defined by complex shapes, which appear to be form-fitted around the mechanical components. Every shape and surface detail is a skilled, artistic collaboration of hand and digital sculpting. Camaro's new design details draw the eye into the design. For example, the new aluminum hood features powerful, smoothly curved sculpted forms accented with sharp creases. As a result, the hood appears to be shrink-wrapped around the engine. Similarly, the new Camaro retains the broad, dramatic rear fenders that became a defining feature of the award-winning Gen 5 Camaro. The design is updated with greater detailing, including a subtle crease running parallel to the fender edge. The effect makes the new Camaro look even lower and wider despite having a slightly smaller footprint than its predecessor.