1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
Build Sheet
| Year | 1969 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 302 cu in (4.9 L) DZ302 small-block V8 with 11.0:1 compression, forged crankshaft and rods, solid lifters, and a single Holley four-barrel carburetor on a dual-plane intake |
| Horsepower | 290 hp (advertised) at 5,800 rpm and 290 lb-ft at 4,200 rpm; widely believed to produce well over 300 hp in reality |
| 0–60 mph | About 6.7-7.4 seconds in period road tests |
| Production | 20,302 Z/28 units built for 1969 (up sharply from 7,199 in 1968) |
| Original MSRP | Roughly $2,880 base Camaro coupe plus about $458-$474 for the Z/28 option package, for an as-equipped figure near $3,350 (1969 dollars) |
| Current value | Driver-quality cars commonly trade in the $40,000-$70,000 range, with the 1st-generation Z/28 market averaging near $100,000 and concours/numbers-matching examples reaching six figures; estimate as of 2025 |
The Story
The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 represents the high-water mark of the first-generation Camaro and one of the purest expressions of the American pony car built for racing. The Z/28 option was created so Chevrolet could compete in the Sports Car Club of America Trans-Am series, which capped engine displacement at five liters. To meet the rule Chevrolet engineers combined a 327 block with a 283 crankshaft to create the 302-cubic-inch DZ302 small-block, an engine that existed for competition first and the street second.
That engine was a high-revving specialist. It carried 11.0:1 compression, a forged-steel crankshaft and connecting rods, forged pistons, solid valve lifters, large-port cylinder heads, and a single Holley four-barrel carburetor atop a dual-plane intake manifold. Chevrolet advertised 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm, a conservative figure that owners and the press long suspected understated the truth; many believe genuine output comfortably exceeded 300 horsepower. A dealer-available cross-ram intake with twin four-barrels pushed the engine further still.
For 1969 the Camaro received its most aggressive sheet metal of the first generation, with creased fender lines and purposeful proportions that have since become iconic. The Z/28 added distinctive racing stripes, upgraded suspension, front disc brakes, and a close-ratio four-speed manual. Buyers responded enthusiastically, and Z/28 production climbed to 20,302 cars, nearly triple the previous year. A base Camaro coupe listed near $2,880, with the Z/28 package adding roughly $458 to $474.
Today the 1969 Z/28 stands among the most coveted muscle cars of its decade. Solid driver-quality examples generally trade between $40,000 and $70,000, while the broader first-generation Z/28 market averages near six figures, and exceptional numbers-matching cars command well beyond that at major auctions. Values cited reflect the market as of 2025. For collectors the 1969 Z/28 remains a benchmark of an era when production cars were built, quite literally, to win on Sunday.
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