I like this post. I to had friends in HS with late 70's or early 80's Z28's. I still recall a classmate that had a 81 Z which was really stripped down, no A/C, no power anything. The car had headers and some other aftermarket stuff on it, it moved out good.
I am partial to 77 Z28's thus my username. I always regret not buying a 77 Z28 in HS shortly before moving to Atlanta. Seller was in the military and was being deployed to Korea for year and was selling it. Car was all original (brown with tan interior, 4 speed) except exhaust. Dad said no to purchase since it wouldn't pass emissions in Atlanta. Turned out once there they only went back 10 years and the car was just beyond cut off point and would not have mattered.
You just don't see many 77's.
Todd