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1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
The 1981 Z28 was the final second-generation Camaro. It remained a two-door sport coupe with the Z28's front air dam and wheel-opening flares, fender louvers, functional rear-facing hood scoop, rear spoiler, graphics, body-colored 15-inch sport wheels, full instruments, and special sport suspension. Sport Coupe and Berlinetta were separate Camaro models and do not belong on this page.
A manual 305 or an automatic 350
The standard Z28 power team paired the 165-hp LG4 305 four-barrel V8 with the MM4 wide-ratio four-speed. The optional LM1 350 four-barrel V8 made 175 hp and used the MX1 Turbo Hydra-Matic 350C automatic; Chevrolet did not offer that engine in California. Engine code, emissions label and hardware, carburetor, transmission, axle ratio, cooling, exhaust, dates, and records must agree before identifying one car's original power team.
Z28 chassis equipment
Power front discs and rear drums, power recirculating-ball steering, independent short-and-long-arm front suspension, and a multi-leaf live rear axle were standard Camaro foundations. The Z28's special sport suspension added larger front and rear stabilizer bars, heavier-rate front springs, specially valved shocks, and model-specific rear spring hardware. A 3.42 axle accompanied the manual path and a 3.08 axle the automatic path in the factory power-team table; limited slip and performance-ratio equipment still require car-specific evidence.
Color, trim, and proof
Chevrolet listed thirteen exterior colors, six broad interior color families, multiple vinyl and cloth bucket-seat trims, Z28-specific stripe combinations, and optional aluminum wheels. The factory price schedule lists an $8,452.23 suggested retail price for the Z28 effective April 13, 1981, before destination, taxes, and options. A reported 43,272 Z28 total is useful model context, but it is not a ledger of engines, transmissions, axles, colors, trim, plants, build dates, exports, or survivors.