The 1969 COPO ZL1 may be the mother of all vintage Chevrolet Camaros, but the Z28 also holds a special place in my heart. Sure, it’s nowhere near as potent and rare, but it’s the perfect track-toy classic. Developed for SCCA Trans-Am homologation, it’s the lightest and most track-capable version of the first-gen Camaro.
Introduced in 1967, the Z28 found just 602 buyers in its first year on the market, but sales increased to 7,199 units in 1969. In 1970, the Z28 moved a whopping 20,302 vehicles.
The nameplate’s success prompted Chevrolet to keep the Z28 in production for the second generation. Hence, the track-ready pony returned in 1970. Moreover, it soldiered on through the Malaise Era with decent power and eventually remained on the assembly line for decades.
Come 2023, the first-gen Z28 remains the most iconic and sought-after iteration of the car. And while I’m a big fan of the 1969 Camaro’s design, I think the early 1970s version also looks the part, especially when wearing the Z28’s twin stripes. This spotless 1972 example in Mohave Gold is the perfect proof.
Spotted by YouTube’s “Corner Classic Car Hunter” at a classic car auction, this Z28 looks like it just came out of a shop after a frame-off restoration. But don’t let its impeccable appearance fool you; this 1972 Camaro is actually a low-mileage survivor. With just 7,722 miles (12,427 km) on the odometer, this pony car is a true-blue time capsule.
Most likely a garage queen that spent decades away from the elements, the Z28 displays a perfect Mohave Gold finish, perfect twin stripes across the hood and trunk lid, and shiny chrome bumpers. The interior is just as spotless and sports a nice combination of tan seats and door panels, brown carpets, and a greenish/gold dashboard. Probably not the most desirable combo, but this cabin screams early 1970s.
Not surprisingly, the Z28 still relies on its factory 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) small-block V8 engine. This mill was introduced in 1970 as an upgrade to the Z28’s initial 302-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) unit. Originally rated at 360 gross horsepower, the V8 was rated at 275 net horses in 1971 due to a compression ratio decrease.
The figure was again altered for the 1972 model year due to new emission and consumption restrictions, so this Z28 left the factory with a net rating of 255 horsepower. All that oomph hits the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission.
In addition to being a museum-grade, unrestored classic, this Z28 is also a rare Chevy. While the company sold 68,,651 Camaros in 1972, only 2,575 units were equipped with the Z28 package. That’s less than 4% of the total production!
Since it was spotted at an auction event, you’re probably wondering when and where this gem is going under the hammer. Well, this Z28 was already auctioned off in the summer of 2023. The bidding reached $70,000 before the car was driven off the stage with a “bid goes on” status. The final price is not available, but $70K is a bargain for a muscle car in this condition.
