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.
I’m surprised someone hasn’t grabbed it. My only nit to pick is the color. Neat car!
Nice looking car. Colour and interior. Love it!
A slightly later year manual SS convertible is on my want list.
I’m glad that it “breaks good”. I love that typo!
Yeah I think the 98’s got the LS.
Funny how the name “Corvette” doesn’t even get a mention when describing the Camaro LT1, but BF can’t resist trying to link an iron head B body LT1 motor to the Corvette. LOL! The Camaro has aluminum heads and is more like the Corvette motor in that respect. Rant over.
The T56 is a great transmission and changes the whole personality of the car. The interior here looks good even though it’s in a convertible. This looks like a well cared for car.
This looks like a fun car.. The design is my favorite in later year Camaros, it reminds me of the styling of the Sebring convertible I had, only better looking in my opinion.
Dave I don’t understand the B body and iron head references as this fourth gen Camaro is an F body and most definitely has aluminum heads, at least mine did. Educate me.
You got some of my point. Yes the Camaro heads are aluminum as are the Corvette’s. Therefore the Camaro engine has more in common with the Corvette engine than the B body engine, yet when a B body is featured here BF always try to link it to the Corvette. So here we are with a Camaro LT1 that BF doesn’t feel the need to link to the Corvette. B bodies of this era also had an “LT1”, at least that’s what Chevrolet tried to tell us. The only thing that the B body iron head LT1 shares with the Corvette is the intake manifold and the opti-spark. The core engines are completely different. Different heads, cams, compression ratio. Last I checked that’s where the HP is.
I know many might pooh pooh the CAI, but it really is necessary in these cars. F-bodies without that beautiful Ram Air snoot at the front of the hood have a hell of a time with both cooling and air intake. They pull from a tiny spot near the driver’s side fender, and then air passage gets choked on the way to the intake in a tube that narrow to about two inches — PLUS these cars had a weird offshoot on the plastic part of the intake that dropped like a necktie behind the radiator (I think for noise mitigation?). Anyway, this fellow did what many of us do (I have a 95 Formula): install a CAI with less-restrictive ducting and jam (this is an assumption for this car) a giant conical air filter in the fender hollow in front of the DS front wheel. That is where the factory intake pulls air from anyway. The only downside is filter installation/changing/cleaning, which requires you to pull the front wheel and pull back the plastic fender well for access. Well worthwhile though!
[disclaimer: not sure if anyone needed or wanted this info, but I never get to talk about my Molotov Cockatiel and I love that car. This generation of F-body is a joy on curvy roads because of the weight distribution — the engine being jammed halfway under the dash, well behind the front wheels instead of over them, makes handling a dream. The LT1 optispark takes a lot of crap but it is easy to replace and, if the car is not counted on as a daily or expected to drive in conditions other than sunny days, it probably won’t cause issues. Enjoy rear main leaks, because they are standard, and have fun changing those rear plugs (seriously, befriend somebody with tiny arms and hands if you are going to be under the hood of these cars)]
The rear china wall of the intake leaked on mine, that can be mis-diagnosed as a rear main.
Nice car..probably the top leaks but..it would go anywhere..love the 6 speed…I gotta buy one one day
.it will be a 6speed…rj