Unrestored Driver: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
The Camaro was Chevrolet’s entrant into the new “pony car” market in 1967. And, the Z/28 would be the designation for the version assigned to compete in the SCCA’s Trans Am racing series. That group limited engine displacement to 305 cubic inches, so the Z/28 had a 302 V8 that was only available in those particular cars. The seller’s example for 1969 is an unrestored original that’s numbers-matching and needs restoring, but it’s not rough in its current state.
Z/28 sales in the Camaro’s first generation would be the best in 1969 – 20,302 units (compared to just 602 in 1967 and 7,199 in 1968 as the car took off with the buying public). Besides having the revered DZ 302 engine, the seller’s ’69 Z has a M-21 Muncie 4-speed manual transmission (close-ratio) and a 12-bolt rear end with 3.55:1 gears for some high-revving performance. The indicated odometer reading is under 30,000 miles – is it real or 130,000 or something else?
What’s left of the Frost Green paint on this Camaro could be original, as would be the black stripes. Rust doesn’t seem to be a big issue, making for a straightforward cosmetic restoration. While not perfect, the interior is passable at a minimum meaning you might want to do that part last. Since we’re told the Camaro runs and drives, you might want to take care of any roadworthiness issues and cruise in it for a while before plowing the big bucks into it.
If you were in the market for a first-gen Z/28 that doesn’t look to be a tough project, this one might be as solid as you would find. But gems like this don’t come cheaply and neither will this one at $60.000 here on craigslist. Make your way to Grover Beach, California, to pick this one up while you can.
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Comments
Not the original steering wheel, I wonder what else isn’t original
Sure looks like the one that came in mine, could have been an option.
I believe that’s the optional “comfort grip” steering wheel.
The paint
Stripes on front nose are wrong. What else isn’t correct.
You’re right.
I would definitely go see it in person to run the numbers and check out thoroughly. The price if body and numbers match are not bad for a Z28 in todays priced world.
Hmm… If I could go back to 1982 in my college years…. My HS car was a 69 Rally Z28 Camaro…. most of the car was original…. The engine was gone prior to my purchase as these cars were driven hard and dragged as they were just nice muscle cars. Mine had the hidden headlights, neoprene bumper, pumped up 350 4 bolt main, original trans, console with gauges with original tach and rear end.
The usual headers, traction bars tied to loud then Jenson speakers with a power booster on the stereo…. :-). I sold it to a GI at a nearby Army base…. It left the drive after paid in full and turned on the country road sideways spinning up the road like a bat out of hell. I always wondered if it was totaled or kept between the fences on the road and passing on to the next person.
Good luck with sale. Hopefully a real car that lived in Cali and possibly no rust car…
Going to electronics school in 1978 several classmates had these. Smart motorheads from Hanover and Lebanon PA. Kept these at home a drove beaters. I always wonder if they kept them. Probably did as they knew what they had back then.
Should have put effort into one of these instead of chasing women.
Sixty grand unrestored? The seller may want to stop taking hits off the crack pipe.
Or…….you may want to do some homework. It’s only original once.
I’m with JWK. In that condition, that’s a ridiculous price.
Hey Jake, I get the “original only once” factor. That’s great, but I don’t need to do homework to see that even if this car is all numbers matching, 60K is too much to purchase it, considering what it would cost to correctly restore it. Unless you do the work yourself I guess, but still wouldn’t give 60K for this car. Feel free to purchase this Z/28 at that price. But you may want to do some homework on restoration costs…
This car NOT all original…….
Steve Weiman is right, there have been significant modifications, headers, removal of air pump, valve covers and intake. More than likely the carb has been changed the distributor also needs to be checked, the above mentioned parts will cost a couple thousand dollars, minimum to find date coded OE parts.
It also looks like is spent a substantial length of time sitting outside, possibly near the coast based on the location of visible rust. Speaking of rust, there is significant rust at the base of the rear window, that area leaks into the trunk and creates a sauna if parked in the sun. The sellers description lacks any real description of the car, only a sales pitch about originality, trying to rope in a buyer that isn’t looking out for their own interests.
Steve R
Ad reads like it was written by artificial intelligence. It basically tells you NOTHING about THIS car. No one genuinely contemplating the purchase of a 69 Z28 needs a history lesson on the model or its “ significance”.
This car isn’t a “deal” At 60K. That money $$ Might be a consideration if this is turnkey perfect mechanically, in spite of the compromised cosmetics. From what you can see and read this car just looks like another old dog dragged out of a garage where it sat for 35 years. I would bet money it still needs to have everything gone through to put this back on the road. And that’s another 5K With free labor, And that’s IF There are no major issues.
Spend another 10k And you can be DRIVING A very nice #3 Example.
Wow was that a term paper ad or what ? Not sure it’s worth the ask with that verbage and lack of underside pictures.
130,000 miles and over priced