1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

Description

If you like the unusual, the rare, and the remarkable, then this 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 is bound to make you take notice. Not only is it a super-rare color, but it has a 4-speed gearbox and has enjoyed a full rotisserie restoration to as-new condition, now packing about twice the horsepower it had when it was new.

More than a quarter-million Camaros were built in 1979 (282,000 or so), but only 3450 of them were painted code 40 Light Green, making it one of the rarer Camaros ever built. Thanks to a no-expenses-spared restoration, the car was complete disassembled and rebuilt from a bare shell, including the finish, which is truly spectacular. For some guys, it would have been easy to repaint it resale red or basic black, but the guy who restored this one is a purist who appreciates the oddballs, and gave this car a better-than-new look in its original livery. That also included fresh stripes that are contrasting two-tone green, and when you're going to build something that's bound to attract attention, you really need to get it right. As a result, the sheetmetal underneath is laser-straight, the gaps are tight, and even the urethane pieces fit flush and match the bodywork exactly, making it far better than new in every notable way.

The green interior is probably the only obvious choice with the light green paint, and it's equally unusual and equally beautiful in this incredible Camaro. Fresh seat covers, new door panels, correct carpets, and just about everything else makes it a first-class passenger compartment that's ready to show. I have to believe that the rarity of the green color made some of these parts incredibly difficult to find, NOS or otherwise, and most folks don't realize what a tremendous challenge that can be to a restorer. But things like the steering wheel, center console, and dash pad are in outstanding condition in every way. Options include factory A/C and a tilt wheel, but oddly enough, there's only an AM radio in the dash. Of course, the most important feature might be that 4-speed shifter, which was falling out of favor in 1979 but only makes this car more unique. And like the rest of the car, the trunk is finished properly, including a space-saver spare and inflator kit.

Don't worry about provenance, either, because this Camaro offers the best of both worlds. Right now, it's powered by a 290 horsepower GM Performance Parts crate 350, which was skillfully dressed up to look like the original engine, right down to the factory air cleaner. The original, numbers-matching engine is available too (call for details), so you drive this incredible car without worries. It's also a lot faster than it was originally thanks to roughly a 70% boost in horsepower. It's detailed to almost show levels, with correct finishes throughout and no obvious modifications; even things like the hose clamps and fasteners are correct. The factory 4-speed shifts smoothly and with 3.73 gears on a Posi limited slip in a 10-bolt rear, it's up for the challenge of putting all that extra horsepower to work. Thanks to that rotisserie restoration, the bottom of the car is extremely well-detailed, right down to the factory-style exhaust system with catalytic converter. Thanks to a life in Arizona, all the sheetmetal is original and there's no doubt that it drives superbly. Factory alloy wheels are unmarked and carry right-sized 255/60/15 Goodyear radials.

Fully documented with restoration photos and receipts, this incredibly rare Z/28 is a fantastic find for the guy who thinks he's seen it all. Call today!