Jay Leno Drives 1969 Chevy Camaro Z/28 Rally Sport: Video

Jay Leno recently took a spin in a 1969 Chevy Camaro Z/28 Rally Sport with quite a story in its past. Check out the full video below.

Author Glenn Stearns owns it. He originally got it when he was 16 years old. He tells Jay Leno that he got so many tickets in the Camaro that the state of Maryland revoked his license. Since he got in so much trouble with the car, his girlfriend at the time convinced him to sell it and replace it with a Volkswagen Rabbit, to Leno’s chagrin.

Having regretted selling the Camaro, he began the search to get his car back starting in 1984. After decades of coming up short, he joined retired NFL quarterback John Elway at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 2019, where Elway was a guest auctioneer. That’s when Stearns happened to be reunited with his old Chevy Camaro Z/28 Rally Sport and bought it back.

Stearns tells Leno he sold the Camaro for $2,500 in 1980 and paid “60 times” what he sold it for when he bought it at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 2019. That would put the purchase price at around $150,000. However, he seems so excited to have the car back that he doesn’t mind paying for the appreciation in value.

The car itself has been beautifully restored. The whole car, including the engine bay, appears in its original condition with no modifications. Under the hood lies a 4.9L V8 mated to a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission. It was originally rated at 290 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque. Other upgrades that came with the 1969 Camaro’s Z/28 trim include power front disc brakes, a 12-bolt rear axle, a heavy-duty suspension system, and an appearance package that includes “skunk” stripes and 15-inch wheels.

“It just feels so raw… so elemental,” Jay Leno comments as he takes the Chevy Camaro for a spin. He also notes that although 290 horsepower isn’t a lot by today’s standards, the original Z/28 is so light that the power is enough to still make it feel fast. “It’s a great car with a great story,” Leno concludes.