Chevy Camaros are among the most coveted Chevrolet models. They have an avid following, and for good reason. Enticing looks promise excitement, performance, and fun all at a reasonable entry cost. It is little wonder Camaros have been sought after since their introduction with the 1967 model year. But there are a handful of these potent pony cars that stand apart from their brethren. They have higher performance, are more exclusive, or are imbued with traits few others have. These are the most collectible of Camaros, and usually carry a commensurate price tag. In no particular order:
1969 Chevy Camaro ZL-1
Photo credit: Barrett-Jackson
The 1969 Chevy Camaro ZL-1 had a one-year-only production of just 69 units. The ZL-1 package was ordered through the Central Office Production Order (COPO) system, and was not listed as part of the regular options list. COPO #9560 included an all-aluminum 427 cubic-inch Big Block engine rated at 425 horsepower (many will argue the number was quite a bit higher because it was), stronger axles, disc brakes, cowl induction hood, and your choice of either a Muncie M-22 four-speed “Rockcrusher” (only twelve were ordered with the Muncie) or three-speed Turbo Hydramatic automatic transmission.
The first fifty ZL-1s ordered all went to Fred Gibb Chevrolet in La Harpe, IL, to satisfy homologation requirements for NHRA Super Stock racing. The remaining 19 ZL-1s were distributed amongst other dealers. According to the current Hagerty Price Guide, a 1969 ZL-1 in #1 condition is valued at $712,000.
1970 Chevy Camaro Z/28 LT-1
Photo credit: Barrett-Jackson
Troubles with the transition to the new-generation 1970 Chevy Camaro delayed their launch until February of 1970, prompting some to refer to the model year as the 1970 1/2 Camaro. The new Camaro had a much more European appearance, with very little in the way of exterior adornment, frenched headlights, and round turn signals. RPO Z/28 came equipped with the potent 360-horsepower 350 Small Block LT-1 in its final year of full power before being choked by emissions equipment.
The Z/28 package also included bright accents on the engine, a heavy-duty radiator, power brakes, Positraction rear end, black painted grille, Z/28 emblems on the grille, front fenders, and rear deck, dual exhaust, special suspension, heavy-duty springs, 15×7 wheels, raised white letter tires, rear spoiler, stripes, special instrumentation, and a four-speed or Turbo Hydramatic three-speed transmission. The 1970 Chevy Camaro Z/28 LT-1 is often overlooked, but deserves consideration if for no other reason than its performance: Car and Driver recorded an impressive 5.8 second zero-to-60 time, and a quarter-mile time of 14.2 seconds. Hagerty Price Guide value for a 1970 Chevy Camaro Z/28 LT-1 in #1 condition at $65,000.
1969 Chevy Camaro COPO/Yenko
Photo credit: Mecum Auctions
In 1969, Don Yenko, the owner of Yenko Chevrolet in Canonsburg, PA, took advantage of the Central Office Production Order #9561, to have iron-block 425-horsepower L72 427s installed at the factory. This served as the basis for the Yenko Camaro. Yenko added badging, stripes, and other performance equipment like an 800-CFM Holley carb, high-rise intake, 4.10-geared 12-bolt rear end with Positraction, heavy-duty suspension components, and power disc brakes. Around 200 1969 Yenko Camaros were produced. Hagerty Price Guide Value for #1 condition is $335,000.
1988 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z 1LE
In 1988, the Chevy Camaro IROC-Z could be had with either a Tuned Port Injection 305 cubic-inch V8 rated at 195 horsepower when paired with the four-speed automatic, or 220 ponies with the five-speed manual, or a Tuned Port Injection 230-horsepower 350 cube mill that could only be backed by the four-speed auto. But, much like the COPO cars of the 1960s, if you knew the secret handshake, password, and had the super-duper decoder ring, you could score yourself the illusive 1LE package.
Chevrolet feared the 1LE’s performance capabilities would be excessive for the street, so you had to be able to prove the car was going to be used for either IMSA or SCCA competition. You had to order the IROC-Z package with either the LB9 305 cubic-inch engine or the B2L 350. You had to specify RPO G92, the Performance Rear Axle with 3.42 gears for the manual transmission or the 3.23 gears for the slushbox. RPO G80 Positraction rear differential had to be specified. Then the secret wink, it had to be ordered without A/C to trigger the 1LE build. The 1LE included stiffer springs and struts, heavy-duty disc brakes, heavy-duty spindles and wheel bearings, an aluminum drive shaft, thicker anti-sway bars, and a gas tank that had baffles and dual pick-ups so it wouldn’t fuel starve under hard cornering or braking. Only four were built in 1988, although subsequent years saw much larger production. As so few were built in ’88, and they were used exclusively for competition, there were no pricing guidelines available at the time of writing.
