Substantial changes came for the Chevrolet Camaro in 1970 when the popular “pony car” received a complete redesign. And, in the process, the SCCA Trans Am-approved Z/28 got a substantial change, too, under the hood. Instead of an exclusive 302 cubic inch V8 that produced 290 hp, the Z/28 was treated to a hopped-up 350 that was rated at 360 hp. The seller has a pair of the latter and one is a project car while the other may be street-ready. More cool tips from Rocco B.!
Demand for the Z/28 had been high the year before as Chevrolet delivered more than 20,300 copies, a record up to that point. But demand tricked to 8,733 units in ’70 in part due to a shortened production cycle (nine months instead of 15 the year before). We think that both of the seller’s cars have their original engines, and both have 4-speed manual transmissions (what else would you want in a Z/28?)
1970 Camaro Z/28 (Shadow Grey)
We’re told that the color choice on this Camaro (Shadow Grey) is considered a rare one. It’s a numbers-matching machine that still has all its factory smog prevention doodads (no under-the-hood photos of this car). The odometer reading is 11,000 miles, but could that be more like 111,000? It runs and drives but must be a project as the back glass is out of the car and the paint is beyond saving, though somewhat presentable. The seller is asking $37,500 for this one.
1970 Camaro Z/28 (Cranberry Red)
We think the color on this Camaro is Cranberry Red and the seller says it was repainted a few years ago. This machine was sold initially in California back in the day (no rust?) and is said to be “rock solid” from head to toe. Both Camaros come with original paperwork that should confirm authenticity. It will take $55,500 to scoop up this Chevy, both of which are located in Crest Hill, Illinois, and are available here on craigslist. Maybe the seller will cut you a discount if you take both of them away.
The second Z28 looks like copper metallic paint code 67 to me. I looked at a similar ’70 Z28 in copper with white stripes north of San Francisco back around 1997-98. $3800 for the car. Despite being more of a BOP guy, I surely regret not buying that Camaro. Car was unmolested and very original. Bought locally at a dealership in Santa Rosa. I am pretty sure I passed on it because it was an auto but it was a really nice car. The kind of car you’d dream of finding today. I wonder what happened with it…
The picture on the VIN is from a car built in Norwood (NOR) Ohio, a Z28 built at that plant will have Z28 stamped into it, just like the white 73 featured on this site yesterday, see picture 28 of 35. Unless I’m missing something, the seller wants a premium price, he needs to be able to explain that.
Steve R
An odd one for sure. There’s no “Z28” on the tag, but there is “28.19” in the same location. The .19 designates black stripes, which only would have come on a Z/28.
You can’t sneak anything past this crowd, i had no idea personally of the stamping, Steve R, Mooney know whats up. 👍
Many thanks to the author for not referring to the incorrect model year designation of “70 1/2” that some people insist on using. There is no such thing as a “70 1/2” Camaro model year. Sorry, just a huge pet peeve of mine as a Camaro owner, second only to people who paint racing stripes on a non-Z28 car.
Russ knows you…..
Extremely cool cars, and highly desirable, bit I agree with Steve R. I think that the pricing seems a bit optimistic, but even given that, I wouldn’t be surprised if the seller doesn’t get something close to the asking price. “Collector cars” and houses have gotten WAY overpriced, but I suppose that is the world we live in.
I’ve been in this so-called hobby for 50 years and 69 and 70 Z28s have been selling for much more than comparable Corvettes for some time now. One of my best college friends bought an original owner rotted out 70 Z in that beautiful Classic Copper Metallic with white stripes, 4 speed, in April 1979 for $1,800. Fortunately, GM sheet metal could still be bought new. So he wisely had saved enough money and ordered new inner wheelhouses, two quarters and two fenders. Floors were not yet available then. So we fixed them properly by welding in pieces. He rented an old shop near us and we worked nights on that thing taking it apart. It had an all original drive train, but the smog was missing. He painted the car himself and did a great job for a 20 something kid. He eventually sold Sherwin Williams paint for a living and was just very talented. I got to drive the car several times and we drove it from State College, PA, where we were PSU grads, to the very first Super Chevy Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway. He moved away to Colorado and sold the car for about $30,000 in 2002. I am going to get some hate mail for this comment, but a 70 Z28 is far and away a superior car to a 69 all day long. I’ve owned many muscle cars and two Corvettes, but that LT-1 was one great engine. You can have your LS engine, I’ll take that old girl any day. The price for these two is optimistic and you don’t put cars like this on Craigslist. Steve R is very diligent and doesn’t miss a thing.
George, I agree with you that the LT-1 was one hell of a motor. I’ve had two of them, both essentially stock. One was in a ’50 Willys 4 wd wagon with TH400, and the other was in a ’75 Vette roadster with an M-21. They were both screamers. I disagree that the ’70 Z-28 was “far and away” a superior car to the ’69. They were completely different cars, and each one did what they were designed to do exceptionally well. Kind of the same thing in comparing the LT-1 to an LS based engine. They are different motors and again, they both do what they were deigned to do very wll.