In the automotive world, competition improves the breed. This is true whether you are talking about competition in the showroom or competition on the race track. Initially released in 1966 for the 1967 model year, the Camaro Z/28 was originally one of the company’s best-kept secrets. Few potential buyers knew about this option pack. The result was the fact that only 602 cars sold during 1967. Fast forward to 1968, and things were looking up for the Z/28. Even so, sales numbers were still far from stratospheric. This 1968 Camaro Z/28 is 1-of-7,199 cars produced during that year, and it is an original survivor. It is in remarkable condition, and it is now looking for a new home. The Camaro is located in Houston, Texas, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding currently sits at $56,050, but the reserve hasn’t been met.
After 52-years of active service, it is quite common to find that classics like this Camaro have received at least a partial repaint during their life. That isn’t the case with this Z/28. The Ermine White paint that this classic wears is said to be original, and it is in fantastic condition. It holds a beautiful shine and only has a few minor marks and chips. The stripes on the trunk lid are beginning to show signs of crazing, but otherwise, it all looks positive. All of the Camaro’s steel is said to be original, and a close examination of the supplied photos shows all of the correct stamps in the right places. There is no rust to consider, with every aspect of the car looking to be clean and structurally sound. The panels themselves are straight, while the gaps are tight and consistent. The chrome and trim all seems to be in exceptional condition, and there are no signs of any problems with the glass.
The Black interior trim in the Camaro is just as impressive as the exterior. A Stewart Warner tach and gauges have been added, but these could be removed if the next owner wants to preserve the vehicle’s originality. Beyond that, there are no other additions to the interior. The vinyl on the seats looks good, as do the door trims. The carpet is showing some fading, but after 52-years, this probably isn’t a huge surprise. The dash and pad are free from defects, and the same would appear to be true of the console. The tilt-adjustable woodgrain wheel is an excellent addition to this interior.
The Z/28 was a thinly-disguised racing car, and its engine capacity “rather coincidentally” meant that it was eligible to compete against the Ford Mustang in Trans Am competition. Racing rules decreed that engine capacity had to fall below 305ci. The Z/28 achieved this with a capacity of 302ci from its V8. This was a special engine that included an aluminum intake, a 780cfm Holley carburetor, and solid lifters in its bag of tricks. According to General Motors, this engine pumped out 290hp. This is what would today be classified as “a lie.” The reality is that Chevrolet understated the power output of the Z/28 for a variety of reasons. The truth was that this was an engine that would produce something in the region of 360hp. This blessed the Z/28 with the ability to storm through the ¼ mile in 15.2 seconds, and then wind out to a top speed of 131mph. This classic is a full numbers-matching vehicle. It features its original 302, complete with all of the original ancillary components. Backing the 302 is a 4-speed M21 close-ratio transmission, which sends the power to the original Posi rear end. As part of the Z/28 package, the car features power front disc brakes, while power steering should make light work of twisting roads. Beyond this being a numbers-matching car, the news keeps getting better. The engine was treated to a rebuild by Camaro Hi-Performance in 2008. This work included a rebuild of the heads and a full balance, and it comes with the receipts and dyno sheets verifying this. The rest of the drivetrain has been refreshed, and there is plenty of documentary evidence included in the sale. The result of all of this hard work is a Z/28 that runs and drives perfectly. Also included is the original Protect-O-Plate, along with an enormous collection of other documentation dating back to when the Camaro was new. It is this evidence that should also be able to verify the owner’s claim that this Camaro has a genuine 40,000 miles showing on its odometer.
This 1968 Camaro Z/28 is an unrestored and original survivor. That it has survived in such impressive condition makes it a special car. In a situation like this, you can never be entirely sure where the reserve has been set. However, it is possible that the current bidding is getting somewhere close to the mark. I would expect a car like this to sell for around $65,000, although a higher figure is always possible. Finding a Z/28 as original as this one isn’t unprecedented, but it is something that doesn’t happen every day. If you are seriously interested in this classic, then it might be worth investigating it further. It is possible that you could be in for a long wait before the next one appears on the market.
Great looking all original car with the right look!! The stripes look good the wood grain wheel!! This car is truely impressive!!!
Nice car. Very well optioned with great documentation. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t eventually sell for as much as a well restored 68 Z.
Steve R
Looks real.. i would look at documentation and walk thru engine numbers too!
For these dollars hire-an experience Chevrolet camaro person to review documents.
Heres a gr8 refresher on the 68 which is harder to validate compared to a 69 etc.
http://www.1968z28.com/document.html
Oh my.
I find it amazing an early Z/28 could still be in such great condition as this one is. 1968 was a long long time ago if you really think about it.
Got to like the super rare cowl induction air cleaner which in itself is big bucks, I can hear this thing screaming at high revs just looking at it.
Amazing ride.
Amazing car that must be close to being one of a kind. I would not expect to ever see another one like it.
In a normal year, I suspect this would normally sell at one of the big auction houses instead of eBay.
My first car was a ’68 Z that my old man helped me buy 1973.
When we took it for a test drive and I opened it up, pop said: “This sure is a sporty little devil”. LOL
We paid the princely sum of $1895.00 which might as well have been a million bucks to a 17 year old still in high school.
I learned a lot about mechanics with that car…adjusting the points, adjusting the valves, rebuilding the Holley 4 barrel carb and oh yes…putting in clutches. There was a local mechanic that raced one and he talked me into removing the vacuum operated secondary and making it gear driven with the primary so all 4 barrels opened in unison. JC Almighty, that thing would run; but you could just about watch the gas gauge go down!
