On this date in 1966, the Chevrolet Camaro went on sale at Chevy dealerships across the country. No longer did the Mustang corner the market on small, sporty cars: The pony car wars had begun.

Forty-five years later, we're taking a look back at the car that's become an icon. Though it's had ups, downs and even a seven-year hiatus, the Camaro has held a special place in American history. That's why we're bringing you an unvarnished look, from the Yenko cars to the Berlinetta, the ZL1 to the Iron Duke.

Our guide on this journey is GM's resident Camaro historian Scott Settlemire. He's a former Camaro brand manager, known on Camaro forums as the "Fbodfather," whose relationship with the car started when his family's dealership first sold one in 1967.

Settlemire said that the reason the Camaro has endured is that everyone has a unique Camaro memory. Whether yours is of a mint '67 SS 350 like the one shown above, your older brother's IROC-Z or your kid's Bumblebee toy, enjoy these Camaros past -- both fine and forgettable.