Some cars ooze cool from day one. In my opinion, the first-generation Camaro is such a car. This 1968 Z/28 example was sent to us by an anonymous Barn Finds reader who found it here on eBay in Portland, Oregon. The seller says this is a “low reserve” auction, but after 22 bids the current bid price has been pushed to $43,000 and the reserve has not been met.
After being introduced as a 1967 model to compete with Ford’s Mustang, the 1968 received some minor updates, but maintained the look of the 1967 model. The Z/28 trim was also in its 2nd year of production, but Chevrolet managed to pump out more examples in 1968, with 7,199 rolling off the assembly line. Those Z/28s accounted for just over 3% of total 1968 Camaro production.
Aside from one “very old” repaint and wear-and-tear items being replaced, this Camaro is original. That one repaint was in the original Butternut Yellow, which is described as still looking great. Those black stripes were part of the Z/28 package and coordinate with the interior. I suspect we will have overwhelming support for the seller’s choice of (newly installed) Goodyear Polyglas tires that look right at home on the Rally wheels. The seller claims all body panels are original, there is zero rust, and that this Camaro has been garaged since new.
This black interior looks like it’s lived an easy life. The carpet and seatbelts show discoloration, but if you’re looking to maintain the “survivor” feel, they appear to be more than fit for duty. The optional AM/FM radio is still in place and said to be “very rare.” The bucket seats, full console, gauge package, and console-mounted manual shifter are very welcoming and looks like a place I could happily log some miles.
Between the fenders is the Z/28’s standard-issue 290-horsepower 302 cubic-inch V8. Just like the rest of the car, this Camaro having only averaged about 1,250 miles per year shows under the hood. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual transmission.
While a first-generation Z/28 Camaro is meant to be driven, aside from that one repaint this one is a survivor with just 65k original miles. So, will the new owner maintain that survivor status and keep the miles low? Or will they log the miles and drive it as it’s meant to be driven?
Its well worth it the block matches the numbers.
My second HS car was a 69 rally Z28 hidden headlights beauty
Ran strong and held up well for a 17,18,19 year old that raced on streets on weekends 👀👍
Sold it in 82 for 2400 😟
I really have to give it too the ppl that actually could save this beautiful car, and not drive the wheels off it when it was new ! I had my share of muscle, but most were beat by the time I got them, I hopped them and beat them some more. My 65 Chevelle Malibu SS survived and my 70 road runner made it, but most were beat straight to the junk yard.
This is worth whatever someone will pay, I’d love it !
Don’t see a power steering pump.
Some rear lap belts are faded.
Front bumper not exactly level.
Could that be original exhaust system? – pipes that turn 90 degrees to meet the sideways muffler are notorious for getting holes in them at the bend.
If this California built camaro was meant to be shipped/sold outside the state, would it still get an airpump? How bout with either straight 6 & other v8’s?
It’s probably not the right car for you Joe !
Ok, i gave it some thought & suppose the factory could have installed the front bumper crooked, & 1 of the rear seat belts could be dirty or it’s just the lighting angle.
You’re right – i bought a ’68 RS camaro in ’81 with a 250 strait 6, powerglide, power steering & 4 wheel manual drum brakes that got 100 miles to a qt of oil & put in another 250!! & drove it in all weather till it fell apart – the body that is. The 1st gen RS’s get a std 3:07 rear end even with a 6 cyl – it was plenty peppy after some mods to the air cleaner, ignition & exhaust, & i saw no need for a v8. I am sure the motor & powerglide are somewhere out there waiting to run again for another 20 years! lol
I have been lookin for a sixty NINE camaro RS with a 250 or 230 six cyl for almost 20 yrs. No luck.
Its a nice one. Worth the bucks if it has the docs.
I like the Fram air filter, Really on a car like this?
It has a few minor things to nitpick, but overall a very nice 68! First thing I would do is get rid of the chrome radiator core support struts, replace the door panels, purchase a nice Gardner exhaust. Like most, the 69 is my favorite but the 68 has an appeal all it’s own. I love the color also. I have a friend that has a 68 he bought brand new sitting in his garage, it hasn’t moved in over 30 years.
