Here's my 1980 Z28, the first new car I ever ordered (notice how everything was optional back in the day):
1980 Camaro Z28
Base price: $7505
Options: $2045
Custom blue buckets $353
Power Windows $143
Rear Defogger $107
Positraction $68
A1 Wheels $257
HD Battery $21
Tinted Glass $68
Mats $25
A/C $566
Tilt Wheel $81
Aux Lighting $33
Style Trim $78
350 c.i. (5.7 liter) V8 w/4bbl Rochester Quadrajet carb
190 hp @ 4200 rpm
280 lbs-ft @ 2400 rpm
M4
3.08 axle
3660 lbs (57.4%/42.6% F/R)
Goodyear Polysteel Radial 225/70R-15
0-60 8.5 seconds
1/4 mile 16.4 @ 86 mph
This car seemed fast at the time...
The second new car I ever ordered was a 1984 Z28:
1984 Camaro Z28
Base Price: $10,608
Options: $2399
Tinted Glass $110
Quiet Sound Group $72
Roof Drip Moldings $29
Body Side Moldings $55
Intermittant Wipers $50
Rear Defogger $140
A/C $730
Limited Slip Differential $95
Electronic Speed Control $175
L69 5.0 Liter 4-BBL V8 High Output $530
Tilt Steering $110
Aux Lighting $72
Halogen High Beam $10
HD Battery $26
Blue Custom Bucket $287
Small Block V8 5.0 Liter
Compression Ratio 9.5:1
190 hp @ 4800 rpm
240 lbs-ft @ 3200
M5
3.73:1 axle
P215/65R-15 Goodyear Eagle GT tires
3150 lbs (56%/44% F/R)
EPA 16 mpg
0-60 7.2 seconds
1/4 mile 15.2 @ 90 mph
This car was faster and handled MUCH better than the 1980. Car And Driver had an article in the May 1984 issue titled "The Best-Handling American Car Is..." where the competitors were:
Camaro Z28
Corvette Z51
Dodge Daytona Turbo Z
Ford Mustang SVO
Pontiac Fiero 2M4
The tests included skidpad, lane change, braking into corner, accelerating out of corner, SCCA Pro Solo gymkhana, and laps at Willow Springs track. Objectively, the Corvette won the competition by brute force, but in the subjective ratings, the Camaro Z28 was "The Winner by a Mile." Basically, the Camaro was much easier to drive at 10/10ths than the Corvette. The article ends by saying "All hail the best-handling car made in America: the Chevrolet Camaro Z28."
