Have you ever looked at a particular classic and wondered if it is the ultimate version of its type? That is the question posed by this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28. The first owner ordered the car with the Rally Sport package, while the V8 hiding beneath the hood features the ultra-desirable Cross-Ram induction setup. It presents superbly and is guaranteed to draw crowds of admirers like moths to a flame. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting the Z28 listed here on eBay in Jackson, New Jersey. Of course, cars of this type come at a price, and this one will lighten the buyer’s wallet by $225,000, although there is the option to make an offer.
The 1969 model year marked the end of the line for Chevrolet’s First Generation Camaro range. It was also the year that the Z28 cemented its place in the range. Sales volumes grew from 602 cars in 1967 to an impressive 20,302 vehicles in 1969. Our featured Z28 is one of those cars, and its presentation is simply superb. The seller states that it recently underwent a rotisserie restoration, and the result justified the effort. The Tuxedo Black paint appears flawless, cloaking panels that are laser-straight. Rust isn’t an issue, and the White stripes provide a wonderful contrast to the Black paint. The first owner added to the Camaro’s appeal by ticking the box on their Order Form beside the Rally Sport package, meaning that this car sports the distinctive grille with concealed headlamps and the appropriate badges across the exterior. The trim is as impressive as you would rightly expect, and the tinted glass is crystal clear.
It is often said that racing improves the breed, and this Z28 proves it. Chevrolet developed the package to deliver success in the 5.0-liter category in the cut-throat Trans Am Series. The company produced a glorious 302ci V8 delivering a factory-claimed 290hp and 290 ft/lbs of torque. However, it is widely believed that Chevrolet significantly underestimated both figures, and the performance the Z28 provided seemed to support that. This car also features a four-speed manual transmission, power steering, and the JL8 Posi rear end with four-wheel power disc brakes. Sitting atop the V8 is the glorious Cross-Ram induction system, which was a dealer-fitted option. The seller confirms that the Camaro is numbers-matching, although the motor wears aftermarket headers. They state that the car runs and drives better than it did in 1969, a claim I find very plausible.
If this Camaro has a weakness, it won’t be found inside this classic. The Deluxe interior features White vinyl and Houndstooth cloth trim, a console, the sports gauge package, and the elegant Rosewood tilt wheel. Combine the wheel with the faux timber covering sections of the console and dash, and this Camaro manages to combine a sense of purpose with a luxurious feel. As with the rest of the car, there is nothing about the interior that warrants criticism. If you parked the Z28 on a Chevrolet showroom floor, it wouldn’t look out of place.
This 1969 Camaro Z28 almost took my breath away when the listing crossed my desk. I couldn’t find anything to fault, because the seller’s attention to detail in the restoration is exceptional. That makes me wonder what the car’s fate will be when it heads to a new home. Chevrolet designed the Z28 to be driven and enjoyed. However, the asking price and its seemingly perfect presentation lead me to believe that it will spend more time on the show circuit than prowling the streets. What would you do if you were fortunate enough to park this Camaro in your garage? Would you admire it for hours, restricting its outings to car shows? Or would you hit the road to enjoy this classic as its makers intended?
An intriguing question, Adam. It’s a pricey and exclusive Chevrolet icon but yet it’d be a shame to let it to set and molder. Car shows? Sure, but it deserves more. Drive it regularly? It’d love it but with the increased allocation of nitwits focused on their distractions that could be so nerve racking as to take a great deal of the enjoyment from driving.
Magnificent machine, sir, good choice. A rarity to find such a prize ride. Regardless of my inability to do any more than salivate on the screen it lends itself to bygone days that saw this available for pennies on the dollar and dream of what could have been had the crystal ball been a little more telling.
Yea. Agree 10000% about the distracted idiots. I’m almost starting to regret some of my “junk pile” investment. H-Ds and hotrods all better than new and i really don’t trust taking them out. Over 2 years ago > was rear-ended at a red light in my clunker van. The insurance still hasn’t paid for the van. Could you imagine trying to get paid for a “new” 65 Malibu ss?
Drive it, obviously. Which is why I wouldn’t spend a duce and a quarter on one.
Cars that trade hands for a fraction of this one often are often relegated to the garage only to be taken out for an occasional show. The more expensive, the less incentive there is to drive it, especially when there is considerable traffic.
I’d want to see this cars documentation and have it inspected, if possible by someone that’s an expert with regards to first generation Camaros. There were a lot of “Holy Grail” cars assembled by owners in the 1980’s and early-1990’s when adding options during restoration was often more important than originality.
Steve R
I can see things that are incorrect from the pictures, but to each their own. BTW JL8 is 4-wheel disc brake option, not rear end. Good luck.
