1973 Z28 Camaro
 

Is it true, or is there at least some evidence, that a T in the 5th position of the VIN# on a 1973 Camaro indicates a true Z28?

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

true

no T, no Z

Fifth digit is engine code: D = 250ci, F = 307ci, H = 350ci, 2v, K = 350ci 4bbl, T = 350ci, Z28

lots of good info here:

http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/camaro73.php

and a great 2nd gen Forum here:

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/index.php

The "original drivetrain" area is for original discussions

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

This was copied directly from the Nasty Z28 1973 forum....Like Jim says, if the vin from a 1973 Camaro doesn't have a "T" it's not a real Z28. I too highly recommend the Nasty Z28 web site....lots of great info from some very knowledgeable people on second gen Camaros!


"Z28 Verification: The 5th digit of the VIN will read "T". Period.
Total Production: 11,574 (6107 w/Manual Trans, 5467 w/Auto Trans) "

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

If it has a S , that is for the LT option. There will be no z28 emblems when with LT option. The fenders will just have "camaro", and "350" emblems. The LT emblem will be on the rear roof pillar and LT on front header and rear body. Z28 stripes were an option in 73.

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

Every original paint LT Z28 I have seen do not have any Z28 emblems or stripes. The trim tag and VIN indicate Z28. I had two friends that bought them new. They were real sleepers without stripes and spoilers. The only external item were the 15 inch Z28 rims. There was disappointment when they opened the hood and they saw a cast iron intake and q-jet. Both cars ran very well though....

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

Seven of my good friends and I each bought new 73 Z28's. Four of them were Type LT models (indicated by the letter 'S' as the second digit in the VIN) and one of those four also was ordered with the Rally Sport option. As others have said here, none of the Type LT models had any exterior Z28 identification aside from the 5 spoke wheels and F60-15 white lettered tires. I am fairly certain that Z28 stripes were not available as an option if you ordered the Type LT, although 38 years have passed and I could be wrong about that.

Mine was a base Camaro with the Z28 option ($598.05), and yes, the D88 Sport Stripes were an additional $77.00 option that my car had. Front & rear spoilers were also an option, but mine was ordered without them, which was OK with me at the time since I preferred the smaller 70 1/2 type rear spoiler. I added that after purchase.

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bill Pritchard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Seven of my good friends and I each bought new 73 Z28's. Four of them were Type LT models (indicated by the letter 'S' as the second digit in the VIN) and one of those four also was ordered with the Rally Sport option. As others have said here, none of the Type LT models had any exterior Z28 identification aside from the 5 spoke wheels and F60-15 white lettered tires. <span style="font-weight: bold">I<span style="font-size: 14pt"> am fairly certain that Z28 stripes were not available as an option if you ordered the Type LT,</span></span> although 38 years have passed and I could be wrong about that.

Mine was a base Camaro with the Z28 option ($598.05), and yes, the D88 Sport Stripes were an additional $77.00 option that my car had. Front &amp; rear spoilers were also an option, but mine was ordered without them, which was OK with me at the time since I preferred the smaller 70 1/2 type rear spoiler. I added that after purchase. </div></div>

you are correct, no stripes from the factory on all 1973 Type LT Z28's

no Z28 anything except on the trim tag under the hood

I owned a no spoiler Type LT Z28 RS 4 speed 25 years ago, it was one of my 1st air conditioned &quot;summer&quot; cars (actually my 1st a/c car was a &quot;regular&quot; full bumper non LT Z28). Sleeper for sure, they ran ok considering the year, but certainly not the same as my 70 Z28. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: al8apex</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sleeper for sure, they ran ok considering the year, but certainly not the same as my 70 Z28</div></div>

