The Chevy Camaro would receive a facelift in 1974 using the second-generation platform that had been introduced in 1970. Much of this was due to the new Federally mandated front and rear impact standards. 1974 would also be the last year for the potent Z28 model – until 1977, that is. This ’74 Z28 looks like an unbelievable survivor with just 14,000 miles, wearing beautiful Medium Red paint and black decals. The asking price is $39,500, but it sounds like the seller will negotiate. Located in Monroe, Georgia, this matching numbers car is available here on craigslist. Thanks, Pat L., for more sleuthing work on your behalf!
While car sales, in general, were off in 1974 given the OPEC oil embargo of the prior year, Camaro production jumped to 151,000 cars that year, and some 13,800 were equipped with the RPO Z28 Special Performance Option. Both the SS and RS models were on their way out by them, so the Z28 was the token Camaro that was built for the muscle car crowd who had mostly gone underground. Some Camaro enthusiasts aren’t fond of the styling changes made to the car in ‘74, but I thought it looked good, bigger bumpers and all.
The Z28 got treated to a 245 hp, 350 cubic inch V8 for 1974, which was powerful in those days of detuned engines. The seller’s Chevy is said to have its original L82 V8 and M40 automatic transmission (odd that it’s column rather than floor shifted). How a car like this has only accumulated 14,400 miles is likely a story in itself, one that’s not reflected in the “for sale” listing. As you might expect, this Camaro has the F41 suspension package, a posi-traction rear end, and power front disc brakes. The seller provides a video to help attest to the overall condition of the car, but we only hear it idling. A spin around the block with some throttle would have helped.
The body, paint, and interior look practically flawless, and the words “restored” or “restoration” are nowhere used in the sales pitch for the Camaro. Perhaps it’s the real deal, a time capsule that’s been in hiding for 47 years and only brought out occasionally to growl. The typical online price guide resale value of Z28s is in the 30,000s and the condition and mileage of this one would probably take it to the top.
I love the graphics on these, especially in this color. As far as the mileage claim, I don’t know, it could be the real deal?
Awesome looking ’74 Z/28! I’ve never seen a factory column shift automatic one before so I imagine they are rare, but also possibly undesirable too.
WHO would want a Column shift? MY GOD MAN
It’s an automatic. Does it truly matter where the shifter is?
@RoughDiamond: Actually, column shifted cars were very common place, as the console was an extra cost option. Back when I was contemplating (more like dreaming!) of one of these, perusing the local Chevy dealer found a lot of column shifted cars. The rub strips on the bumpers do a lot to mitigate their look, and overall, this is one sharp Camaro (although MY preference would be the console/shifter! GLWTS!! :-)
@Moparman: That’s why I love Barn Finds. You and other members take the time to share your personal experiences and knowledge.
The first of the worst (Z28s). It’s almost unbelievable how bad this car became in just 4 short years(?!) on one hand they were doing their best to keep it alive under the strangulation a federal mandates. But I can’t help but wonder if there was a group within GM that wanted to kill it off and save the name(Z28) before it would become a total joke as a Performance car…….
To compete with the ’74-79 t/a, why didn’t chevy just replace the 350 with a 396 &/or 454 to compensate for the 5mph bumpers (& cat conv after ’74)?
I don’t get it. The big chevy motors could not have been any worse on gas than pontiac’s 400/455. & would be interesting competition & sales between the 2 cars(make that 3 – the vette) in the later ’70s.
The vette’s 350 should have been discontinued in ’74 as well, IMO.
This 1974 Camaro Z-28 was at the Kissimmee Mecum auction in January 2021 and was sold for $29,700 (Lot T215). The Mecum ad says it is unrestored as well and estimated the value at $35,000 to $45,000.
We’ve discussed these cars at length in the past.
Really nice original examples will sell in this price range.
https://barnfinds.com/amazing-survivor-1974-chevrolet-camaro-z28/
Just under $30K, a definite maybe.
Over $30K, tough sell.
Truly interesting. Recalling the very last new ’74 Z-28 on the dealer’s lot just as the ’75 Chevys were hitting the lot. Same giant decals, green with a tan vinyl interior. 4 speed and no console. PS, PB and AM radio. Still think about it as Ford had been selling Pintos and Mustang IIs as fast as they came off of the truck for over a year….
Any chance that the dealer lot you mengiondc was Gene Fiedler Chevy in Seattle? I remember they had a light green ’74 with the big decals but I don’t remember the interior color.
John Dehil Chevrolet in Jacksonville, FL after they moved from Downtown on Laura Street to 44th street. Don’t know what happened to them after that. Dad bought our 1967 Impala SS from the Laura Street location. Lots of car dealer shuffling all over Jax over the last 60 years, like most medium to large cities. I left Jax 25 years ago but visit regularly.
