Generation 1 · F-body · 1967–1969
First Generation
The answer to the Mustang — "a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs."
Chevrolet's answer to the Ford Mustang, developed under the code name “Panther” on GM's new rear-drive F-body (shared with the Pontiac Firebird). It launched September 1966 as a 1967 model after a roughly 24-month crash program.
Body styles were a Sport Coupe (hardtop) and a convertible only. The generation gave the world the Z/28 (built to homologate the car for SCCA Trans-Am), the COPO big-block back-channel that produced the ZL1 and L72 cars, and two Indianapolis 500 pace-car appearances.
Highlights
- Z/28 homologation special debuts (602 built in 1967)
- COPO 9560 ZL1 (69 built) and COPO 9561 L72 (~997 cars per CRG)
- RS hidden-headlight and SS performance packages
- 1967 & 1969 Indy 500 pace cars
- Name-origin controversy: the disputed “French slang” story
Model years
1967 · The one that started it all
GM's answer to the Mustang launches — Z/28, RS, SS, and the first Indy pace car.
1968
Federal side markers, Astro Ventilation, and no vent windows — the mid-generation refresh.
1969 · The icon
COPO ZL1 and L72, the second Indy pace car, and the most collectible first-gen year.
These are the pivotal years with their own record. Every model year of the generation is covered on this page.