When we talk about the cars and trucks out there that still represent fantastic value for enthusiasts, the fourth-generation Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird should be on all of our short lists. These cars have seemingly been left behind by other muscle machines like the Fox body Mustang and preceding generation of their namesake, but the styling is killer and the performance still respectable in cars like this 1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 convertible listed here on craigslist with the rarely-seen 6-speed manual.
This is a seriously good-looking car. Whenever a convertible looks just as attractive with its top up or down, I’m going to call it a win design-wise. The way the convertible roof stows completely out of sight is a rarity with drop-tops, especially American cars designed in the early 90s. The wheel choice is also on-point with this Camaro, which the seller simply refers to as “custom.” Based on a quick search, they look like Fikse FM5 wheels to me, which is a very nice upgrade. The color is also one of my favorites, which appears to be dark green metallic.
The gray interior is a terrific combo with the exterior color, and of course, the big story here is the 6-speed manual. I will never understand why so few Camaros and Firebirds from the 80s and 90s got three pedals when the manual option made them both infinitely more fun to drive and certainly quicker. If every automatic car was turned into a 1/4 mile dragster, I’d understand the automatic preference, but otherwise, go for the stick! The seller notes that there’s just over 68,000 miles on the clock, which is quite low for the year.
The LT1 V8 pushes out a respectable 275 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. That’s plenty of push in a car with three pedals and shockingly, I see no performance modifications aside from an aftermarket cold air intake. The seller doesn’t discuss any other alterations from stock but it sits low enough that I could believe there’s some aftermarket suspension bits installed. The tires are new along with the soft top and a touchscreen head unit. The oil’s been changed and so has the rear differential fluid, so you’re pretty much ready to rock this summer. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip.
Fast cars. 6sp and convertible. Nice.