The 1970s were an awful time for American muscle cars, and unlike Ford and Chrysler, GM simply stayed the course, with the second-generation Camaro stretching from 1970 to 1981. Then in 1982 GM introduced a cutting-edge Camaro that was drastically different from the car it replaced. In the interceding decades, the 3rd generation Camaros have earned a reputation as bargain muscle cars, just waiting for an engine swap to wipe away the number “305” from memory.

While the 1982 to 1992 Camaros may not have been performance juggernauts, it was a major sales success for GM. The 3rd generation Camaro also served as the influence for this series of next-gen Camaro design sketches, which were part of a contest held by GM for students at the College of Creative Studies.

The third-generation Camaros were some of the best years GM would have for their muscle car in terms of popularity, and it was also a big step forward in terms of design. Like the Mustang, the Camaro threw off the shackles of the 1970s with a design that was completely distinct from its predecessors. That could be a good direction for the 2017 Camaro as well, which will follow up the combination modern/retro look of the current Camaro.

With the Ford Mustang going for a distinctly futuristic look that borrows heavily from the new corporate design language, GM needs to find a way to distinguish the Camaro in its own right. The third-generation Camaro was smaller, lighter, and was the first to offer a four-cylinder engine option, which could return for the 6th generation of Camaros, albeit with a turbocharger. The more you look at it, the more a next-gen Camaro influenced by the 1980s iteration makes sense. What say you Camaro fans?