Introduced for the 1967 model year, the Chevrolet Camaro was more than two years late to the emerging pony car market. But that didn’t stop it from becoming a popular rig. With nearly 221,000 units delivered, the 1967 Camaro was outsold by the Ford Mustang by a ratio of more than two to one. However, that figure was high enough for Chevy to keep the Camaro in production. And the rest is history.
Chevrolet tackled the pony car market with a well-rounded competitor. The Camaro was available with more than a handful of engines, 80 factory-installed options, and 40 dealer options. Additionally, it came with three trim packages, most notably the SS and the RS. But 1967 also marked the arrival of the iconic Z28.
The brainchild of Vince Piggins, the Z28 was conceived as a track-ready Camaro. It left the assembly line with a beefed-up suspension, front disc brakes, and a four-speed close-ratio manual. The latter mated to a 302-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) V8 engine. The high-output small-block unit was designed for the Trans-Am racing series. The unit was rated at 290 horsepower.
The Z28 found 7,199 customers in 1968. The following year, sales soared to 20,302 examples, about 8.3% of the total Camaro production. However, the first-year 1967 version is a rare gem. That’s because the Z28 package wasn’t mentioned in Chevrolet’s sales literature in 1967. Unknown to most buyers, the Z28 was ordered in just 602 units.
It’s the kind of classic many of us may never see in the metal. And it’s also the type of rig rarely found in junkyards or barns. But some of them are still hidden from sight. The example you see here was recently brought back into the light after spending more than 40 years in storage. Specifically, this Z28 was last titled in 1977, so it sat for about 46 years. Based on the work it had done, I’m assuming it resurfaced in 2023.
That’s right, this Camaro did not rot away in a barn. It’s a two-owner car that was parked in a garage. It’s not one of those unrestored time capsules, though. The pony car got a makeover inside and out, and its 302 V8 engine was rebuilt. But it’s as authentic as they get.
This Z28 still relies on its numbers-matching engine and transmission combo, and it’s finished in the rather iconic Ermine White with black stripes livery. On the other hand, the Camaro got a rear spoiler and a blacked-out rear fascia panel at some point, and both are still on the car. But it’s just a few mods away from becoming a factory-correct rig.
Located in East Aurora, New York, this Z28 is looking for a new owner to pamper it and drive it to classic car shows. The vehicle comes with a certificate of authenticity from note Camaro expert Jerry MacNeish. It’s also included in the 1967 Z28 registry. Price? Well, Camaro Specialties wants to move it for $125,000. That’s a lot of dough but still not a terrible sticker, given that a handful of Z28s have changed hands for $150,000 to $275,000 in recent years.
