The Mystique of the Z28

[68vert]

Found this today amid some old photos and clippings.

[2cnd chance]

I'd prefer they not mention "stoplight", but talk about cruisin' twisties.

[langzi]

The first visit, later take care of

[ShnOmac]

Originally Posted by langzi

The first visit, later take care of

[eaton121]

Drivers must know who to mess up with the stop light. They know they wouldn't win with a Z.

[Gramps69Z]

[maryland09]

they are really nice pics, thanks for posting

[2Pacer]

Okay here it is. When was the last time GM built a car worthy of the Z/28 badge. I have a 67 and it is a great car. Owned a 2001 not any different than an SS. Is it all about the badge? If the Z/28 does come back I hope it is a special car worthy of its badge.

[FINALLYSATISFIED]

"Putting you first, keeps us first" they need to bring that back.

[SamHouseIII]

Originally Posted by 2Pacer

Okay here it is. When was the last time GM built a car worthy of the Z/28 badge. I have a 67 and it is a great car. Owned a 2001 not any different than an SS. Is it all about the badge? If the Z/28 does come back I hope it is a special car worthy of its badge.

Agreed.

The 2SS/RS is a pretty mean dog, but the Z28 should be a pretty mean BEAST!

[Z28 Autobot]

Originally Posted by 2Pacer

Okay here it is. When was the last time GM built a car worthy of the Z/28 badge. I have a 67 and it is a great car. Owned a 2001 not any different than an SS. Is it all about the badge? If the Z/28 does come back I hope it is a special car worthy of its badge.

The market is there for a Z28. I get conflicting reports on this but personally I think the ZL1 was going to be the Z28. Then the Boss Mustang came along and they yanked the idea of it at the last min. negotiated somethign with SLP and what was going to be the Z28 is now the ZL1.

Now Z28. Sure it should be in the same vein as the Boss. Is that not what the Z28 was? The boss fighter? Then it should go back to its roots and be a track ready race car like the Boss..not some gussed up over the top ZL1. Sure would we all like to order a ZL1? Sure but the price is not there..ok how bout a race version of the same car for a little less?

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by Z284ever

Camaro SS? That was your friend's mom's daily driver.

....

[wildpaws]

Originally Posted by Z28 Autobot

The market is there for a Z28. I get conflicting reports on this but personally I think the ZL1 was going to be the Z28. Then the Boss Mustang came along and they yanked the idea of it at the last min. negotiated somethign with SLP and what was going to be the Z28 is now the ZL1.

Now Z28. Sure it should be in the same vein as the Boss. Is that not what the Z28 was? The boss fighter? Then it should go back to its roots and be a track ready race car like the Boss..not some gussed up over the top ZL1. Sure would we all like to order a ZL1? Sure but the price is not there..ok how bout a race version of the same car for a little less?

Well actually back in the day the Boss 302 was the Z/28 fighter, not the other way around. The Z/28 was kicking the Mustang's butt in the TransAm Sedan Series and the Boss 302 was brought out to try and change that. As a side note, the Z/28 was running a 302cid way before the Mustang did.
Clyde

[Fraxum]

Originally Posted by wildpaws

Well actually back in the day the Boss 302 was the Z/28 fighter, not the other way around. The Z/28 was kicking the Mustang's butt in the TransAm Sedan Series and the Boss 302 was brought out to try and change that. As a side note, the Z/28 was running a 302cid way before the Mustang did.
Clyde

And therein lies the mystique of the Z28 back in its day. It was the image of being track ready and the success of the car in the TA series. It was not drag or street racing, there were other Camaros much better at that. An L78 or COPO Camaro had little to fear.

[wildpaws]

Originally Posted by Fraxum

And therein lies the mystique of the Z28 back in its day. It was the image of being track ready and the success of the car in the TA series. It was not drag or street racing, there were other Camaros much better at that. An L78 or COPO Camaro had little to fear.