1982 Chevy Camaro Z/28 Indy Pace Car
Photo credit: Barrett-Jackson
In 1982, the Chevy Camaro debuted a completely new body style. Nearly all dimensions were reduced for the third-generation Camaro. It was nearly 500 pounds lighter, and had a seven inch shorter wheelbase, and for the third time in Chevy Camaro history, it was invited to pace the Indianapolis 500. The Pace Car Edition Z/28s were silver and blue with an Indy 500 decal and accent package, sport mirrors, and aluminum wheels with raised white letter Goodyear Eagle GT tires. They were well equipped with a minimum options list that included a blue cloth and silver vinyl interior with a contoured driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, special instrumentation, an AM/FM stereo, and luggage compartment trim.
Replicas could have either of the 305 cubic-inch V8 engines available, although the actual pace cars were built with high-performance 350s. 6,360 Z/28 Pace Cars left the Van Nuys, CA, assembly plant. As third-generation Chevy Camaros have begun to find their stride, it stands to reason that special editions are going to rise in value. Granted, over 6,300 of these were built, but when was the last time you saw one? Unless you are an owner, it has probably been a while. A quick internet check found a few of these in better than decent condition under $25,000.
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Comments
Loved first generation Camaros. After that no excitement.
Possibly the rarest of all Camaros were the very few ’69 Z28s built with optional 4-wheel disc brakes and the cross-ram/ dual-4-barrel carb intake on the 302.
It looks good To me…
I have an 88 Camaro with a 305 TBI with 170 horse power it’s a medium orange with gold trim. It has 74000 miles and it’s 33 years old I like the tbi because it doesn’t have the power of the tuned port injection. I don’t need to have the power just to cruise and go to car shows
While the article was well written ( in grammar) and had some good facts, l felt it couldn’t be more off base!! The copo, yes. The Yenko,,,not copo Yenko are and always will be top of sought after collected Camaros!! The 82 pace car???!!! C’mon man!!! Really!;?? I suppose someone out there may want to add it to their collection just to be doing it. The 70, they’re gaining momentum in the collector world ( I have two 71 Camaros but am not a collector) but will never meet the 1st gen 67-69 desirability!! You completely left out the Z28 302 cars(68-69) I mean these are what everyone wants. You also never mentioned ( I’m not a fan of these) Baldwin Motion cars. Definitely on a collectors list. I could go on but I’ll stop there. P.S. The facts on the 88 Iroc I did not know. Good job!!
ZL1 69 is rated 430HP and yes more then 550 HP in real , 302DZ , 396 L89, Balwin Motion 454 LS7 , the ZL1 since 2016 – today 650HP amazing ,the cherry on top, the 2020-2022 the Yenko SC camaro 1000-1200HP come on GM guys wake up
How about a 67-68 coupe with a 6 and 3 on the tree 1970-81 6 and 3speed floor shift how many are left no one saved them all became clones or pro St . did see a 1978 camero 6/ 3sd rust bucket , There was a z 28 in 2018? Only seen one
2017 Z28 with a 427. Most track-ready Camaro ever made.
The 5th Gen Z/28 was only made in ’14 and ’15 (not ’17). 509 were made in ’14 and 1,292 for ’15.
No 427 in 6 gen … 5 gen yes LS7 505 HP
Thanks for the info On z 28 was 2014 15 not 2017 rare car to find
My first car was a special order new ’67 RS/SS right out of high school. Traded it for a 70 1/2 in Camaro Gold when I cam back from the Army. Then I grew up to a ’72 Monte Carlo SS454. Too bad I don’t have these today. Loved the ’67 and I know where it is, with it’s 2nd owner and my name on the Protect-O-Plate.
Oh, the good old days…cars that were really cars, cheap gas, no federal regulations to choke the life out of the car.
How about a 2010 Indy Pace Car 295 built.
I’M SURPRISED THAT THE ’67 Z/28 DIDNT MAKE THE LIST, ONLY 602 OF THOSE WERE PRODUCED .
What about the 2014-15 Z-28 Camaros???
I have a 1997 z28 30th anniversary edition, only 979 built
You are missing one very important Camaro: The *very first* Camaro to *ever* have a 427 shoehorned into it. It is known as DC1, having been produced by Dana Chevrolet. Before COPO, before Baldwin Motion, or anyone else started dropping 427 crate engines into Cameros, Dana did it first. In fact, the COPO program was initiated so GM could get in on the fun (and profit).
In June of 2015, I saw, and heard, DC1 at the shop of my friend, Robert “Doc” Holiday, in Manheim, PA. Due to his reputation, Doc was tapped to freshen it up after spending 35 years in a barn.
Hot Rod magazine featured DC1 in August of 2015.
What an amazing piece of machinery, and automotive history, with an estimated value @ $2,000,000.
No respectable article on the *most important Camaros of all time* should omit this Grandaddy of all 427 Cameros.
-The LEGO Roboticist
Gosh GM really took a conservative approach to selling these wonderful and rare performance cars (secret handshake etc very good anology).
