Great video! The 1981 Z28 you could only get the 305 with a 4sp, the 350 was only available with a automatic, in Canada you could get a 350 4sp, I ordered a brand new one in 1981, my uncle worked at the Norwood assembly plant and made sure my car was paid extra special attention while being assembled! Lol 😆

@joed1244

2 жыл бұрын

You are correct with that info.

@techs1smh13

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome. 👍

@keithcee6378

2 жыл бұрын

Now that’s a cool memory!

@wessreiley8275

2 жыл бұрын

Didn’t they only offer that configuration in the 85-89 Iroc-z also? My 2 buddy’s had one and the 5 speed was much more fun to drive even thought it had the 305. The auto with the 5.7 was fast as hell though.

@airwess3369

2 жыл бұрын

Weird, my older brother got a brand new 81 with the 350 and 4 speed. He then put in a Ford 9" rear end and lowered gears. Got it in Minnesota. His had the blue stripes and interior.

high school dream car right there.....

I worked with a guy that bought a 79 Z new with every option; and has put between 10 and 40 miles a year on it since. So the last time we talked about 10 years ago it had less than 1000 miles. Blue on Blue 4sp car. I’ve seen him dive it a couple times since.

I love the way these cars handle. Mine was a plain 78 with an automatic straight 6. It was completely rusted out, but still fun to drive. I'd love to have this one

Those were fantastic looking cars

Incorrect on the Trans Am. From 1973 onward, it was non-functional partly due to impending pollution and noise concerns. This is a 1981, so the "H" denoting the 305 V8, RPO code "LG4" is in the 8th VIN position, not the fifth (from 1972 to 1980, GM cars had the 5th digit to denote the engine code). I think you meant "earlier application" with regard to the 130 MPH speedometer. You didn't show the VIN, or the cowl tag, but I remember it from the last time, with the VIN for the win: 1G1 for US made Chevrolet, A for manual seat belts, P for Camaro Sport Coupe, 87 for two door coupe, H for 305 V8 with four barrel, aka RPO "LG4", 2 is a check digit, then B for 1981 model year, then L for Van Nuys, CA assembly and the rest is the production sequence. No tag, can't brag, but I got it figured out, no doubt: B for 1981 model year (sometimes shown as 81), 04A,B,C, etc. for whatever week of April 1981 production, 1FP87 for Camaro Sport Coupe, L for Van Nuys, CA assembly, 11U 11L for White upper and lower exterior paint (of which there were 16,137 Camaros painted that color in 1981), 75R for red standard vinyl interior trim, A51 for bucket seats, CC1 for T-tops, W for water based paint (which is what Van Nuys used back then due to CA air regulations at the time), C for red steering column and instrument panel color, 3 for power window equipped, 8 for Z-28. While the Trans Am didn't have a functional hood in this era, it did offer four wheel disc brakes (which the Camaro did not), and an engine that got over 200 HP (the turbo 301. Rumor had it that there were some factory Pontiac 301 turbo equipped Camaros at this time, but I haven't seen one in over 40+ years of owning them), as well as a having a better handling package (the WS6 package) available, something that the Z-28 did not offer.

I was a junior in high school when that car was new. So many of those were used up and tossed. it's nice to see one that's been kept up that well.

Great car! My GF's dad bought her used '81 in HS, root beer brown w/ 350. I had a '67 Camaro at the time and we would race around all over. I loved my car but I have to say I really enjoyed driving hers around. It just looked awesome and was real comfortable to drive.

Gorgeous car. Very well cared for over the years.I had a 1981 Berlinetta 267 V8. FYI if you wanted the 4spd, you could not get the 350 as it was as good, some say better than the Corvette. Hence why GM would not offer the 350 with a 4spd. Also, there was hardly any difference in Fuel Mileage between the 350 and the 305, but there was a noticeable POWER difference.

@hoppes9658

4 ай бұрын

Put a cam in it.

