The original Z28 was introduced in late 1967 as an option, a symbol for the high performance 302 CI engine that was available in the Camaro of that era. In 1977 it stood for a suspension system rather than an engine, which was a stock LM-1, 350 CI four barrel V8. After an absence of three years the Z28 was reintroduced at the February 1977 Chicago Auto Show as a 1977 and a half model, the total 1977 model production was 218,855 of which only 5,114 were Z28's with the M21 four speed manual transmission option.

This is how my car looked when I bought it in 1998.

This is my 1977 Z28 it is one of the 5,114 with the M21 4 speed manual transmission, this Camaro was a special order and was built at the Chevrolet Norwood Plant Ohio in June 1977, and was sold on 9th July 1977 by Forest City Chevrolet Portland Maine, the purchase price was $5,821.06. The car was shipped from Port Elizabeth New York on 18th November 89 by its second owner, and it arrived in Liverpool on 28th November 89.

I bought the car after seeing it at an American car show on 7th September 98. Right from the beginning I loved the shape and the sound but oh that colour, well it was original with an extensive history, and all the numbers matched. With the car came two folders with lots of receipts etc., but in amongst it all was the Pink Slip made out to the first owner and dated 16/8/77, the original invoice for $5,821.06, the build sheet and the original drivers handbook, what a find!

In mid 1999 with some help from Guy the rather cumbersome emission control pipes were removed from the engine, the inlet manifold was replaced with an holley performer, the rear shocks were replaced with gas shocks ( to help cure a saggey back end) and the exhaust boxes ( which had been fitted the wrong way around) were replaced with cherry bombs. Well when I took it out it was like driving a new car, power was up to an estimated 180 bhp and the sound, there's nothing quite like a V8.

In 2000 I took it off the road for some minor body repairs and before I new it I needed new rear panels, the axle and fuel tank came off, and the rear chassis members looked as though they had been repaired several times by a blind man with a soldering iron and a coke can, well all that had to be cut out, Phil Knock, Guy King and with some assistance from me set to work, the chassis is now better than new. Unfortunately time, the weather and money have been against me and that's as far as its got. I've got new leaf springs, most of the axle and fittings are all freshly painted ready to go back on, but the inside is stripped and needs new carpet, basically there's lots more to do.
Well in 2001 I managed to get the car back together it now had new headers and new twin 2.5" exhausts to boot, but it was late in the year and I didn't manage to get much use out of her. The body work was looking worst for wear as I had done some panel repairs but had not had the weather to paint them. November 2001 a good friend said I could borrow his garage to paint the car for as long as I needed it, well after struggling outside for two years this was music to my ears, so with joy in my heart I put it in his garage.
Before I knew it was March 2002 and I hadn't started the body work, I started to push and with only evenings and weekends it was slow going but at least me and the car were dry.

I stripped the doors off and the rear bumper, I worked on the doors at home in my shed, the lower door skins had rotted, this was cut away and new plates were fitted, this was filled and primed and finally painted white, ( first time with a spray gun ) not a bad job I thought. The rest of the car was flattened back some minor filling was required but it looked good, I came to refit the doors but they didn't fit with any type of gap around them, I think the car had settled while it was stood on axle stands.

So off came the bonnet and front wings, the doors were hung but before the wings could be refitted they needed repairing. With the wings repaired and refitted and a nice gap around the doors ( this sounds easy but took nearly a fortnight to do to my satisfaction)
I primed and top coated the car, the bonnet was painted off the car and refitted latter. The wheels, mirrors and bumpers were also primed and top coated to match the body.
The hard work then started, flattening the top coat down with wet & dry and then cutting and polishing back up, this was made easier with the loan of a large cutting and polishing wheel the cars nearly done it just needs some body graphics putting on I'm not sure whether to put the original type or just some stripes.

Many thanks go to Guy King and Phil Knock for all the help doing the chassis and body work repairs, but most of all to Keith Bass for all the advice on painting and finishing and the invaluable help in flattening the paint work back and polishing.
Its September 2002 and the car is now MOT'd and ready to go.

30 December 2008

Unfortunatly I had a stroke in October 2002 and was unable to drive her again I did have some decals made and do some minor restoration work, new door handle and had a new windscreen fitted, after four more years of maintaining her and not being able to enjoy her I had to sell. So in May 2006 I sadly said good bye.