Bright Blue 1981 Z28 350 4 Speed

[carnut4life]

I'm looking to for a documented, nice original or restored 350 4 speed 1981 Z28 in code 20 Bright Blue with code 15 silver interior. I'd prefer a non-AC car with N90 wheels if possible but beggars can't be choosers I guess so let me know what's out there. If someone can lead me to the right car I'd be willing to pay a finders fee if I were able to purchase the car. I believe 3025 of these were made for Canadian sale only due to emissions requirements in the US but I'm having trouble finding as much information about them as I would like so if there is a expert or a registry out there on them feel free to contact me as well.

Thank you, Chad

[PeteLeathersac]

'

Best of luck w/ the color combo but these 350 4-Spd. cars do still pop up here in Canada although many rusty so be careful but ready to act quickly when the right one appears.
I see these two on Kijiji now as links below also there's a few wanted ads too, use the 1'st link to search all of Canada at once.
:beers:
~ Pete

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Kijiji Canada...
https://www.kijiji.ca/b-canada/l0 (https://www.kijiji.ca/b-canada/l0)

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https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/edmonton/1981-camaro-z28-t-top-4-speed-new-paint/1320637589?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

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https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/markham-york-region/1981-camaro-z28-with-t-roof/1333643032?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true (https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/markham-york-region/1981-camaro-z28-with-t-roof/1333643032?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true)

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[fiveforty]

I thought in 1981 that you could only get a 4 speed with a 305.

[PeteLeathersac]

'

350 4-Spd's in Canada.
:beers:
~ Pete

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[carnut4life]

Thanks Pete. I didn't know there was a way to search all of Canada at once, that we make life a little easier. I know at least one blue/silver 350/4 speed Z has made it down to the US but figure it may take years to find the right car.

[Tracker1]

Thanks Pete. I didn't know there was a way to search all of Canada at once, that we make life a little easier. I know at least one blue/silver 350/4 speed Z has made it down to the US but figure it may take years to find the right car.

I hope you have a great deal of patience. That's a hen's tooth car, but I'll keep an eye out.

[Tracker1]

Would require an interior color change

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/ottawa/1981-camaro-z28-for-sale/1331984610?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

[carnut4life]

Hi Tracker1, thanks for thinking of me. Saw that today after Pete sent the link to search all of Canada and about fell over thinking it had silver interior from the first picture. I have a bright blue 350/auto 81 Z with blue standard vinyl that's been in the family for 35 years so I'm going to try to be patient and find a nice original 4 speed car to go with it. The one I know of that made it to the US is about perfect option wise, a bright blue 4 speed with T-tops, N90 wheels, custom silver interior and no AC. But, it sold about a year before I even knew these things existed.

[Jonesy]

I have been looking for that exact same color combo for almost 25 years and never found one for sale. My best friend bought a new 81 Dark Blue with Silver Interior with 4 spd. He sold it in 1983 or 84 with about 14,000 miles on it. Never seen it again. I always wanted a light blue, so that what I have been looking for.

[carnut4life]

Hi Jonesy, I'd guess they probably only made a handful or two in that combo at best and that it won't easy, cheap or fast to find one. Figured a want ad is the best way to find one in the next 10 years so I put a want ad on here, nastyz28 and the second gen Camaro page on Facebook. Would you interested in a bright blue 350/auto Z28 with silver interior if I ever stumble upon one in my travels?

[Jonesy]

Possibly, but I would really prefer 4 speed.

[carnut4life]

Through the help of a new friend on the NastyZ28 site and a lot of work, I have a Vintage Vehicle Services report from GM of Canada on the exact car I'm looking for with T-Tops, N90 wheels and no AC! I started a new thread in the Supercar/Musclecar Discussion thread about how I might possibly track it down with the VIN in hopes of purchasing it some day. Still have a long way to go but its a start.