I had a silver 81, with the silver interior and t-tops. Great car!

@olehillbilly4331

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah man, I had a silver 81 also. No t-tops though. Awesome car to raise hell in. Would love to have it back.

Always wanted this color combo. Love

1978-81 are the best looking Z-28's ever built.

@ajcates9136

2 жыл бұрын

My z had a stupid decal for a cowl hood scoop factory lol

@ChrisBrown-pz2gu

2 жыл бұрын

@@ajcates9136 77?

@ajcates9136

2 жыл бұрын

@@ChrisBrown-pz2gu your right

What a beautiful car!!! I used to that particular model!! I used own a 1981 Z28 Camaro. My God that car could fly!!!! I seriously regret letting that car go!! Mine was candy apple red with black race stripes and a T Top and with beautiful chrome mag wheels. It was a bonofied hot rod. Anyway that was 20 years ago. I really missed that car!!!! That car would be worth a whole lot of money today. Back then I had no idea how valuable those cars could become. If had i any idea I would have held on to it.

@bowinkle8316

2 жыл бұрын

Ikr, l don't think any one knew that the older cars would b worth so much. Well some more than others. My mom had a black 79 camaro. It was my favorite, wish she would had kept that car.

My Z28 was sky blue with dark blue interior... I'd love another one some day. The one in this video is quite nice!

Looks nice! The inside of the hood has been painted since new. I think it's a nice touch for such a clean example and being white in color. 4 spd transmission is the savior here with the 305- they are so anemic. Had a 87 Z28 T Top car new, with the 305 LG4 4BBL automatic OD- removed the cat- that did nothing in the power department. Handled great though with 60 Series replacement tires. Had a 38K miles 78 Z28 in college 350 4spd 3.73 rear. Now that was a fun driving !! Glad to see these later year second gen Z28's getting more attention in valuation- well deserved IMO.

I turned 42 on May 6th. My first car was a 1974 Camaro. Good stuff. You could work on 'em with a set of wrenches and not much else.

Damn! That thing is GORGEOUS!

What a beautiful example.

This 1981 Z 28 in white with red stripes with a t-top that made this car look very pretty

As nice as one can be I would say. Great find!

I've had several 80 z28s my favorite was a black t top z with red interior 350 auto. Gorgeous car. And I ended up finding almost 10 TRI fives at the wrecking yard today Steve. Sadly the majority had nothing but junk left the bones were picked clean. The ticks were out in force today I don't know how you go there so much I hate ticks.

I always admire your knowledge about cars. God bless you and your family 🙏

I think that is the last American assembled Camaro. With T-Tops. How cool is that !

Very nice, I picked one almost completely identical to this one a couple weeks ago, fun cars!

Had a 80 z28 out of Alabama a few years back. Restored to really nice condition. Nice car to drive. a real timecapsule.

Nice ride!

I had this same color car. In my opinion the best looking Camaro ever built and I loved mine. Mine had a 383 stroker with the four-speed

My neighbor has the same car with 23000 Kilometers on it. Only difference is hers is a charcoal grey. LG4 4 speed also. Same color interior. She bought it brand new and it's never spent a night outside her garage. She doesn't drive at all in winter which is 7-8 months long here. If the weather is nice she drives it to see her grandkids. She's 77 and can still bang the gears!. The air induction door still works on hers.. Must have a wire loose on this white one.

The 1981camaro z28 are pretty cars The style of a z28 got me liking them

Steve mags is the ultimate salesman!!!

Considering what the Z28 engineers had to go up against corporate in designing and tooling up that Air Induction hood, it's a wonder they were able to pull it off. Especially, with the Corporate Suits knowing that the new 82 complete redesign was waiting in the wings. It had to pain them and their bottom line to approve and buy up the engineering and build costs for that, one of muscle car's best cowl induction hoods ever. The return of the Z in 77, up to this model, also contained the sweetest sounding set of exhaust mufflers ever on a muscle car. Actually, they were not mufflers, but rather, resonators that were practically straight pipes with a sound much like the 69 chambered exhaust on select Camaros of that vintage.

