Chevrolet Wishes Mustang Happy Birthday, Celebrates Five Decades Of Pony Car Competition
11
Sponsored Links
Coca Cola vs. Pepsi, Jay Leno vs. David Letterman, Microsoft vs. Apple, these are the great American rivalries of our time. Sometimes, rivalries between two companies become so bitter, they lose sight of what they were trying to accomplish in the first place. But most rivalries are healthy, forcing both sides to continuously better themselves as well as their product, and in the end, the consumer becomes the real winner. A perfect case in point is another famous American rivalry, Mustang vs. Camaro.
The Mustang and Camaro have been battling it out for pony car supremacy since 1967. Just uttering the words “Mustang, or Camaro?” at a car meet or around enthusiasts of either side can spark an argument. But as bad as the blood between the two groups may be, they have each other to thank for how successful both nameplates are.
“For five decades, the Camaro and the Mustang have been battling it out in every possible setting,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president of GM Global Product Development. “These two cars have been striving to beat each other on the track, on the drag strip and on the streets. That competition is a big part of why both cars are so amazing, and so popular, today.”
Ford rolled out the Mustang 50 years ago this week, creating a whole new segment of transportation, the pony car. Three years later, Chevrolet answered back and introduced the Camaro as a direct competitor to the Mustang. It’s only appropriate then that Chevrolet wishes its most bitter-sweet rival a happy birthday as both cars look forward to another 50 years of healthy competition.
“The new Camaro hit the ground running, and it’s been a battle royale ever since with the bowtie vs. the blue oval,” said Ken Gross, a veteran automotive journalist. “Chevy readily admits its Camaro is constantly getting better, thanks to intense competition from Ford, and I’d agree.”
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a 2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible. Details here.
Sponsored Links
Nice detail GM
Go for more 50 years of passion and road fights¡¡
Regards from Spain
Very Nice Touch Indeed, give Respect, get Respect……. 😉
The picture should be from the rear, as that is the view Mustangs are most accustomed to.
Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but writing the message on the side might mean Chevy sees the Camaro as the Mustang’s equal. Not ahead, not behind, just side by side.
Only if the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon could live on for just a couple of years longer and Holden could wish the Falcon a happy 60th birthday with a candle on top of the HSV Gen-F GTS, Australia’s most powerful performance car.
This is true of them being equals.
The fact is if one had died the other may not have been left around. They need each other to survive and to get what they need to be better. Competition breeds success.
Scott,
The Camaro DID die in 2002. It was resurrected recently, but the Mustang did quite well in the Camaro’s absence. Ford made it pseudo retro and more powerful. In fact there were much more improvements to it than during the high competition years of the 80s and 90s when the Mustang was a true gutless wonder that looked like an Escort, while the Camaro had a Corvette engine, a 6 speed, and a Clint Eastwood squint.
So the theory those two needed each other to become better doesn’t hold water. Camaro > Mustang
Sam, the biggest rivalry was the IBM PC versus Apples. Microsoft came in later, and its new rival is Linux. You also missed VHS vs Beta, and Boeing vs McDonnell-Douglas (which Boeing absorbed).
I have driven both the Camaro (1967 RS) and the Mustang (1980) , and of the two the Mustang was the easiest to drive and maintain. I haven’t driven any of the newer models, so I cannot add more to the comparison, but as a GM fan I will favor the Camaro.
Ironically, the most culturally significant rivalry in Australia would probably be Holden vs Ford Australia lol. Back in the day, you’re family was either Red or Blue. Except for a few who went out and bought the (Australian) Chrysler Valiant Charger.
You stay classy, Chevrolet. From one American icon to another, what a great way to celebrate the Mustang’s achievements. Very well done.
YEA GM HB TO MUSTANG 50 YEARS , & BY GM PUTTING OUT SEVERAL MORE RECALLED CARS & TRUCKS WITH EVEN MORE RECALLS, BUT HEY THATS HUSH HUSH, NOT FOR MAYBE 6 — 16 MONTHS AWAY YET !!! WINK , WINK , WINK….