The 1981 model year marked the last hurrah for the 2nd Generation Camaro, and its character had changed remarkably from the car that first appeared in 1970. The Camaro had become a much softer vehicle, and most of these changes had occurred in a bid to comply with changing government regulations. The last of these 2nd Generation cars had remained largely forgotten, but they are starting to develop a bit of a following. This 1981 Z28 is a stunning looking car, and it is searching for a new home. It is located in Petal, Mississippi, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding sits at $13,525, but the reserve hasn’t been met.

The last of this breed of Camaro was available in colors that could diplomatically be described as vibrant or distinctive. However, a few colors brought a touch of class and style to the badge, and that includes the Charcoal Metallic that you see gracing this car. Combined with the multi-shade red graphics, the result is a striking appearance. The owner describes the paint as being in excellent condition, and it is hard to argue with that claim. It shines beautifully, with nary a blemish to be seen. The graphics have held together well over the past 40-years. There is no sign of lifting, fading, or crazing, which are all issues that can afflict adhesive features of this vintage. The owner doesn’t mention any problems with rust, and there is nothing evident in the supplied photos. The original alloy wheels seem free from problems, while the trim and tinted glass are in excellent order.

Occupying the engine bay of the Camaro is a 350ci V8, while the car also features a 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. This V8 should be producing 175hp, and it is by comparing performance figures that you gain a clear insight into how much the 2nd Generation Camaro changed during its lifetime. A 1970 auto-equipped Z28 would storm the ¼ mile in 14.1 seconds. This car should complete the same journey in 16.9 seconds. That’s an enormous difference, and the Camaro would only begin to claw back that lost ground with the next generation, which used innovative construction techniques and aerodynamic refinement to compensate for lost engine performance. However, the news with this car seems to be all good. It is a numbers-matching classic with a mere 32,000 miles on the clock. The engine bay presents nicely, and while the owner doesn’t specify how well the vehicle runs or drives, this gives us cause to be optimistic.

The owner describes the Camaro’s interior as spotless, and that’s as good a word as any in my book. It presents as nicely as the rest of the vehicle, with no issues to report. The seats are free from marks and wear, as is the carpet. The dash and pad appear to be perfect, while the same seems to be true of the remaining plastic trim. The original radio has made way for a CD player, but I can’t spot any other modifications. The air conditioning system has recently been replaced, so it should now blow ice-cold. There aren’t a lot of optional extras, but power windows are a nice touch.

The last of the 2nd Generation Camaros fell out of favor rapidly, not just because they had suffered significant performance drops compared to their predecessors, but because the 3rd Generation clawed back a substantial amount of those losses. They were largely forgotten but are now building a strong following. Spotless examples like this are appearing on the market, and when they do, they will attract spirited bidding. This Z28 is no exception, and I think there will probably be a lot more action before this auction ends. Are you tempted to join the bidding war on this one?