By Steven Symes 
A bit of a stir has been caused by the revelation that GM has trademarked the Panther name recently. People have a lot of theories about what this might mean. But most prominent at the moment is that it signals the pending return of the Chevy Camaro.
Jay Leno’s law waiving smog requirements for classic cars in California has hit a roadblock.
You might be scratching your head at that. What you might not realize is “Panther” was used as an internal codename for the first-gen Camaro. That’s why people are theorizing it has to do with the muscle car’s return to the market.
Some will recall the 2024 Chevy Camaro Collector’s Edition sported a panther integrated into the front fender script. There was also a panther on the steering wheel’s lower spoke.
As you already know, the Camaro waned in popularity before getting canceled by GM. There’s plenty of debate about whether the nameplate should return and in what form. This news is only flaring up that argument among enthusiast.
Plus, there’s the mystery about how the Panther name could be used in a Camaro revival. Would it be a performance model? Some retro-styled throwback trim? Nobody knows.
What also has people buzzing is the fact the name “Panther” was used by Ford for its full-size body-on-frame sedan platform. That of course underpinned the Crown Victoria, Mercury Marauder, and Lincoln Continental Town Car, among other models.
Automakers register trademarks all the time and they don’t always use them. But they sometimes sit on a name for a long time, then find a more obscure use. A perfect example is Ford maintaining the Model E trademark.
Tesla wanted to use the name for the Model 3 but Ford wouldn’t give it up no matter what. Some people speculated that the Blue Oval was going to release an electric car using that name. Instead, later Ford launched its Model E electric car division. Most people don’t even know the name is being used at all.
We’ll maybe one day see what GM is scheming, if there’s anything behind the trademark at all.
Images via Sotheby’s Motorsport