It is said that racing improves the breed, and nowhere is this more graphically demonstrated than in this 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28/RS. Chevrolet built these road cars as lightly camouflaged racers as they searched for success in the cut-and-thrust of Trans Am competition. This car isn’t merely a meticulously restored vehicle that can take your breath away. It is also home to some prototype components that elevated the Z28’s performance to a new level. The owner has decided to part with this fantastic classic, so he has listed it for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Sacramento, California, and the owner has set the sale price at $70,000. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder rex m for referring this absolute gem to us.

It is hard to know where to start with a car like this Tripoli Turquoise Camaro. While this color was not the most popular offered by Chevrolet in 1968, it still managed to grace the panels of 10,817 cars. How many of these also wore a Z28 badge is impossible to verify. The presentation of this classic is nothing short of magnificent because a previous owner treated it to a meticulous rotisserie restoration, which I believe was performed around 2005. The panels have been carefully massaged so that they are, if anything, better than they were when the car was new. There are no signs of ripples or other defects, making the perfect base to apply the stunning Turquoise paint. This shines beautifully, with an incredible depth of color and no evidence of any scratches or chips. Since the restoration was completed, the Camaro has always been kept in climate-controlled storage to preserve its pristine state. It wears the correct spoilers, stripes, and the distinctive RS grille with the concealed headlights. These components are as faultless as the rest of the exterior. The chrome and the Rally wheels appear to be flawless, while the same is true of the glass.

I didn’t think that it was possible, especially after 16-years, but the underside of this Camaro presents as impressively as the exterior. The floors and frame wear a consistent coat of Black, and there’s no evidence of corrosion anywhere. It is common to find restorations of this type where the suspension components have started to exhibit surface corrosion. That is not the case with this classic because it looks as clean today as it would have the day it rolled off the production line. Therefore, potential buyers can be reasonably confident that they will be handing over their hard-earned cash for a vehicle that is completely rust-free.

It is when we lift this Z28’s hood that we strike gold with this car. Chevrolet developed the Z28 in search of success in the prestigious Trans Am Championship. Due to the rule structure, they did not have a vehicle within their product range that met the engine regulations and would be competitive. The governing body had set the maximum capacity at 305ci. While Chevrolet had the 283 that it could’ve fallen back upon, the company decided that this engine didn’t possess the development scope required to be an effective racing weapon. The remaining V8s in the Camaro range exceeded the 305 rule, so Chevrolet created a “Frankenstein” of a motor. Using or modifying existing small-block V8 parts, the company produced a high-revving engine that was ideal for Trans Am competition, and it came with a capacity of 301.6ci. Chevrolet claimed a power output of 290hp, and this was one of those moments when they should be glad that they weren’t like Pinocchio. That sweet small-block produced that figure at around 5,300rpm, but the nature of these engines meant that it actually achieved peak power at somewhere closer to 6,700rpm. Precise figures aren’t known, but the truth is believed to lay somewhere in the region of 360hp when each Z28 rolled off the production line. If Pinocchio had quoted the “official” figure, his nose would’ve been about a mile long! The company rounded out the package by equipping the Z28 with an M21 4-speed manual transmission, a 12-bolt Posi rear end, and power front disc brakes. This is one of those cars where the ¼ mile ET doesn’t tell the real story of its performance potential. A figure of 15.2 seconds is hardly earth-shattering, but that was due to the nature of the Z28 motor. It produced relatively little torque down low and only sprung into life when the engine had some revs on board. The ¼-mile figure wasn’t great, but the Z28 could roar all the way to 131mph. This Z28 is a numbers-matching car, and the drivetrain is as healthy as the panels and paint. However, this is a car that has another ace hidden up its sleeve. You will note that the 302 wears a Cross Ram intake and a pair of Holley carburetors. These were available as a factory item that owners could purchase from the Parts Department at their local Chevrolet dealership. Those with mechanical skills could fit the components themselves, while some left the spanner work to the dealership. This system was another development to improve racing performances, but the average owner could secure the entire system for around $500. The unit bolted to this car is no reproduction, but nor is it a production part. This whole setup is actually a Chevrolet prototype system, and the owner has the documentation to confirm this. It was the brainchild of legendary engineer Jerry Thompson, who developed it for Chevrolet. It is believed that the Cross Ram system added at least an additional 25hp to the 302, making it a potent piece of equipment. The icing on this cake is that a previous owner managed to convince Mr. Thompson to apply his autograph to one of the front inner fenders as a souvenir, and you can see his signature clearly in this photo. The Camaro comes with a significant collection of documentation, including the dyno sheets for this engine.

Turning our attention to the interior, and it really is a case of “more of the same” when it comes to the question of condition. It is upholstered in a combination of black vinyl and houndstooth cloth, and there are no visible faults to report. The upholstery is free from wear and damage, as is the carpet. The dash appears to be spotless, as does the console with the sports gauge cluster. There have been no aftermarket additions, but the woodgrain wheel and the oh-so-cool Tic-Toc-Tach add the perfect finishing touches to this factory-fresh interior.

Writing about a neglected and decaying classic that has been unearthed in a barn isn’t easy, but writing about a car like this 1968 Camaro Z28/RS is even harder. It is hard to convey what the seller is offering without coming across like some love-struck fanboy viewing the vehicle through rose-colored glasses. The truth is that this car deserves that level of admiration because every aspect of it presents so superbly. The prototype Cross Ram intake system adds a further string to its bow, but determining how much it adds to the value is difficult to determine accurately. When you consider market trends and recent sales results, the sale price looks to be extremely competitive. While writing about this Camaro, I had a bit of a poke around on the internet. Lo-and-behold, I discovered a prior sale for this car in 2013 where it fetched $100,000. I also learned that it was advertised in December of 2020 for a cool $109,499. Some people subscribe to the expression that he who hesitates is lost, while others believe that fools rush in where angels fear to tread. If you’d rushed in back in December, you would have lightened your wallet by a six-figure sum. Now, you can still buy this Z28, but you’ll keep a healthy $39,499 in your bank account. That could make it worthy of a closer look.