Here’s some trivia that I’ve never thought about: despite being long in the shadow of the Pontiac Trans Am, did you know that the 1980 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 was the first that was powered by an engine bigger than the Firebird’s? Pontiac ditched the 400 after 1979, leaving a 210-horsepower 301 Turbo as the top engine.
The 1980 Camaro Z28 continued to use a trusty 350ci V8 (and, in a first, cars destined for California received a 305), with horsepower rising 15 to 190. This wouldn’t last, however, as the 1981 Z28 was downgraded to a standard 305 and an optional 350 that didn’t reach the same heights. As it turned out, 1980 ended up being the top year for the latter days of the second-generation Camaro Z28.
Jerry Palmer, a Chevrolet stylist, has claimed he designed this monochromatic look to be part of the 1974 redesign, but John DeLorean shot it down. It finally appeared in 1978 and, while looking fabulous with the feature car’s gradated Z28 striping, it was a Trans Am world and nothing in America could compete. Nonetheless, a very generous 45,137 Z28s were built.
Muscle Car Campy joins Rick Piscione for a ride in his unrestored four-speed 1980 Camaro Z28. He’s owned many classics, but this Chevy pony car currently is his funmobile for sunny Florida jaunts.
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