The listing states 1968 Z28 with paperwork. The emphasis is on the paperwork more so than the actual car. And there may be a reason for that so we should take a close look and see what’s what. After all, a for-real ’68 Camaro Z28 is one of Chevrolet’s more collectible cars and they don’t surface often. This Z is located in Carefree, Arizona and is available, here on craigslist for $30,000. Thanks to rex m for this discovery!
Parts is parts, right? Well, not when they’re off of an uber collectible like this one of 7,199 ’68 Camaro Z28’s produced – they become more exalted. And this Z28 is divided into two distinct groups of parts so there’s a lot here to consider. First-generation Z28’s (’67-’69) have become for Chevrolet what late ’60s Plymouth and Dodges are for Mopar fans – just take a look at this ‘69 Dodge Charger post from earlier in the week. The switch flipped on these Z28’s several years ago and ever since it has been like Coo Coo for Cocoa Puffs, the prices are outsized and the condition doesn’t seem to matter.
Paperwork is nice but I’d like to see an image of the VIN, one of the trim tag, and finally, the build sheet – none of those have been recorded. There’s only one image of the body of the car (the opening image) and it’s not possible to gauge much. The seller makes mention that this is a non-cowl hood/non-rear spoiler car. It’s a non-cowl hood edition because that option was only available in ’69 (RPO ZL2) and then a weak repeat in around 1980. There was a cowl induction air system that fed air from the passenger-side cowl vent, down through the firewall and into a modified air cleaner, perhaps that’s what the seller is alluding to. As for the rear spoiler, I have never seen a first-gen Z28 without a rear spoiler but the ’68 Z28 brochure lists it as RPO D80 ($32.68) so I guess that was optional. The seller mentions that the body of this Camaro is finished in Seafrost green, code PP (not Seafoam) but it looks more like British Green, code ZZ which was a common ’68 Z28 color, or so it seems, as I recall many finished in that hue. Actually, the only one of these that I have ever driven was so painted.
What makes a first-gen Z28 a Z28 is the 290 gross HP 302 CI V8 and that’s what this Camaro possesses, its original 302 engine – no mean feat. Unfortunately, it’s out of the car and in long-block form. It has, however, along with its Muncie four-speed manual transmission, been rebuilt. The seller adds, “Have Most Engine & body parts to put back together“, “most” being the watchword.
The interior looks about as one would expect for a Camaro in this condition. The black vinyl seats look OK and the cool tilted console engine gauges are in place. The correct 6000 RPM redline tachometer is also located where it should be in the right side instrument panel binnacle. The carpet looks shot but that’s expected and a minor matter.
Real deal? Probably but the documentation is just that, paper documentation and not helpful if it can’t be connected to the car via its VIN and trim tag – curious those aren’t shown and certainly items that should be requested by a prospective buyer. Considering the asking price, the sales presentation is rather lacking – I’d want more, and it may be available for the asking. After all, this 1968 Camaro Z28 might be located in Carefree but putting it back together is going to be more than a carefree experience, wouldn’t you agree?
This was the car that taught me cubic inches weren’t the end all, be all of power. To a kid who cringed when hitting 4500 RPM, the sound of the 302 was astounding. I kept expecting that odd noise that happens when a bearing spins or a piston seizes the engine. I had been trained to not abuse the machinery, yet all my fun was doing just that.
The car would be nice to work on and fix up,but the price is too high. The saler is looking at what the car is worth fixed up . Lets see some under carriage pictures. It takes alot to time ,money and seaching for parts. ORIGINAL PARTS—-NOT THIS MADE IN CHINA JUNK. Alot of these cars fixed up has alot of made in China parts on them. Which drivers the price of the car down. The people who does Will not tell you.. They are alot of scammers out their dealing in FIXED up old cars. They also won,t tell you its a felony and if they burn you. You won,t have an alternative. Look around and you can find alot nicer car for alot less.
