I wasn't sure where to post this - I'm new to this first generation stuff, but I asked my husband where did the term HUGGER orange come from? He told me to ask the experts - Thats you!

No expert here, but: I believe the 69 Camaro was nick named The Hugger. I saw this either on a Promotional Brochure from GM or a Magazine, not sure anymore.
Hence the Orange cars were Hugger orange.

Anyone else.................

I second that answer. Though I think the camaro got the nickname in 68'. The term 'Hugger' came from the way the camaro's suspension hugged the road.

From the CRG website:

Q: Why was there a Camaro color called "Hugger Orange?"
A: It started for the 1969 model. It was the marketing nickname for the '69 Camaro, appearing in magazine ads and commercials. It was in reference to the cars handling characteristics (it hugs corners... so it's the hugger!), which are needy by today's standards, but for the period it was one of the best handling American cars you could buy. GM advertising used the hugger promotion to offer special color combos with hugger orange paint and an orange and houndstooth interior. Of course the '69 Indy Pace Car had hugger orange stripes.

Hugger is what I do every morning when I greet my '69 in the garage!:)

Thanks. I knew I would get the answer here. :)

It's what I do to my wife for letting me have one.

From the CRG website:

Q: Why was there a Camaro color called "Hugger Orange?"
A: It started for the 1969 model. It was the marketing nickname for the '69 Camaro, appearing in magazine ads and commercials. It was in reference to the cars handling characteristics (it hugs corners... so it's the hugger!), which are needy by today's standards, but for the period it was one of the best handling American cars you could buy. GM advertising used the hugger promotion to offer special color combos with hugger orange paint and an orange and houndstooth interior. Of course the '69 Indy Pace Car had hugger orange stripes.
A addition to your correct answer is that the Corvette was nicknamed the "handler", and in a very cool tv commercial from the day showing the inside of a 69 Corvette absolutely being hammered around a track, engine screaming, hard shifting, tires squeeling, front end raising, while the narrator talks of the handling and speed of the Vette. Near the end of the commercial, the narrator says the only thing that comes close to the handler is the "hugger", and the camera pans back behind the vette showing that the Z28 camaro was on his but the whole time. The Z28's front end raises out of the turn, light smoke out of the back, and the high pitched engine rpm sound. I really wish someone could find this lost classic commercial, it was fantastic!

I second that answer. Though I think the camaro got the nickname in 68'. The term 'Hugger' came from the way the camaro's suspension hugged the road.

I agree that the nickname "Hugger" started before hugger orange was even offered. I have a dealer sales order dated 2-19-68 where the salesman sold a "1968 Hugger Camero" to his customer. I think the Hugger history has to go into the 68 catergory of events, sorry nine guys, the poor middle child needs some attention to ;)

I think I was a Camaro "Hugger" long before it was Politically Correct... ;)

'Group Hug' ?