The 1965 Ford Mustang arrived early and was sometimes called a 1964½. The 1970 Chevy Camaro arrived late and was sometimes called a 1970½. But both were titled as 1965 and 1970 models, respectively. This 1970 Camara Z28 was built in June 1970 which would eliminate any kind of confusion, real or implied. It’s said to be a genuine Z28 but has a replacement motor and has been in storage for 35 years. This running restoration project is in Orange, California, and is available through a former dealer here on eBay where the bidding has reached $8,900 but the reserve is unmet.
Chevrolet redesigned the Camaro for 1970, its first since being introduced in 1967. It would have a sleeker profile that eventually caught on and enabled that generation to be in production for 12 years. But it wasn’t introduced until February 1970, months later than usual. Why did that happen? Well, things went afoul over at Fisher Body when the “final die tryouts” for the quarter panels kept wrinkling and buckling. Apparently, they required too much “draw” for the sheet metal to cooperate, so Chevy delayed production for three months while Fisher created all-new dies.
That snafu resulted in the 1969s having a 15-month production cycle, which created another set of problems. Supply chain. Suppliers had to keep coming up with old Camaro parts while also getting new ones ready to ship. And, for a brief time after the 1970 introduction, some dealers had new 1969 and 1970 Camaro’s on hand for sale. Production numbers for the 1970 models were down by about half of which 8,773 copies are said to have been Z28s.
As the story goes, the seller was a long-time new car dealer in Southern California. His/her memory says this car was taken in on trade about 35 years ago and plans were to restore it, but that never happened. So apparently it has sat (indoors?) all this time until recently. The seller believes the car to be a true Z28, but there’s no paperwork to back it up. It was built in Van Nuys, California and Chevy didn’t designate a Z28 on the trim tag.
The engine decodes correctly as a 300 hp, 350 cubic inch V8, but not one that is original to the automobile. It has a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission which was available in the Z28 for the first time in 1970. The interior colors are correct, but the original Citrus Green paint turned into a root beer-like color sometime later. There is no indication that this Camaro had factory air conditioning, which was not available on the Z. A few other things also point to this being a real-deal car, according to the seller’s research.
After being laid up for decades, this car has finally received some attention. The tires, battery, hoses, spark plugs and wires, and more are all new and the carburetor has been cleaned out. As a result, the car runs and drives at least well enough for a 15-mile ride around the area. There is rust in a few places that will need attending to, along with an assortment of dents and dings. And the interior is a shambles. The odometer reading is 99,418, so the buyer who chooses to restore this car will get to see it clip back to 0!
Good write up Russ although find it hard to believe this sat in a garage while dormant. Although it has some rough spots, next to 69 this is the second best looking Camaro. I’m sure someone will snag it up and get it looking as it should.
For what it’s worth, my (at the time) unrestored 69 sat in a bone dry garage for about 10 years while a traveled for work. It is surprising how much rust can advance even when not exposed to the wet.
These made a big impact when they came out.
When our Family made a trip to LA,I got my Dad to
go out to Orange County International Raceway for
the evening “Show up & Run” drag races.There was
one of these there that would have been new,or nearly
new.I have a picture I took of it around here somewhere.
This one looks like it has the ’74 Z28 wheels on it,&
also looks like it will need some metal work done.
I see a big chunk of rust in the corner of the dash. Not a good sign.
My 80 model firebird has the same rust in the same spot they all rust right there
Bidding is up past 12K
it should have the LT-1 360 H.P. motor
This car has rot in some strange places, and no rot where you’d expect it. It’s almost like it was stored upside down in water to the door sills….
who says you cant polish a turd
I thought all ’70 1/2 Z28’s came with the 350LT1 engine, so obviously, that warranted the replacement engine but I thought all real Z28’s were clutch 4 speeds?
They came both ways 4spd or automatic. And 70 was only year for 12bolt posi. After that all were 10bolt
@Jeff Van Allen
Automatic became available on the Z28 starting in 1970.