I actually traded in a Cortez silver 70 Z28 on my 73, and I never felt that there was a whole lot of difference in performance, comparing bone stock to bone stock. One of my friends that bought a new 73 put headers on it and a dual point distributor....no other changes....and it ran high 13's at the strip. I always thought that was pretty decent. By 1977, mine had a 70Z cam &amp; solid lifters, angle plug heads, headers, an Edelbrock Torker intake, 780 Holley carb, and a Mallory Unilite distributor. Although I never took it to the strip, I can say that it ran really well [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

If you ever looked in these motors they still had 4-bolt mains, 2.02 heads, guide plates, pink rods, forged pistons and a steel crank but you would never know it because of the Q-jet and cast iron intake. My very first car was a 73 Z/28 with no options, no stripes, no spoilers and aftermarket 4:11 gears with posi. I suprised allot of cars when I was 16.

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

Same engine as a 73 L-82 Vette.
My brother has owned 2. The first was a code 28 Blue LT bought new at Stott Chevrolet in Tryon NC. (Pro mod driver Quain Stott's dad owns the dealership now only sells Fords)

*total loss while parked at his job, lady hit accelerator and jumped curb T boned it and put the pass door to the console, our parents were in Hershey PA at the fall meet... so many accidents happened while they were in Hershey, they quit going.

Replaced with a #'s matching 73 RS LT Z28 4spd Gold with off white comfort weave, spoilers no stripes.

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

I bought a new red '73 LT off the showroom floor ($4400US) in the fall of '72. No stripes, no spoilers, with the 5-spokes and what I believed to be the same motor as was in the Z28 backed by a TH400. I remember the salesman telling me that was how to get around paying the extra insurance for the badging. Had finned valvecovers.
A couple years later I purchased a green '73 LT with 5-spokes and it HAD spoilers AND stripes (which were painted on and they had cracked) with A/C and a Saginaw 4-speed with a posi 10-bolt. Is this what is being referred to as an LT Z28, or is it something different? Don't recall the Vin letter.

JB

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

JB,

If the red Type LT you bought new had a T400 and finned valve covers, it definitely had the Z28 option. The green one you bought a couple years later.....hard to say, as people did a lot of things to those cars fairly soon after purchase. It could have been a Type LT Z28 that someone had the stripes painted on, or it could have been just a Type LT without the Z28 option that someone added the wheels and painted the stripes. The 73 Z28 cars that had stripes from the factory were painted on stripes, not decals.

73 was the only year that a Camaro could be a Type LT/Z28/Rally Sport (all 3 on the same car).

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

Finned covers factory in 73 is L82/Z28.

As far as the 4 spd goes, if I am not mistaken with the A/C you got the Saginaw... without you got the Muncie or maybe trans was related to gear ratio?

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

A few pictures of my 73. First two when it was still pretty new and being used as a daily driver...

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...73Z28/73Z2.jpg


http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...73Z28/73Z1.jpg


Next three in about 1978, after I had a custom paint job and did some engine work. Can you say &quot;Day Two&quot;?


http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...73Z28/73Z4.jpg


http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...73Z28/73Z3.jpg


http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...73Z28/73Z5.jpg

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

I’ve owned many original paint 1973 Camaros Z/28’s, most of which were silver with black interior (one of my weaknesses). All of the Type LT Z/28’s, with or without the RS option, did not include the sport stripes or Z/28 badges. I’m currently wrapping up a frame off resto on my silver 73 RS/LT/Z28 with 4 speed and A/C. This car was factory equipped with spoilers, but the only visible exterior Z/28 specific details are the wheels and tires.
I’m really leaning towards painting stripes on this one when it’s done, because these cars just don’t have the same look without them…. but the car is so correct otherwise I might not…
I was always under the impression that spoilers were included with the Z/28 package in 1973 and optional on the other non-Z/28 models. Only one of my 73 Z/28’s did not have spoilers. This was an original paint car that I purchased from the original owner in Sacramento back in the late 70‘s. He and his brother ordered matching 73 Z’s and told me he had to special order the cars without spoilers. The original factory applied paint stripes on the deck lid were botched up where they would have met the front lip of the spoiler and then run up and over the top. It looked like the factory had to cut the stencil to shorten it and didn’t align the two pieces properly. So even though stripes may have been optional, it appeared to me that the factory had to modify their procedures for applying the stripes if a Z/28 was ordered without the spoiler package…

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

SAWEEET Bill. Looks real good!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] I just love that SEVEN of your buds all got together and bought your Z's together. Did you get a killer deal as a result?