Really nice car. I have a friend who has a 76 Camaro RS red with black stripes with a mind boggling only 200 miles on the car, still has the window sticker in window. His car is beautiful.

I had a 78 Type LT. 350, 4bbl, 4spd. Long after I sold it I discovered that spec wasn't very common. Also, the 78 had the new, fiberglass bumpers like the 79-81 but the dash & interior of the 74-77 which I preferred.

I was 17 in 1982 and bought a 1977 Z28 with a automatic with a lot of miles for$2.000 dollars. A few months earlier I bought a 1968 Caprice Classic with a 327 with 68.000 thousand miles on it with no body damage and a black Vinyl top for$250.00 that had a front bushing that needed replacing and had to give it away.

Nice car..I had a new 1980 Z28 350 engine auto Charcoal gray..I loved that car..wish I still owned it..I do have a 1970 Chevelle that I’ve owned for the last 30 years..good video..Thanks

@gordocarbo

Ай бұрын

67 'El here 30 yrs in sept. Want one of these Zs bad for a retirement daily but would have to sell my 67. Cant do it lol. In Ca the Z would have to stay stock for smog. booo!

My first car was a 1980 Z28 Paid $500 for it from my neighbor. The only thing at the time was wrong with it. It needed a new transmission. But me being young and dumb. I ripped out the 350 and put a 383 stroker with a Muncie 4 speed. And I tell ya I'm glad I did.

OMG .. thats amazing 👏 😍 love this car.

Bought an 81 base model 305 4spd in august 1981 while working at the tarrytown ny plant. 8600 out the door with gm discount tax included. Burgundy with tan interior. Had it till end of 1987. Sold it to a friend for 6500.

My first car, black with red/orange stripes. Bought it used in 1989 as a high school kid of 16 years. Originally a 350 4sp car, the original owner swapped for a TH400 auto and a highly modified 350. Fast f'n car, got me into trouble more than once.

Last I saw an 81 with the rare T-Top was my old neighbor 20 years ago he had it blue,beautiful 80s car

I owned this exact car minus the t tops what a fun car to drive , jammin gears and watching that scoop flap open up at WOT

Loved the pov driving portion at the end... But the air induction flap didn't open under wot?? My first car was a 75 hugger orange steel bumper car with an L88 hood scoop. I was 17 in 87 when I got it and got a speeding ticket the first day I had it on the road! Lol. That was a 350/350th auto car. Later I had a 305/M5 GTA Trans Am with a Hurst shifter and center force clutch... One of the most fun cars I've ever owned!! Gotta love a V8 with some torque and a stick shift!! What a beauty Zedder!!! (I'm Canadian, it's Zed28 not Zee28 to us!!! Lol) 😜

that is a really kick ass car!!

Beautiful 👍

Great Car!.

Nice one... I forgot that they were offered in that white/red combo... I only saw one back in the day besides the one here... Most of the ones I saw in white had the charcoal decals and interior...

I ordered new 4 speed Z28’s in 1977, 78 and 80 here in Canada. The 81 did not have a 305 ci option to choose from BUT all California designated Z28’s only came in the 305 and I believe they could not order a 4 speed. I still have the order guide from 77-81. In 71 the Z28 came std with the 1 piece rear spoiler and the 3 piece was an option.

My Dad had a 77 and then this same car. I was a teenager. Many memories driving it. If Pop only knew.....Lol.

The 1981 was simply excellent. It was almost a long distance race winner in Australia. The 350 was so strong that it matched the horsepower of the much older 1970 based 351C our Aussie Falcons ran till 1984 on the track. The leaf spring chassis, with its stub subframe and integrated Bishop Kirby power steering and it's steady development from 70-1/2 to 81...just doesn't get enough Credibility. Every mod, I approve. Great gearbox options too.

