Sometimes, low mileage doesn’t guarantee pristine condition (and conversely, high mileage doesn’t mean a car is tired.) This 1991 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 is a desirable model, and while it at one time was a slicktop – meaning it didn’t have the T-top roof – someone did install an aftermarket sunroof. It comes on the desirable factory wheels that the later models rode on, and while the paint is tired due to clearcoat failure, it still presents fairly well. Some mechanical work will be needed to get the Camaro to run better, but it still runs and drives as it sits. Find the Camaro here on craigslist with just 73,000 miles and a firm price of $6,400.
73K is a fine number for a 1991 model of anything, but it’s even more meaningful on a collector-grade car with a following. If I’ve learned anything over the last few years, it’s that selling cars requires a few different factors working in your favor – and one of them is low mileage. Buyers just seem to want cars with under 100,000 on the clock, as if that somehow means future mechanical faults will be minimal. Not so, as even this car shows us it will likely need new injectors to run correctly. But the upside to low mileage projects is that once the cosmetics and drivetrain needs are addressed, you’re far more likely to recoup some of that investment.
The Camaro features the preferred 5.7L V8 paired to the 700R4 automatic transmission. It looks quite clean under the hood, with no staining of the valve covers from prolonged oil leaks, hoses that still look fairly fresh, and factory stickers / labels still in good shape and adhered to the proper location on the radiator shroud. The seller doesn’t go into any deep dive on mechanical history and/or maintenance records, but one would hope a car that hasn’t been modified and was driven sparingly was previously someone’s weekend toy that was lavished with plenty of proactive servicing. The seller notes that eight new injectors are included in the sale, and that the fuel pump and tires are both fairly new.
The good news is there’s little doubt the mileage is as low as reported. The seat upholstery shows no obvious flaws, and certainly doesn’t look like it’s been beaten up like a daily driver would be. The same goes for the back seat, which shows next to no signs of use. The door panels are in the same state, but the dashboard is cracked. If you wanted to see your money back out of this car someday, you would likely need to address the clearcoat failure and the injectors at a minimum; fixing the dash may make sense, too, depending on how involved the process of removal is. Overall, this is a sharp Camaro with good bones that will present even better once the paint issues are addressed and it’s back to running like a top.
This one I like! the L98 was easy to work on, paint isn’t hard to sort as long as the body underneath is solid, interior is clean and these are starting to come up in value enough to make it worth the effort. Priced within reason too.
Nice!
Agree with Jim. You could have a lot of fun with this car and values are probably on the upswing because they tended to get badly abused by the eventual high school owner.
Freddy got fingered….
I have owned both a 305 TPI 5-speed and a 350 TPI automatic in Third Generation F bodies. This is one very rare case where I prefer the automatic version. The L98 350 is a far superior engine to the LB9 305. There’s just no doubt about it.
anything was better than a 305…..even an old 307….would be a good money pit IMHO….lol..good investment.
I had the 88 version of this car and the 350 engine made it a blast to drive . Car actually would handle very nice. Wife was mad when we traded it on the 89 Turbo Trans Am.
Wasn’t the ’89 turbo “buick” t/a a lot faster? & when you sold it, didn’t you make a lot of money to spend on the family, as opposed to if you kept & later sold the very common chevy for a lot less?
That Turbo Trans Am was one of the fastest cars I have owned not the same as the Redeye Challenger I have now but a very fun car.With a growing family I sold that Trans Am and got the wife a SSEi Pontiac and I also bought a 70 L-78 Chevelle to restore. The Camaro was a distant memory of a fun car that i would never own again. Really should have kept the Gran National that I sold to get that Camaro.I was young back then LoL
There is something suspicious about the gauge cluster on this thing RPM is maxed out, odometer numbers do not line up.
The car is not moving and would appear the the engine is running or ignition is on acc, but that doesn’t explain the RPM
I think the tach & voltmeter are broken &/or are not connected (properly).
& the engine is runnin a little hot.
Why the need for “unleaded gas only” in ’91? & why put that under the tach – someone might think the tach was a huge weird fuel gage. lol
I had the exact same car back in the day except mine was white and no sunroof. I believe the L98 had 245hp which wasn’t bad compared to what else was out there back then. I had the same rims and it was painted body color everywhere in between the flat metal front. It would be constantly dirty every few days from the brake dust. I remember using some soft scrubbing compound my Mom used for the grout in the shower to get it clean lol. Last white car I ever owned but nice.
“Some mechanical work will be needed to get the Camaro to run better, but it still runs and drives as it sits.”
You pays your money and you takes your chances!
I must be getting old – I thought “slick-top” meant an un-marked highway patrol car
I think that is what would be called ‘creative made-up term’.
Keith, You did the right thing, especially if you still have the turbo bird!
Agree that these cars are finally getting some love and also agree that the 305 in them was a joke.
At least the 350 gave it some guts.
Are these the years that you couldn’t get a 350 with a manual and had to take a 305 if you wanted one you could shift yourself?
But, the Vette had a manual?
Just shows how little respect a shift it yourself sporty car was getting back then.
In ’99 when I bought a Z/28 new, the “standard” transmission was an automatic and the 6 speed manual was a no cost option.
The CL link goes to a Honda Civic
Does this surprise anybody?