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

I bought my '73 Z in 1974 from a little blond who ran a classified ad saying she had to sell her second love in order to marry her first. I was in college and through the next few years it got almost the same mods as Bill's. 69 Z intake, angle plug heads, 780 Holley, Cam Dynamics cam, headers, looser converter and shift kit. Cragar S/S mags with L60's on rear and g78's on the front. White rally sport with no stripes and it ran really well. In the early 80's decided to return it to bone stock and still have it today. 16k miles and original paint. Very neat car to drive but I miss the day 2 stuff.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...um/1973Z28.jpg

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hubleyman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I’ve owned many original paint 1973 Camaros Z/28’s, most of which were silver with black interior (one of my weaknesses). All of the Type LT Z/28’s, with or without the RS option, did not include the sport stripes or Z/28 badges. I’m currently wrapping up a frame off resto on my silver 73 RS/LT/Z28 with 4 speed and A/C. This car was factory equipped with spoilers, but the only visible exterior Z/28 specific details are the wheels and tires.
I’m really leaning towards painting stripes on this one when it’s done, because these cars just don’t have the same look without them…. but the car is so correct otherwise I might not…
<span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">I was always under the impression that spoilers were included with the Z/28 package in 1</span>973</span> and optional on the other non-Z/28 models. Only one of my 73 Z/28’s did not have spoilers. This was an original paint car that I purchased from the original owner in Sacramento back in the late 70‘s. He and his brother ordered matching 73 Z’s and told me he had to special order the cars without spoilers. The original factory applied paint stripes on the deck lid were botched up where they would have met the front lip of the spoiler and then run up and over the top. It looked like the factory had to cut the stencil to shorten it and didn’t align the two pieces properly. So even though stripes may have been optional, it appeared to me that the factory had to modify their procedures for applying the stripes if a Z/28 was ordered without the spoiler package…
</div></div>

nope, NONE of the 73 Z28's had stripes OR spoilers &quot;standard&quot; they were both options you had to select and pay for.

RPO D80 at $77 for the spoilers
RPO D88 at $77 for the stripes

the RPO D88 states &quot;not available with Type LT&quot;

1972 was the 1st year that 2nd gens had spoilers optional, the short spoiler WAS standard in 1970 and 1971. The taller one was optional in 1971.

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbsides</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I bought a new red '73 LT off the showroom floor ($4400US) in the fall of '72. No stripes, no spoilers, with the 5-spokes and what I believed to be the same motor as was in the Z28 backed by a TH400. I remember the salesman telling me that was how to get around paying the extra insurance for the badging. Had finned valvecovers.
A couple years later I purchased a green '73 LT with 5-spokes and it HAD spoilers AND stripes (which were painted on and they had cracked) with A/C and a <span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">Saginaw 4-sp</span>eed</span> with a posi 10-bolt. Is this what is being referred to as an LT Z28, or is it something different? Don't recall the Vin letter.

JB </div></div>

no Saginaw transmissions were installed in Z28's - a PLAIN Type LT with a 4 speed (non Z28) would have a Saginaw, not a Z28 though.

Since someone painted stripes on it it was probably an attempt to &quot;make&quot; a Z28 out of something that wasn't (that NEVER happened/happens does it? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img] )

It was likely an early clone or tribute car, not a LT Z28

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: copo69</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I bought my '73 Z in 1974 from a little blond who ran a classified ad saying she had to sell her second love in order to marry her first. I

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...um/1973Z28.jpg
</div></div>

Is that the blonde you bought it from and are those Nancy Sinatra's boots? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

It sure looked like that green '73 LT had factory painted om stripes to me. I bought the car from a woman in 1975 who had done nothing more than drive the car. The only thing that had been changed were the tires (car had 42K miles at two years old).
Either it was the &quot;never say never&quot; freak exception or there were more out there, I'm going to hunt for pics, but barring the tall rear spoiler the black stripes on that LT were absolutely identical to the green '70.5 Z I had in '71.

