1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 🇮🇹

The Chevrolet Camaro Z28 in The NB Center collection was ordered new by Mr. Bulgari from the General Motors Import dealer in Rome, Italy. It is believed to be the only ‘69 Camaro Z28 sold new in the country and one of only 12,316 Camaros built for export.

The car was ordered in Daytona Yellow (paint code 76) with  the interior in Black vinyl (trim code 712). Additionally, the car was equipped with the RPO JL8 four- wheel power  disc brake package, one of just 206 of all Camaros so equipped in ‘69.  This option alone increased the cost of the car by $500.30. This car probably cost well in excess of $4,000 delivered new in Italy after paying all the import duties.

In the nineties, the original engine was replaced by a racing small-block assembled in Germany, developed by Giovanni Ciccone, European manager for Callaway Competition. This engine  is complemented with a Tremec 5-speed manual transmission, new aluminum radiator, special stainless steel exhausts  and racing style seats. The original parts were put in storage so the car could be converted back to its form as delivered. Like all the Camaro Z28s of that period, it has no power assisted steering or air conditioning. 

Company
General Motors

Make
Chevrolet

Model
Camaro, Z28

Body Style
Coupe, 2-door, 4-pass.

Body Manufacture
Fisher Body

Model year
1969

Wheelbase
108 inches

Length
186 inches

Engine
V8, OHV, 302 cid

Horsepower
290 hp @ 5800 rpm

Transmission
4-speed manual, console shift

Original Base Price
$2,727

Brand Production
2,092,947

This Car Production
20,302

The Camaro was introduced in 1967 as Chevrolet’s answer to the Ford Mustang. The car was a 2-door, 4-seat, 2+2, coupe or convertible, adhering to the pony car formula. It could be an economical commuter car when equipped with a base engine package or it could be a performance oriented fun car when equipped with the optional drivelines.

Chevrolet stepped up the game with the 1969 version of the car. The body, while still true to the shape of the original, was now longer, wider and lower. The car had a muscular look and stance it previously lacked. Today we recognize the design as an icon of the brand, that is why it was chosen as the basis for a modern interpretation when the brand was reintroduced  for the 5th generation in 2010.

Despite the muscular good looks, while the car could still be purchased with the base six cylinder engine most buyers opted for the base V8, a 327 cubic inch offering 210 horsepower. The list of powertrain, convenience, and styling options was dizzyingly long and allowed for a high degree of personalization.

The most famous of the option packages for the Camaro carried the order form code RPO Z28. When a car was ordered with this code applied, it came equipped with dual exhaust, special sport suspension, heavy duty radiator, quick-ratio steering, rally wheels, white-raised letter tires, 3.73 rear end, special stripes, Z28 badging and the 302 cid V8 producing an estimated 350 horsepower. A  four-speed manual transmission and power disc brakes were recommended additions as was a posi-traction rear end. The $560.60 option package (1969 price) was intended to help homologate the Camaro for racing in the Trans Am series.The high revving 302 engine was an excellent candidate for Trans Am racing.  According to the rules of the series, a manufacturer had to sell 1,000 copies of the car they intended to race including the powertrain to be used. 

While Chevrolet only sold 602 Z28 cars in 1967, they managed to qualify them for racing in Trans Am with some paperwork sleight-of-hand The Camaros came away victorious in both 1968 and 1969, winning the championship with 10 victories out of 13 races that year. 

1969 was a big year for sales of the Camaro. In fact, it was the 3rd highest sales year for Camaro ever, behind 1978 and 1979. Chevrolet sold 243,085 Camaros in the 1969 model year and of that total, 20,302 were equipped with the Z28 package.