Originally Posted by kenp

As I recall, around here, some of the guys working at the Norwood assembly plant knew how to order '69 Camaros with no badging, just bowties, Z28 hoods, deck lid spolier, body colored wheels with baby moons and 60 series tires, 427 engines, and performance gearing. They were bad. I guess they saw what Yenko was doing, IDK.

Originally Posted by kenp

There were a bunch of '69 Z28s in the area too. Seemed like more Z28s than SS Camaros. It was a popular car around here and some of the guys made them very competitive at the strip with 4.56 and 4.88 gears

Originally Posted by gavspurplez

has anyone ready the dec 2009 motor trend ? confirmation in there......

Originally Posted by Johns00Z28

I'm not sure why people are making a big deal of how things were. The top performing camaro will be called a Z28 and to me that distinguishes it from all the other myriad of SS models out there.

Originally Posted by dragcamaro

as they say, any chevy can be a ss, only a camaro can be a z28

whats the price gonna be like on them?

Originally Posted by Nine Ball

In the 1st gens, the Z28 out handled and was quicker than the SS 396 Camaro. That 302 was underrated, and could rev like a ****. It was also a much lighter engine and vehicle than the SS. The SS Camaros were the luxury cruisers with bigger engine options, the Z28 was all business. No automatic Z28s, no A/C, etc...

Z28 = hardtop only, manual tranny only, beefier swaybars, bigger brakes, tranny/psteering cooler. Basically the "Z06" of the Camaro.

Originally Posted by black_knight

Here's some info on it:
(from Musclecarclub.com)
In December 1966, Chevrolet then quietly released one of the most famous options codes of all time, option Z-28. Unpublicized and unknown by most of the buying public (and most Chevrolet sales people for that matter) and not mentioned in any sales literature, the only way someone could order the Z-28 package was to order a base Camaro with the Z-28 option, mandatory front disc brakes with power assist, and the Muncie 4-speed transmission. You could not order the SS package, automatic transmission, air conditioning, or the convertible. What you got was a unique 302 cid small block (Non-California emission cars were labeled MO while California emission engines were labeled MP) that was created by taking the 327 block and installing the short-stroke 283 crank. Specifically designed to compete in the Club of America Trans Am racing series which placed a 305 cid limit on its entries, the Z-28 was available to the public solely to qualify the car for racing. Advertised horsepower was listed at just 290bhp, which was not very impressive until one hooked it up to a dyno and got actual readings of 360-400 bhp. The Z-28 also came with a competition suspension, broad racing stripes on the hood and trunklid and could be combined with the RS option package. There was no Z-28 badging at all, lest it attract to much attention. The Z-28 proved to be difficult to launch on the street because its high reving engine was lethargic under 4000rpm and worked best when it was shifted at 7500rpm (!). Once it got going, the Z28 was tough to beat and boosted a 140mph top speed and numerous racing victories. Only 602 Z-28s were sold in 1967, making it a truly desirable collectable.

Originally Posted by Z28LS1KID

CAUTION LONG READ

"The Z/28"
The Z28 was created for one purpose, to beat the mustang on the race track. The Z28 was more race car than street car. The way it accelerated, cornered, and stopped made it the perfect car to go after the Mustang.

The Mustang had won the Trans Am Championship in 1966 without any real competition. In 1967 the all new Z28 team of Roger Penske and Mark Donahue entered and won 3 races. Mustang took the title again that year, but the Camaro team now knew how to play the game.

During the next 2 seasons as the Trans Am series became increasingly popular, the Z28 blew everyone else away. Chevy's "little" factory race car dominated the series, holding off a huge effort from 2nd place Ford. And full assaults from Dodge, Plymouth, and AMC.

Meanwhile, out on the streets the Z28 had been discovered. Muscle car fans were delighted to find a Camaro that sold for slightly more than an SS 350. Ran the 1/4 mile within 2 tenths of an SS 396. And went around corners like a Corvette.

In an era where Big Blocks were the norm, it was a throwback, a real sophisticated little small block that ran with the best of them.

The center piece of the Z28 option was the all new 302 smallblock. The 302s bore and stroke of 4.00 inches and 3.00 inches mean't this little engine would be a screamer.

1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
302 Cubic Inch Engine
- Bore : 4.00 inches
- Stroke : 3.00 inches
- TRW 11-to-1 pistons
- Forged Rods
- .485-lift solid camshaft
- Holley 780 Carb
- Aluminum Intake Manifold
- 2.02 Heads

The advertised HP was 290 @ 5800rpm. The 302 was actually "rated" at 290hp by Chevrolet. By the time you put headers on, open exhaust and the over the counter camshaft, it would actually make 450-460hp.

All these high performance parts were available for a package price of $358.

Mandatory Z28 Options

- Muncie M-21 4-speed : $184
- Quick-Ratio power steering : $84
- Power Disc Brakes : $100

The Z28s bargain basement price was the deal of the Century. The first Z28s went into production in December 1966. By the end of 1967 they made a total of 602.

Over 200,000 Camaros were sold in 1967. Making it one of Chevys most successful new car introductions ever. Chevy corrected some handling problems that 1967 owners complained about, and made the usual minor trim changes on the 1968 models. In 1968 Chevy replaced the single leaf rear springs w/ much stiffer multi leaf units, and it staggered the rear shocks to help control axle hop on acceleration.

After the strong showing the Penske Camaro had made in '67, the Z28 was starting to get good press. People were starting to talk about this little Camaro in terms once reserved for the Corvette. Chevy decided to make the Z28 a little more "dressy" in '68. "Z/28" identification badges were added, and front and rear spoilers became available this year. The Z's racing stripes were also continued in '68.

