if you could go back and redesign the 67/8 .. or that other one,

[BULLITT65]

Hmm, I was thinking they had drag slicks even in the mid 60's. Wasn't big daddy's swamp rat around in the late 50's?
 I agree all the manufacturers used skinny tires because most everybody else used them, and they were main stream, and their " Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" marketing was working without using large wheel tubs, but this may have given any 1 of the big 3 a leg up.

I could see it affecting the trunk space a little, but on the A body cars and full frame vehicles, you could fit like 6 people in the trunk! I think they could sacrificed a some trunk space on those cars at least. A redesign of the rear seat would have made it work without sacrificing hip room. Nix a couple of extra ashtrays in the rear and its paid for...

I think it was do-able back then. I think the design of the cars was great across all the manufactures really. When you see some of the prototypes they were looking at and the other possible names of the cars, things could have turned out a lot worse. I think a possible name for the Camaro was the "Chetah" ...

[cook_dw]

Wide tires were used back then.  They just had to jack the rear of the car up to clear the quarter well.  Another check mark for 7 & 8s for not needing as much jacking..

[69Z28-RS]

Cars were (and are) designed for 'street tires'; think how a large wheelwell would look with a tiny little 'standard tire of the day' in it...  it would not look 'cool'..

Don't you think the ZL1s, COPO's, Z28's etc of the day (in 1969) would have been outfitted (or at least had option for) a much larger tire than an E-70x15, or an F-70x14 if the tires were available from the manufacturer at that time?

I ordered a new '70 RR in Sept/Oct of 1969.   At that time, the largest 'street tire' seen on street cars was an H70-14.  A friend of mine knew I was ordering a Roadrunner and told me something he'd read in an advance car mag .. ie. that F60x15 Polyglas GT were available on the new RR (if you got a Hemi).  I had no idea what a '60 series' tire was at the time.  I found out I could get it without paying the 12% premium for the Hemi engine, as long as I ordered 'hemi suspension' (that option cost me $15 on the order as I recall).  After I got the car between Thanksgiving and Christmas in late 1969, people were amazed at the size/width of the tires!  I even won bets with guys who hadn't seen them or heard of them who bet me 'their tires were wider'..

Besides..  having larger tires/wheels today for our old cars.. gives the customizers and hot rodders something to do...

[1968z28]

why change perfection?  everything chevy made in 67 was perfect, except the impala.  even the pickup is a classic.  camaro, nova, chevelle, corvette, pickup...that group of vehicles will never be beat.

[69Z28-RS]

...  I'm so very glad some of us here are unbiased and open minded.. 

[Mike S]

Wide tires were used back then.  They just had to jack the rear of the car up to clear the quarter well.  Another check mark for 7 & 8s for not needing as much jacking..

Yep....raise that baby. Back in the day it was Gabriel HiJackers....with the air hose fitting drilled under the lower rear valance.

Mike

[cook_dw]

...  I'm so very glad some of us here are unbiased and open minded.. 

Yeah ok hugger orange..   

[Oaklyss]

PERFECT

[BULLITT65]

great pic....

[Oaklyss]

Back then, we WERE trying to improve on the factory. The more you changed, the better! If the M50-14 tires didnt fit, you MADE them fit:

[Hideawaze]

If it was my call, the Camaro would have the same frame and IRS differential as the 63-67 Corvette

[Jon Mello]

I think the styling is great. Probably wouldn't change a thing. Just wish they would have made twice as many each year so there were more to be had out there.

Inside, I wish they offered a seatback that reclined. Some better side support on the seats would have been nice.

I wish the '67s got the staggered shocks and multi-leafs. Better fenderwell clearance was a good one also. That's about it for me.

[KurtS]

Better rust protection on sheetmetal.

[JohnZ]

Hmm, I was thinking they had drag slicks even in the mid 60's. Wasn't big daddy's swamp rat around in the late 50's?

I was referring to PRODUCTION tires (the kind they designed the car around).  ;-0

[69Z28-RS]

Better rust protection on sheetmetal.

Personally, I've been pretty impressed by the degree of rust protection Chevy applied to the sheet metal parts.   The ONLY areas on my car which had any rust at all was under the battery (inner fender and frame rail) apparently where battery acid leaked onto the metal parts...  that isn't so bad for 45 years  IMO..     (Let's wait another 45 years and see how well the 'restored' cars do...   )