@joellyons890

2 жыл бұрын

In the US 81 came with 305 unless you got a Canadian version

As a broke 20 year old in 1984, I test drove a 81 Z/28 equipped just like this one, except it was black on black, my favorite color combination, it was at dealership in Florida, it was a stone, but the four speed made it feel like a rocketship, I think at the time they wanted 5-6 grand? for it which for me at that time may has well have been a million dollars and the insurance would have brought me to my knees!, I had to pass, but still think about it today!

Beautiful Z28. I had a 1981 with 350 and a 4 speed standard , Fisher T roofs etc . All 3 of my second Gen TransAms had automatics, and I found the standard in the Camaro made for a much nicer driving experience imo . I grew up on stick though

I had a 79 Z28 350 automatic ttops loved that car,it was black and had red z stripes..

Love that car

Few things say that you really enjoy raising your center of gravity and making the car heavier while having rain drip on you than t-tops. 🤗

@shawnb1774

2 жыл бұрын

You know it

WHen I was 17, and already committed to joining the USAF in a few month's time, I remember eyeballing a black Z28 at the local Chevy dealer...; 5.7L Z-28, loaded, for $10,789 or so....! :)

Nice! And a manual.

Wow I miss my restored 79 z28. That was painted iRock blue. And had centerline rims with raised white letter tires. And a 350 4barrel with hooker headers.I should’ve never sold that car. Live and learn as they say.

i love those 78-81 Camaros i wish i could time travel back and buy one bran new, and bring it back to this time...looking like it came off the showroom floor...

Awesome...

Had a 79 Brown Metal Flake. Awesome car. Folded it up in front of Malden Fire Dept.

Gorgeous Z! I have a preference for the 1980 as it looks the same, but you could still get the 350 and 4 speed combo. Even with the 305 - this thing is stunning!

@williamlookinggoodoldguy1964

2 жыл бұрын

I've heard of 350/4spd. 81's only in Canada . 350 in USA in 81 came in Automatic

@charlesdalton985

2 жыл бұрын

@@williamlookinggoodoldguy1964 Interesting, I had not heard of that before. Thank you, I learned something already today.

High School buddy had that identical car with the 350 Auto... it was considered a bit tacky styling wise and being gutless compared to a 10 year old Buick Station Wagon was a bit of a thing as well.

I cannot believe anyone in 1981 would have ordered a car this nice in 305 cid..

My next door neighbor in Brooklyn, Ohio had bought one of these for his daughter. He worked for the Cleveland GM stamping plant in Parma. That car was hardly driven, and it sat for years in his garage. I never knew what became of it.

My wife got one of these brand new back and Au 1 for graduation we still have the car it is a white with blue stripes dark blue interior 4 speed T tops it has original 56000 miles on it it has sitting on 4 jacks the past 3 years

Sweet, I love it. I've got a light blue 81,Z28,305, 4spd. Yo,driving with E brake on lol

I had a 81 Camaro RS with the same interior color. I miss that car.

These were the rich kid cars at my high school. It's a great showcar, so clean. But..the lack of power in the 305 relegates it to cruise status, which if cool, and you don't see these so nice every day. The 4 spd. was a game changer, as it's the best way to get that 165 hp at 4000 rpm.

“My Dad’s a TV repairman. He’s got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.” Jeff Spicoli

@robertgembala8532

2 жыл бұрын

My brother’s gonna kill us

@turdferguson4124

2 жыл бұрын

@@robertgembala8532 First he’s gonna shit, then he’s gonna kill us

@robertgembala8532

2 жыл бұрын

@@turdferguson4124 classic

Some GM cars came with the 305 HO. I have one in a 79 Olds Cutlass, no joke it moves. They say HP ranging from about 160 to 300. Between togue and horsepower 305 HO has larger heads. Enough power to raise the front creating no steering control. Techs complaint about a 305, but with headers I got as much as 24 MPG and beat a hopped up 63 vette 327 that had 104 plus octain in the Vette

thats a sweet '81 Steve. my buddy had one in high-school. if we rode in it we had to pay for gas money $ lol. he would romp on it & the gas gauge would go down! It was a boat

Beautiful cars! They don't make them like they used to!