I had the car about 2 years and working as a part time gas jockey at $1.65 an hour, barely paid enough to put gas in it, let alone make the payments. A local dealer spied it one day and deviled the sh-t out me to sell it. We were heading into the gas crunch back then ,so I weighed my options and really didn’t know what I had at all. I ended up selling it for $1500.00 and the dealer flipped it at a local car auction for $2200.00. It wasn’t until about 20 years later that I read that ’68’s were pretty rare..and valuable. Oh well..I have some great memories and an original Z-28 fender emblem from her.
BTW, mine was a RS version with hideaway headlights, painted a maroon color with white stripes and rally wheels.It had an aluminum 4 speed trans also. I often wonder if it’s still around….
Almost no Chevrolets can truly be called “rare”. a car they made over 7000 of certainly is not.Condition wise I would call it an exceptional original and a great find.
never seen a 68 with the cowl set up like the 67.
Plenum was an available for 68. Cowl induction hood was an option for 69.
Next time it’s for sale it will have the dealer installed 2×4 cross ram setup!!!
Didn’t they have a rear spoiler?
Option in 68. Camaros looked naked without them
I noticed that myself. I had taken it for granted that it was part of the z28 package but maybe that was an option. Never saw a z without one before
My neighbor (original owner) has a 74 Z28 without the spoiler. Looks horrible IMO
Are the Z/28 badges on the front fenders original? I didn’t think those were stock until maybe 69.
My ’68 had those badges just like this car.
But like I said, I bought mine in ’73 so maybe a PO added them.
I found some sales lit from 68 and they are on there. So yes they are stock
Early 68’s used 302 emblems on the front fenders instead.
Steve R
I bought a brand new 1969 Z-28 toward the end of 1969 so it was the last of the original body style. Completely stock that car ran consistently in high 13’s.
Not sure why the gas tank would have to be replaced, unless ethanol gas, no stabil, & sitting too long rusted it out. I know of a ’68 nova that still has original tank(tho it was undercoated when new), has hundreds of thousands of miles on it, used in bad weather too & been outside most of it’s life!, & original gas gauge still works! But it had been used regularly & in last 18 yrs has been used at least once every 2 weeks, never filled up & new gas put in at least once every 2 months. Never used/looked for non ethanol gas either.
Ironically, the owner replaced a ’70 boxy falcon with the ’68 Nova in 1981 because the coon had a hole in the gas tank.
Checks all the boxes.
I had a 68 Nicky’s Z/28 bought it from the Original owner in 76
It had the cross ram Traction bars Special Alternator pulley that would Free spin when Racing Chambered Exhaust
But the Dealer Didn’t Install the Cross ram in 68 they Never had a Cowl induction hood
You had to Modify Your Own hood to Except the Cross ram
Mine was done with a Reverse mounted Dodge ram charger scoop at Home
Sold it in 83 been Looking for it for over 30 years
Accept not Except, just sayin’
For that price one could buy an H2 GMC with everything, a Coke, and fries.
Bob
My 68 was Built in Feb 68 and had the Z 2/8 Emblems
Some Had None
I think it was an option
I’ve seen 67’s with the 302 Emblems
And again some with None
Maybe it was Where they were Manufactured
Mine was sent New to Nicky’s in Chicago
Read the book ECHOES of NORWOOD. The early Z28s were hard to prove. Yes, some had 302 on the fenders some had Z28 and some had nothing. I guess it all depended on the inspector for that shift. The ones built in Van Nuys were all over the place too.
Classmate in ’69 bought a new z28, It was so new you could smell the paint cooking on the mill. I had just gotten my license, and was getting educated on the cars. They had drag races in the parking lot at Arlington High school. Another friend had a brandy new boss 429. Plus the homemade hot rods. Heady stuff for this kid. I was lucky to be able to see it first hand. Life was and is good. Good luck and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
You must have been to some rich kid school. My HS lot was full of old rusty six cylinder cars. There isn’t a regular kid alive that could afford a new Boss 429, much less the insurance on it. Wish my Papa had been wealthy. Oh well, consider yourself lucky if that is you.
I used to borrow my brother’s 67 Beaumont Sport Deluxe 396CID 400 Turbo 12 bolt pozi in high school. His car was a piece of crap, but it motored well at 110mph when the police weren’t around.
No Ford would have ever beat me.
Bob
Yea Ken the thing I forgot to mention was that the guy who owned the boss 429, his father and grandfather owned Pleasant Valley ford in Upstate Ny, that helps. Not sure about the guy with the blue z. Arlington High school was anything but a rich kid school. MY auto shop teacher gave me a stripped out 63 falcon sprint that I put back together. Worked pumping gas after work pumping gas to finance it. $1 an hour in ’71.Wouldnt have wanted it any other way! Good luck and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
Not sure why the HOOD stripes would not match the patina of the REAR DECK ones. Maybe car was parked nose 1st in an open garage for some time?
Why would the clutch pedal CHROME DRESSUP be missing? That just doesn’t fall off by itself. & i find it hard to believe that the factory forgot to put it on! lol
Passenger kick panel MAY look “too new”, compared to the rest of the interior.
Can i assume the 1st owner felt a Stewart Warner tach was more accurate than the tic toc factory one?
Seems in my memory, the Z28 option included the M22 rock-crusher 4 speed, not the m21.
Not included with the Z/28 but def could be ordered. Mandatory options were rear bumper guards and never a convertible except 1. Vince piggins. Wouldn’t u like to know if that car still exists! Worth more than a 71 Hemi Cuda convertible IMO
Did not. M21 was the standard. M22 could be ordered. Friend had one in his 70 Z but ordered it.