1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

[alsancle]

I'm posting this one because if it was an 80 and not an 81 and a four speed instead of a auto I will be bidding heavily.   My college car was a 1980 Z28 350/stick.  Mine was brown (which I really liked believe it or not)  but a friends dad owned the same car in this color scheme.   I've only seen one in the last 10 years that matched my criterion and it was already sold.

 

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1981-chevrolet-camaro-24/

 

This 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 is finished in dark blue metallic over silver upholstery and powered by a 350ci V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Equipment includes a cowl-induction hood, Z28 decals and badging, 15″ aluminum wheels, power steering, air conditioning, cruise control, and an aftermarket Panasonic CD stereo. The car was delivered new to David Foster Chevrolet in Davis, Oklahoma, and later spent time in Texas and Louisiana before its recent acquisition by the selling dealer. Maintenance since 2019 is said to have included fluid changes and servicing of the brakes and suspension. This Chevrolet Camaro Z28 is now offered in Ohio with a build sheet, handwritten ownership notes, a Carfax report, and a Louisiana title.

 

[cjp69]

Here is a 4 speed 80.

 

https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/clarcona-1980-chevroletz-2838k-miles4/7379862696.html

 

 

[Brooklyn Beer]

On 9/14/2021 at 4:47 AM, alsancle said:

I'm posting this one because if it was an 80 and not an 81 and a four speed instead of a auto I will be bidding heavily.   My college car was a 1980 Z28 350/stick.  Mine was brown (which I really liked believe it or not)  but a friends dad owned the same car in this color scheme.   I've only seen one in the last 10 years that matched my criterion and it was already sold.

 

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1981-chevrolet-camaro-24/

 

This 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 is finished in dark blue metallic over silver upholstery and powered by a 350ci V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Equipment includes a cowl-induction hood, Z28 decals and badging, 15″ aluminum wheels, power steering, air conditioning, cruise control, and an aftermarket Panasonic CD stereo. The car was delivered new to David Foster Chevrolet in Davis, Oklahoma, and later spent time in Texas and Louisiana before its recent acquisition by the selling dealer. Maintenance since 2019 is said to have included fluid changes and servicing of the brakes and suspension. This Chevrolet Camaro Z28 is now offered in Ohio with a build sheet, handwritten ownership notes, a Carfax report, and a Louisiana title.

 

Mine was citrus orange and a 4 speed in HS.  I bought this one in brown a few years back and sold it 18 months later because I didn't "feel it" not being an orange car. It was dead stock with nothing removed or modified. It was as close as I could find in 30 years of looking but just didn't fit the bill in the end.  It went to Unique Auto in MN where during a "test drive", one of their mechanic's blew out 3rd gear.

Edited September 15, 2021 by Brooklyn Beer (see edit history)

[alsancle]

That was my car!!!!   I probably could settle for that.

[Brooklyn Beer]

It went to Unique Auto. Not one of my best trades but them blowing 3rd gear made it even. It was a 1 owner car when I got it.

[alsancle]

Identical except for the T-Tops.

[JamesR]

The only reason I didn't care much for these cars at one time in my life was because there were 900 gazillion of them running around. They were everywhere.

 

Now that I don't see them so often, I can appreciate what an attractive car they are. My neighbor/friend has a 1980 model Z-28 that he restored about nearly 20 years ago with minor modifications. It was the first car he ever owned, and it turned out beautiful. He did such a nice job on it that Hot Rod magazine did an article about it. The Hot Rod writer told my friend that not many serious Camaro builders did '80 Z-28 projects (at that time), concentrating on sixties and early seventies versions instead. In fact, the uniqueness of his project was one reason HR wrote about it. I think restorations of these great looking cars are common today.

[alsancle]

37 minutes ago, JamesR said:

The only reason I didn't care much for these cars at one time in my life was because there were 900 gazillion of them running around. They were everywhere.

 

Now that I don't see them so often, I can appreciate what an attractive car they are. My neighbor/friend has a 1980 model Z-28 that he restored about nearly 20 years ago with minor modifications. It was the first car he ever owned, and it turned out beautiful. He did such a nice job on it that Hot Rod magazine did an article about it. The Hot Rod writer told my friend that not many serious Camaro builders did '80 Z-28 projects (at that time), concentrating on sixties and early seventies versions instead. In fact, the uniqueness of his project was one reason HR wrote about it. I think restorations of these great looking cars are common today.

 

You nailed it.  I hated them in 1980 because they were EVERYWHERE.   By 1986 when I got mine they were dwindling and by now you see 4 Trans Ams for every Z28.

[Brooklyn Beer]

The scourge of Long Island come the mid 80's was the next gen IROC's.    Every Italian guy over age 25 had one in red.

[TAKerry]

Because Trans Ams  are better !  LOL

[alsancle]

8 minutes ago, TAKerry said:

Because Trans Ams  are better !  LOL

I will agree that a W72 Trans Am is better than a 350 Z28 if we are talking late 70s.

