We featured an unrestored 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 on Barn Finds yesterday, with many of our readers stating that they feel it should remain in as-is condition and just be preserved. Another mostly original Z/28 has also recently turned up in the marketplace, this time a 1970 model, and I’ll be curious to find out whether or not the majority here will say it’s project material or should be left alone. Whichever way you’re leaning, this 1970 Camaro Z/28 seems like a promising example, and I can understand both the desire to take this one up a couple of notches or simply just enjoy driving it. This cool Chevy is in Irvington, Alabama, and can be found here on eBay, where the current bid of $29,100 isn’t enough to lift the reserve not met status.
While it’s not perfect outside, the seller thinks most of the Dayton Yellow paint may be original, with the passenger side quarter being the only section that’s believed to have been redone. The sheet metal appears pretty solid overall, but there are a few areas with what’s hopefully minor rust, plus some places where the finish seems to be chipping away. A part of me feels like this one’s a good candidate to go ahead and perform the bodywork, followed by spraying on a fresh coat of yellow, but then I keep pondering how few vintage Z/28 cars still have what’s possibly most of the original paint. What a dilemma!
Stepping up to the Z/28 in the Camaro lineup got buyers a 350 V8, corporately known as the LT1, and it delivered quite nicely, producing 360 horsepower right from the factory. A couple of really strong points here are that this one’s still got the original engine under the hood, plus it hasn’t been driven excessively, as the just under 61k miles showing on the odometer are said to be actual. This Camaro is also equipped with an automatic transmission, and being from California originally, it was also born with some smog components, which will be included in a box to the next owner.
There’s not much specifically mentioned regarding the inside, but the couple of photos provided appear to show a decently preserved interior. The dash and seats might benefit from a little sprucing up, but even if nothing were done, it’s probably in better than acceptable shape in here for just a nice driver. I’m a bit torn on wanting to keep this one as original as possible, or returning everything to near the same condition as when it was born in 1970. The good news is there’s no wrong decision, and I’m curious what your thoughts are on this subject. Any ideas where the seller may have set the reserve amount?
Who doesn’t love these great looking and very powerful Camaros. Thanks Stephens. Here’s a Car and Driver article folks may enjoy.
Tested: 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 https://share.google/rCEsGT4uVTZv0AhlE
Z/28? This car defines it.
The driver’s door jamb shows it’s been repainted. There looks to be a bit of seam sealer around the trunk opening. The dashboard is out of kilter. Generally nothing good happens when an owner attempts to address under-dash wiring.
The $29.1K bid is near all the money for this Z-28 in fair condition. Even so a weekend wrench might be able to revive this car into a good-looking, fun driver for not a lot more money.
I beleive the rear spoiler is incorrect for a 70′ (or what they were called for decades; 70 1/2′) should be a short spoiler
I’ve read in several publications over the years that the tall 3 piece spoiler was available at the tail end of the 1970’s model year production.
Steve R
I’ve read in several publications over the years that the tall 3 piece spoiler was available at the tail end of the 1970’s model year production.
Steve R
The auction is over. It sold for $30,100.00
Reserve not met at $30,100.
Isnt that a 1973 and up spoiler on the back… Just sayin’
Z/28 with an automatic. Not for me.
On my ’79 Corvette, a shift kit fixed that issue.
To your point: I don’t recall the Z having an option for the automatic trans.
’70 would have had an LT-1 solid lifer cam, aluminum high-riser intake manifold, and the only trans was a 4-speed.
Plus, that large rear spoiler wasn’t available until the 1972 model.
I had a ,72 Z, and the only trans available was a manual.
Martin check out the link from the 1st comment..
1970 was the first year the Z/28 had an automatic transmission option. It was the Turbo 400 with a 2400rpm converter. I owned one which I bought 2nd hand in 1981, and all my 4 speed friends’ reaction was the same as the guy above. Too bad it has an automatic. Not for me!
That automatic was set up beautifully for the LT-1, which had just a tame enough idle and enough low speed torque to handle it. Normally, with a 4 speed and 3.73’s you had to launch and slip the clutch just enough not to bog out or spin the tires and not so much that you lost acceleration. It was tricky. The auto did it perfectly and constantly every time for you with a good launch and a loud chirp from the rear tires with the instant gear changes and it could be shifted manually, which I did around 6000 to 6200 rpm.
A guy who came to measure the stripes on my original paint car for his 70 z28, which he had restored and was repainting, challenged me to a friendly race against his freshly rebuilt and just broken in car which sported a M22 and 3.73 gears. Mine was an auto a the same 3.73 gears only with 48k on the drive train. The auto had a 2.48:1 first gear and the M22 a 2.2:1 first gear, giving the auto the advantage in overall gear ratio. I easily pulled away from him 3 times in a row.
The auto’s were more consistent and faster accelerating if you wanted to win straight line drag races. I repeated that same result against 2 other 70 Z’s and an LT-1 Vette. I later owned a 4sp and, yes, they are a more traditional experience, but I had lots of fun driving the auto too!
Just drive it.
Reserve not met at $30,100.
Four cars come to mind in 1969-70 The Camaro Z/28, AAR Cuda T/A Challenger and Boss 302 Mustang.These were the best balanced cars of the time. ( My opinion ).
All high revving small blocks, and my 4 favorite cars. i would take any one of them.
PRA4SNW… let’s not forget AMC brought a few models to the scene in 70′ with their wicked 390ci. 10:1 compression, 325hp@5000, 420lb-ft@3200. 4sp cars had 3.15, 3.54, 3.91 gears available.
I understood that the larger rear spoiler was adopted after or during the 70 Trans Am season as it replicated what the race cars were using, so that would make it a mid or late year replacement for the small spoiler.
I had a girl friend that had a ’70 Z28. She purchased it new from our local Chevy dealer. It had bucket seats, but THM on the column. It also had that size spoiler on the rear deck. Rode it in many, many times. Miss her, and the car a lot.
I bet you miss her. My girlfriend had a LeCar. Celebrating our 40th this week. With a Z28 she’d be the total package
Girls driving muscle cars… nothing could be better than that! I remember a girl driving a Camaro around New City NY and had a message written on the differential cover of her car… well anyway I’ll keep this post clean.
Leave Bumblebee as is.
I didn’t think you could get just one sport racing mirror & non hidden wipers on a 2nd gen z28. Steering wheel on this example looks out of place on a z28.