Even though the Camaro was never sold here in Australia, for those of us over a certain age, the 1979 Camaro Z28 holds an important place in our hearts. Located in Pardeeville, Wisconsin is this Z28 that was brought to our attention by Barn Finds reader Michael. Possessing a clean title and for sale here on Craigslist, the owner is asking $19,500 for this blue beauty.
In 1979 the governing body of Australian motor-sport relaxed some of the eligibility criteria for cars to compete in the iconic Bathurst 1000 race. This allowed the Z28 to compete. For the next 4 years the #9 Camaro of Kevin Bartlett was a contender for outright victory. Only bad luck prevented a win, although he did manage to secure Pole Position on 2 occasions. The shine on this particular Z28 is very impressive. The seller claims that this is the original paintwork. If it is then this is a car that has been very well cared for.
The interior also looks rather nice on this one. The seller claims a genuine 67,000 miles, and judging by the state of the interior I think that this is quite feasible. There doesn’t appear to be any sign of cracks or tears of any sort, and there really doesn’t appear to be much in the way of discoloration. The factory radio is also intact. The seller states that the car has never seen a Winter and has rarely seen rain. Judging by the look of the garage in which some of these photos have been taken, the Z28 has had a rather cozy home during the colder months.
There are no photos of under the hood for this one, which I find really disappointing for a car of this caliber. What I can tell you is that nestling under the hood is a 350ci 4-barrel backed by an auto box. If the information is correct then everything is original. During its 39 years, all that has been replaced is the tires, the headers, and the master cylinder. As you can see from this shot the trunk presents as well as the rest of the car.
Looking online reveals a reasonable number of these up for sale. As far as price goes this one sits in about the middle of the price range, and perhaps even slightly below middle. Mileage is low for a 39-year-old car, but this doesn’t seem to be particularly unusual for a Z28. The thing that makes this one stand out for me above others that I’ve looked at is the color. To me that just “pops”. Does it pop for you?
And ……
It’s gone !
No surprise it didn’t last. I don’t like that generation of Camaro and even I think the blue is sharp.
Clean car and it is a popular style with some enthusiasts. No loss on not providing an underhood picture, there really wasn’t much to see by 1979.
Even the license plate is body color…Was that an option that year?
All Wisconsin collector plates are blue. When this car was new the plates were yellow.
Someone saw the same value in this I did, and *KAPOOF!* it’s sold! Try finding another this nice for same money; you can’t!
Man, 39 years old. Wow. I had a ’78 in Dark Blue-Green with gold stripes and black interior in high school. Mine was a 4-speed. It was of course not 39 years old back then but only 7, and things were starting to fall apart a bit. The interior door pulls were broken, power steering went out, it was getting rust around the rear wheel wells, A/C stopped blowing cold, etc. Fun to drive but not particularly well built.
I kept the VIN and did an online search on my DMV’s website and found it was junked in 1994. Quite frankly, I’m surprised it lasted that long. So it’s pretty amazing to see one in this condition at nearly 40.
Your search for your old car reminded me of a TV pilot about people searching for a classic car they used to own. I thought it was mentioned on this website. It sounded like a great premise. Does anyone remember this and, if so, know if the show will ever air?
Yeah those are cool stories. Mine is obviously a washing machine or refrigerator at this point, and as I indicated I was not at all surprised, but sometimes people find the cars.
It can be pretty challenging to track them though because the DMVs normally do not give out owner personal information. So it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack, especially for older cars. Newer cars you can at least use a Carfax to at least narrow down the town the car was last registered in.
I did a CARFAX search on my first new car – an ’81 Camaro.
I sold it in ’85 in almost new condition.
All traces of the car disappeared after ’93. I was a bit disappointed that it wasn’t still alive and kicking. I have some material (original sales invoice, etc) that I would have passed onto them. I guess I’ll keep them for sentimental value.
I love the color.
The color coded wheels make this car stand out.
I can’t believe plastic cars are bringing so much money.
I had a dark blue 81 Z28 but liked my dark red 74 better.
well,we loved them back in the day
Had a ’79 Z-28 back in 1980. Mine was the Medium Green color with the same color interior. Apparently a rare color / interior combo, with only about 141 cars produced that year in that combo.
Car unfortunately died in a head on collision on a two lane highway 6 months after I bought it, with an older fellow in a 1974 Mercury Comet 4 door.
I do miss that car.
And fortunately you didn’t die with it!
I owned so many Camaro’s that when my Wife was pregnant with our first I told everyone that his name was going to be Camaro. I was just pulling their leg. Anyway this is not my favorite gen Camaro but it would be very nice to have with a Tremec 6sd, a fresh 383 stroker, 12 bolt, and suspension upgrades.
I have an 81 Z28 that is just about complete white with blue interior. They were built pretty cheaply then and I’ve added frame connectors and all the emissions hardware. It’s a head turner and so fun to blast around in.
Interesting to get the AU perspective on this site. I’ve been five times to Australia and was fortunate enough to attend the Melbourne auto show in 2005. Saw the last Holden Monaro to be produced at that show. I was sad to see GM shut down Holden. Love the 1979 Z28.
Drove a Chevy SS (AU produced). Super impressed with the build quality.
I actually have a light blue 79 Berlinetta that I got for my first car and daily everyday. It’s almost as slow as Christmas with the factory 305 but a really fun and interesting car.
Mullet popper.
Sharp!!
I love the same year Trans Am(preferably with the last of the real Pontiac 400 V8s and 4-speed) in the similar(same?) color that Pontiac called Atlantis Blue.
Too bad Chevy didn’t have anything like the poncho W72 option…
Sweet cars that remind me of my childhood (born in 70, so these were among the cool cars I looked for as I came of car-appreciation age.).
Never owned one.
Found out that a neighbor of a friend of mine has a car identical to this one in his garage. Original owner. This makes me want to go ask for a ride.
The above comment from Superdessucke reminds me about how quickly cars rusted and fell apart back then, and what was considered “old” vs today’s vehicles.
Nice car. I originally ordered the exact same car back in the fall of 78…back then you had to order them in the spring if you stood any kind of chance to get one the next spring…..anyway…my ordered car was late on arrival and this one came in the dealership I was working for on a Saturday and I fell in love with the white and blue combo…I bought it right away….I show it at all the Midwest area car shows I get a chance to….It has survived a divorce and three kids..This car is still all original except for tires and battery…..The comments I hear the most are “I used to have one like this back in the day” and “Wish I still had mine”
The color is nice, but it’s just another bow tie! However this is when GM made a fairly decent car! I could never bring myself to purchase any bow tie tho!
I have the exact same car, bright blue metallic. I have the aluminum wheels. I bought it new in 1979.
I own the 61k mile twin to this car. Faded original paint, mint interior and trunk. Ive owned it 18 years and have yet to register it.
The Channel 9 Bathurst Camaro.
That is far prettier than the puke green 79 camaro my ex wife bought 2 weeks before we got married. That one blew the piston rings at 12,684 miles. They wouldn’t fix it under warranty. I traded it for a used Green Bug that was also a POS. That 305 engine was garbage that year.
Believe it or not, some people actually took good care,of some of these types of cars.Although l believe most of these car’s, had 305/V8’S,l think you could get the bigger 350/V8,but only California, and or high-performance, dealer,and or special order.Back in the 90’S,my Dad had a grey on grey edition, it was very clean,only needed a master cylinder, he fixed it, and resold it,and made a little money,so if engine is clean,and most everything works, this is good, although 20-30k way to high 1500.00-10k ,maybe.