[carnut4life]

After several years of searching I've finally come to the realization I'm not going to find a blue 81 Z with the Canadian only 350 4 speed with the deluxe silver vinyl interior since every car I've found in Canada has cloth seats. I've been chasing a lead on one with deluxe silver cloth for a few years but can't find the owner so I finally caved last week and bought one with blue deluxe cloth interior, NO AC, and T-tops. I wasn't really looking for a project but couldn't pass on a rock solid #'s matching car from British Columbia with the original smog system and catalytic converter. Since the owner lives ten miles from the border he's agreed to bring the car to the states for me once I get the customs paperwork taken care of so my son and I are going to fly up and drive it home and have a father son project restoring it how I would have ordered one back in the day with deluxe silver interior and N90 aluminum wheel. I'll attempt to attach a few pics

[carnut4life]

Quick update, since the border has been closed due the COVID outbreak we haven't been able to go up and get the Z28 I bought last winter. I offered to meet the owner at the border to import the car but customs won't let us since we're not considered "essential". Out of desperation the previous owner finally found a commercial shipper that can bring it to the border for us for $200. I bought plane tickets today for my son and I to fly up on 8/6/20 and drive it home over the weekend. The car will never be worth anything but the memories will be priceless!

[Charlierogers]

its not always about the money, and you are 100% right about the memories!! those z/28 are great handling cars for what they were and fun as hell with the four speed. enjoy
charlie,,,

[Tracker1]

Strange, just saw this the other night and thought of you and this thread. Not a 350 4-speed but definitely looks to be bright blue with silver vinyl car. Just a resto and a tranny/engine swap away from checking the boxes lol. :)

https://rochester.craigslist.org/cto/d/bergen-1981-camaro-z28-project-car/7137701631.html

[carnut4life]

Thanks for the link Tracker1, unfortunately for me I don't have the skills to handle a project like that. I've been working on my Mom's 81 Z28 quite bit lately and it still has the original computer and electronic distributor in it so I'm really looking forward to getting this car home and being able to work on it without plugging it in to the scan tool.

[RALLY]

its not always about the money, and you are 100% right about the memories!! those z/28 are great handling cars for what they were and fun as hell with the four speed. enjoy
charlie,,,

I owned a 78 Z-28 Camaro. Bought brand new. Fun car with 4 speed 3.73 gears. Back in the day nice looking car but a real low powered vehicle. 170 horsepower i believe. Wish i would of invested that money into buying two used clean 69 Z-28 Camaro's back then. I was a 22 year guy who just wanted a brand new car then.

[Stefano]

Hi Tracker1, thanks for thinking of me. Saw that today after Pete sent the link to search all of Canada and about fell over thinking it had silver interior from the first picture. I have a bright blue 350/auto 81 Z with blue standard vinyl that's been in the family for 35 years so I'm going to try to be patient and find a nice original 4 speed car to go with it. The one I know of that made it to the US is about perfect option wise, a bright blue 4 speed with T-tops, N90 wheels, custom silver interior and no AC. But, it sold about a year before I even knew these things existed.

No A/C is not an issue as all 350ci 4 speed cars did not have that as an available option.

[carnut4life]

I didn't know that Stefano, thanks for posting.

[carnut4life]

My son and I flew into Spokane, WA this afternoon and drove up to Bonners Ferry, ID to meet the delivery driver that brought the Z28 in from Canada today. We're going to drive it back to Iowa over the weekend and are staying in Coeur d'Alene, ID tonight with hopes of making Rapid City, SD by tomorrow night. Confirmed the car has the original engine and found another build sheet under the drivers seat once we got checked in tonight so its been all good news so far. Hopefully our luck continues until we get home?

[William]

Best of luck on the trip Chad!

[SuperNovaSS]

Thanks for the update. Sounds like a blast. Have a great trip!

