The Chevrolet Camaro is one of the titans of American sports cars. It’s often considered one of the big three, with the others being the Mustang and the Corvette. The Chevy Camaro first hit the market in 1966 for the '67 model year, and the competition with its closest competitor, the Mustang, began there. There have been many special edition Camaros, one notable example being the IROC. However, one of the most famous is the Camaro ZL1. These cars are considered the ultimate versions of the iconic Camaro.
The lore of the Camaro ZL1 dates back to 1969, decades before the car officially became a production vehicle. However, the car became a thing back in the late 1960s thanks to a car dealer named Fred Gibb. He decided to specially order the vehicle using the automaker’s order system. Although Gibb only ordered the 50 cars required to make the car competition legal, there ended up being 69 cars produced, as other sellers were interested in this faster Camaro.
Chevy made the Camaro ZL1 a full-fledged production car in 2012 and released it with significant success. The car became a favorite for gearheads, and it still has a storied reputation. The 2012 Camaro ZL1 is considered to be a special car for many reasons.
The 2012 Camaro ZL1 Delivers Ground-Breaking Performance
The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has been called the fastest daily driver ever as it packs a real punch over the Camaro models that gearheads are accustomed to. The ZL1 is powered by a hefty LSA 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine. According to Chevy, the engine has a compression ratio of 9.1:1. As you can guess from the engine size in the Camaro ZL1, this is an ultra-powerful ride. Its maximum output is 580 horsepower at 6000 rpm, and the torque is 556 lb-ft at 4200 rpm. It should be noted that at the time, this was the second most powerful engine of General Motors cars. However, the most powerful engine was used in the Corvette ZR1.
The 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 is a rear-wheel-drive car with two transmission options. The first option is a Tremec TR6060 6-speed manual. Buyers could also choose a Hydra-Matic 6L90 6-speed automatic. Regarding speed, the manual version of this car can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.0 seconds, while the automatic transmission can do it in 3.9 seconds, according to Chevy. The top speed for this car is 184 miles per hour. Chevy designed this car to perform better than any Camaro before and succeeds in every way.
The Simple Interior Makes The 2012 Camaro ZL1 Special
2012 was still before most cars came with many of the bells and whistles we expect today. However, the interior of the 2012 Camaro ZL1 was pretty advanced for the times. This model is a nice blend of being simple like the classic Camaros and including what people at the time considered modern tech. The car came with Boston Acoustics premium speakers, a USB connection, and AM/FM radio for in-car entertainment. One of the car’s most advanced features was the rearview camera. It would appear in the rearview mirror when the vehicle was in reverse. The car also came with a universal remote transmitter with the option of adding remote start, which was pretty advanced for the time.
Though the ZL1 may not have come stock with many of the gadgets we’re accustomed to today, this car is new enough that the interior could be easily transformed into a more modern cabin. However, most people on the market for a used ZL1 prefer its original form as it feels almost like a classic Camaro.
The 2012 Camaro ZL1 Is Still Quite Valuable
The 2012 Chevy Camaro still fetches a pretty penny, but it’s not super expensive like some competitors. According to cars.com, the car has a decent range of prices, many of which have low mileage. For example, the lowest price for the iconic Camaro ZL1 is $38,000, and the highest is $61,900. However, Kelly Blue Book reports that the fair market value for the car is between $25,667 and $28,808. Such hefty prices reflect a car still well regarded after almost a decade on the market.
Chevrolet is an automaker known for producing some of the most incredible rides ever, and the 2012 Camaro ZL1 is one example of the company’s ingenuity. It also showed car enthusiasts that a vehicle with as long a history as the Camaro could still be improved. The Camaro is still changing, but the 2012 ZL1 will remain one of the best from this lineup of exceptional rides. The ZL1 is a great option for anyone seeking a sports car with enhanced performance from one of the most celebrated American auto brands.