Thursday 2nd July 2009

Camaro Outsells Mustang

GM takes number one pony car slot away from Ford for the first time in more than 15 years

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Camaro: back on top

The Chevrolet Camaro, the perennial bridesmaid in the battle for sales between it and the Ford Mustang, has outsold the Blue Oval's pony car for the first time since October 1993.

Following the cheering news for Camaro fans that the hot Z28 version could yet become a reality, the fact that Chevrolet sold 9320 Camaros to Ford's 7362 Mustangs seems to confirm the General Motors pony car's return to form.

It's much-needed good news for GM, which is still struggling to complete its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in time for a July 10th deadline.

Mustang is left playing catch-up

The last time a Camaro outsold a Mustang it was an all-new car, while the Mustang was awaiting a heavy redesign. This time, the Camaro is facing a Mustang that has received a major facelift, prompting speculation that the Camaro could outsell its Ford rival over the course of a whole year - something that hasn't happened since 1985.

[fatboy b]

So America hasn't grown out of the retro phase yet then.

[patmahe]

The Camaro is a lovely looking car(not that the stang isn't), I personally wouldn't have either here as costs would be prohibitive but if I lived stateside I'd have one in a heartbeat.

And if pressed to choose I'd have to say it'd be the Camaro I'd go to look at first.

[davidcharles]

..probably becuase in reality, the modern Mustang isn't really that good...

do fancy a Shelby one tho......

[BlueMR2]

They are probably buying up in case GM does go down and you wont be able to get one again.

[robert_raw]

I personally think muscle cars should have stayed in the 70's when they looked really cool, menacing and desirable. Now-a-days i think they just look a little bit crap.

[stuart-b]

robert_raw said:

I personally think muscle cars should have stayed in the 70's when they looked really cool, menacing and desirable. Now-a-days i think they just look a little bit crap.

hmm.

[OnlyMX5ives]

Personally I think both are excellent example of 'retro' designs.

Obviously I prefer the looks of an original 68 Camaro.

[irocfan]

fatboy b said:

So America hasn't grown out of the retro phase yet then.

and when they look this good why should they?

[350zed]

I think Transformers may have something to do with this, those films have made me want one

[AndyBe]

patmahe said:

The Camaro is a lovely looking car(not that the stang isn't), I personally wouldn't have either here as costs would be prohibitive but if I lived stateside I'd have one in a heartbeat.

And if pressed to choose I'd have to say it'd be the Camaro I'd go to look at first.

Depending on how/when it's used of course - but costs can be far from prohibitive.

[B10]

The Camaro does have IRS, maybe this is a factor?

[leon_t]

Isn't the Camaro a 'newer' model, therefore more likely to appeal to those who want to have the latest, at least until they become common like the Mustangs are? If so, of course it'll outsell the Stang for a bit, but that does mean the sales will last at this rate.

[slipstream 1985]

just shows there are more "goodies" (bumblebee) in the world rather than "baddies" (baracade)

btw where was baracade in the second one? he wasnt destroyed.....

[dwilkie]

Barricade crashed between the first two films trying to negotiate a corner and the decepticons hadn't got round to repairing him yet...

[Riggers]

leon_t said:

Isn't the Camaro a 'newer' model, therefore more likely to appeal to those who want to have the latest, at least until they become common like the Mustangs are? If so, of course it'll outsell the Stang for a bit, but that does mean the sales will last at this rate.

Yes and no - The Mustang in the pic is the just-released 2010 model year one, which is a heavily facelifted version of the 2005 car - with changes under the skin too.

But yes, the Camaro is technically a newer car. And I've gotta say that the GM LS3?? V8 in the SS is a way better motor than the Mustang's V8.

[V8-muscle]

Costs? what costs? with both the V8 Mustang and the V8 Camaro quoted at 24 mpg average, (UK gallons), and 100,000 mile major service intervals, yes, you will have interim annual oil changes, (a filter costs £4 and a drop of oil?) - So, what costs? for 315 bhp or 420 bhp and more fun than a BM, Merc, Audi etc etc - and our customers get a 3 year unlimited mileage, parts & labour pan-european warranty - a new American Muscle Car in the UK, it's a no brainer, (imho). Yesterday, I drove home in a Challenger SRT-8 with 420 bhp and today - a Mustang Shelby with 500 bhp, the looks you get, people get out of their cars in the traffic to take photos on their phones! And, for leaving everything else standing at the lights either of these put a smile on my face! and they don't cost stupid money.

[VladD]

OnlyMX5ives said:

Personally I think both are excellent example of 'retro' designs.

Obviously I prefer the looks of an original 68 Camaro.

How does that differ from the 67 Camaro? I had a mate with one. It was black with a black interior and had the registration "NASTY 67". Very cool.

[V8-muscle]

And by the way we have the first of the new 2010 Camaro's and the first of the new 2010 Mustangs here in London.

[zektor]

robert_raw said:

I personally think muscle cars should have stayed in the 70's when they looked really cool, menacing and desirable. Now-a-days i think they just look a little bit crap.

Yeah right...

[LawrenceF]

VladD said:

OnlyMX5ives said:

Personally I think both are excellent example of 'retro' designs.

Obviously I prefer the looks of an original 68 Camaro.

How does that differ from the 67 Camaro? I had a mate with one. It was black with a black interior and had the registration "NASTY 67". Very cool.

Most people would be hard pressed to tell the two apart. Vent windows on a '67, one piece on a '68. Some other bits and bobs but nothing major.