Sorry if this isn't the right place to post this...

I am buying a 1986 Z28 5speed, dark blue hardtop. From what I have found it could be a pretty rare combination.

The research I have found so far is that there was 192000 Camaros made all up, only 30000 with a manual, a total of 88000 Z28's, and only 9900 in dark blue - not sure about hardtop vs targa top.

Does anyone have any idea about how many dark blue 5 speed Z28's were made in 1986?

 

With a 5 speed there were two engine combinations in 1986... The LG4 and the L69


The L69 was the "HO" Engine it was phased out, and most of the 1986 L69 cars went to canada, In many cases people ordered the L69 and ended up with the LG4...

Unfortuantely that is as far as the breakcown goes... If it is a L69 then grab that one as there were only 74 made in 1986...

John

 

Thanks, I suspect that it is an LG4, not L69. However, it does seem to be an uncommon combination, but apparently it is impossible to confirm numbers because GM doesn't seem to keep records in that detail.

Being Australia, Camaros are quite rare anyway, so I dare say it is one of only a handful of manual Z28s here, especially in the dark blue.

Not that it really matters, I am going to buy it regardless, I just figured that it seemed an uncommon combination, so thought I would do some research.

 

Well I talked to the owner today, and although I haven't actually seen the car in person yet, I am fairly confident that it is honest, and have agreed to buy the car on the proviso that there is nothing wrong that he hasn't told me. I will be paying a deposit on Monday and heading over to look at the car do the paperwork next weekend.

Here is a pic:

 

Check the RPO for B4Z. From the pic, the car appears to be an IROC--at least it has the louvered hood and fog lights--though it's missing the 16" IROC rims.

JamesC

 

The guy who is selling is said specifically that it isn't an IROC, it is a Z28. Not sure what the story is with the bonnet, I think the fog lights were an option for the Z28 weren't they?

 

Not that I'm aware of; however, I'm not aware of everything--just ask my wife. The B4Z RPO is the best bet. Also check the door placard for wheel size. (If the car's an IROC, it'll read 16's.) Pop the "bonnet" and check for the Wonderbar.

JamesC

 

From the research I have done, the fog lights were available on all models - even the base model, and every pic I have found of a Z28 has the fog lights and louvered bonnet...

Not saying you are wrong, but I haven't seen a Z28 yet without either the fog lights or bonnet.

I will be checking the RPO codes anyway - I am hoping it go the limited slip diff because changing it will be a pain.

 

I understand that the car might have been repainted; however, the IROC's ground effects were the same color as the body, not so on the Z28. Also the IROC headlight buckets were black. At any rate, let us know the outcome, for the sake of interest.

JamesC

 

Interesting, I didn't think about the lower body colour.

I have found tons of pics listed as Z28s with a single colour, but there is no way to tell if they have been repainted.

Doesn't really matter anyway, I reckon it looks better all one colour.

 

If you find a Z28 with body colored ground effects, I can guarantee that it was painted. The Z28s received siver, charcoal or gold gfx in 86. Good thing this seller is telling you exactly what it is and not trying to upcharge you for something it isn't.

 

I'm placing money on the repaint vs. an IROC. Remember guys that the only IROC blue was the Bright Blue metallic. No darks. You have a well optioned Z28 likely. A fine ride there mate. Looking forward to seeing more pics. Oh and my vote...go back to the two tone blue and silver

 

Given that it was only the lower skirts which were in the silver, I guess it would be quite easy to paint them whatever colour you like and not worry about having to paint the whole car.

If I decide to go with a 'restoration' style project then I may go back to the silver, but I think I like it better with the body all one colour.

 

Does anyone know whether the colour on the lower skirts was actually paint or whether it was just decals? I have seen a couple of parts places selling the "Z28 lower decal kits" with silver or gold decals to go on the lower skirts where the Z28 had them.

If it is a decal kit that was used from factory, I don't think that the decals would be too hard to take off.

 

i'm not an expert, but if that car is a z28 with tpi, it's rare. there are plenty of tpi irocs around but not 1986 z28's with tpi!

 

You could purchase IROC's with TPI in 85.

JamesC

 

It has the stock LG4 - not TPI.

I was asking how many were made because I saw that there were less than 10000 made in dark blue, and manuals are not too common either - so what were the chances of having both...?

For some reason I seem to see alot more IROCs than I do Z28s as well, considering that there were alot less IROCs made, that is weird.

 

The ground effects should be painted silver. The decals go above the ground effects on the body.

See below:

 

I think a lot of people took Z28's and made them into IROC's Heck I see 1991 & 1992 Z28/IROC's and they never made any of those.

Another thing is people are more likely to hang onto cars that they have more invested into. Even though they made more of them, I think ultimately the Firebird and Camaro SC/RS may be some of the harder cars to come by that are truly nice as not many people respect them like people with a GTA or IROC.

John

 

Well I made the trip to go and check the car out for myself.

All in all it looks ok, needs a little work, but mostly just 'tidy up' stuff. The exterior of the car has been resprayed in the same dark blue colour, and you can see the silver on the lower skirts where the paint has chipped off.

A couple of minor rust spots - one on the bonnet and a couple of very minor spots in the floor (only about as wide as a pen is thick), all the sheetmetal looks good, doesn't appear to have been in a major accident.

The car drives ok, but has a bit of an oil leak underneath.

It looks great for what I want - a good base to start a project. I don't think I will find a Camaro in better condition for close to that price.

So the deal has been done, I will organise a truck to come and pick the car up during the week to deliver it to me (I am not driving 2000 miles in a 23 year old car I don't know a great deal about). Until then, I guess I just have to wait.

 

There are thousands of deals out there. I had several guys offer to give me cars when I was working on mine. Also, low numbers does not mean collectors item. I have a 1 of 5 formula and cant sell it. I dont think I would pay to ship a third gen, too many all over for sale.

 

Are you in Australia too?

 

There may be heaps of them in America, but in Australia there aren't that many around, and they are more expensive. Anything under AU$10000 is a piece of crap that isn't worth starting with and they are pulling up to AU$25000 for a really good one.

The reason I originally asked about how many were made was just out of curiosity - I don't really care if there was 100 or 1000000 made - it doesn't make any difference to the project I want to do.

I wouldn't have looked interstate if I had any other choice. Looking around, I found about 40 Camaros for sale, and only 12 of them are 3rd Gen. Only 3 of them were what I was after, not complete crap but not too expensive - and none were in the same state I am in.