Jason

[carnut4life]

Thanks guys, we made it to SD with a couple small problems. First was when the car started sputtering at 3000 RPM going up a mountain in Wyoming, turned out the air filter was plugged so we pulled it out until we could get another. Second problem was when we got to SD, turns out our reservation is in Deadwood instead of Rapid City so we're staying downtown in the middle of the Sturgis rally. My son thinks its awesome but apparently I'm an old fart because I'd rather be in the middle of nowhere where its nice and quiet. Only 700 more miles and we'll be home, can't wait to get there and pull the drivers seat so I can get the build sheet out. I'll post some pics Sunday if we make it home safely.

[NorCam]

Right on Chad. Deadwood is a fun town during the Sturgis Rally. Been there a few times.

Safe travels home.

[carnut4life]

Thanks Graeme. It's a beautiful town but we couldn't get out there fast enough, I'll be hearing Harley's revving in my head for at least a week. Made it home at 10:30 last night and the car performed flawlessly today. Ended up driving 1550 miles in two days so we'll be taking it easy today. I'd like to get the build sheet out of the drivers seat but can't get the car in my garage with AC until next weekend so it probably have to wait til then since its suppose to be 95 here today. Time to start buying parts...

[PeteLeathersac]

'

This whole story thus far, especially w/ you & your lad wheeling it home is just THE best stuff also what it's truly all about.:worship:
Looking forward to more pics also project updates!
:beers:
~ Pete

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[carnut4life]

Thanks Pete. Before we left I told my son Nash that it probably wasn't smart to fly cross country to drive a 40 year old car home but at the end of the day it would make for one hell of a story. Since we didn't have many problems he thought it was the coolest trip ever and is ready to do it again, I'm hoping its trip I make cross country for a car since I'm not getting any younger. Should make a nice project for us to work on while he's in high school and teach him some skills he can use later in life. Got the build sheet out this afternoon, it was wadded up pretty good under the drivers seat but is about 80% complete from what I can tell. Once I get it straightened out I'll try to post a picture of it.

[carnut4life]

Finally got the build sheet scanned, pretty happy with it for being under the drivers seat for 40 years, sorry its so big, I'm not smart enough to make it any smaller. Car has been a joy so far, taught my daughter how to drive a stick last weekend and discovered the car has the original carburetor, distributor, alternator and radiator, even the hoses and clamps are original. Have an appointment with the county treasurer for next Friday to get the car titled and licensed. My local DOT inspector called them to let them know I had all the right paperwork and says I should have no problems but I'm still worried I'll get the njsteve treatment he had when he bought his 72 Formula several years ago.

[muscle_collector]

not an 81 but a 79 bright blue 4 speed, i may be wrong and my eyes playing tricks on me but those look like block off plates on the vents. which would mean no ac.
https://barnfinds.com/classifieds/1979-chevrolet-camaro-z28/

[Jonesy]

Chad it looks like Dealership is Salmon Arm Motors on Alexander Ave in Salmon Arm, BC.

They are still open today but address is different.

That 79 in the above link is Dark Blue Metallic.

[carnut4life]

Good eye Mike! Yes, it was delivered new to Salmon Arm Motors, I'll try looking them up this weekend if I ever get caught up with work. Got the Z28 titled and licensed a few weeks ago and had no issues with the local DMV. Taught my son how to drive a stick over the weekend after we got the solenoid hooked back up for the air induction hood scoop. He's hooked on seeing the doors open up every time he floors it now, good times for sure!

Nice looking 79 Z28 muscle collector. Code 20 bright blue in 81 was a one year only color and is a different shade of blue than the bright blue in 78-80, which I believe was code 24 or 26?

[carnut4life]

No A/C is not an issue as all 350ci 4 speed cars did not have that as an available option.

Most people won't even care but I saw this 350 4 speed 81 Z28 on BAT several months ago and it's the first one I've seen with AC. Looking at the VVS report it appears this car has every option available.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1981-chevrolet-camaro-27/

[carnut4life]

VVS Report