Not to worry about miles Easy to disconnect speedometer. Dealers did it all the time on their demonstrators. If too many miles these are easy to “reset” Not all low mileage cars are that. This car has a realistic figure and is probably true.
This one is right up my alley. I’m not looking for a Camaro debate, I know most love the ’69 best but for me it’s ’68. I like the subtle changes from ’67 and something about them to me looks more muscular than the ’69’s. Don’t get me wrong I’d take one of those in a heartbeat too. As a dreaming 12 year old back in the 90’s we were a few hours north on a camping trip and stopped in by this guy who fixes and flips Camaros. He had a ’68 Z on his little lot that I was drooling over. He wanted $8k back then but I couldn’t beg my dad hard enough to get it. It was gorgeous despite needing new paint. It was set up in Rallye green with white stripes, black/white houndstooth, rallye wheels with some meat on all four corners. The engine was already .060 over so it was probably beat to death but I didn’t care. It still presented well even with cracked paint, but no rust. Wish I could find that one again, hate to see the price now.
Personally agree on the 68; liked the no wing window look, and front turn signal (changed from round) over the 67, and the cleaner, no crease look of the rear quarter panel over the 69. While I would never mess with the real thing, if you like a nicely done, bad ass looking, period piece (70’s) resto-mod, check out the Aloha Bobby and Rose 68 Camaro. https://www.z28.com/media/aloha-bobby-and-rose-camaro.19835/
Sweet ride but a little out of my price range!! There are few left with the original 302 under the hood cause most of them were thrashed!!! It’s not my favorite color but I would not be complaining if it showed up in my driveway!!!
I don’t think anybody left that smog pump on these, nor the stock exhaust manifolds or the whole stock exhaust for that matter. I picked up on these in the early eighties while in high school and all of these early Z’s were built cars. Some were big block swaps.
And how could someone not modify one really, with the zillion different ways to make it go faster, handle better, and big one here…look even more stout. A really aggressive looking machine with mighty mouse power to back it up!
Sweet ride here and they ain’t cheap, never really were. Drive the sucker.
The deck lid spoiler must have been added post-production, since you couldn’t get one with the optional quarter panel mounted antenna checked off on the order sheet. I had a ’68 RS convertible with the same antenna, if it were raised, the spoiler that I added would nail the antenna mast when you opened the trunk.
Sweet Z! 👍
Nice to see a Z28 that’s apparently in great shape and mostly original. Even better; with 65k miles you can drive it without worrying about ruining its value. It would cost you way more to get many of the cars featured here in this condition.
Sweet Camaro, love the color. As to owner of a 69 Camaro for the last 16 years I am parcel to the 69s but would take a 67 or 68. I think the rs front end with the stripe around the nose looks fantastic on those cars. I’ve owned several Mustangs (69 and 70) including a 67 fastback and compared to the first gen. Camaro, the Camaro is a better built car. Hard for me to understand why Camaro didn’t out sell Mustang in 67 and 68 but Mustang sales were white hot and everyone wanted a Mustang.
Desert Rat, I would think the fact Ford got the jump start with the introduction of the Mustang in 64 had a bit to do with the sales. They had a 3 year head start on the market. That being said, I’ve had over 100 cars I can remember, but the only Mustangs were a 71, 72 and 73. Never had a 1st gen Camaro either, go figure. I have had 1st gen Firebirds, and several 70-73 Firebirds and Camaro’s. One of these days a 1st gen Camaro is going to follow me home.
Desert Rat…remember…many of those first few years of Mustangs were “Secretary Cars”. Ford even had a cute little jingle..”My Sweet 6 cylinder Mustang”. Ford didn’t get serious with the Mustang until Iacocca got Shelby involved. The Camaro was a Performance Car from day one.
Looks like an honest car, original,well kept, just a nice car, don’t know where the numbers are going, it’s gonna need paint, eventually
Its a nice one. Worth the bucks if it has the docs.
The ebay ad shows a ton of documentation!