When a car’s paint color is named “Mulsanne Blue” after the 3.7-mile straightaway at the famed Circuit de la Sarthe (where the 24 Hours of Le Mans is held), you know that the marketing department understands the assignment. And aside from the Corvette, there’s nary a car in Chevrolet’s lineup that deserved to be painted such a hue more than the 1970 1/2 Camaro Z28, which was hardly recognizable as a Camaro when it was released. In their May 1970 issue, Car and Driver mentioned that during their pre-launch road test, “only the hard core car underworld knew that it was a Camaro.” Nevertheless, the Camaro’s beautiful new shape went on to have, as we know, a very long and successful career as Chevy’s pony car standard bearer, and this particular example must be ranked near the top of the list of desirable Camaros. Barn Finder Curvette found it on craigslist in Portland, Oregon, where a dealer is listing it for sale with a list price of $85,000. Expensive, yes, but it’s a nicely restored example with a complete ownership history.
The selling dealer sums up the ownership history as follows:
Highly documented, complete owner history and 51,360 actual miles!
Original build sheet, Protect-O-Plate, warranty booklet and manuals.
Sold new at “Mac’s Chevrolet/Olds” in Crete, Nebraska on March 13, 1970, to Mr. R.L. Siebert for his son, Lester, who owned the car for 36 years, placed it in storage for nearly 30 years and sold it in 2006.
The second owner is credited for the outstanding restoration in 2006-2007.
Approximately 2,200 miles have been placed on the Z/28 since completion.
As you can see, the build sheet is still (more or less) in one piece, a boon when one is dealing with any collector car, but especially a valuable one.
One downside: the engine is a warranty replacement “CE” block that was installed in September 1971 at the selling dealer. The engine itself was a muscle car masterpiece, the solid-lifter LT-1 350, a 360-horsepower example of why the small-block Chevy is one of America’s favorite V8s. Replacing the 1969 Z/28’s (the name lost the slash mark for 1970 1/2) peaky 302, the 350 was not only faster than the 302, it was far more tractable around town when you weren’t trying to throw 7000-rpm power shifts. Car Life Magazine and Car and Driver were able to wring out the Z28 to the tune of 14.5- and 14.2-second quarter-mile times respectively. (The license plates in both of their road tests proved that they used the same Turbo Hydra-matic equipped, 4.10:1-geared test car.) I can imagine that many a young Camaro buyer ditched the cast-iron exhaust manifolds immediately for a set of headers, which certainly would nudge the willing LT-1 closer to the 13s, if one were so inclined to take their new car to the drag strip.
The Camaro’s interior was all new, as one might expect. One complaint from the enthusiast magazines was that the steering wheel let down the car’s sporting image, but aside from that, the instrument panel is completely driver-centric, and the instrumentation is complete. Aside from the steering wheel, the fake woodgrain dashboard inset (the Z23 option, shown on the build sheet) might be the only thing that is out of place, but the all-black interior does need something to break up its monochrominess.
As the seller mentions, the car benefited from a full restoration about 20 years ago, and it’s been used sparingly since. It is a four-speed car, as you could see from the interior shots, so anyone buying this Z28 will be getting one of the best road machines Chevy put out in the muscle car era.
If you’re a second-generation Camaro fanatic, about the only thing you might wish for was a split-bumper RS front end. Otherwise, this one has the color, the stripes, and the powertrain you want, and it even has the beautiful factory Z28 wheels and Goodyear Polyglas tires (which are new). The asking price is steep, but the car looks good, and pony car royalty rarely comes cheap.
It’s really nice, but I think the replacement engine knocks down the value a bit
It was replaced at the dealer, though, I imagine under warranty, so if it’s documented as such, it’s not that much of a hit. It’s not like it happened much later in the car’s life or someone put an LS engine in it.
But , did the dealership replace it with a correct engine ?? Or a plain everyday 350 ? Its got no AC and a plain jane interior . So its ask is a bit steep
David, no AC until 1973. It is a pricey, but that’s due mainly to the NOM.
Steve R
How did the replacement engine system work? If you blew a HiPo engine did you get another one? Or did Chevy send the dealer whatever version of the small block that was available?
I had this EXACT car back in 1982. I loved that car and still miss it today. Mine had the original LT1, which was a beast of an engine. Now I have this car’s twin, an all original 1971 Pontiac T/A.
Love the 70 !/2 Z28s. Short spoiler and shortback buckets… The only year with those installed.
One of my favorite body styles.Looks like they put later
Z/28 wheels on it.Even so,they still look good.
