The 1967 Chevy Camaro debuted on September 26th, 1966. The Camaro was the Bow Tie division’s answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. Chevrolet gave the Camaro a more streamlined appearance than the Ford, and used a partial frame to help minimize noise and improve ride quality. The rear portion of the car was a unibody design that helped save money and space.
Many of the Chevy Camaro options and option packages didn’t become available until later in the year. The Camaros with the Z/28 Special Performance Package didn’t start rolling on the line until late December 1966, with cars finally hitting showroom floors in early January 1967. The Z/28 was aimed at the Sports Car Club of America Trans Am Racing series. In order to qualify, the engine could displace no more than 305 cubic inches. Z/28 steward and COPO wizard Vince Piggins wanted to wring as much power as possible out of the Small Block. Instead of building the ultimate 283, or developing an all-new platform, Piggins used a 283 crank in a 327 block. The new engine displaced 302 cubic inches and was rated at 290 horsepower
However, Car and Driver magazine wrote, “The 290-horsepower figure quoted for the Z/28 engine seems ridiculously conservative. It feels at least as strong as the 327, 350-horsepower engine offered in the Corvette.” In Sports Car Graphic magazine, Jerry Titus said, “logical to expect a fully prepared version of the 302 to produce well in excess of 370 honest ponies.”
RPO Z28 was more than just the 302 cube Small Block. Also included in the package were dual deep-tone mufflers, quick-ratio steering, special suspension, 15-inch by 6-inch wheels clad in red stripe tires, 3.73 rear gears, and a heavy-duty radiator. Selecting the Z28 package also required the buyer to add other options such as power brakes with front discs or heavy-duty front disc brakes with metallic rears, and the four-speed close-ratio gearbox. A Positraction diff was recommended.
The second-generation Chevy Camaro introduced a myriad of changes. To mark the beginning of the Camaro’s second generation in 1970, the body had been completely redesigned. The concept of a semi-unitized body carried over, but few other components did. The body was slightly longer and wider than the previous generation, with a more sculpted look aimed at the European market. The convertible body was no longer available, but the new Camaro did feature hideaway windshield wipers, in-glass radio antennas, and side-impact beams in the doors. The second-generation Camaro would be built through the 1981 model year.
The 1979 Chevy Camaro was still available with the Z/28, but the package was more of a grand touring offering than the fire-breathing, competition oriented equipment of the first generation. The Z/28 option netted the buyer a 350 cubic-inch Small Block V8 making 175 emission-strangled horsepower, blacked trim on the grille, headlight and parking light bezels, tail lights, and rear panel, Z/28 specific hood and front fenders, front air dam, sport suspension with special shocks, front and rear sway bars, power brakes, four-speed manual transmission (an automatic trans was available), 15-inch by 7-inch wheels, raised white-letter radial tires, a string-wrapped steering wheel, decals on the front air dam, rear spoiler, wheel wells, rockers, and mirrors.
Our feature 1979 Chevy Camaro Z/28 is finished in Bright Red over a red interior, and is powered by the 350 cubic-inch Small Block V8 making 175 horsepower. Backing the mouse motor is a three-speed automatic transmission. The Camaro is equipped with power brakes, power steering, power windows, factory air conditioning, and a Delco AM/FM stereo. The Camaro presents quite well, but there is no word on if it has been restored.
This handsome Chevy Camaro Z/28 will cross the auction block at the Mecum Auctions Kissimmee, Florida event taking place January 2nd through the 14th.
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Comments
I hope this brings good money! My unrestored 79 4speed 32k mile Z/28 looks at least as good as this one.
How about an article about the 94 Camaro Police Package, with the 6 speed?
4speed was not available in California , wanted a new one for my 16 th birthday but my dad said no , did get to drive a 1981 305 4 speed it was dog in 1985 1980 think was the last yr for 350
I had a new 1978 Z28 in high school.
Itsmeagain, as I recall a 350 could be had in 1981, but required the automatic. 4 speeds were the 305. California may have been more restrictive.
I hope it brings good money. I have an original white 1979 z28 4 speed with 26,000 miles
I had a 79 z with a 350 and a 350 turbo trans God I miss that car t-tops automatic freaking things awesome I loved it so much and it jumped the timing the timing chain jumped a couple teeth when I was driving to work one day and it kept blowing out rear seals I was just tired of working on it should have kept the damn thing
One of rare instances where I actually liked the styled steel wheels more than the optional aluminum rims on this car.
I purchased a New Black 1979 Z/28 it was a head turner. It cost a fraction of a 6 gen Camaro today!
