The American obsession with racing
not only cemented American-made cars as a force to be reckoned with in the motorsport world—it spawned some pretty great street-legal cars as well. The 1969 Chevy Camaro
Z/28 was one such car, borne out of the desire to create muscle cars that "win on Sunday, sell on Monday,” as the old saying goes. Read along with the car ownership experts at Jerry
as we unpack the history of this car, what makes it so great, and its legacy as a collector car for the ages. How the 1969 Chevy Camaro Z/28 came to be
According to Hemmings
, it all started when Chevy released the Camaro to rival the Ford Mustang, which was dominating the pony car market at the time. The GM division created a Z/28 "Special Performance Package" to compete in the SCCA's 1967 Trans-American Sedan Championship.
In order to compete, the engine had to conform to strict racing regulations, eventually leading to the creation of a now-iconic 302-cu.in. engine.
The output of the engine was rated at 290 horses and 290 lb. ft. of torque in the stock configuration, but real-world numbers were closer to 350 horsepower and 330 lb. ft. of torque.
The street-legal version was finished off with a performance suspension, manual transmission, and stylish hood and deck stripes. Just 602 were produced in 1967, but a division-wide marketing push in 1968 bolstered next-year sales at 7,199.
While the 1968 model did well comparatively, neither the ‘67 nor ‘68 model years could compete with what was to come.
A redesign for 1969
For the 1969 edition, the Camaro Z/28 finally hit its stride. A complete restyling meant a more dynamic, muscular look for the Camaro Z/28.
The 1969 edition also came with a more aggressive ad campaign fronted by Mark Donohue and Roger Penske. The Z/28 also dominated the ‘68 and ‘69 Trans-am seasons, catapulting the street-legal version to the top of the sales charts.
In total, 20,302 copies were produced.
MORE: Chevy Could Be Waving Goodbye to the Camaro When They Release the 2024 Special Edition
How to insure a 1969 Chevy Camaro Z/28
Because of its large network of enthusiastic fans, maintaining a Chevy Camaro Z/28 is not as challenging as most classic cars. Reproductions of first-gen Camaro parts are abundant, but owning or restoring a collector car can still be quite the undertaking.
Classic car insurance coverage can help when it comes to driving a collector car. For the best rates, try using the Jerry app.
A licensed broker, Jerry can source quotes from 55+ top insurance companies in less than 60 seconds. That’s right, in under a minute you’ll see offers from Travelers, Progressive, and more! The average user saves over $800 per year on car insurance.
MORE: This European Car Show Is a Sight to Behold
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