I very much agree with your statement. So much of drag and street racing was nothing but a "mine is bigger than yours" mentality. To me the Z/28 was a driver's car because it was so close to the track race ready version that it was pure pleasure to put it through it's paces on twisty, tricky roads. To me, much more fun than a few seconds of a drag racing. But to each their own, there were Camaro versions to fill most every need and perhaps it will be that way again in the near future.
Clyde

[Blue Bandit]

Gotta love the Z

[Beck]

Originally Posted by MY1STCAMAR0

"Putting you first, keeps us first" they need to bring that back.

+1

[OldScoolCamaro]

Originally Posted by Z284ever

I grew up with Z/28 verbage like that. Consider me completely assimilated.
And I as well...
Z/28 was the badass car with mystique. Camaro SS? That was your friend's mom's daily driver.
Back in the day SS's were were more than Mom's car, but as for the Z-28 badging is concerned, well that calling card carried a do or die attitude.
Sure hope GM can find that special magic again....

True that my friend...

Originally Posted by eaton121

Drivers must know who to mess up with the stop light. They know they wouldn't win with a Z.

Way back when, for the most part, the guys who were running one had their _hit together..they "got it", as in it was understood of their place in the street heirarchy. They were "hopped up". Sorry, we didn't say modded.

Originally Posted by 2Pacer

Okay here it is. When was the last time GM built a car worthy of the Z/28 badge. I have a 67 and it is a great car. Owned a 2001 not any different than an SS. Is it all about the badge? If the Z/28 does come back I hope it is a special car worthy of its badge.

A. 1974

Originally Posted by MY1STCAMAR0

"Putting you first, keeps us first" they need to bring that back.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Originally Posted by SamHouseIII

Agreed.
+1
The 2SS/RS is a pretty mean dog, but the Z28 should be a pretty mean BEAST!

Agreed, and it can be produced so much more above the formidable 2SS. It GM wants it, so it will be done. They have all the hardware laying around to do it without alot of trouble.

[SSCamaroZ28]

I also hope they can recapture the greatness of the name Z28, which holds more importance to the Camaro than any other really. BTW, 1st Gen Z28s were also great drag cars besides track cars.

[kudzu74]

Originally Posted by Blue Bandit

Gotta love the Z

Makes me miss my 81' Z28...

[chevy 3]

I would also love to see the Z come back.

[9sk]

GM is working on a 5.5 OHC V8. I imagine that will be in the new Z28. and a larger S/C version of that (detuned from the Corvette) will be in the newer ZL1s.

OHC is a different animal that pushrod. and GM seems to be giving development that time it needs to have the right power, while being the most reliable, and having the least complexity possible.

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by 9sk

GM is working on a 5.5 OHC V8. I imagine that will be in the new Z28. and a larger S/C version of that (detuned from the Corvette) will be in the newer ZL1s.

OHC is a different animal that pushrod. and GM seems to be giving development that time it needs to have the right power, while being the most reliable, and having the least complexity possible.

Huh?

[wildpaws]

Originally Posted by 9sk

GM is working on a 5.5 OHC V8. I imagine that will be in the new Z28. and a larger S/C version of that (detuned from the Corvette) will be in the newer ZL1s.

OHC is a different animal that pushrod. and GM seems to be giving development that time it needs to have the right power, while being the most reliable, and having the least complexity possible.

What is this 5.5L OHC V8 you refer to? The only 5.5 I'm aware of that is remotely related to Chevrolet is the race version in the Corvette and that is only 5.5 due to the racing series restrictions. There have been many people saying that a 5.5 will make an appearence in the new 5th gen. of SBCs, there have been strong denials from many others that the 5.5 is a race version only and will not be a standard displacement in the new SBCs.
Clyde

[VA SSHEVY]

Originally Posted by 2Pacer

Okay here it is. When was the last time GM built a car worthy of the Z/28 badge. I have a 67 and it is a great car. Owned a 2001 not any different than an SS. Is it all about the badge? If the Z/28 does come back I hope it is a special car worthy of its badge.

I had a '92 Z28. Got a great deal on it at the '93's were coming out. Didn't realize is was the 305 vs the 350 until I got it home (long story). Pretty car, but a disappointment in the performance department. Did not deserve the badge.