Finding a classic car that has been owned by one person for an extended period is always reassuring. This generally means that the vehicle has been treated with a certain level of respect that has helped it to survive for all of those years. Finding a one-owner car like this 1981 Camaro Z/28 is better still. When an owner keeps a vehicle like this for 39-years, you can be pretty sure that it is a car that he loves and cherishes. This owner has decided that the time has come to part with the Camaro, which is located in Woodruff, South Carolina. It has been listed for sale here on eBay. While healthy bidding has pushed the price along to $13,655, the reserve hasn’t been met.

The Camaro is finished in Red, and while the color is original, the paint isn’t. The owner recently chose to treat the Z/28 to a cosmetic refresh. This involved a repaint that was performed to a high standard and the replacement of all of the distinctive stripes and decals. All of the weather seals were replaced, including the ones for the optional T-Top. The result of this hard work and expense is a classic that presents flawlessly. The panels are dead straight, with no dings or dents. Rust isn’t an issue, as the Camaro has been garaged for its entire life and has never seen snow. The wheels are original and unrestored. These appear to be free from any damage or issues. The T-Top doesn’t leak, and this meticulous owner still has the original storage bags for the glass in the trunk. This marked the final year of production of the 2nd Generation Camaro. There’s no doubt that when you look at the color combination of this car, Chevrolet wanted the model to bow out making a bold statement. I think that they succeeded on that front.

There were two engine choices available for potential Z/28 buyers back in 1981, but only the 305ci V8 brought the 4-speed manual transmission to the party. That is what we find here, while you also get power steering and power brakes. This was the height of the Malaise Era, so power outputs weren’t all that they used to be. The 305 produces 165hp, which is enough to propel the Camaro through the ¼ mile in 16.6 seconds. While that isn’t lightning-fast, it is sobering to realize that it beats the 350-equipped version by 0.3 seconds over the same journey. This is a numbers-matching car, and the news is generally good for the buyer. The only fault that the owner identifies is a small hole in the catalytic converter. The Z/28 is in sound health and rolls on new tires. It is said to run and drive flawlessly, with the owner singling-out the steering in particular as feeling extremely nice.

The interior photos that the owner supplies are pretty ordinary, with this being the best of the bunch. This is a shame because it seems that the owner has put some time and money into ensuring that it presents to the highest standard. The carpet is said to be new, as is the headliner and the rear parcel tray. What can be seen of the rest of the black upholstery seems to be free from and significant defects, with only some light creases on the driver’s seat showing that the car has seen regular use. I believe that the interior is mostly original. The only change that the owner identifies is the fact that he fitted a Hurst shifter when he first bought the car. This isn’t a bad move, but if the next owner craves originality, finding a correct shifter should not be a problem.

One-owner classics hold a lot of attraction for potential buyers. This 1981 Camaro Z/28 is no exception. Its performance might appear to be a world away from the Z/28 of a decade earlier. However, its potential value is also a long way away from that of a 1971 example in similar condition. Sometimes owning a classic car will involve making compromises. This can be especially true for potential buyers who are on a budget. From that perspective, a 39-year-old classic that has been as cherished as this one has been would seem to represent a reasonable sort of compromise.