Classic Chevrolet Camaro Paint Colors & Factory Codes (1967–1973)
Every original factory paint color offered on the classic Chevrolet Camaro (1967–1973), organized by generation. Select a generation to browse paint codes, hex approximations, and rarity notes.
The 1967 Camaro debuted with a palette of sixteen standard exterior colors, a number that seems modest until you consider how deliberately each shade was chosen. Chevrolet's designers understood they were launching a direct response to the Mustang, and the color lineup needed to signal both sophistication and performance potential. Marina Blue and Bolero Red anchored the emotional end of the spectrum, while Ermine White and Tuxedo Black offered the timeless restraint that appealed to buyers who preferred their cars to whisper rather than shout.
Everything changed with the introduction of Special Order colors in 1969. The high-water mark of factory Camaro color variety, 1969 saw the addition of vivid hues like Hugger Orange, Dusk Blue, and Fathom Green as standard catalog options — a direct response to Plymouth's "High-Impact" campaign and Pontiac's bold GTO palette. The Z/28 and SS 396 in Hugger Orange became one of the defining visual images of the muscle car era, an association so strong that it persists in modern Camaro marketing to this day.
For collectors, the first-generation Camaro (1967–1969) represents the most color-sensitive segment of the market. Production numbers for certain color/option combinations were extremely low — some high-performance variants in rare colors were built in single-digit quantities — and documented examples with matching paint codes, trim tags, and broadcast sheets command extraordinary premiums at auction.
Sources:
Camaro Research Group (factory paint & trim reference)
paintref.com
🔧 Restoration Tips: Finding & Matching Your Original Color
- • The cowl tag (also called the trim tag or Fisher Body tag) on the firewall is the primary color reference — it lists the paint code as a two-character sequence (e.g. "72" for Fathom Green).
- • For 1967–1969 Camaros, Camaro Research Group (camarozone.com) maintains comprehensive production records that can confirm original color and options by VIN.
- • Inner door jambs, the underside of the trunk lid, and the engine bay overspray areas are the best places to find untouched original paint for color verification.
- • GM's acrylic lacquer factory finishes have specific repair characteristics — modern basecoat/clearcoat systems require careful blending to avoid visible repaint lines.
- • When restoring a first-generation Camaro, source paint chips from the National Automotive Paint File or an SEMA-recognized paint supplier for maximum color accuracy.