Pictured parked on a dusty driveway, this 1981 Camaro Z28 has been in current ownership about nine years. The current caretaker confesses that it just sits in the garage, and so says that it’s time to move the car along. Should you be the right buyer, the ad, here on craigslist, demands $10,000. The car is in Machesney Park, IL, in the Rockford area. Thanks go to Pat L. for this Barn Find tip.

Ten grand. Is that the new threshold price for a down-at-heels collectible? This one looks shiny on the flanks but faded on top, and it would seem that it should have further striping and Z28 identification, so it’s likely on at least one repaint. Was it red to start with? No indication is given. If so, the enterprising next owner might find a compound that could bring out the shine once more, but nothing is guaranteed. And if it does need a repaint, that work, along with fixing up the interior’s problems, is going to put you into this Chevy for probably double the purchase price. Still, the exterior seems rust-free, indicating the car’s Florida origins. But factor in possible mechanical work (though the engine is said to run strong) and a/c conversion (there appears to be a compressor underhood). The wheels, in comparison to the ones in the factory brochure for 1981, appear correct, but should they be all-silver, Barn Finders?  If they also need attention, you’re quickly getting to the top of the current market. Oh, and the clutch is apparently kaput. This is looking more and more like a beater standing on its last legs with a high schooler holding the title, rather than a bargain ten-thousand-dollar summer play toy.

The revered Z/28 came out in the first generation of Camaro production, late in 1966. It continued on to the second generation, produced from 1970-81, at the tail end of which, this car was born. By that time, a “Zee” (“Zed” for you Canadians) had, starting in 1980, an air-induction hood with a door that opened at full throttle. That sounds, in the language of the day, “wicked,” but remember that this was smog-choked late-70s tech, and the 305-CID V-8 struggled to make 165 horsepower. So even in top tune, this after-the-era muscle car is not going to be impressive in its speed capabilities.

But maybe that’s not what’s cool about this car. Instead, you can revel in the fact that its engine is backed up with a four-speed stick, and you can enjoy the generally aggressive look of the exterior. Chin spoiler, rear decklid spoiler, ducts in the front fenders, all suggest that, in an era when horsepower was muted, the bad boys still occasionally came out to play. If that vibe is for you, or you just want to grab a car to beat through the summer, this Camaro could be calling your name. However, if you’re into stock appearance and factory correctness, this one is going to take some putting back in order.