Great cars tell their own stories, and this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 lives up to the hype. It’s a real-deal Z/28 with its original, matching-numbers DZ-coded 302 cubic inch V8. It has a documented ownership history, including the first owner who kept it until 1996 (and who also provides a letter certifying that it’s a real-deal RS). It’s loaded with options, including ultra-rare fiber-optic lamp indicators, which we’ve never seen on a Camaro before. And the sucker is flat-out gorgeous in black. If you want a show-stopping Z/28, you’ll be hard-pressed to do better than this, especially at this price!

Experts will quickly glance at the cowl tag and realize that this car was originally code 71, Lemans Blue. Lemans Blue was second only to Hugger Orange in terms of popularity, so it’s easy to see why the change was made to Tuxedo Black, which remained rather rare in 1969. It has been black for a very long time, as there are photos accompanying the car showing that it was already black in 1996. It received a bare-metal repaint in 2004 and still looks spectacular today. The detailing is exceptionally good and you will find no trace of the original blue paint anywhere on the car, suggesting that the workmanship was quite careful indeed. Fit and finish are exemplary, with doors that open and close and don’t require a massive slam, a cowl-induction hood that sits right, and fully operational RS headlights that snap open and closed using the original vacuum system. Proper Z/28 and ‘rally sport’ badges are in their correct locations, and this car carries optional wheel arch trim and quarter panel “gill” inserts to dress things up. Of course, you also get the usual Z/28 chin and deck lid spoilers, white stripes that are painted on and buried under the clear, and correct RS taillights with back-up lights suspended underneath. If you want what is arguably the best-looking Camaro ever made, here it is…

The cowl tag does specific code 729 Ivory Houndstooth interior, and that’s what’s inside today. It’s a beautiful complement to the black paint and suggests that the original owner wanted some luxury with his Z/28 performance. The interior has obviously been restored, including new seat covers, fresh carpets, and probably new door panels, all of which are in excellent condition. But looking around, it is possible that the headliner is a beautiful original piece, the dash pad isn’t cracked or baked by the sun, and the detailing is excellent. The wood-rimmed steering wheel lives on a tilt steering column and there’s a full complement of gauges, including a correct 8000 RPM tach and a full set of auxiliary gauges down on the console. Everything works with the exception of perhaps the ammeter, but that might just be because the battery is fresh and fully charged. The clock ticks, the AM radio pulls in stations loud and clear, and those unique fiber-optic indicators out on the hood and below the rear window light up properly. In the trunk you’ll find a correct mat and a full-sized spare tire assembly.

This car also includes a bulletproof pedigree, starting with its original, numbers-matching 302 cubic inch V8. Built to homologate the Z/28 for Trans-Am racing, it’s still one of Chevy’s best small blocks. Eager to rev but with a great hit of low-end torque, it’s just a blast to drive. Documentation shows that the original owner had it fully rebuilt to stock specs in 1996 by Dave’s Automotive Machine in Portland, Oregon. That was about 15,000 miles ago, so it’s still quite fresh and it’s beautifully detailed under the hood. You’ll note a correct cowl induction air cleaner assembly, finned valve covers, and Chevy Orange paint on the block, plus unique Z/28 parts like the oversized pulley on the alternator that keep it from spinning itself apart at high RPM. Experts will also note that the washer bottle has been relocated to the passenger’s side inner fender, as the RS vacuum equipment sits in its place on the other side—another indicator that this is a real-deal RS (yes, even the headlight washers are intact). The only notable deviations from stock spec is a set of long-tube headers and an upgraded carburetor, but the original cast iron manifolds and 4-barrel Holley are included with the car.

Underneath you’ll find a Muncie M21 4-speed manual transmission, which snaps through the gears as fast as the engine can rev. There’s a smooth clutch and a set of 3.73 gears on a Posi in the heavy-duty 12-bolt rear end. The car has never been fully apart and restored, so there’s some grime and evidence of having been driven underneath, but the floors are in excellent condition with no rust issues and the pinch welds and rockers are unmarked. If you want a car to display with mirrors under it, this isn’t it, but if you want a clean, solid, kick-ass Z/28 with all the major stuff exactly right, then this car totally nails it. The brakes are powerful with a recent master cylinder, the dual exhaust system uses Flowmaster mufflers for an awesome soundtrack, and there’s a new gas tank hanging out back. Correct Rally wheels are really the only choice, and they’re fitted with fat 235/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials that fill the fenders perfectly.

Documentation is fairly extensive, and that’s critical on any Z/28. First, there’s the ownership history showing that a Circuit Court judge in Washington state was the original owner. He kept it until 1996 and it remained in the Pacific Northwest until 2001 when it went to its fourth owner in Oklahoma. From there, it came to Ohio in 2014, so it has obviously never been a snow-belt car. We also have extensive service receipts and invoices, photos of the bare-metal repaint from 2004, and other photos from earlier in the car’s history. There is, of course, the certified letter from the original owner stating that he had the engine rebuilt and that it is a real RS car with its original, matching-numbers engine. It’s rare to get a car that has been this well documented for most of its life.

This is a really impressive Camaro. The color is right, the performance is sparkling, and the long list of options, including the RS package, makes it stand out in a crowded field. We’ve sold quite a few Z/28s, but this one combines everything we like best: great looks, impressive performance, and just the right condition to get out and drive. Call today!