[Steve_Mack_CT]

17 hours ago, Brooklyn Beer said:

The scourge of Long Island come the mid 80's was the next gen IROC's.    Every Italian guy over age 25 had one in red.

It is a line in a song actually.  Being Italian I guess I skipped the IROC going from Camaro/Corvette to Cadillacs, also required.  Where is my Sinatra CD? Oh. Sirious channel now, all good! 😁👍

[Steve_Mack_CT]

18 hours ago, alsancle said:

 

You nailed it.  I hated them in 1980 because they were EVERYWHERE.   By 1986 when I got mine they were dwindling and by now you see 4 Trans Ams for every Z28.

Just the opposite in HS and immediately after.  My loosely knit group of guys had 3 79 - 81 Z cars and only one TA, come to think of it we also had 3 71 - 73 Camaros and one 73 or 74 Formula Firebird.  Seems TA acceptance as a collector car came quicker.

[Ed Luddy]

On 9/15/2021 at 5:28 PM, alsancle said:

That was my car!!!!   I probably could settle for that.

Nice. I like the brown paint.

[TerryB]

I’m Irish and German mix and had a red 1983 Camaro Z-28.  
 

[TAKerry]

2021-09-17_05-20-35 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

I am a firebird guy but loved the 3rd gen camaros. Particularly the '82/'83. I had a '96 Z, red 6 speed manual. That thing would fly.

 

Attached is a pic of my '82 bird I just found about an hour ago. ca. 1984 right after a 'fender bender'

[Ed Luddy]

Al, one thing I have realized over the last 40 years of buying and chasing cars, the late 60's to late 80's is that factory Brown cars were the most looked after as far as GM,Ford or Chrysler cars.

 Seems the color was chose by people who looked after their cars???

Al if you can find a Z28 in original metallic brown, chances are it will be a much better car than the typical red, black, silver, etc. that's the one to buy.

[TAKerry]

Curious observation on colour choice. Do you suppose brown was more of an 'adult' colour as opposed to someone younger wanting a flashy red 'sports car'?

[alsancle]

There are guys that will tell you that a brown car is hard to sell but I really liked the metallic brown on my car.  And I have this brown bomber sitting in my garage that I think looks ok too.

[Ed Luddy]

3 hours ago, TAKerry said:

Curious observation on colour choice. Do you suppose brown was more of an 'adult' colour as opposed to someone younger wanting a flashy red 'sports car'?

Over the years hanging around with used car dealer guys proved this. Especially on the GM Corvette's, Camaro's and Trans Am's.  I thought it was B.S. at first but kept a watch out for the brown ones. They didn't bring more money, sometimes less but almost always were in better shape.

[cjp69]

Here is a nice looking, low mile Z28.

 

https://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/d/columbus-1979-z28-tops-4speed/7392504854.html

 

1979 Z28 t tops 4speed - $16,000 (Columbus)

image 24 of 24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© craigslist - Map data © OpenStreetMap

1979 chevrolet camaro

condition: good
cylinders: 8 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 21700
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: coupe

1979 Z28 Very desirable t tops 4 sp, low mile survivor. Runs and drives great. Looks great under the hood with original belts and hoses. Clean interior Mostly original paint with some touch ups. New exhaust. Very solid Some rust at bottom of fenders and surface rust under car . $16000.00 cash. The price of these cars are rising with a paint job it would be a $25,000-$30000 car. Will be sold with buyers choice of original 5 spoke wheels and original tires or optional aluminum wheels. If intetersted I prefer phone calls.

[alsancle]

That 79 looks like a good deal.  Funny that the 79 brings less money than the 80.   They are identical except for the hood. 

[cjp69]

Super low mile 79 just listed. 

 

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1979-chevrolet-camaro-z-28-19/

 

 

[Ed Luddy]

On 10/12/2021 at 12:08 PM, alsancle said:

That 79 looks like a good deal.  Funny that the 79 brings less money than the 80.   They are identical except for the hood. 

Stripe package also. Grill bars horizontal on 1980.  

[TAKerry]

Dont know much about the Chevys, but they cant be all that different. In 1980 Trans Am went to computer on the motor. Typically a '79 will go for more than '80. Then again the motors were a lot different as well. I would surmise 79 and 80 Z have the same 350.

 

This is a nice looking Z, a couple of issues but seems priced about right.

[Ed Luddy]

5 hours ago, TAKerry said:

Dont know much about the Chevys, but they cant be all that different. In 1980 Trans Am went to computer on the motor. Typically a '79 will go for more than '80. Then again the motors were a lot different as well. I would surmise 79 and 80 Z have the same 350.

 

This is a nice looking Z, a couple of issues but seems priced about right.

Same engine. Same car except for trim pkgs.