Vehicle Description
1981 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta
The final year for the second generation Camaros saw a couple of
extremes. A flared out, decal laden winged muscle car in the Z28,
and the plain Jane commuter version which flew under the radar.
Chevy also addressed one other segment, one that was more upscale
and created the Berlinetta. Although it's now known that women were
targeted with the Berlinetta, having one in high school was still
cool. Nobody cared about marketing campaigns, market research, or
target demographics. We all just wanted a Camaro!
For consignment, a heavily modified 1981 Camaro Berlinetta lovingly
built, piece by piece, by a longtime Chevy dealership employee. He
only used GM or Summit parts for the car and it comes with a large
binder of invoices and receipts, and he even mixed the unique shade
of purple himself at the dealership. For added depth, he added a
blue tint to the clear coat, and it works!
Note: Due to modifications of the emissions control devices
installed by the manufacturer, please check your local, state, and
federal laws to determine if this vehicle is applicable for use on
public highways in your area
Exterior
Uniformly coated in the deep purple, our Berlinetta has some Z28
design cues including the tri colored emblem on the black grille
and a sculpted, non functional hood scoop. The aggressive styling
of the Z28 is further enhanced by the air grabbing scoop emerging
from a hole in the hood. Headlights and turn signals are dressed
with black bezels and the window frames pick up on the black as
well. Cragar SS wheels are 14-inch up front and 15-inch in the
rear. Combined with rear tires that are 1.5 inches wider and 1.5
inches taller than the fronts, the car is left with a classic raked
stance. Fender vents and bumper covers complete the monochromatic
look, and the paint is in excellent condition.
Interior
Black suede and vinyl door panels are neat and clean, while the
soft cloth of the black front bucket seats look barely used. The
same goes for the 2+2 seating in back and the molded black wall
panels are in great shape. A 4-spoke aftermarket steering wheel
provides extra grip and fronts a custom gauge package on the dash
with white faced AutoMeter ProComp dials relaying all the
information with bright red needles. An AM/FM/CD radio sits in the
center stack just in front of the T-handled Hurst shifter in the
center console. Electric window controls are next, housed on smooth
molded black plastic and the armrest doubles as the lid for a
storage comportment. The low pile black carpet, soft headliner, and
visors are all in very good condition. The trunk is clean and lined
in black carpet where three amplifiers are mounted for the
radio.
Drivetrain
The business end of the car houses a rebuilt 350ci V8 with a Weiand
supercharger and our consignor states it's good for 650 horsepower.
All of those horses drink through a Holley 4-barrel carburetor and
giddy up via a Saginaw 4-speed manual transmission. The engine bay
is show worthy with chrome valve covers, a polished alternator,
chrome radiator top, and headers. The rear drive houses 3.42 gears
in a 10 bolt axle. Power disc brakes slow the front wheels while
power drums help out in the back.
Undercarriage
It's all pretty clean underneath, mostly uniformly black with very
little surface rust to speak of, mostly reserved for the headers.
From those headers, the dual exhaust through glasspack style
mufflers and then exit downfacing behind the rear wheels. We note a
few drops of oil on the purple oil pan and a chrome differential
cover, surely visible by followers with tail high in the air. Coil
springs are found up front and leaf springs in the back.
Drive-Ability
There's nothing introverted about this car and the exhaust
amplifies that fact. Turn the key, and the purple Berlinetta roars
to life, no catalytic converter here to bog things down. Shift into
first and around the test loop we go and we're instantly
transformed to the local pizza joint on a Friday night, 1983. Some
kids had their parent's sedans, but a fortunate few had F-bodies!
At any rate, the car has immense power and impressive acceleration.
Braking, tracking, and comfort all get an A+ from us. Lower grades
are assigned to the power locks not working and the reverse lights
not illuminating.
Big sound, from the engine and the radio are winning attributes of
this car. Throw in deep purple paint, chrome goodies, a
supercharger, and you've got a retro ride that becomes more
desirable each year. Maybe you had one just like it in high school,
or maybe you drove your parent's sedan and always dreamed of one.
This is a well done car waiting to bestow a new purple reign in a
new garage.
1G1AS87J9BN110118
1-USA
G-General Motors
1-Chevrolet
A-Manual Belts
S-Camaro Berlinetta
87-Sport Coupe
J-267ci V8
9-Check Digit
B-1981
N-Norwood OH Assy Plant
110118-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
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person.
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