Those are 1970 1/2 Z28 wheels, Anglia… they’re pictured in the road tests and the ads from that model year.
Probably, but there are subtle differences between the early-70’s rims and those from the late-70’s. Someone would need to look at them closely to make sure they are correct.
Steve R
An option on this Z-28 was ‘White Lettered Wide Oval 15 inch Tires on Special 15×7 wheels.’
The RS had an option for ‘White Lettered Wide Oval 14 inch Tires on 14×7 wheels.’
I stand corrected.I borrowed a ’74 Camaro & it had those wheels
on it,so I guess they used them for a few years.
Maybe the best looking of all the Camaros. And a sweet 350 to boot. 🏁
Note that hidden wipers & racing mirrors were optional.
Wouldn’t it be worth lot more with a proper factory exhaust/sideways muffler?
Seems odd Chevy did not offer a smaller fatter steering wheel for this & the corvette until years later.
Could the stripes be left off a z28 by request at the factory?
The front, rear, and spoiler striping was part of the Z-28 package. A Z-28 could be ordered without the striping and spoiler.
Boy that’s a beautiful car. Not too much flash, but tidy enough to be noticed still. It’d feel just fantastic, driving this baby around.
Speechless! Perfect example of something I’d love to have and never will. Beautiful car. Honestly I’d be a nervous breakdown case driving it because if something bad happened to it I’d never forgive myself. Just beautiful!
very nice Camaro redone to high standard as well. the original owner must have had a real good time to blow out the factory motor then get it warrantied. price is high but it seems that what these a bringing today
Too bad it doesn’t have the sport mirrors on it and a centre console. I always liked the second generation z28 with the RS option (split bumper). Also the higher spoiler and four spoke steering wheel which became available I believe in 73. Nevertheless this is a beautiful car.
John
Did I consume too much Ripple and listen to Jimmy Hendrix too late last nite? Im not seeing angle plug heads and an A.I.R. pump pre ’72? That also does look suspiciously like a Monte Carlo steering wheel. Hmmm
The only year with the 12-bolt rear axle and that in itself was a good thing. M-22 cars are rare too. Not sur if anybody knows how many were built.
I love this car. I must be one of the few who like the “regular bumper” better than the split bumper.
Not really, I agree with you, I had a 1971 SS/RS for years. I think in certain colors and with the stripes the standard front end looks better, such is the case with this car.
I also like the lack of console on 4spd cars. My Camaro didn’t have one, it gives the driver a lot more knee room. The consoles are big bulky, plus a 4spd shifter coming through the floor gives the interior a more purposeful look. The 1970-1972 Camaro consoles were a hard plastic, they had a front and back half which would often break where the two pieces met.
Steve R
Buddy of mine had a twin to this one back in the day. At the time I hated the short spoiler. Funny how tastes change over the years. Wicked fast car, great sound and steering a huge upgrade from 69s. I’m with John Erwin, a car I’d love to have and never will. I always liked them without the console too.
My ‘70 was this color but was about as far away from a Z28 as it could possibly be. Six cylinder three speed manual and zero accessories except for an AM radio. I bought it that way on purpose. I needed an economical car to commute to school and work. The car I traded in on the Camaro was a 390 Mustang. I miss them both but for different reasons. I still think that the Camaro second generation styling was beautiful just like the C3 Corvette. GLWTS.
I’m having fun reading all the comments this morning, this is a extremely fine and worthy example of a 2nd gen Camaro Z28. $85k is more than in line and the car represents a fine example of yesteryear. Of all the 1970 Trans-am models that were presented by the big three, the Camaro Z28 was the king. Say all you want about this example it’s well worth the 85k. I was personally involved in the late 60’s and early 70’s and know what reality was. The trans am firebird, Cuda Challenger and for that matter the AMX did not hold a candle to these beast. In stock form they were big hitters with a 4.30 gear headers and a 850 Holley they were giant killers.
The very first Camaro I was in. (I was a,passenger) was the twin to this. (Same color and everything) It was back in 1973 and a buddy came back from Vietnam and bought it. He scared the daylights out of me with that car. (I got him back a few times later) And yes, his had headers, a higher rise manifold (the hood just barely closed) and wider tires. (Same wheels) That car was an animal! Good fun!
Beautiful 70 Z28 in my favorite color that year. Looks like a lot of time and attention to detail in the restoration except for the exhaust system. That can be remedied by installing a Gardner Exhaust system, built to factory specs.
THIS IS THE WAY. Yes, RS and the optional three-piece spoiler would be my preference, but this is the ultimate gen 1 small block powered chevy, imho.