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Spotless Survivor: 1992 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Heritage Package

Rarity can be a relative term in the classic car world. That is the case with this 1992 Chevrolet Camaro Z28. While the company produced 8,197 Camaros equipped with the Z03 Heritage Package, only 403 cars were the Z28 Coupe version finished in Bright Red. This is one of those cars, and its condition is hard to fault. It presents superbly, and with 78,000 miles showing on its odometer, it should offer its next owner many years of classic motoring pleasure. Located in Munster, Illinois, you will find the Camaro listed for sale here on Craiglist. You could drive this Z28 home by handing its owner $16,999. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for spotting this beauty for us.

Chevrolet’s initial intent in 1992 was to build a 25th Anniversary Heritage Edition of the Camaro that brought substantial performance improvements to the table. The plan was for 602 cars to roll off the line, matching the total Z28 production for 1967. However, the company deemed the project too expensive, so they settled on the Z03 Heritage Appearance Package, which brought little more than cosmetic upgrades. Our feature car is 1-of-403 Z28 Coupes to wear Bright Red paint. Its presentation is close to perfect, with no paint flaws or defects worth mentioning. The panels are laser straight, and the aerodynamic plastic additions have avoided the type of physical damage or deterioration that is common. The Black strips look crisp, the alloy wheels are spotless, and the same is true of the glass. There is no rust for buyers to consider, and the overall impression is that the exterior needs nothing.

If the exterior presentation is impressive, this Camaro’s interior serves up more of the same. It is trimmed in red cloth and vinyl, and it is hard to find any faults worth mentioning. It looks like there might be a small mark on the driver’s seat base, but otherwise, the upholstered surfaces and carpet appear spotless. The rear cargo areas of these cars were damage-prone, but this car seems factory fresh. There is no evidence of deteriorating plastic. Apart from what appears to be the addition of a CD player in place of the original stereo, there are no aftermarket additions. Comfort and convenience features include air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a six-way power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped tilt wheel, and cruise control.

Had Chevrolet proceeded down the path of a full-blown 25th Anniversary Heritage Edition Camaro, its drivetrain combination would have been mouthwatering. It would have featured an upgraded 5.7-liter V8 that pumped 270hp to the rear wheels via a ZF six-speed manual transmission. They also envisaged suspension and braking upgrades that would have made this 25th Anniversary a “total” package. While they scrapped that plan, this car should offer pretty respectable performance. Its engine bay is occupied by a 5.7-liter TPI V8 that produces 245hp. Bolted to the V8 is a TH700-R4 automatic transmission, while power steering and four-wheel power disc brakes round out the package. If the owner pointed this Z28 at a ¼ mile, the journey would be over in 14.9 seconds. It may not have matched the figures seen during the height of the muscle car period, but it must have seemed pretty welcome after the misery of The Malaise Era. For potential buyers, it seems that there is more positive news with this classic. It appears that the Z28 runs and drives well, and the listing indicates an odometer reading of 78,000 miles. The owner doesn’t mention evidence to verify this, but he does hold a clean Carfax and the original Build Sheet confirming this car’s authenticity.

By the dawn of the 1990s, it was apparent that American car manufacturers had begun to rediscover their performance mojo. While they hadn’t recaptured the pure power that was a hallmark of the heady 1960s, they had learned to think outside the box. By focusing on weight reduction, aerodynamic efficiency, and adopting technologies like fuel injection and electronic engine management, enthusiasts could once again park a car in their driveway that could produce a sub-15-second ¼-mile ET straight off the showroom floor. However, this marked the tip of an emerging iceberg because power outputs continued to climb, and performance figures improved with each passing year. Today, you can walk into a Chevrolet dealership and drive away in a new Camaro with 455hp on tap without raising an eyebrow. None of this would have been possible if it weren’t for cars like this 1992 Camaro Z28 Heritage Package. That makes classics like this worthy of preservation, and given its competitive asking price, it’s why I believe that it will find a new home pretty quickly.

Comments

  1. Avatar photo FordGuy1972 Member

    Nice car in a sharp color. I know serious collectors will get all fired up about the 1-of-403 number because of the color but personally, I find that kind of trivia meaningless. To me, a car is all about its condition and performance. If it has a special ashtray that makes the car 1-of-20 or unique floor mats that make it 1-of-13, I could care less. The only thing that would impress me would be the rarity of a special performance engine or a rare manual trans.

    The ask of $17,000 is encouraging as I’m going to put my ’97 z28 for sale in the spring. It only has about 50,000 miles and it has 40 more hp than this one. It’s a convertible, too. The paint isn’t the best, but the interior is in great shape and its leather. Maybe I’ll put it up here on Barnfinds and see if a Barnfinder will take it off my hands.

    Like 6
    • Avatar photo Ike Onick

      After advertising it here for free, I would guess BF would appreciate you paying for a legitimate ad in a few months.

      Like 21
      • Avatar photo FordGuy1972 Member

        I probably will list it on Barnfinds. When I’m ready to sell. At least I’m paying to read what you’re reading for free.

        Like 7
      • Avatar photo Ike Onick

        BF got my money when I sold a car here a few years ago. Try it sometime! They were great to work with and gave me a lot of help on getting the ad right. Car sold in a few days. Money well-spent.

        Like 3
  2. Avatar photo Melton Mooney

    In spite of the mullet and Bud Light stigma, thirdgens have a loyal and expanding following. Selling prices are pretty volatile right now as well, with one example selling for over 50K recently on BAT. There are a few desirable rarities in the genre as well that are sure to appreciate over time. For the sub-orbital enthusiast/collector, thirdgens and fox bodies should probably be on your radar.

    Like 2
  3. Avatar photo jwzg

    These were the apex of the 3rd gens. Price is in the ball park.

    Like 3
  4. Avatar photo jwzg

    One other thing–the 350 version could run mid-to-low 14’s in the 1/4 all day long. The 1LE models with the LB9 could get after it too due to the lower weight. I think the times Adam listed might have been for a more standard, LB9, 5-speed.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar photo James

    I absolutely love the late 3rd Gen Camaro’s, would love to own one someday, with a warmed over motor of course.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar photo Stan

    Our lx sedan base model 5L would still best these when we met at the stoplight.. This spoiler takes away from the clean look of the regular Z28 and irocs.

    Like 3
  7. Avatar photo Poncho

    I test drove a comparable used (trade in) late third gen Z28 from the local Chevy dealer back in the 90’s. dark maroon color I think. it got up and went o the test drive. Was considering it but think the dealer was a little high in the price. I liked the pedestal spoiler. Held out and bought my black and gold 1987 GTA with a 350, black interior, gold honeycomb wheels, and digital gauges. I remember when IROC’s and GTA’s were everywhere on the road.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar photo Bick Banter

    A rare case where you want an automatic. The 305 TPI just is not as good of an engine.

    Like 0

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