Frame Off Restored Camaro Z/28 302 V8 4 Speed

The best thing about being a Camaro fan is: through five generations and 45 years of cars, GM has continuously provided us with a variety of purpose-built performance packages that wouldn't even make it out the boardroom door if proposed for most of their other models. And today, when it comes to high dollar classics, you simply can't go wrong with a numbers matching first generation Z/28. Pedigreed, well-done small block cars continue to be some of the hottest selling metal on the market. And this fully documented, investment grade '68 Z/28 has all the right ingredients to bring big value and even bigger appeal. It's an authentic Corvette Bronze car which features a stunning, factory correct Black Houndstooth interior. It packs a numbers matching 302 cubic inch V8 that's sprinkled with a roster of correct components. AND it rows power through an original Muncie M21 4-speed transmission and a heavy duty 12 bolt rear end. If you're in the market for a restoration fresh collector car that you can enjoy on weekends and make a little money on down the road, this slick F1 is exactly what you've been looking for!

I'll begin by decoding both the car's VIN number and cowl tag to confirm the authenticity of its all-original powertrain and the accuracy of its high quality restoration.

VIN: 124378L330529

* 1 = Chevrolet
* 2 = Camaro
* 4 = Eight cylinder engine
* 37 = Coupe
* 8 = 1968 model year
* L = Van Nuys, California assembly plant
* 330529 = Sequence number

COWL TAG:

* 02C = Assembled during the third week of February, 1968
* N331 = Van Nuys scheduling code
* 68 = 1968 model year
* 12437 = 1: Chevrolet, 2: Camaro, 4: Fixed digit, 37: Hardtop
* LOS = Van Nuys, California assembly plant
* 29312 = Fisher body number
* 749 = Black Houndstooth custom bucket interior
* OO = Corvette Bronze exterior paint

Assembled during February of 1968 in Los Angeles, California, this awesome Camaro Z/28 is the beneficiary of a recent nut and bolt rotisserie restoration in which no expense was spared to return every square inch of its west coast body to showroom fresh condition. After the car was completely stripped, and a few high quality replacement pieces were welded up, its sculpted panels were massaged into a laser straight profile and prepped for a correct coat of GM code O Corvette Bronze urethane. Once that glossy basecoat dried, smooth Tuxedo Black rally stripes were sealed under a durable clearcoat shell; and everything was buffed to a fantastic shine. Today, this top-notch F1 is a spectacular classic which combines the best aspects of small block Chevrolet performance with the gratuitous fun and old school style that only red-blooded American muscle can provide!

With classic pony car proportions and modernist body panels the first generation Camaro is an inherently good looking design. And with today's world class restoration techniques, it has become an excellent canvas for any skilled builder to create a serious trophy winning show stopper. At the front of this awesome Z/28 a glossy, stainless trimmed grille centers a vertically oriented bowtie emblem between clean parking lights and bright halogen headlights. Below those headlights, a show worthy chrome bumper perfectly complements a Trans Am style front spoiler. And above those headlights, a standard Camaro hood flows toward satin finished stainless windshield wipers. At the sides of the car, great looking rocker spears combine with straight fender trim, traditional door handles and a correct driver's mirror to provide some much needed visual flash. At the top of the car, new glass is completely outlined in dent-free stainless and bright chrome drip rails. And at the back of the car, an option D80 decklid spoiler rides above chrome trimmed tail lights and a second show worthy chrome bumper. Naturally, this top notch Camaro wears all the right Z/28 ornamentation which includes a pristine “Camaro by Chevrolet” header badge, red and chrome “Z/28” emblems and chrome “Camaro” fender scripts. And everything from its factory antenna to its clear marker lights is clean, correct and exceptionally well done.

