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The Chevrolet Camaro exploded onto the muscle car stage with a singular purpose: defeat the Ford Mustang. At one point, a Chevrolet spokesperson even said that the made-up moniker referred to a “small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.” However, in the seemingly hopeless pursuit of pony car dominance, Chevrolet made some properly quick Camaros, like the ZL1. Here are some of the fastest (and newest) Chevrolet Camaros in muscle car history.

  • ZL1
  • SS
  • Z/28

What is faster, a ZL1 or ZL1 1LE?

The supercharged fury of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has kept the model in the horsepower wars conversation for years now. When faced with 760-horsepower Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and 797-horsepower Dodge SRT Hellcat Redeye rivals, the ZL1’s 650 seems, well, precious. However, the ZL1 is no one trick pony; it’s one of the sharpest track-ready coupes on the market. 

The Chevy Camaro ZL1 is a beast; its one of the fastest Chevrolet Camaros of all time.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 | General Motors

So which one is faster: the ZL1 or the track package ZL1 1LE? Well, it depends on the venue. Sure, the 1LE is stickier and lighter, but it shares the 650-horsepower 6.2L V8 engine with the ZL1. Furthermore, Car and Driver managed to coax a 1LE package-equipped ZL1 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds; that makes it one of the fastest Chevrolet Camaros ever. However, you’ll need the bleeding-edge 1LE package to get your Camaro around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in anything close to 7:16. 

Is the ZL1 1LE supercharged?

Like its non-track package sibling, the ZL1 1LE has a 1.7L supercharger, just like the ZL1. Instead, Autotrader says that more unrestricted intake and grille openings allow the 1LE to breathe easier. In fact, the 1LE can gulp through 106 cubic feet more air per minute than the non-track package car. Of course, in addition to the air, the 1LE produces more downforce, has a myriad of suspension upgrades, and rides on wider, stickier tires. 

Is a Chevrolet Camaro SS one of the fastest Camaros ever?

The Chevrolet Camaro 1SS and 2SS pack a serious punch. The 2022 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS with its 455 horsepower and the same number in torque. According to TopSpeed, the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS can hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, making it just as fast as a performance pack-equipped Ford Mustang GT. That is a swift muscle car, if not as sharp as the track weapon ZL1 1LE. 

The Camaro SS, like the ZL1, is one of the fastest Chevrolet Camaros ever.
Chevrolet Camaro SS | General Motors

How much HP does a Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 have?

Chevrolet revived the beloved Camaro Z/28 badge for a 505-horsepower blacktop-beating muscle car with old-school attitude. Better yet, all that power is courtesy of a 7.0L, naturally aspirated V8 engine, and a six-speed manual transmission. It doesn’t get any more muscle car than that. Still, this was a lineage tribute 2015 model that Car and Driver says lapped the Nürburgring faster than a Porsche 911 of the day. 

Should you buy one of the fastest Chevrolet Camaros or a competitor?

Each one of these cars represents some of the fastest Chevrolet Camaros ever. Of course, the ZL1 is a supercharged weapon compared to the naturally aspirated Camaros of recent years. Still, if you like the styling of the newest Camaros, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better track-ready coupe than a 1LE. Scroll down to read more about muscle cars!

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