Requiem for the Z/28 - A 1975 article from Hot Rod Magazine

[Genob4c]

I was going through my car files which date back some 40 years, and came across this great article by Terry Cook, who at the time had just finished being the editor of Hot Rod magazine. It was Spring of 1975 and Chevy had just announced that the Z/28 Camaro was being discontinued. Well, we all know now that it was only temporary, as it returned in 1977 1/2.

It's an interesting read. It not only gives us a look at what it was like then with emmisions killing the muscle cars, but it conveys the feeling we are likely having now, as we feel the 2014/15 Z/28 will likely be the last real Z/28 as we know it. I'd love to be wrong, as Terry was in 1975, but if we see another Z/28, it will likely be a silent killer, as it's power will be measured in kilowatts.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the attached article.

[0stones0]

Nice read. Thanks for posting. Quite a drop in sales, during the early 70’s.

[pat_t]

I've driven that road between Salt Lake City and Wendover, sadly just in a hired minibus!

Special place the Salt Flats, hope to go back there one day.

Thanks for posting the great read.

[ariZona28]

Thanks for sharing this FANTASTIC article. It's difficult to explain to folks how relevant the Gen 5 Z/28 is as a connection to the muscle cars of the past. The best statement in that article was "The Z/28 on the other hand was not designed as a means of transportation with passenger comfort in mind. Rather it was as close as we could get to building A CAR FOR THE DRIVER." Brilliantly stated. Even the Gen 5 ZL1 an SS 1LEs (which I am highly infatuated with) have an abundance of creature comforts to make them more appealing to the masses. This is why our Z/28s are so special and deserve the respect of all gearheads. Won't see anything like this anytime soon.

[pzero]

Interesting to read about the past. Truly great time for ICE cars back then. I’ve stated here before this 2014/2015 Z/28 is going to be really special. I believe this will be the last ICE Z/28. As long as Chevy is around, they will revive the Z/28 badge again. This time it will be the new future pointing electric Z/28. It will be the fastest Z/28 in history. It will be the best handling Camaro in history. Like it or not that’s the way the wind is blowing now.

20 years from now when we drive our ICE Z/28 next to a young whipper snapper with a E-Z/28, the young man in that car will say, “Now that car got a soul of a real Z/28.”

[ZEDL1]

Originally Posted by Genob4c

I was going through my car files which date back some 40 years, and came across this great article by Terry Cook, who at the time had just finished being the editor of Hot Rod magazine. It was Spring of 1975 and Chevy had just announced that the Z/28 Camaro was being discontinued. Well, we all know now that it was only temporary, as it returned in 1977 1/2.

It's an interesting read. It not only gives us a look at what it was like then with emmisions killing the muscle cars, but it conveys the feeling we are likely having now, as we feel the 2014/15 Z/28 will likely be the last real Z/28 as we know it. I'd love to be wrong, as Terry was in 1975, but if we see another Z/28, it will likely be a silent killer, as it's power will be measured in kilowatts.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the attached article.

Thank you Genob4c, very much, for your post. I have the original copy of this article from Cook from 75, after so much time has passed. I printed two copies of your posted reprint to keep along with my original, simply because it made me feel so good about those 'back-in-the-day' paper copy magazines l that I used to wait for every month at my local magazine stand.

I own 2 5th Gen Camaros but neither is a Z28. Hopefully I can add a 2015 Z one day. I'll keep looking.
Growing up in the 60s made buying a 1st or 2nd Gen Z/28 impossible at my young age, but I wish that I could have one (or more than one) now.
Thank you again for the memories...
Jim

[JayZed]

Wow do I feel old. I started following this group after I bought my '15 Z28 (black, AC) last November but this is my first post. I feel old because I have this same HR mag in my "library" and I remember when I bought it! At that time I owned one of the "last Z28s" an Aqua Blue Metallic 1974, no console, M21 4-speed, spoilers and big black Z28 stripes. Great car, wish I still had it.

I currently have an '82 Z28 that I factory ordered, along with the '15.

Great article and brings back lots of memories of my '74. Thanks for posting.

There are a couple of errors in the article that should be pointed out. The original 302 was created by putting a forged 283 crank into a 327 block, not the other way around as the article states. Also the '70 Z28 had an 11:1 compression not 10.5:1 and the '71-'74 Z28 had 9:1 not 8.5:1.

Z28's are special cars and I wish I had space for a few more.