Vehicle Description
The second-generation Camaros have finally moved beyond the mullet
and are bona-fide collectors' items today. This end-of-the-line
1981 Camaro Z/28 reminds us why these cars are so cool: great
looks, great colors, great performance, and a great price. For
entry-level muscle that gets respect, this Z is a slam-dunk.
Even after 11 years, the Z/28 was still one of the most formidable
machines you could buy, and while this one looks straight out of
the '80s, there's more to than meets the eye. The car was repainted
about four years ago using the original bright white and blue color
combination, as well as a new set of Z/28 decals that are just as
cool as you remember. Sure, it's a little flashy, but nothing like
the brown or yellow versions, never mind the Firebird from
corporate cousin Pontiac and its gold trim. The bodywork underneath
is in very good shape with panel fit that is typical of the era, so
no demerits there. A center-mounted "power dome" hood is a nice
update on the traditional cowl-induction setup and it's treated to
its own set of blue and black graphics to really make it stand out.
The urethane bumper with chin spoiler, body-colored grilles, and
ducktail spoiler out back all add to the car's aggressive look. The
original taillights are showing some age, but they are the only
parts on the exterior of this car that appear to be 35 years old.
It's that nice.
In a white car, the dark blue interior looks downright amazing and
is exactly the right choice. High-back buckets should look
familiar, although the leather upholstery with contrasting piping
is a fantastic upgrade. Matching door panels and a back seat that
looks almost completely unused add to the fresh look inside. The
sporty steering wheel cover and wrap-around dashboard give the Z a
performance feel and the instruments have been upgraded to new Auto
Meter dials that look like vintage gauges from the performance era.
A JVC AM/FM/CD stereo tucks neatly into the original radio's slot
and this car carries options like power windows and a tilt steering
column so it's easy to get comfortable. Pop the trunk and you'll
find a nicely finished cargo bay that uses black carpet and a
space-saver spare to replicate the original look.
By 1981, horsepower wasn't anything to write home about, so the 350
cubic inch V8 under the hood today carries some additional blasting
powder for backup. There's a mild cam inside to give it a rumbling
idle and awesome mid-range pull, along with an Edelbrock 4-barrel
carburetor and matching intake. The black engine bay is tidy and
offers some Edelbrock dress-up parts to offset the monochromatic
look, and it runs quite well. There's a serpentine belt drive
system for the accessories and a set of long-tube headers feed some
mellow-sounding mufflers that snarl to life when you turn the key.
The 4-speed manual transmission snaps through the gears and the
clutch has light action, so it never feels tiresome in traffic. The
underside is far cleaner than you'd expect from a car at this
price, and with traction bars out back, it makes use of all the
power it has. Shiny aluminum wheels are fitted with staggered
245/60/15 front and 275/60/15 rear BFGoodrich radials that give it
the perfect stance.
This is a lot of car for the price, and doesn't have a dated look
like so many of its siblings. It also runs great and looks awesome.
Hard to go wrong here. Call today!