1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

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!