Back in 74 I had a Cosworth Vega on order. When Chevrolet delayed the Cosworth’s release till 75, I started looking for a Z/28. About the only one around was a demo at a local dealer. It was a tan metallic I think called Sandstone, and loaded with air, windows, console, tilt, an automatic and those same graphics. I liked how it drove, and they were giving me a good deal, but I passed on it because I really wanted a 4 speed, and I couldn’t stand those graphics. I ended up buying a 74 Trans Am with a 4 speed, and the Screaming Chicken graphics instead.
And the Chicken was an upgrade?
After 1969 I lost interest.
Why was this car repainted with a claimed 14K miles?
Really the last year for any kind of power . The 3:73 gear really helped and were a fun car but only if you had the 4-speed.After 74 nothing was good for performance with the Camaro.
The days of massive hood graphics. I don’t miss them at all…TransAm chicken, these Z cars, Golden Eagles…buh bye and good riddance
Back in the 70’s it was still possible to special order a chevy with just about any or no options. Whatever the buyer wanted. Usually took about 6-8 weeks, depending on your location, to receive your car. I special ordered a 78 Pontiac Formula in Cameo white with no graphics on it. Blue cloth interior with a floor automatic shifter. 400 engine. So it’s entirely possible the 74 shown here was special ordered with the column shifter. Although I can’t imagine why.
Of course any car ordered with out the console would get the shifter on the column on the auto trans.Some of the racers wanted that weight saving of no heavy console.
In 1977, my mother ordered what she knew would be her last car (with my helpful input); a 77 Camaro, black with red interior, 305 V8, spoilers and sport suspension. No other options, so that meant no radio, and included pancake hub caps and a column shifted automatic.Took around 8 weeks.
Cragers, Hush Thrush and a cassette deck came much later.
While in the US Air Force in 1974, my roommate and fellow worker bought one with the same color exterior and graphics. We were stationed at the Air Force Academy at the time. Senior cadets used to be able to.purchase a new Corvette before graduation, and my friends Z28 would blow them away every time.
His was of the 4speed variety and a very fast car for the time.
.Not a bad looking car … but man, that exhaust system / exhaust tips. Wow.
Horrible.
Unlike the t/a’s hood eagle, i would say this overdone z28 hood decal with stripes was not ordered very often. I know i would skip it.
A column shift makes no sense on these cars since you could not get a bench seat. I don’t think the mostly plastic & vinyl consoles saved any weight – they were just more money & hard to climb over.
It would have been better if the f-bodies’ auto shifter was mounted directly on the carpeted trans hump(like on old mustangs) – if you got no console.
The big hood decal was always optional on the 2nd gen t/a’s, the ’74 z28, & the later AMX hornet. But std i believe on the ridiculous ’78 “King” Cobra.
The ’77 z28 hood decal was much better looking IMO than the ’74’s, tho the internals of the ’74 350 motor are superior to the ordinary ’77 350.
I’ve seen a few of these back in the day
http://i.pinimg.com/736x/c7/c3/4f/c7c34f8de1287f9a49ada271ca986790–instrument-ta.jpg
& you could get col shift even on a ’69 with bucket seats – silly
http://www.motortrend.com/features/1969-pontiac-trans-am-executive-transportation/
Speaking about column shifts in pony cars; there was a ’71 Hemi Cuda for sale locally for many years, out of the estate of the son of a well known local tobacco family. It was special ordered to be ‘one of one’. Power bench seat, column torque flite shift, power windows, vinyl top, cassette player mounted on the transmission hump. Basically nearly every box was checked. Think it ended up selling for over $1M.
Where’s the brushed aluminum tailight panel? Part of the LT package.
“It’s an automatic. Does it truly matter where the shifter is?” Well some of us like to shift the automatic through the gears. It’s also a handy place for my right hand.
Love , love it, did I say love it. Refreshing to see these styles instead of all…… well you know the answer.. !
With about 150,000 Camaros made in 1974, about 135,000 had a console. That leaves roughly 15,000 cars without console or about 10% of production. Of those 15,000 all automatic equipped cars would be column shift, Z28 or not.
So, there were no manual ’74 Camaros without a console?
How can the original ’74 that I referred to in my above comment be explained?
https://barnfinds.com/amazing-survivor-1974-chevrolet-camaro-z28/camaro-4-6/
I am assuming that the option sheet was wide open, and a buyer could order close to any combination that they wanted to.
I like the graphics on a lot of these 70s cars. Something fun and different
Fun fact: I sit 50 feet from this exact car every day.