F-Body Breathes its Last Today

After a 46-year run, production of the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird ends August 28, 2002, in Ste. Therese, Quebec. GM will close the plant there permanently, as well.

The official mourning of storied 2+2 F-body cars has begun, salted by the fact that the 1964-born Ford Mustang which inspired the Camaro competitor in September, 1966, continues to sell in six-figure numbers year after year.

Why did Mustang sales hit the 170,000 mark in 2001 while combined Camaro and Firebird sales reached only 66,400?  Throughout the years, GM clung to a race-car-like styling and steeply raked windshields and hoods plus barely comfortable rear “seats” that were hard to enter and exit.  The Mustang could seat four persons more readily, though Camaro and Firebird excelled in the performance department with sizzling 5.7-liter V-8 engines good for up to 325 hp.

In 1979, combined Camaro and Firebird sales reached their all-time record – 494,025 units.  Burt Reynolds’ movies and TV’s Rockford Files showcased Firebirds in that period, when the Camaro Z28 and Pontiac Trans Am were the top-of-the-line stars.  The fourth generation of F-cars arrived in 1993, only to be the marque’s last as sales began to dive.

So now, the F-body will be remembered as a collector’s item, while Ford plans to introduce the new Mustang at January’s Detroit auto show. The first Camaro Z28, from 1969, commands $28,000 to $44,000 in mint condition. Only eight Trans Am convertibles were built in 1969 – and one of those brings $100,000 or more.  Will there be another Camaro and/or Firebird?  GM says don’t rule out use of the names, but the F-body that lasted 46 years is for now consigned to motoring history.