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

There were no 1973 Camaros that came with stripes f<span style="font-weight: bold">rom the FACTORY</span> that were both a Z28 AND a Type LT.

period

many dealers added fluff to cars to move them or to customer requests but the FACTORY did not paint stripes on Type LT cars ...

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

They were good cars, I never really knew they were Z28's, though. I spent lots of time in a silver/black 4 speed with the RS option. It had the Z28 wheels, and the L82 motor. It was fast for the day.

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

Both of my brother's cars were wearing original paint when purchased, neither had any indication of having ever had stripes.

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

Bill-

How bout posting that great picture of all the 73s lined up in front of the gas station?

Also, love the 200-S. What exhaust were you running at that time? I see no tips at the back. Wondering if you were doing header mufflers.

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

Hey Darren,

Ask and ye shall receive....

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...satDonalds.jpg


For those that haven't seen that photo before, that was taken at the Union 76 gas station in North Aurora, IL where my friends and I all spent countless hours just hangin' out and growin' up. Obviously that does not include all 8 73 Z28's, but 4 of them were there at the time of this picture. You can see that Ron's white Type LT/Z does not have any stripes nor Z28 emblems on the front fender. Just behind Ron's car is Rick's black (that was a special order color in 73) Type LT/RS/Z, the only one of our group of 8 cars to have all three packages combined. Rick special ordered the car that way after he totalled his 70 L78 Nova SS.

Regarding the Day 2 pics of my car, yes I was also very fond of the 200-S wheels on it (the guy who owns it now changed to polished or chrome TT's, and they look nice, too). I did not have header mufflers, but had mufflers hung just forward of the rear axle with turn-down dumps.

In this thread, several people have mentioned having a silver/black 73 Z28. That is exactly what I was after when I wound up buying my Midnight blue 73. The local Aurora IL Chevy dealership, Ed Fanning, had a silver 73 RS/Z with a 4 speed that I really wanted. Couldn't come to terms with them....they were about $200 shy of giving me what I thought was a fair trade-in value for my Cortez silver 70 Z28 that I planned to trade in on the new 73. One of my friends had just bought his new 73 at Fencl-Tufo Chevy in Glendale Heights and suggested that I go up there and talk to them, so I did. Had to wait a while to talk to this particular salesman, but eventually told him of my predicament and he said no problem, we will dealer trade with Ed Fanning and get that car for you. Before we could get talking about price, some salesman walks into the showroom and is asking in a loud voice, &quot;Who owns a silver 70 Camaro out in the parking lot?&quot;. My heart sank, thinking that someone had run into it or something. I told them that I owned it. That salesman said, &quot;Are you buying a car here today?&quot;. I said I didn't know yet, why? He said, &quot;I just sold your 70 Camaro&quot;. I suppose I had a rather surprised look on my face [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/shocked.gif[/img] My salesman goes off and talks to the one that had just sold my 70, comes back and says &quot;We will make you a great deal today&quot;. And they did; gave me exactly what I wanted on trade, and discounted the new Camaro nicely. Well, long story short, they were unable to dealer trade with Ed Fanning because by then they had already sold the silver one I wanted. So I wound up buying my blue 73 - with an automatic and without the RS option that I really wanted - and I regretted it ever after. If I had got that silver one with the 4 speed and the RS package, I would still have it today, as I wound up keeping the blue one for 27 years anyway. Live and learn [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif[/img]

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

I have always loved that picture and I think of it every time I go by there. Thanks for posting.

And look what popped up in your area...

