In the more 10 years that GM Authority has obsessively covered all things General Motors, we’ve seen it all – including some pretty spectacular misspelling of the Chevy Camaro nameplate. While we applaud the creativity, we’re here to hopefully set the record straight for those enthusiasts that may be leaning a bit too hard on the phonetic system of writing. We’re not mad – just trying to help!
First off, we’ll put it as plainly as we can – it’s spelled CAMARO, with two A’s and one O. It’s not spelled “Camero”, or “Kamaro”, or “Camera”, or any other way other than C-A-M-A-R-O. In fact, it’s been that way since the nameplate first launched for the 1967 model year.
Granted, the Camaro name is a bit of a weird one, if you think about it. As the story goes, General Motors VP Ed Rollett and Chevrolet Merchandising Manager Bob Lund settled on the name prior to the model’s debut after finding the phrase in a French-English dictionary as a slang term for friend, or comrade. Chevy was keen on model names that started with the letter C (Corvette, Corvair, Chevelle, etc.), and thus the nameplate was born.
And look, we get it. In the heat of the moment, maybe when discussing horsepower figures, or custom modifications, or GM’s decision to axe the sixth-generation Camaro, a fat-finger event could happen. In fact, it happens to the best of us. That said, the Camaro is more than just a car to a lot of people. It’s a symbol of American performance, a legacy, a slice of GM history with a legion of admirers and diehard fans following it. Best to spell Camaro how it’s meant to be spelled, no? Doing anything else would be like calling your buddy Frank, “Phranque”. Sounds like it could get a bit awkward.
So, stay passionate, stay dedicated, and most importantly, spell it CAMARO. Thanks, and remember subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Camero new- er, Chevy Camaro news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage
Comments
That “I before E except after C”rule is a weird one, too….
. . . and if you don’t believe it – – ask EINSTEIN (who gets it wrong twice in his name).
If people that complained they killed the car really bought on they would know.
‘one’
I guess they need to get it straight before it fades into the sunset.
Maybe that’s like a Cadillac Broham.
Or Pontiac Grand Pricks.
Or Goolie (6000LE).
“I’ve decided to sell my camero”
REALLY! You own it and STILL can’t get the spelling right?
See it all the time. SMH.
Not so bad when someone, that has never owned one, does it. But when you continuously see supposed “automotive writers” do it, you can’t help rolling on the floor laughing. There are plenty of those.
I spell it CORVETTE!
Our personalized license plate is “Kamaro” because “Camaro” was already taken. It fits because my wife and I have first names that begin with ‘K’ and we’ve named all our pets starting with ‘K’. Just made sense to name our other family member following the same tradition.
Wonder what the Koenigsegg folks do??
Had my C6 Grand Sport at a dealer sponsored all Corvette and Camaro show a few years back and the trophies all read “Camero”. Had to laugh.
If they would continue to build it, honestly they could call it whatever the hell they want to…
Back in the mid 70’s I had a well known local artist paint the hood of my 68 Camaro, including a huge stylized “Camaro” across the front. Even though the the name badge was on the car, he managed to spell it “Camero”.
Needless to say that he had to repaint it.
Isn’t Camero Spanish for shrimp?
I whole heartedly agree.Ive seen it time and time again.I usually comment when I see it spelled wrong but some people just don’t know how to spell.I owned a 70 1/2 Z for 29 years and darn well knew how to spell Camaro.Of course I wish I still had it.