Like Steve said, I’d like to have Jerry MacNeish inspect it, especially at this price point. The cross ram was an “over the counter” part and was never installed at the factory. There’s no mention if the intake and carb’s are an original Chevy parts. The JL8 was a VERY rare option and I’d like to see the documentation to support that as well. No mention of a build sheet, window sticker or POP. I’m always amazed that sellers are more concerned with the asking price, than the documentation.
An extremely well documented Z/28 RS went RNM on Bring a Trailer for $150 large and that was a gorgeous example. $225k is over the top for 99.9% of car collectors.
And part of the “total” cross ram package had the cam changed as well. There is no mention of that.
I tend to agree on an expert inspection.
I’m surprised to see headers and a non-stock type exhaust on this sort of build. Also, the air door and actuator at the back of the scoop is missing, and the hood is steel which would be super rare as many, or most, crossram hoods were fiberglass. X33, for style trim Z/28, is coded on the cowl tag, but the D80 code for the spoilers is not. There are dashes on the cowl tag where the paint code should be. Not sure what that means. Should be 10 for black. At this pricepoint, and without documentation, the halo status of this Camaro should be subject to some pretty fine scrutiny.
There was a green Z in town that a pair of drag racers bought and pulled the 302 for their rail dragster. It was exactly like this except it was green, four wheel disc, cross ram, 4speed and all. I passed on it for $800.00 and lost track of it. The first thing I thought when I saw it was why did they pull the motor, the car was very nice and should have been left alone, but hey, stupid crap happened back in the early 80’s. I heard that it was getting a complete restoration by a Camaro expert and I wonder if they found the original motor for it.
Take it to Goodwood and thrash it on the track.
Otherwise, that’s lots of money for a rare intake set up that will get you zero extra looks driving down the road.
I agree that someone either ordered the most perfectly equipped Z/28 or it was imagined at a later date. It’s beautiful and doesn’t seem to be missing anything. Do your research. They’ll have it a while at that price.
Really nice car! For 225k it better not need a thing, and even come with a full tank of premium gas. I didn’t see a pic of the trunk inside but it better be correct too. I will be watching to see if it sells.
A beautiful split window C2 for $150K and this Camaro asking $225K ? I’d definitely go for the C2. When you get to these prices for a Camaro considering that it is only “eye candy”, the Corvette is higher on that recognized scale. Everyone knows this split window coupe is more likely to be driven on a beautiful day for everyone to enjoy and recognized because the rarity of the one year body style. When you pay almost a quarter million for a Camaro, you’ll never drive this car on the street. It will be a forever protected Eye Candy kept in it’s wrapper for the new owner only to enjoy.
Based on the I-70 traffic, there was a muscle car show somewhere around Hagerstown MD last weekend. A lot of cars on the highway were trailer queens on open flat beds, and they were nowhere near this level of “value”.
Do they just unload them, drive around the fairgrounds a little bit, and then sit around talking about it all day? Maybe there’s a cruise involved, and maybe not. The thunderstorms in the area would’ve dampened any cruising appetite for the trailer queens.
So this car would require an enclosed trailer, for protection from the elements, hide from the lookey-loos on the highway that try to harass you with thumbs up, and unfortunately, from thieves. This car would likely never participate in any cruise ever again.
Obviously, other people do, I don’t get any of this. It all sounds like work for very little payoff.
I agree with Steve R and KHayes on having someone like MacNiesh do an inspection to make sure this car is a real one built with rare options. As far as trailering cars to car shows I don’t get it either. I guess that’s why restomods with EFI and overdrive transmissions are so popular because you can drive them to and from anywhere with confidence and actually enjoy driving. Driving a stock muscle car with poor low speed drivability and turning 3500 rpm at 60 mph is not a relaxing road trip. This car is garage art.
The U17 optional gauge package was added during the restoration. The gauge package included a clock in the center between the speedo and tach which this car doesn’t have. Everyone who adds the console gauges forgets about this or doesn’t know. I too question the 4 wheel disc brakes. Only installed on 602 cars. The POP would tell. Check the calipers up front. Standard disc came with a single piston while the 4 wheel disc brake option came with dual piston calipers from the Corvette. I tend to think these options were added. Nice to have but I think it’s over priced. IMHO GLWTS
Only a quarter mill to own a legendary classic !
looks like the owner is open to offers
Wow! Just like mine from 1971! Except mine was white with black stripes and the white houndstooth interior and black vinyl top…. and just one 780 single pumper… and NON-RS… and front disc only… and 52k miles. Owned it for 31 months and was lucky enough at 78k miles to get $900 trade-in on a brand new 73 Pinto station wagon, 4 cyl/4 speed. Still counting my lucky stars…