1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Love it or loathe it, the Camaro Z/28 is one of the most popular muscle cars ever produced. For years, these cars got more exposure than the gang from Orange County Choppers, but today it seems theyve fallen on hard times, suffering the cost of that 15 minutes of fame Andy Warhol warned everyone about. Be that as it may, these cars have reached their historical low in terms of pricing. With the exception of the 6.6-liter Trans Am, the Z/28 represents the best Detroit had to offer in the early 1980s, and an excellent entry point, given todays heated muscle car market. Thx to Hemmings! What started as a conversation at a Bingo game night and a realization that an elderly widow has a car that she was hiding from her brothers, our consigner schmoozed his way to seeing the car and eventually purchasing it. Interestingly this is a 1981 car, and our widows husband was a BIG collector of 8 track tapes and players. This option was not advertised as available but still could be had for 1981. Low and behold now less than 50 were found to be produced with this option, and it is unknown how many have survived. This love story, plus a survivor painstaking restored mechanically due to the fact the car had sat for 12 years. Exterior A love story is always a good intro, and our consigner tells the story of his widowed bingo friend who was being hotly pursued by a high school boy who was insistent they date. Well, they did, and he wanted to marry, the carrot for her saying yes was he needed to purchase a Camaro that she pointed to on the lot and said, I want one like that . The rest as they say is history, as he went ahead and special ordered one with various options including the 8-track player! Now we see a wonderful example of Charcoal gray metallic bathing all the surfaces of this car. It has been resprayed due to some minor repairs on the lower bumper portions but is is mostly original car with nicely minded gaps and no rust. Also, a blemish in the drivers door can be seen. All else is looking fine and dandy with the usual scars and fading of time marching on. Nice lines, a chin spoiler, hood scoop, wheel well fairings, rear spoiler and white Z28 graphics on the rockers and Burt Reynolds may just enter stage right. On all 4 corners are the original wheels which were as the consigner states a hot mess were sandblasted, and powder coated and sport their original hub caps. Interior When you purchase this survivor, you will notice a pair of white stitched gloves with orange GM on them. As the story goes these were the gloves the dealer prep guys used when they detailed the car prior top delivery. These guys would leave the gloves in each car special ordered for good luck (It worked!). Inside in contrast to the gray exterior, black vinyl drapes the interior, and it is all original. Wonderfully preserved curved high back buckets with tuck and roll inserts and integrated headrests are the front chairs, and in back nearly perfect condition dual buckets separated by the hump are seen. All floors are flooded with original fade free black carping, which shows a few tears, but they are minor. A center console races forward to the dash and has a glovebox and shifter. Typical GM square and rectangle deign dash is in front, and is has a brushed aluminum for the dash front and surrounding the round instruments. As noted, the 8-track factory radio is on the center, and around the brushed aluminum is a textured black vinyl padded covering. Above floats a nice tight black headliner. Drivetrain Under this hood is all original with the EPA power sucking regulations thwarted with this matching numbers 350 V8. It is topped by a single 4 barrel carburetor and has the factory TH350 3-speed automatic on back. A 10-bolt 3.08 Eaton posi unit has been totally rebuilt. Dual stainless X pipe exhaust and custom headers sans the engine heater stove thanks to the EPA now removed, like new, with Pypes Mufflers for the big exhale. Undercarriage All nicely preserved and solid as they come with slight surface rust on some areas that have suffered road rash. The original shocks were just changed, as well as new brakes for the forty and rear with new fluid throughout. For the brakes power disc braking is upfront, and power drums for the rear. Drive-Ability A quick starter, smoooooooth idle and off to the test track where it performed lovely. All working including ice cold air, and fully functioning accessories even that special order 8-track. I flipped in Flock of Seagulls, and went for a cruise, with my mullet blowing in the cold AC. A wonderful love story and an acquisition that ended with BINGO! our current consigner states that the 3rd owner will be getting a nicely preserved and mechanically restored where needed vehicle, with some original easter eggs included (Gloves, Shocks, Space Saver Spare, Paperwork, Receipts, Sticker, Build Sheet). VIN DECODE 1G1AP87L5BN119157 1-USA G-General Motors 1-Chevrolet A-Manual Belts P-Camaro 87-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe L-350ci V8 4bbl 175hp 5-Check Digit B-1981 N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant 119157-Sequential Unit Number TRIM TAG 02C-3rd Week February Build 19R-Standard Black Vinyl Interior 84U 84L-Charcoal Black Metallic A51-Bucket Seats Z28-Z28 Package