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Auto Detailing and AppearanceShare tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
Congratulations, dagwood! Your 1982 Z28 is the TGO's August 2018 Car of the Month.
I smelled a winner right away when I saw this car (I've been doing this a while). And there was some brutally awesome competition this month.
Having bought this car sight unseen, I'd say there's a collective sigh of relief from the community that this incredibly pristine car arrived at your door "as advertised".
It is amazing to see a car like this, in this condition - a true time capsule. And, a truly touching story is attached to your Camaro as well. Its good to know that this Third Gen will be cherished. I'd say it found the right owner.
Congratulations.
My car is an original, unrestored survivor. It's a 1982 Z28 with just over 21,500 actual miles. It has the LG4 305, and 3 speed automatic transmission. It is code 16 Silver paint, charcoal gfx, and 1 year only Maroon interior. It has no power windows or locks, but does have a/c, cruise control, original rubber floor mats, and the console clock. It was built the 2nd week of September, 1982 so it is a very late build 1982. It even has the black engine like the 83 model year, and still has the factory paint markings on the strut towers, drive shaft, etc.
I just purchased the car in January, and it was still wearing it's original outlined white lettered Goodyear Eagle GT tires with probably 75% tread. I put new tires on it, but I did keep the originals. The only things that have been changed from factory is I installed a new stripe kit, (some of the originals were starting to peel a little bit), the alternator has been replaced, (I have the original that is going to get rebuilt and reinstalled), the hood and hatch struts, (I have the originals) and the battery has been replaced.
I spent about 20 years looking for a 1982 Z28 in this color combination. I bet I searched hundreds of times online for this car. I had pretty much lost all hope after all of this time. This color combo seems to be extinct. Until I found this car, I had NEVER seen one after all the years of searching. Here's the story why it was so important for me to find this car...
In 1989, I had an older brother that was killed in a twin car to mine. The only difference was his was a 4 speed, and mine is an auto. He was 20, and I was 13. He was my idol, (as most big brothers are) and I thought he had the coolest car on the planet. I have so many memories of riding in that car with him, and he even let me drive it a few times! Living in the country had its advantages for that, when you're only 13 lol. Anyways, that fall he was killed in his car in a rollover accident. The car was his pride and joy. And I guess, with me growing up looking up to him, I've always wanted to be like him....even a little to this day, I guess.
I found this car for sale on Craigslist, and was absolutely shocked when I found it. After all this time of never seeing another one, I found one 2 hours from home, and was a near mint, low mile original car. I bought the car sight unseen, and didn't see it in person until it was delivered in my driveway in an enclosed trailer.....and even broke down a little after the delivery guys left. It was like seeing a long lost old friend after 29 years.
Anyways, again I am so thrilled to have my car nominated for Car Of The Month, and I know my big bro is smiling from up above as well!
Congrats man and very nice ride. I am not a big fan of the early model camaro of our generation but I think this color combo is what makes this ride look much better than the rest! Keep it looking good
Thank you very much to TGO, Linson, dmccain for the nomination, and thank you to everyone who voted for my car for COTM. It's a great privilege and honor to win this, especially with such awesome cars that were also in the running.
VortecZ, your car is awesome. Great, tasteful mods, and super clean. I love the wheels and that killer stance. Great, great machine!
heat seeker, I can't imagine all the time and effort that has gone into your car over the years that you've owned it. What a perfect example of an absolute KILLER, Street/Strip car that was built by you, and not bought. You have to be super proud of that car. Oh, and it runs 10.90's for the love of God!
BadHabit, I've always been a huge fan of the Formulas......especially the white ones. The car looks super nice, and it's awesome that you are having such good times with it. Keep up the good work!
Again, I am super thrilled to have won this, and I am also so proud to own a car that means so much to me. I've been a huge third gen fan my entire life. I've probably owned 30 to 40 of them!
My brother was also a huge f-body fan. He had owned a brown 82 Camaro, a 78 Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am, and lastly an 82 Z28 that was a twin to mine. He would be super happy about my car winning this as well.....after all, it's just like his car. Here's a couple pics of my brother...
Reunited after 29 years....
2 months before his accident with a trophy from the local dragstrip
Nicest example of an early Z you can find! Congrats! Also what a story.. It’s an amazing thing that you were able to find that car.. What a tribute to your brother..
That’s an incredible find, and the car looks awesome. I completely understand why you wanted a car just like your brother’s Z28. My dad had an 84 Z28 with a similar color combination (charcoal) and it too was a stick shift. He let me drive it once a week when I was in high school, and one night I totaled it. A fender bender (my fault) ruptured a gas tank, and I watched in horror as the car burned to the ground. Years later, I wanted to find a Z28 that was just like it. My friend (who was with me that night) often said “Dude, let it go”. I never found an exact match, but I did find an ‘84 Anniversary Trans Am with a stick shift. I’ve been working on it for 5 years, and I just finished an LS swap. Driving the car brought back memories- good memories. It was just a car for me, and it doesn’t compare to the loss of your brother. Driving and working on my Trans Am helped me work through some stuff that I couldn’t let go. I’m sure your car is bringing back good memories too. Congrats on winning car of the month, and I enjoyed reading your story.
That’s an incredible find, and the car looks awesome. I completely understand why you wanted a car just like your brother’s Z28. My dad had an 84 Z28 with a similar color combination (charcoal) and it too was a stick shift. He let me drive it once a week when I was in high school, and one night I totaled it. A fender bender (my fault) ruptured a gas tank, and I watched in horror as the car burned to the ground. Years later, I wanted to find a Z28 that was just like it. My friend (who was with me that night) often said “Dude, let it go”. I never found an exact match, but I did find an ‘84 Anniversary Trans Am with a stick shift. I’ve been working on it for 5 years, and I just finished an LS swap. Driving the car brought back memories- good memories. It was just a car for me, and it doesn’t compare to the loss of your brother. Driving and working on my Trans Am helped me work through some stuff that I couldn’t let go. I’m sure your car is bringing back good memories too. Congrats on winning car of the month, and I enjoyed reading your story.
Thanks man. I know how ya feel. In my case, I not only lost my brother, but his awesome car was gone, too. It was a car that you just always expected to see driving in the driveway. If he would have died any other way, his car would have always been kept in the family....so it's kind of a way to get a small piece of him back, I guess. A funny memory I have of him was not long after he got his car and it was sitting in the yard at the farm.....we were walking past it on our way to the shop and he was looking at it sitting there and said "Just look at that car sitting there......whoever designed those cars was a genious.....it's just perfect"
congratulation. 