Nice partially restored, but not close to perfect. Car has a repaint, but is missing the semi gloss black on the rocker panels. Missing the lower grill ( obviously ) but it’s also missing the ” bullets” on the turn / parking lights. No front badge on grille. Should have a black out panel on rear license plate area. One more item after a quick look : wrong Z28 badges on wheel centre caps.
79 would not get a Z28 badge on the grille, but the vertical camaro crest emblem in the center. This car should have a smaller Z28 decal over the right top of the grille.
The ‘bullets’ on the turn signals were not on all Camaros. It was part of the style trim group option that also included thicker chrome molding along the top of the doors and a chrome strip along the back edge of the hood near the windshield wipers. Many cars had it, but some did not.
The correct 79 Z28 logo was the lettering font in all the same height. Frequently the incorrect 77-78 grille emblems or wheel centers are added to 79s. These feature the larger “Z” and smaller “28”
79 would not get a Z28 badge on the grille, but the vertical Camaro crest emblem in the center.
Correct. The Camaro shield on the grille was included on all Camaro’s, The Z28, Berlinetta, and Rally Sport had different decals on the header panel.
The ‘bullets’ on the turn signals were not on all Camaros. It was part of the style trim group option that also included thicker chrome molding along the top of the doors and a chrome strip along the back edge of the hood near the windshield wipers.
Not correct. ALL ’79 Z28 Camaros had the bullets on the turn signals, whether they had the Style Trim option or not.
The correct 79 Z28 logo ( decal ) was the lettering font in all the same height.
No argument here; but as you mentioned, it’s often replaced with the earlier Z28 decals / badges that had a larger font for the “Z”. This also true for the wheel caps and interior trim.
So, would the bullets have been standard on only Z28 Camaros in ’79? I owned a 1980 sport coupe and a 1980 Rally Sport. Neither had style trim and neither had the bullets. These cars were only a few years old at the time and surely would not have been altered, but both 1980 and both non-Z28. In other words, non bullet turn signals did exist.
I was taught well by a 2nd gen expert, but may have missed a few oddities…
The incorrect Z28 emblems were partly GMs fault. In the 1980s when parts were still available at dealers, both the wheel centers and the horn button were only available in the 1978 style, but were listed as “1978-79” This was late in the 80s, so it could have been a later consolidation of available parts.
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Now for 2 Camaro expert questions… Do you know the one strange thing that is specific to 1973 Camaro Z28 cars with the Type LT option?
2nd… Do you know what is done incorrectly on nearly every ‘perfectly’ restored 1974 Z28?
Hi Scott,
I’m no expert on 2nd gen Camaros, but I did factory order a 1979 Z28, which I still have. As you mentioned, standard 1978-81 Camaros will have the bullets on the front turn / parking lens if they ordered the Z21 option, but they were standard on the 78-81 Z28 cars. I’d have to check to see if they were standard on the RS models; most definitely standard on the Type LT and later Berlinetta models. Standard lens was GM # 913361, bullet equipped were 913461.
You’ve got me on the the ’73 model, but I believe the LT badges were deleted when ordered with the Z28 option. As for the 1974, you’ll have to clue me in on that!
John
Having your original car is awesome!
The 1973 Z28/Type LT is more peculiar. They actually deleted the Z28 emblems! That’s right, no Z28 stripes or badging was allowed anywhere on the car! The front panel emblem (or grille if RS) was Type LT. No Z28 foil emblem on the spoiler either. The fender emblems say “Camaro 350” like a base or LT. The only cosmetic indicator is the Z28 wheels. Z28 status is verified by the “T” engine code in the VIN.
As you can imagine, very few examples remain correctly intact.
The 1974 Z28 mistake is restoring a car with the optional D88 graphics on the hood and trunk. Almost all restored cars will have the Z28 stripes on the car and also the Z28 fender emblems. Cars ordered with the D88 graphics had the fender emblems deleted. You could get stripes or emblems, but not both. The fender on a D88 car should have nothing on it.
Exceptions to this claiming to be original are likely cars that had D88 decals added by the dealer… either because a customer wanted them, or to make the car more appealing on the lot. These cars would have the decals, but wouldn’t have D88 on the build sheet.
Unlike 73, 1974 Z28 Type LT cars did have both sets of emblems though. I remember them being used in the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show at my local fair in the 70s!
I still have my 1977 1/2 Z28 that I special ordered new in 1977. 44,000 miles, all original with a Warner T-10 4-speed, positraction and no console! Black exterior with red/red orange stripes and a black standard interior. A truly AWESOME car!