@Larry D, you incorrectly stated:
“This short rear spoiler was the standard fare for the 1970 Z28 until late in the year when they went to the big one which remained with them till the end of the 1981 model year.”
That is incorrect. The standard, 1 piece rear spoiler was STANDARD on the 70 and the 71 Z28’s.
The larger, 3 piece rear spoiler, was an OPTION on the late 1970 models and was an OPTION on the 71’s as well. In FACT, the 3 piece rear spoiler was OPTIONAL on the 72-74’s, that’s right, if you didn’t order the D-80 option in 72-74, you got a Z38 without the spoilers …
Correct Jeff, ‘ 70 Z/28’s had the Camaro version of the LT1 350 with 360 horsepower as opposed to the Corvette version with 370 horsepower . the Camaro was available as a Z/28 with a TH400 as well as a 4 speed or two. The automatics were pretty snappy at the drag strips. I like this Z and its understated deck lid spoiler.
@moosie
This short rear spoiler was the standard fare for the 1970 Z28 until late in the year when they went to the big one which remained with them till the end of the 1981 model year.
Yes Jeff I believe you’re right they were four-speed manual transmissions with a 350 LT one small block Chevy
Look at the rain rails on booth doors, all rust.
Plusses if you look at the right fender on the inside there’s a bolt missing which tells me it’s been replaced and the bolt hole didn’t line up, I think k the fender has been replaced.
The rear Trunk is not lined up and the hood lines do not merry up to the fenders. I’m thinking it’s been wrecked at one point in time.
I have always liked 2nd gen Camaros (and Firebirds). I think that every year when more plastic got added to the front or rear of the car a really clean design was tarnished. So, a debut year 1970 is ideal. While I would prefer a 4 speed I remember thinking those “staple” shifters were really cool so I wouldn’t turn my nose at an automatic.
Unfortunately, I have no experience with body work and am not in a position to pay someone else to do it.
Memories will have to serve.
Hmmm…I believe the 70 1/2 trim tag did have the Z28 designation if it was a Norwood produced car…the 12 bolt rear would also be an indicator, if this car has one
A/C started in the Z28’s in 1973.
Never mind, thought this was the 74Z ad. Gas pedal on 70 Z’s are floor mounted.
If this car was stored indoors, the roof leaked. That corner of the dash is rotted worse than many C3 Corvettes, which rot there if let to sit in the rain. This generation of Camaro rotted to the windows in a matter of a few years if driven daily where I live, northeast Pennsylvania. I know. A lifelong friend bought a legit 70 Z28 in Classic Copper Metallic, which this car is now. He bought it from the original owner in 1979 for $1,800, complete driving RS model, 4 speed, original engine, trans, rear, but my oh mine, the rust. Well, luckily in 79, you could still order GM sheet metal. He ordered new fenders, inner quarters and outer quarters. Restored himself and had it for about 35 years. Sold it. I got to drive it once. What a thrill.
Yep thats right.The 70 Z/28 had the Lt-1 350-360 horse.
Mine had the Lt-1 with a 4 speed and a 4:10 12 bolt rear.The 67-68-69 all came with the 302-290 horse 4 speed. I owned my Z for 29 years and still think about that thing everyday.Sold it to a guy in Independence KY. He restored it back to original thank god.
I thought the 70 1/2 Camaro had the split front bumper, 71 had the solid bumper.
not so
Not sure where these ridiculous claims come from.
Rally Sport exterior appearance package give you the endura nose and bumperettes. The RS was an option from 70-73
The standard car had the full bumper, again, full bumper standard 70-73
No such thing as a “70 1/2”, just 1970 or 1971.
I was really diggin it until the rust picture popped up. No telling what’s rusted beyond that panel.
I am interested and would like to see the car with my own two eyes, is that possible?
you do know that this thread is 6 months old, don’t you?