Hope youre doing ok Steve! Want one of these so bad but with Ca smog its tough to do anything to get more power.

Hmm, I see some bits missing on the air intake. But, love it.

I was selling Pontiacs in 1981, I was selling a lot of Trans Am’s with the 305 V8 and the 301 Pontiac Turbo V8 !!!

Did I miss it? Was looking for the hood flaps to open. Steve: Hey, can I take it for a cruise? Garage: No problem. Just keep your foot outta the carb.

@angielover100

2 жыл бұрын

Nope, didn’t miss it…see my comment above. For what I bet they are asking for this car, the car should be PERFECT. Hard to believe he spent a minute talking about the “air induction”….and then showed the KZread world, that it doesn’t work….😆😆

I had a t/a. My friends wife had a 80 z28350 auto. Nice car I liked my TA. Lol. Mass salt eats cars! I want mine back.

I had an 80 Z28, loved that car… I wished I’d kept it.

We turned so very many of those into Street Stock circle track cars.

I owned a 81 Z28 same color combination 350 auto with the t tops. Still miss that car to this day. Looked this up to see how much it was and almost shit my pants. 40k is ridiculous, and to think I bought mine for 2k in 1997. These prices are nuts guess I'll never own another classic.

Take me back to the 80's and leave me there

Such an icon in my little child mind. My grandfather owned a Pontiac dealership but this blew the t/a out in my mind. Pay for a 305? Yeah, I'd paint the blueprint 400 block that 305 engine blue. 305s are boat anchors. Nothing more, nothing less

I still have mine. It is an 80 Z28 that was 350/4 speed car from the factory. Sometime befor i got it, it was converted to an automatic (TH350). The cool part about it is, whoever did the swap, left the clutch in the car. So, me (or anybody else if i ever sell it) can swap it back to the 4 speed. Even tho its an automatic now, i STILL have to push in the clutch to get the car to start! The saftey switch is stil in tact.

@sew9068

3 ай бұрын

Wow!

i always wanted one of those in blue.

78-81's are my favorite F-bodies period. Long live disco and multi colored decals

They did need help/ I had the 70 r/s 350ci 2 bbl carb 245 hp muncie 4speed all 100 % stock and it did run good / the ass end would try to come around on you at the 1st ,to 2nd gear shift 5800 rpm all out shifts✌I smashed it up

I’m more of a Trans Am guy but that is a beautiful car!

FIRST MUSCLE CAR I EVER ROAD IN AS A KID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

in my opinion they should have put deluxe seats in all z28 models, those standard buckets always looked so dang cheap to me,...ruins the whole car. but this is a nice car, and the presenter in the video does a really nice job, and video is well done, thanx for sharing.

Is that white paint fill/powder coat on the aluminum wheels? If so, that was added by the PO. I had the '81 White w/Blue stripes and the 350. Decent low end torque but they ran out of steam pretty quick. Handled very good for such a heavy car though. I used to block open the cowl induction flaps so I got a nice intake "howl" when driving.

Beautiful cars, indeed! It's just that when they get this old (42+ years), you have to start thinking about either _"modernizing"_ some of the mechanicals, gauges, and other functions (such as installing an ABS), or having vital parts put away somewhere in storage, or access to the closest junkyard with a lot of other Z's from this time, and finally either yourself or someone whom is good with old cars - Otherwise when something fails, this thing is going to sit in a garage or the side of your house for quite a while!

