Vehicle Description
If you're of a certain age, say closer to 40 than 30, cars like
this 1983 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 are the quintessential cool-guy
vehicles of your childhood. This is the same market force driving
the values in earlier muscle cars, and the day is probably not far
off when these, too, will be highly sought collectibles. In fact,
many would be argue it's already here, with popularity in 'modern
classics' growing each year. With HUGE performance via a built-up
407 Stroker V8, superior handling thanks to an upgraded suspension,
and those iconic good looks, this is a car that can easily be
enjoyed and/or shown without worries about depreciation. Oh, and
those low 22,763 miles on the odometer are in fact ACTUAL.
In our opinion, this Z/28 is still wearing its original paint and
it certainly shows very well today, which is quite the feat for a
red car that's quickly nearing its 40th birthday (Yikes!). Sure,
it's not perfect and there are signs of touch-ups here and there,
but the curb appeal is still massive. The Z/28 was the
top-of-the-line Camaro in '83, and these were the days when ground
effects and stripes were the height of muscle car fashion. In fact,
the Z/28 had extended and redesigned ground effects, a new hood,
new taillights, and a new rear bumper to accommodate the valances.
The NACA-style hood ducts aren't functional but they sure look
cool, while the taillights were tri-colored to showcase a more
European influence. Contrasting lower body gray on the Z/28
accentuated its long, low profile and separated the bodywork from
the urethane ground effects. Well-preserved originals like this
aren't easy to find given the way they were driven when they were
new, but on this one the details are all correct and the Z/28
badges on the lower parts of the body let everyone know what time
it is. Wax it up and hit the road in this coupe, and watch how many
appreciative glances you get along the way.
The interior is a stock set-up, and just like the exterior, it's
remarkably well-preserved for being more than 37 years old. The
gray upholstery is still in great shape, without any rips, tears,
or other noteworthy damage and the foam underneath is still firm.
Strapping the driver and passenger in place are rather rare Simpson
seatbelt harnesses, and with all the added power under the hood
they'll certainly come in handy. Z/28s usually came loaded from the
factory, and this one includes things like functional R134a A/C
that blows cold, cruise control, power windows and locks, a tilt
wheel, and an upgraded Alpine AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit that handles
the tunes through upgraded speakers inside the cabin and a big
subwoofer under the hatch. So be sure and get that Huey Lewis
playlist fired up on your phone, or maybe Bon Jovi if you want to
fully embrace the '80s Camaro stereotypes. Fortunately, a center
console was standard equipment, unlike the good old bad old days
when even the basics were extra cost, and there's a full array of
sporty Z/28 gauges in the dash and console. The rear seat barely
looks used (although I'm sure there were plenty of propositions in
the '80s), and under the hatch there's a nicely preserved trunk
with original carpets and that aforementioned subwoofer.
Compared to modern cars, the original drivetrains inside these 3rd
generation Camaros are somewhat anemic, but with the professional
upgrades under the long hood of this beauty, there's no way anyone
will be complaining now. In 1996, the inefficient original motor
was swapped in favor of a GM V8 crate engine that's been bored and
stroked 407 cubic inches, producing more than enough horsepower to
easily flick the lightweight coupe in and out of the corners.
Balanced and augmented with ported Brodix aluminum heads, Wiseco
pistons, Oliver forged rods, and ARP bolts that work in concert to
deliver huge power to the wheels, it also has a great lope thanks
to a Crane Hydraulic cam with a custom grind. The original 305
cubic inch V8 was the last hurrah of carburetion before the
widespread adoption of fuel injection across the line, and the
builders stayed true to that era by topping the block with a
Quadrajet 4-barrel carburetor and an open-element air cleaner.
Virtually indestructible, these GM crate engines deliver boastful
torque numbers that move the relatively light Camaro with ease, and
rumble with a killer American V8 sound thanks to a set of long-tube
headers and a Borla exhaust system. Gear swaps are handled by a
reliable 700R4 4-speed automatic that was rebuilt in the late '90s
with the addition of a TCI flexplate, and it's driving an Auburn
Pro 7.5 rear end filled with a set of 3.23 Richmond gears out back,
which make the Z/28 a comfortable high-speed cruiser and
off-the-line scalded dog. More upgrades are found underneath,
including SSM subframe connectors up front, Hotchkis suspension
components in the rear, fat sway bars front and back, and upgraded
Koni shocks at the corners. Unlike its Mustang competition, the
Camaro was already one of the best handling/stopping cars of its
era, and with power 4-wheel disc brakes and a responsive power
steering system, this car takes that advantage even further. Wheels
are beautifully preserved Z/28 5-spoke alloys (borrowed from a 1994
model) wearing 245/50/16 BFGoodrich G-Force Sport blackwall radials
that put a perfect endcap on this slick Camaro.
Clean 3rd generation Camaros are becoming increasingly difficult to
find, which isn't hard to understand. They were often ridden hard
and put up wet, and more than a few died at the hands of
enthusiastic young owners. Finding one with such low miles,
incredible preservation, and butt-kickin' performance upgrades is a
rare sight indeed. Get in, turn the key, and we can almost
guarantee you'll feel like you're 16 years old all over again. Call
today!