By Robert Tate, Award Winning Automotive Historian and Researcher
Images Courtesy of the General Motors Heritage Archives
Published 2.12.2025
The 1967 Chevy Camaro on the assembly line (GM Heritage Archives)
1967 was a good year for domestic automotive production and sales. General Motors had a very successful 1967 with its newest models introduced to the public in the fall of 1966. Building more and better took more people, more plants, new methods and new equipment in 1967.
In addition, a new Chevrolet truck design became very popular among consumers in 1967. However, the biggest news for GM in 1967 was the introduction of the new Chevrolet Camaro two-door hardtop priced at $2,572, along with a great-looking convertible with a sticker price of $2,809. The 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS convertible was also selected as the Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
General Motors' 100 millionth vehicle comes down the line in 1967. (GM Heritage Archives)
In 1967, GM celebrated the assembly of its 100 millionth vehicle in Janesville, Wisconsin. It was a 1967 Chevrolet Caprice Custom Coupe. This was truly a great milestone.
While the Chevrolet line was successful overall in 1967, the Corvair line was not selling well at all. Total production for the Corvair was down to only 27,253 units due in part to author Ralph Nader and his book “Unsafe at Any Speed.”
An ad for the 1967 Chevrolet Corvette (GM Heritage Archives)
The 1967 Corvette Sting Ray featured a new and exciting design that drivers really enjoyed with a base price of $4,353. Chevrolet offered the Caprice Custom, along with the Chevrolet Impala Super Sport that was priced at $3,003.
A 1967 Chevrolet truck (Marcus Auction)
The 1967 Chevrolet trucks featured all new designs. The most popular was the Fleet side Custom Sport Truck.
The 1967 General Motors full line of automobiles (GM Heritage Archives)
The big news for Buick was the announcement of the brand new 430-cubic-inch engine which was standard in all Wildcat, Electra and Riviera models. The Riviera and Electra 225 were still very popular in 1967, along with the LeSabre and the Skylark GS 340 -- which resonated with younger drivers.
The 1967 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado (GM Heritage Archives)
Luxury brand Cadillac has always had a great reputation and history of “Setting the Standard.” In 1967, Cadillac introduced a great-looking Fleetwood Eldorado, which became a strong seller. The model featured one body style, an impressive two-door hardtop. The Eldorado was manufactured on its own separate assembly line at the Clark Avenue plant in Detroit. The 1967 Cadillac models were restyled and given a powerful frontal appearance with a forward-thrusted grille and front fenders. The Cadillac Division produced a total of 200,000 units for 1967, marking a successful sales year.
A 1967 Pontiac GTO sales brochure (GM Heritage Archives)
Pontiac had great sales and impeccable styling with their redesigned 1967 line. The Grand Prix, along with the Catalina and Bonneville, were all great-looking automobiles. Two of the most popular Pontiac models in 1967 were the Firebird and the 360-horsepower GTO., which was priced at $2,935. Both became an instant success with the younger generation and drove sales for the Pontiac division. The GTO and Firebird were also successful on the racetrack boosting visibility for the brand. The 1964-1971 GTO models are still very popular today.
A 1967 Oldsmobile 442 convertible (GM Heritage Archives)
In 1967, Oldsmobile ranked sixth in domestic auto sales with 558,762 units. One of their most popular models was the Olds 4-4-2/Cutlass. The Toronado, which debuted in 1966, was also quite successful. There was a long list of mechanical advances found in Oldsmobile’s offerings for 1967 that drivers really appreciated.
In conclusion, 1967 was a year for the automotive history books for GM.
Bibliography
Dammann, George H. “Seventy Years of Buick.” Crestline Publishing, 1973.
McCall, Walter M.P. “80 Years of Cadillac LaSalle.” Crestline Publishing, 1988.
Dammann, George H. “Sixty Years of Chevrolet.” Crestline Publishing, 1972.
Gunnell, John. “75 Years of Pontiac-Oakland.” Crestline Publishing, 1982.
The Editors of Automobile Quarterly Magazine. “General Motors: The First 75 Years of Transportation Products.”