$30K is what you think a “fixed up” 68 Z/28 is worth? Please tell me where I can buy some restored, real 68 Z/28’s for $30K. Nicely restored 68 SS’s sell for twice that, and 68 Z’s for considerably more.
About 5 years ago I was hired by a customer to find 67 and 68 Z/28’s, for their car collection. One car I found was a yellow 68 RS, vinyl top, custom interior, cowl air cleaner, Z/28. It had been in storage for 20+ years and was all original, but needed a full restoration. The asking price was $54K (plus my 8% finder’s fee). As an FYI, after word got out about the car, I had people offering me considerably more for info on the car, but I made sure the car went to my original customer, for our originally agreed upon fee.
To the writer, while the trim tag will identify the car’s original colors, in 68 it is of no help in identifying whether the car is a true Z/28 or not. Only 67 trim tags, and the Norwood OH tags used after December 69, will identify a Camaro as a Z/28.
Though many 69 Z/28’s were ordered with the optional spoiler package, this was not the case in 67 or 68. Spoilers were not a production option in 67, and only became available in late 67 as “over the counter” parts. D80 first became an RPO in 68, with about 15K 68 Camaro’s of all types being ordered with the spoiler package.
gbvette62
Great education for those unaware it’s what we enthusiast call a “Good One”
I agree with gbvette62. Good luck finding a restored 1968 Z28 for $30K. You might find a fake one for that price but not a real one.
gbvette 62, the story I heard on spoilers is the “D-80” spoiler was standard on 69 Z/28’s and the option was called “Spoiler delete.” I was told that there was also a “Stripe delete” option. If the buyer chose either delete option, there was no credit. You gott’a love GM. There’s a reason I haven’t bought a new vehicle from them since 1977.
I have one 69 Z/28 that was a spoiler delete car. I started chasing it in 1974 when the original owner brought it from LA to Northwestern PA, we weren’t sure it was a real Z/28 because it didn’t have spoilers. I caught up with it 20 years later, still no spoilers. I put spoilers on it when I restored it, I just didn’t like the way it looked without spoilers.
If you have any other information on the spoiler “standard vs. spoiler delete” stuff, please let me know.
Camaro Joe
So sad to hear you altered the rare originality of a factory non spoiler 1969 Z-28 as they have actually become more desirable in combination with rear antenna simplicity at it’s finest…
My first car was a ’68 Rally Sport with the Z-28 option, if that’s the correct way to say it . I bought it off a used car lot in 1974 for $1895.
It was maroon with white stripes and hideaway headlights.
It had a 302 with solid lifters, a Holley 4bbl, and a Muncie 4 speed.
At the time I worked at a service station and when the boss and coworkers heard the loping idle, they said there’s no way it had a stock cam in it .
So, I saved up my meager pay and ordered a new Z-28 cam from the Chevy garage down the street. I spent a Saturday putting it in and it idled exactly the same way afterwards. I guess they were wrong. LOL
I ended up selling it off some years later, never realizing the potential collector value.
A correctly restored real 68 Z would probably go for around $100K if it has the original motor. Hopefully being in Arizona the body will be good but it will depend on where it’s been before. I know of a lot of interesting cars in my burg including a 69 Z with 4 wheel discs and crossram that hasn’t seen daylight in 40 years and a 67 Z that my brother in law has worked on, mostly original but had a auto installed at some point.
I owned 4 68 z-28s through the years. one had the rear spoiler. Also they where all originaly corvette bronze-no joke,2 had the guage package and only one still had the original MO code 302. I used to get so much guff from people that thought they knew z-cars about that engine saying it should have the DZ motor,That is for 69. I knew a fair amount them. That little camaro fact book :The white book for 67-69 had a lot of good info. BTW 30k for this 68 is a deal if its still solid and complete.lol I still have the original ft fender z-28 emblems. The car had a wrecked nose and those never got back on the car.
Yes ! When I sold my ’68 Z back in the 70’s , the dealer was adamant that I made sure the motor had an MO code on it.
Unfortunately,I didn’t understand the significance of it then.