Again in '68 the 302 engine was the piece that made it all work. In 1968 the SCCA changed the rules to allow multiple carburetion. In response Chevrolet designed the cross ram two 4 barrel intake manifold. It was more commonly seen on '69 models but it was available in the '68s also.

Now with some seat time in a Z28, Mark Donahue and the Penske team began feeding info back to Chevy engineering on ways to improve the car. Stronger spindles, and a larger front sway bar were developed. And in a move designed to help the racers, Chevy now offered optional 4 wheel disc brakes, which gave the Z28 braking performance equal to the Corvette. According to the SCCA everything on the race car had to be available to the general public. All the camshaft design, exhaust design, all the special parts generated for the Z28 program were as close as your local Chevrolet parts dealer.

From the first green flag of the '68 racing season, the Penske team took no prisoners. They ran away with the series championship winning 10 out of 12 races, and winning 8 of these in a row. GM executives applauded their little factory racer, despite their no racing official policy.

Also in '68, a Z28 won the NHRA Super Stock Championship in a final race between, you guessed it, two Z28s.

From 602 Z28s sold in 1967, to 4,199 sold in 1968, Chevrolet predicted they would sell over 25,000 in 1969. The actual figure would be closer to 20,000 by year end. But this optimism clearly indicates how much this little car had endeared itself to Chevys management in just 2 years. And why not? The Camaro was clearly one of the most popular cars Chevrolet had ever built. And the Z28 was the most exciting Camaro according to people who had driven one.

In its first two years, the Z28 outperformed Chevys most optimistic sales forcasts, wiped the Trans Am tracks clean of Ford products, and cleaned up on the dragstrips, so now what? If your Chevrolet in the late 60s the only answer to that question is to improve it.

In 1969 the car was 2 inches longer and 1 1/2 inches wider. Sharper nose, restyled rear quarters, etc. There were now three Z28 option packages. They ranged from $506 which included the front and rear spoilers, to $758 which added dealer installed headers, to $959 which added the cross ram induction setup to the other options.

A fully optioned out Z28 cost a little over 5k which made it one of the most expensive Camaros you could buy in 1969.

Under the hood very little changed this year, infact there wasnt much left to add except hard core racing parts. There was a new go real fast solid lifter camshaft which provided .493 lift on the intake side and .512 on the exhuast. And a new engine oil cooler. All Z28 engine blocks now had 4 bolt main bearings, and thicker main webs.

In 1970 the Z28 didn't participate in the Trans Am series because Chevrolet no longer backed racing and the Z28 didn't repeat its championship this year. In 1970 at the start of the 2nd gen, the Z28 got the new 350 cubic inch LT-1 rated at 360hp.

As the 70s progessed into the era of unleaded gas, one after another the supercars from the muscle era dropped off the automotive scene. Hp ratings fell to 245hp, and in '72 255hp, but the parts were still good quality parts.

On a few occasions the Z's future looked doubtful, but there have always been enough loyal and dedicated car buyers that insisted America wouldnt be as much fun without the Z28 and thankfully Chevrolet agreed, keeping the Z28 alive through several designs. Each Z28 was a car for its times. And each one was a cut above the ordinary like they always have been. So the Z28 lives today (4th gen) in much the same form as it did in its early years. Still powered by Chevrolets most potent small block engines, corners like a slot car, and could blow the doors off almost anything it comes across.

Originally Posted by jerrycecco

I knew the 1st day the Z28 was going to be produced -- the same day GM annouced they they WERENT going to make them...
WHY? so they can sell a bunch of Camaro SS @ 422hp....
The GT500 @ 540hp @ $50k GM knows it's time to release the Z28....
....the ablity now to sell a higher priced Camaro....and wait til the dealers gets the Z28, im sure they'll mark up by $20k easy, then the current Camaro SS used prices drop to LOW $20k....I've seen if before and it ALWAYS happens....

Look at Ford's Boss Mustang, Bullet Mustang, and Shelby GT, GM will do the same...
They put a what batches on the Camaro and call it whatever from the sixties era to command a bigger price tag... I read somewhere Yenko wil make a Camaro again too..

These will be all targeted to middle aged guys could not afford one in high school, and now with 0% interest for 48m it's time to buy they're dream car...for $40k, $50k, $60k, $70k...
......but they all lose about 60%++++ in 1st 2 years.....
.......ask anyone who has bought their "collector" GT500 or special Roush Mustangs, resale prices are dropping fast......

me I'll wait abit longer.... already passed on 2008 Roush Trak Pak org MSRP @ $60k, for sale at low $30k, with 6k miles,,,,,

Same game different year.....dont buy a car for any collection purposed you'll lose....
WHY? because car industry know they need to make a better/faster car every year....
Ask anyone you bought a $100k GT500KR acouple of years ago....there's still a few "new" ones for sale a Ford dealers, cant sell for $55k..... or a 1999 Cobra R for $90k or a 2006 Z06 for $95k.....

Ford every year for past 20years produces "the fastest mustang ever"

and I'll keep my 04 CTSV which dealers says isnt worth $18k....
and these prices today, I'll run my car til the engine blows, put in a 500+hp then drive it again til it blows then a 600+hp engine AND still save money comparing to buy a $50k Mustang or $75k Camaro.....

ok I'm off the soap box now....

Originally Posted by m6speed

geez, not this **** again. z28 was produced solely as a race/track car, ss was a cruiser. simple.

here are some quotes from a thread that went through this crap already.

Originally Posted by NastySSoo

Jeremiah, I am a racer and I am telling you the facts.

Originally Posted by NastySSoo

Nobody likes a know it all Jeremiah!!