Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Tribute.
Around the time Journey dropped the hit song “Don’t Stop Believin” in October 1981, the Chevrolet Camaro was on the verge of a completely new generation. A commercial for the 1981 Camaro Z28 called it the “ultimate Camaro” and proclaimed it an exceptional driver’s car. The aerodynamic treatment on the front and rear fenders was both functional and attractive, and marketing materials called it one of the “best-dressed cars” on the road.
What happens when you combine those good looks with a modernized V8 powertrain? Today, we get to find out. This customized Camaro is being listed by a dealer in Gladstone, Oregon, and the auction will end on Tuesday.
Interestingly enough, the CARFAX history for the car doesn’t start until 17 years after production. However, based on what we know, it spent life in California, Nevada, and Oregon – all of which are known to be relatively good regions to own and preserve a collector car.
The second-generation Camaro was in its last phase of production in the early 1980s; the body style had originally launched in 1970 and went through subsequent facelifts in both 1974 and 1978. When compared to previous Camaros, this version was lower, longer, and wider than before. By 1980, development was already underway for the new generation, so the final model years received just a few updates. (One such change for 1980 was an adjustment to the speedometer that modified it from 130 mph to 85 mph).
For 1981, the Camaro Z28 was available with two V8 engines: a 305 and a 350. There were restrictions on availability of the latter – particularly in California where emissions regulations were at an all-time high. Luckily for us, today’s featured car has a few tricks up its sleeve that amplify its performance and bring it into the modern era.
Starting with the exterior, the body has been recoated in pearl white and dressed in tan tri-tone accent striping around the perimeter. A set of later-model Camaro IROC-Z wheels give a subtle “OEM-plus” look to the car.
Most notably, upgrades have taken place under the hood where we find a fuel-injected Vortec 5.3-liter V8 that is connected to a newer 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission. It’s a combination that suits the car’s performance aspirations while keeping it daily-friendly.
Chevrolet touted: “The Z28 is not only handsome and sporty on the outside, it is just as good-looking on the inside. It’s an open invitation to take the sporty steering wheel and head on out. The Z28 is a special machine, for a driver who demands more than the ordinary.”
Looking for something extraordinary? Look no further. The auction for this 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Tribute ends Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. (PDT)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery
