Photo: eBay User: kacram61 (cropped by autoevolution)
You might think you're seeing ghosts as you open the door and turn on the lights in this unsuspecting garage in Edinburg, Texas, just north of the US-Mexico border. In this out-of-the-way little nook in the middle of the historic Rio Grande Valley, a bounty of pony cars that should've all been kept factory-fresh museum pieces look more like poltergeists than real automobiles. But such is the fate of these three 1969 Chevy Camaro Z28.
That's right, three of the most sought-after and desirably American pony cars of the 1960s, complete with the uber-desirable Chevy 302-cubic inch (5.0-L) small-block pushrod V8 with the lauded 850-cfm four-barrel carburetor, albeit in a more decrepit state than a zombie movie. When these three Camaros were new, dyno tests found their factory-rated power figure of 290 gross horsepower (tested out of the car without accessories installed) were total understatements. The real figure was closer to 375 or possibly even 400 horsepower. Keep in mind, the 3.9-liter V12 in the Lamborghini Miura supercar of the same model year only made about 370 horses.
While the Miura might've been a bit faster owing to its sleeker aerodynamics, to think that a Camaro was once nearing parity with an Italian supercar as far back as the late 1960s is nothing short of remarkable. These days, these three Z28 examples are looking a bit worse for wear. One of these three Z28s is a veteran of the mean streets of Chicago. For those of you who know the story of the legendary Chicago Cutlass, you'll know Chi-Town is more inhospitable to automobiles over time than just about anywhere else in the world (probably).
As a result, you'll find a few spots of rust around the trunk pan, trunk lid, and a few other spots 360 degrees around the vehicle. But you do still get the lauded twelve-bolt 3.73-geared posi-trac rear differential, better known to most people as a very early form of a limited-slip differential. So then, this is the kind of sports car capable of being a real riot in the corners, at least by vintage American car standards. You could use it to get super-clean quarter-mile drag launches as well if that's more your thing.
The other two Z28s in the collection also sport posi trac rear diffs, an optional upgrade for the Z28 that was mandatory on everything else from Chevrolet with a 3.73 gear ratio. Thankfully, the second Z28 in the collection came from the relatively temperate climate of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, while the third Z28's five-liter V8 is missing from the engine bay. At the very least, you should be able to use one of the three rolling chassis as a parts car for the other two. But it's going to take a very skilled restoration mechanic to even attempt such a build.
With a current bid of $20,600.00 as of publication, it's anyone's guess how much of an investment a project of this magnitude would involve. One thing's for sure, one restmod shop in America is about to get a huge payday. But which one of these three Z28s would you bring home with you? Or would you rather pick a Mustang to dig out of a shed to make new again? Let us know in the comments.
While the Miura might've been a bit faster owing to its sleeker aerodynamics, to think that a Camaro was once nearing parity with an Italian supercar as far back as the late 1960s is nothing short of remarkable. These days, these three Z28 examples are looking a bit worse for wear. One of these three Z28s is a veteran of the mean streets of Chicago. For those of you who know the story of the legendary Chicago Cutlass, you'll know Chi-Town is more inhospitable to automobiles over time than just about anywhere else in the world (probably).
As a result, you'll find a few spots of rust around the trunk pan, trunk lid, and a few other spots 360 degrees around the vehicle. But you do still get the lauded twelve-bolt 3.73-geared posi-trac rear differential, better known to most people as a very early form of a limited-slip differential. So then, this is the kind of sports car capable of being a real riot in the corners, at least by vintage American car standards. You could use it to get super-clean quarter-mile drag launches as well if that's more your thing.
The other two Z28s in the collection also sport posi trac rear diffs, an optional upgrade for the Z28 that was mandatory on everything else from Chevrolet with a 3.73 gear ratio. Thankfully, the second Z28 in the collection came from the relatively temperate climate of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, while the third Z28's five-liter V8 is missing from the engine bay. At the very least, you should be able to use one of the three rolling chassis as a parts car for the other two. But it's going to take a very skilled restoration mechanic to even attempt such a build.
With a current bid of $20,600.00 as of publication, it's anyone's guess how much of an investment a project of this magnitude would involve. One thing's for sure, one restmod shop in America is about to get a huge payday. But which one of these three Z28s would you bring home with you? Or would you rather pick a Mustang to dig out of a shed to make new again? Let us know in the comments.
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