Street Muscle’s Cars and Guitars is about the perfect road trip and soundtrack—the melding of music and machines. So, buckle up, drop it into reverse, and floor it back a thousand years to when yacht rock and new wave Chevy pony cars ruled the earth. For episode #23, we go back to 1982 and pair Chevy’s third-gen Camaro with the hit song “You Can Do Magic” by the band America. We’ll also review the tenor of the times that gave us these two icons in the morning light of the eighties.
As always, let’s kick this off with the video of America performing their big hit of the year. Remember, this was at the beginning of the MTV era and many of the former rules of the music industry had been rewritten.
The band America, formerly famous for denim clothing and hippie-esque long hair, ditches all that and performs in a pastel palette of stage clothes and cropped locks. All of this is ultimately superfluous because the song is so good. It’s a synth-laden romp that gets better with every play. From the opening intro to the chorus, it’s one musical hook after another.
America hit the music scene in the early 1970s. Their sound was a clever blend of folksy guitar music and soft rock. The band was manned by Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley, and Dan Peek, who were all scions of U.S. Air Force families based in London. Their unique background and experiences influenced their music, giving it a homegrown, yet international appeal.
The band’s breakthrough came with their self-titled debut album in 1971, which featured the iconic hit “A Horse with No Name.” This song, with its lilting melody and spacey lyrics, quickly climbed the charts and became a defining track of the ’70s. Following this success, America released a string of hits including “Ventura Highway,” “Tin Man,” and “Sister Golden Hair,” each employing their harmonious soft rock vocals to good effect. The Captain & Tennille even covered America’s “Muskrat Love” and turned it into an immensely popular hit.
From L to R: Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek and Dewey Bunnell
Throughout the 1970s, America became synonymous with the laid-back, country rock style of the day. Their music explored themes of desert landscapes, aquatic colorways, and lost love, capturing the imagination of the nation’s music fans. Despite the departure of Dan Peek in 1977, Bunnell and Beckley rock on to this day and carry the band’s legacy forward, adapting to changing musical tastes while staying true to their roots.
America’s influence cut a wide swath through pop culture. They helped tailor the soft rock genre and have inspired countless musicians with their melodic hooks and lyrical tales. Even today, their music remains a staple on classic rock radio and continues to capture new generations of fans.
Stone stock, just waiting for the LS swap
Meanwhile, in gritty Detroit, General Motors was going through some generational pains as well. Legendary head design honcho Bill Mitchell retired in 1977 and Irv Rybicki was anointed styling guru for the mighty General. By 1981, the second-gen Camaro was at the end of its life and was being eclipsed by Japanese imports and the 1979 Fox-body Mustang.
The 1970-81 Camaro was a beauty but was ancient at the dawn of the eighties. Just as the band America cut its hair and added synths to its sound, the Camaro was going to get an equivalent makeover to appeal to a new generation of enthusiasts.
Rare cutaway of the 1982 Camaro showing new front and rear suspension, hatchback, and 2.5L Iron Duke four-cylinder engine. Photo – GM
The 1982 Camaro had many firsts. It would be the first GM pony, (along with the Firebird) to have a hatchback, a Macpherson strut front suspension, a base four-cylinder, and fuel injection.
If there was ever an automotive design that mimicked the striped shirts and red leather pants that rock stars were wearing on MTV back then, the 1982 Camaro was it. Stylist John Cafaro penned the design which has held up remarkably well after 42 years. It had fighter jet-inspired styling, a low-slung cockpit, and razor-sharp detailing.
Chevy plastered ads all over the place touting the new Camaro – Photo- GM
Along with the 90hp Iron Duke four-cylinder, there was a 102hp 2,8L V6 and two 5.0L V8s. A carburated version rated at 145hp and a Misfire Cross Fire Injection version rated at a whopping 165hp. Two transmissions were available. A four-speed manual as well as a three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic 200 slushbox.
The 1982 Indy 500 pace car was a Camaro Z28. It featured a specially prepared all-aluminum small-block V8 for brickyard duty. Photo – GM
There were three models offered in 1982. Sport Coupe, Berlinetta, and the Z28. The Berlinetta had a unique interior and exterior trim and the Z28 came with 16-inch wheels, dummy hood scoops, and specific striping. Four-wheel disc brakes were an option. The new third-gen Camaro was a big hit in 1982 and outsold its arch-rival Mustang with 189, 747 units sold, almost half with V8 engines.
The world was rockin’ and rollin’ as well. The technology race continued with the debut of the Commodore 64 computer the first CD player by Sony, and the debut of he aforementioned MTV. Time Magazine named The Computer, “Person of the Year” in 1982.
Ronald and Nancy Reagan
Other news included the opening of Disney’s Epcot Center, the Tylenol tampering case, the death of John Belushi, and the birth of Prince William. Ronald Reagan had won the 1980 presidential election in a landslide and the U.S. was off to a brave new tomorrow.
Sean Penn as Spicoli in 1982’s Fast Times At Ridgemont High
It was a great year in movies with ET, Fast Times At Ridgemont High, and The Wall all at the box office. Olivia Newton-John had us getting physical and Joan Jett loved rock and roll. Michael Jackson ruled the airwaves with Thriller, which became the best-selling album of all time. Of course, America climbed into the Top Ten in 1982 with “You Can Do Magic.”
The band experienced a resurgence in popularity after “Magic’s” release. The song was written and produced by Russ Ballard, and featured on their album View from the Ground. This track marked a significant comeback for the band, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song tells the story of a skeptic who becomes a believer in the supernatural powers of love after meeting “The One.” The song’s infectious melody and relatable lyrics helped it become a favorite among fans and has become a staple of America’s live performances,
The success of “You Can Do Magic” not only revitalized America’s career but also showcased its ability to adapt to the evolving music scene of the early 1980s. The song’s popularity led to further collaborations with Russ Ballard, including their 1983 album Your Move.
Today, third-gen Camaros are still going strong. They are plentiful, easy to hop up, and are featherweights by today’s standards. The Camaro was discontinued in 2024 and its future today is unclear. Rumors talk of a blasphemous electric SUV model, but when that will happen is anyone’s guess.
A shred of hope lies in the fact that the father of the sixth-gen Camaro, Al Oppenhieser, has been moved over to electric vehicle development at GM, so keep your fingers crossed. An electric Camaro is better than no Camaro, just sayin’.
America still survives as a nostalgia act and is actively touring to this day. The latest album Live from the Hollywood Bowl 1975, was released in September 2024. The album features a live performance from August 3, 1975, at the Hollywood Bowl, backed by a symphony conducted by George Martin. It includes live versions of obligatory tracks like “Ventura Highway,” “Sister Golden Hair,” and “A Horse with No Name,” among others.
We’ll leave this chapter of Cars and Guitars with an early eighties fantasy. The day is bright and beckoning you. Twist the key of your brand-new Camaro Z28 and hear the cross-firings of the small-block V-8. Slip your America cassette into the player, queue up “You Can Do Magic” and let your cares unwind behind you in two long stripes. When you hit the vanishing point, let America take over and do its magic.
The white Z28 photos are courtesy of Bring A Trailer, which is currently up for auction.
