BATTLE OF THE STEEDS: CHEVY CAMARO SALES TOP FORD MUSTAND IN 2010

By Suzanne Kane, Family Car Guide - With the 2010 sales numbers now in, it's interesting to note that two longstanding rivals, Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang, are back to racing neck-and-neck for customer bragging rights. Whether you're a Camaro or Mustang aficionado, you've got to appreciate the competitiveness at work here. What such warfare bodes for the consumer is, ultimately, better products.

To the bottom line: Chevy Camaro snagged the sales trophy from Ford Mustang with 2010 final numbers of 81,371 to 73,716. Mustang has held the crown since 1985, according to industry reports. Camaro's 2010 sales numbers thus end FoMoCo Mustang's two-plus decade run. That's a pretty big deal to the companies -- and fans of each car. After all, the Camaro vs Mustang rivalry dates back to the 1960s.

Some of the sales success has to be attributed to the resurrection of the Camaro after a nine-year hiatus. The redesigned Camaro returned to the U.S. market in 2009 as a 2010 model. Pent-up consumer demand, former die-hard Camaro owners, along with a new cadre of would-be buyers most likely accounted for the bulk of Camaro's sales -- maybe that extra 7,600 or so that allowed Camaro to take the lead over Mustang. And the win is even more impressive given that only a Camaro coupe was available in 2010. The 2011 Camaro convertible goes on sale this spring.

In a news release, General Motors said that "Camaro is on track to gain 8 percentage points in the sports car market, from 30 percent in 2009 to an estimated 38 percent in 2010."

One thing is certain. In the never-ending battle for supremacy, Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang will continue to charge ahead. Giving consumers what they want -- stylish, powerful, fuel-efficient, safe, and iconic vehicles will remain the benchmark for these two competitors for years to come.

Be sure to check out Bengt Halvorson's review of the 2011 Ford Mustang in The Car Connection for an inside look at why editors rate Mustang an 8.2 (out of 10). In a review of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro, The Car Connection editors rate Camaro at 7.5 (out of 10). And in Motor Authority, Nelson Ireson talks about the rivalry gaining more intensity, with a convertible out this year for Camaro, a much-improved Mustang, and the 2011 Dodge Challenger -- a third steed with compelling credentials amping up the muscle-car race.