Under the car's smooth bronze hood you'll find its original 3914678 branded V8 which was cast on February (B) 5th (5) of 1968 (8), assembled in Flint, Michigan (V) on February (02) 9th (09) of 1968 as a Z/28-exclusive 302 (MO), and stamped with a correct 18L330529 partial VIN. Straight from the factory, Chevrolet's high performance SCCA Mustang slayer utilizes high flow rectangular port heads, a forged steel crankshaft, forged steel connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons to twist 11 to 1 compression into upwards of 350 horsepower! At the top of the hot block, a chrome open element air cleaner swirls wind into a familiar Winter aluminum intake via a correct Holley 4-barrel carburetor. At the sides of the block, authentic double hump heads prop new chrome valve covers above fresh exhaust manifolds which funnel spent gases into factory replacement pipes. And at the back of the block, a mandatory points distributor shoots fire through correct Packard TV R Suppression wires. The infamous 302 snarls and barks like a real competition piece. And its engine compartment is top-notch in every way with fresh GM hoses, a refinished Delco Moraine brake booster, a reproduction Delco Energizer battery and an evenly sprayed combination of Chevy Orange and satin black paint providing a whole lot of form and even more function.

That high-revving powerplant is bolted to the car's original Muncie M21 4-speed close ratio manual transmission that displays a correct 3925660 casting number, a correct 18L330529 partial VIN and a P8B12 build code which translates as a Muncie (P) assembled on February (B) 12th (12) of 1968 (8). That quick-shifting transmission is backed by a fresh driveshaft which is connected to a stout 12 bolt rear end. And that first-rate drivetrain is held off the ground by a completely rebuilt high performance suspension which includes four piston Corvette-style front disc brakes, tuned front coil springs, correct multi-leaf rear springs and reproduction shock absorbers. Like its engine bay, this Camaro's chassis has been restored to exactly replicate a clean factory appearance using correct fasteners and rock solid finishing techniques. The car's clean floors and spotless satin black paint perfectly highlight a new stainless fuel tank and fresh stainless brake and fuel lines. A chambered, factory replacement exhaust system exactly duplicates original 'flattened' pipes and even includes a correct, transversely mounted muffler. And at the corners, 15 inch Chevy Rally wheels spin familiar 215/65 BF Goodrich Radial T/As around bright stainless center caps and correct stainless trim rings.

Open the door of this awesome Camaro and you'll find a completely restored houndstooth interior which conveys a clean and modern appearance. The car's black trimmed and Houndstooth lined buckets are in fantastic shape and combine with a correct optional Z87 deluxe interior package, which includes black molded door panels, wood grain dash applique, and bright pedal trim, to elevate the cockpit to a whole new level! At the front of the car, a good looking dash houses beautifully restored gauges, which include a tic-toc-tachometer, next to wood grain applique which hangs levers for the cars heater above a correct Delco AM radio. Below that dash a correct option D55 center console houses correct option U17 four pack gauges at the base of a chrome Hurst shifter. And below that console, correct black carpet is bordered by chrome Fisher Body sill plates, protected by black rubber floor mats and anchors traditional GM seatbelts. At the sides of the seats, deluxe door panels are decorated with excellent looking reproduction stainless trim and correct white inlayed "Camaro" emblems. Above the seats, a tight black headliner retains all of its color and features both a chrome trimmed dome light and a chrome rearview mirror. In front of the driver, a new satin spoked steering wheel spins around a bright Camaro horn button. And behind the cockpit, the car's accurately restored trunk rests a new trunk mat beneath a matching spare tire and correct decklid decals.

Included with the sale of this classic F-Body is a reproduction owner's manual.

Impressive is definitely one word for this slick Camaro. Its restoration alone probably cost as much as we're asking for the entire car. Z/28s are rare cars, no two-ways about that, and with the crops of clones and fakes that have popped up as the cars gain popularity, having a documented, authenticated original definitely adds value. And all of this overlooks the fact that first generation Camaros are simply some of the best looking, best driving muscle cars of all time. If you want a pony car that will draw a crowd for reasons other than being brightly colored, this investment grade F1 is exactly what you're looking for!