In the late 1990s, you had a lot of choices from General Motors,
but the biggest bang for the buck might have been the Camaro Z/28.
With LT1 power from the Corvette, a host of upgrades from
aftermarket tuner SLP, and a wicked look, they were formidable.
This 1997 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 has a very stock LT1, just 63,852
original miles, and the same fantastic look that has aged a lot
better than many of its contemporaries.
A Camaro is always going to get noticed, but this dark green F-body
is a bit more subtle than most and perhaps that explains the low
mileage and lack of modifications; it was owned by a grown-up. No
tall wing, no stripes, not even a tint job on the windows, just
that clean Camaro shape that really worked well. For the most part,
that's factory paint, which will give you an indication of just how
well-maintained this car really is, because it still looks decent
despite being 20 years old. The nose was repainted but the rest is
original, so it's not perfect, but you won't mind being seen in
this one. The composite body panels are in excellent shape, and the
quarters (which are the only steel body parts) aren't dinged or
banged up, so someone always treated this Camaro as something
special. The black Z/28 emblems are subtle, if such a car can be
subtle, and all the lenses and plastic parts are in good order.
The leather-lined interior is remarkably well-preserved and far
more luxurious than you'd expect in a $10,000 Camaro. The seats,
carpets, door panels, and other soft parts show far less wear and
age than you'd expect, although there's a crack in the dash, and it
appears that everything is working properly, a tribute to the
Camaro's durability. The seats are bolstered well enough to hold
you in place during spirited driving and the low-slung driving
position still offers great ergonomics. The gauges are big, bright,
and easy to read and the shifter for the 700R4 4-speed automatic
transmission is right there at your fingertips. Power seats,
windows, locks, and mirrors, A/C, cruise control, and a powerful
AM/FM/CD stereo make this a car you can still drive every day and
special SS badges and floor mats remind you this isn't an average
F-body. T-Tops make it a lot more fun in the summer and the hatch
area offers a surprising amount of storage space for your gear.
The 350 cubic inch LT1 V8 under the hood was one of GM's better
ideas, powerful, smooth, and utterly indestructible. There's no
trace of fussiness, thanks to OEM electronics, and the ultra-clean
engine bay strongly reinforces the notion that this car has been
properly maintained. There's plenty of horsepower on tap, enough to
make some of today's performance cars look over their shoulders,
and the engine bay is still full of OEM parts, not aftermarket
hot-rod "upgrades." The 4-speed automatic transmission shifts
beautifully and the factory suspension is still plenty competent,
especially with big disc brakes at all four corners. Handsome
16-inch chrome wheels were optional and add just a bit of flash to
the otherwise low-key Camaro, and they carry 245/50/16 Goodyear
Eagle radials, just as they did in 1997.
Nicely preserved and ready to enjoy, this is a car that could be
anything from a daily driver to the foundation of an awesome build.
Call today!
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