still working on my research paper....
11-03-2005, 09:26 AM
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still working on my research paper.... Still looking for information for my research paper....anyone know what 'Z28' means? Anyone know the origin of the name Camaro? Thanks.
11-03-2005, 09:36 AM
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Z28 is just an RPO code, like LS1, WS6, etc. It has no real meaning. Back in the early days, it was a small-cube engine for Trans Am racing I think. Later (4th gen), it became a Camaro with a V8 engine.
11-03-2005, 04:20 PM
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The Z28 was the next RPO code available, so it became the RPO for the top Camaro
As for the origin of the name
It had been called various names by GM and the press, including Nova, Panther, Chaparral, and Wildcat (later used by Buick.) It is rumored that Chevy also considered using the letters "GM" in the name, and came up with G-Mini, which evolved into GeMini, and finally Gemini. General Motors Headquarters supposedly killed that name, because they didn't want the letters "GM" used in case the car was a failure.
As for the origin of the name
It had been called various names by GM and the press, including Nova, Panther, Chaparral, and Wildcat (later used by Buick.) It is rumored that Chevy also considered using the letters "GM" in the name, and came up with G-Mini, which evolved into GeMini, and finally Gemini. General Motors Headquarters supposedly killed that name, because they didn't want the letters "GM" used in case the car was a failure.
11-06-2005, 06:10 AM
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in order for general motors to compete in the trans am racing series, they had to build a car that met the racing specs. and they had to produce at least 50 available to the general public to qualify for the trans am series. as noted above, Z28 was the next Regular Production Order (RPO) code available. in 67, you could order the camaro by checking the RPO Z28 box on the order sheet. there were not any Z28 emblems on the car. in 68, the emblems were part of the package. all 1st gen Z28's had: 302 cubic in DZ coded motor, manual trans, and front disc brakes. no convertibles, not air conditioning and no automatic trans were available combined with the Z28 package. you could combine the Rally Sport package with the Z (Z28/RS cars), but you could not combine the Super Sport package with the Z. in 70, the Z motor was changed to the 350, and the 302 was no more. i think that 73 was the first year that you could get a Z28 with air conditioning.
11-06-2005, 08:23 AM
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See Hemmings Muscle Machines, Issue #22, July 2005, page 76.
Vince Piggins, a man called the father of the Z-28, is featured in the Hot Rod Hero profile.
As someone else has noted, the Z-28 name came about when GM held a press day in November 1966 at Riverside International Raceway in California...no one knew what to call the car, and someone noted it was (Regular Production Order) RPO Z-28, and the name stuck.
RPO Z-27 was the number of an early Camaro SS package, and Z-28 just happened to follow.
Vince Piggins, a man called the father of the Z-28, is featured in the Hot Rod Hero profile.
As someone else has noted, the Z-28 name came about when GM held a press day in November 1966 at Riverside International Raceway in California...no one knew what to call the car, and someone noted it was (Regular Production Order) RPO Z-28, and the name stuck.
RPO Z-27 was the number of an early Camaro SS package, and Z-28 just happened to follow.