I bet the average dealership sales guy at the time didn’t have a clue either. Oh well, that’ll keep auction prices for the rare ones through the stratosphere forever. Those lucky few.
I love the ’69 ZL1 and ’70 Z/28 LT1 the best. But hey, I love all Camaros and owned a ’68 327 coupe powerglide as a teen and loved every minute of it.
2017 Z28 is the most track-ready Camaro ever made.
Chevy never made a 2017 Z28. Last one was two years earlier in 2015.
A friend of mine has a 69 Dicky Harold Z/28 427 in green with side stripes and 2000 Dicky Harold SS 427 with 630 N/A hp. Nasty… runs 10.3 in the qtr with Michelin Pilots in slicks, 9.70.
One was dealer sold and one through a specialty company – but they are Camaros…
I had a Camaro SS 396 with automatic transmission 1970….a Brown one with à vinyl top….long time ego…and i loved this car….
1969 Z-10… Only about 500 built, and less than 200 to be of known existence.. I have one…
I never heard of a 2017 Z28. The last production Z28’s were in 2015. Did I miss something?
2013 RS Camaro 6 cylinder top speed 155mph
2014-2015 will go down as one the rarest. Those were the special track ready cars with with the 427 LS7, CC brakes, DSSV dampers, lots of aero uogrades etc…. Regarded as one of the last analog cars in the modern era. 1801 total production between 2 years. 509 in 2014 and the remaining in 2015. Silver Ice Metallic with A/C only a handful were made is probably the rarest color combo on these. These cars are starting to go up in value…. 5-6 years after production. Now is the time to get one while theyre still somewhat affordable with low miles.
1,ST,/2,ND,/3,RD,///,,,YEAR, MECHANIC AND 1,ST,/,2,ND,ND,//3,RD,/YEAR MECHANIC TO, CHEVY, CAMERO /PONTIAC FIRE BIRD,, I, BEEN AT IT FOR, MORE THAN 45,YEARS, HAD A MIX OF, 2,GEN,Z28 AND FORMULA FIRE BIRD’S, HAVE, A3, /GEN, /Z28, 1984,355/11.1, PISTONS AND SPECIAL, HEAD CAM’, DUEL EX, SHORT HEAD ERS,,,…
I bet the 5th Gen Hot Wheels edition will spike up in demand after a couple of years.
These are certainly some of the best Camaro’s. However, I believe you may have missed the best design model; the Generation 4 body style. The fourth Gen SS returning after a 24 year absence in 1996 was a class act to add to the list. I believe the Gen 4 SS run from 1996 to 2002 was both style and performance (LT1/LS1) for the era. My thoughts.
The 1988 1LE give me a break they only built 3 of them and only with the 305 5 speed. The 1990 1LE’s would be a better example for the list. Also the 1997 LT4 SS as only 106 were built instead of the 82 Pace car. I don’t know who does the lists. But they don’t know anything about Camaros sorry. Also not including the 2014-15 Z/28 is criminal.
One more story…. Right out of high school, my 75 Monte Carlo was t boned on the passenger side. No Z/28s in 76 so a local dealer took a black Camaro, painted gold stripes on the front and back, installed chromed side mufflers which I burnt my calves on…and aftermarket wheels. Actually looked good enough that I bought it. Those side mufflers sounded sweet which made up fot the lack of hp …lol maybe 175 hp. Years later had to sell it. All the 1st / 2nd gen guys use to make fun of the lack of hp… what the hell, it was the mid seventies with Nader, lol, my Camaro scared the Corvettes…lol
What about a Baldwin Motion Performance Chevrelet Dealership in Baldwin long Island,NY They built 427 And 454 Camaros Super Cars. They were The ONLY FACTORY GUARANTEED Cars by a Dealership to Run in the 11 Second Quarter Mile OR YOUR MONEY BACK!.That Was Joel Rosens Promise And He Said He Never Had ONE Car EVER Come BACK Too Him Ands That’s a FACT!..CAN’T BEAT THAT..Please Do Your Research and see for Yourself.
As a former owner of a 2002 Camaro Z28… I love all Camaros of every year I think they are special in their own way weither or not a certain number where built or not… I still drive GM vehicles a 2010 Chevy Equinox LTZ V6 and and 2019 Buick Enclave Essence. Long Live GM and the Camaro.
I own a 2015 Z28 it’s a track car not a 1/4 mile track car it’s made for mostly left turns and some right turns as well. It is really fun to drive
They should update it since they wrote it before 2024. The 2024 Collectors Edition Camaros are very rare fast and collectible. Since is the last year for the V8 Camaros. Years from now if they decide to make them again, they will be Electric. so no matter what, these are the last gas Camaros. From the 1335 Panther Collectors Edition built, there is one that is the rarest of them all. The Convertible 1SS Model. 1 of 1, the only Camaro that GM built with those specs.