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/2172005285.html

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

That's not the girl I bought it from...that's a shot taken last fall during a photo shoot for a calendar. I think those boots did in fact belong to Nancy Sinatra at one time...lol. The girl I bought the car from cried when she sold it as her fiance was there pressuring here to sell the car as they were late for dinner with his parents and she was agonizing over my offer. The car was completely the opposite of what I was looking for. I had wanted a black, striped, non RS, 4 speed but really fell for this car when I saw it.

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

Guys, When I worked at a Chevy dealer I ordered and owned a '73 Z28 also, and I would like to know what the Craigslist car's air cleaner came off of?? I know the '73 Z's had open element filters on the Qudrajets. It reminds me of the '70 model air cleaner. (by the way, mine was silver w/ black guts)

Dicky [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dicky</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Guys, When I worked at a Chevy dealer I ordered and owned a '73 Z28 also, and<span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold"> I would like to know what the Craigslist car's air cleaner came off</span> of</span>?? I know the '73 Z's had open element filters on the Qudrajets. It reminds me of the '70 model air cleaner. (by the way, mine was silver w/ black guts)

Dicky [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img] </div></div>

that is the 74 Z28 air cleaner (another one year only item), smaller diameter and shorter &quot;snouts&quot; than the 70-72 air cleaners

as you state, the 73 had an open element, it was (the base anyway) a one year only item that was designed to clear the EGR valve ...

COOL picture Bill!!!

I have similar picture of 2 73's, a 74 LT Z and my 70 all lined up in my driveway, probably taken in 81 or so. (I need to dig it out and scan it)

2 were mine, my 70 &amp; an a/c black 73 (winter &amp; summer cars). I bought the other 73 (green original paint) for my classmate from GMI (now Kettering) to drive while he and his wife were in Phoenix for the start of their vacation &quot;out west&quot; (they are from MI) I talked my girlfriend into buying the 74 LT Z28 for her car. All 4 speeds, no one I knew ever considered buying an automatic Z28 [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

This thread rocks!.
Seriously it really has all the elements of greatness by including not only solid information on an obscure chapter of Camaro history but also such great original owner information and pictures too!.
And girls!!!

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DarrenX33</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And look what popped up in your area...

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/2172005285.html </div></div>

Ha! What a coincidence. Take away the spoilers and add the white stripes, and that's identical to my old car.

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

that car was at the Pavilions car show last month

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

At $28K, it probably won't be going to a new owner anytime soon.

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

Did they officially stop producing the '73 Rally Sport Camaro in January of '73?

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

No, my car's a 07E car and the latest production car I've seen. Here's the registry. http://www.camaro2ndgenerationregist...-registry.php#

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

The first picture was taken at our brand new house in Escondido in March '73 when the red/auto car was about 6 months old. Don't know why it did not scan that well. I was still in the Marine Corps, they had just sent most of us home from SEA as the hostilities were declared over. The car was about 6 months old at the time. Also included is an underhood shot.

JB

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

Nice!

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbsides</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The first picture was taken at our brand new house in Escondido in March '73 when the red/auto car was about 6 months old. Don't know why it did not scan that well. I was still in the Marine Corps, they had just sent most of us home from SEA as the hostilities were declared over. The car was about 6 months old at the time. Also included is an underhood shot.

JB </div></div>

LOL, it's 1973 and the guys in the photo are admiring the Pinto and ignoring the Z/28!

Re: 1973 Z28 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbsides</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The first picture was taken at our brand new house in Escondido in March '73 when the red/auto car was about 6 months old. Don't know why it did not scan that well. I was still in the Marine Corps, they had just sent most of us home from SEA as the hostilities were declared over. The car was about 6 months old at the time. Also included is an underhood shot.

JB </div></div>

LOL, it's 1973 and the guys in the photo are admiring the Pinto and ignoring the Z/28! </div></div>

My thoughts exactly!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/laugh.gif[/img]