My favorite body style

Had a new 80 z28. Auto ac pw locks no t tops. White and gray interior. 350..had it 12 years. Wish i kep it

So clean I thought it was a video game 😆

That reddish color in the trunk did not look like discoloration but rather surface rust from water sitting in the trunk.

I still have my fully loaded charcoal 1981 z28. 350 4speed, with t-tops and custom deluxe interior ….! Back in the days, a performance cam, aluminum intake with bigger jets in the carburetor a set of 3:73 gears , and headers with true duals and those cars woke right up…. Oh ya!!!!

@joed1244

2 жыл бұрын

You have a Canadian z28 if you have a 350 4speed 1981. USA it wasn't available for 81

@frankieelvisbarbieri5495

2 жыл бұрын

@@joed1244 well that’s correct, born and raised in Toronto, and still here, came with posi 3:08 gears , installed 3:73, first thing I did then I pumped money in stereo🔊🤣

@JohnSmith-fi2ck

2 жыл бұрын

Yes it was amazing what cam,intake,carb,headers added power wise. I did the mods to a 1974 chevy c10 with a 350, many of my friends had around same year trucks and motors. With those mods I would take them to gapplebees every day after school.

@frankieelvisbarbieri5495

2 жыл бұрын

@@JohnSmith-fi2ck Lolol that’s amazing, those good old days,👍💯

I had a '79 Z28 4spd 350ci blue,after I installed headers and removed the cats and installed 2.5" dual exhaust and glasspacks straight to the back,that mod really opened it up and made it 100 times more fun to drive.This was circa 1989 paid $1500 from a guy in Corona California,car was clean(blue)and black interior.

@turboman2019

2 жыл бұрын

@@gurnblanston3210 You are totally wrong,it made it a lot more powerful and louder but being cat-less gave it a significant boost in power,not earth shattering power but significant.

@turboman2019

2 жыл бұрын

@@gurnblanston3210 Don’t thing so,the mf made people tear up when smelling the exhaust,killed flies and mosquitoes as I drove by,oh the good old times,you are just jealous.

@turboman2019

2 жыл бұрын

@@gurnblanston3210 Yes you are right on that it was 2.5” exhaust,the biggest diameter was only 3”,don’t know where that math number came from 😂

@turboman2019

2 жыл бұрын

@@gurnblanston3210 You are too mean but unless you actually were l in my shoes you could never make an accurate opinion about that,in my estimation it was making in the neighborhood of 250 hp,4 barrel carburator,HEI ignition etc.not a rocket but I could hang with 300zx’s,Starions and RX7’s of the period. One day though I got my ass handed in a platter,driving on Alameda Bl in Los Angeles circa 1989 I pull next to a Datsun 510 sedan with 280zx Turbo wheels on and figured I can eat it for lunch,we are side by side him on the left inner lane and me on the outer lane heading North,light turns green and we both take off the Datsun squatted dramatically on take off leaving two nicely painted 20 feet long skidmarks,am hanging behind for the first few seconds about a car and a half behind,going sideways,speedshifting,grunting and cussing and could not believe it that guy whipped my pride and joy. At the next light I caught up and asked him “what do you have in there?”,he says”pull over and I’ll show you”,we did and this guy was driving his uncle’s car with a full 280zx Turbo swap in it,transmission,posi diff.etc.the works I was in awe,after paying my respects to the young guy I drove my ass home,maybe not as proud and a little more humble than before,a few months later the Z28 was sold,but I still remember it as if it was yesterday.😔

@turboman2019

2 жыл бұрын

@@gurnblanston3210 Yes the Prius is probably faster and do you know that my Tesla Model Y Performance wipes the floor with your pretty C7 Corvette and your cute and very expensive Porsche convertible is dead meat too?

My mothers cousin has a 1 owner 1969 Z28 Camaro with 15,xxx original miles and it’s mint

Great video but I didn't see the air induction flaps open when he was driving??

Can you take off the "emission" controls to make it as powerful as the 70 version or thereabouts?