SOLD on Jun 15, 2026
Elite Dealer

1983 Chevrolet Camaro

$34,997

1983 Chevrolet Camaro

Vehicle Details

Make

Chevrolet

Model

Camaro

Year

1983

Mileage

3,793 miles

VIN

1G1AP87H9DL139308

Body Type

Hatchback

Transmission

Manual

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

5.0L 8 Cylinder

Description

1983 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 — 3,793 Original Miles, 5-Speed Manual, Numbers-Correct Why This Car Is Special Finding a 1983 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 with under 4,000 original miles is not a matter of luck — it is a matter of someone making a deliberate decision to park a car and leave it alone for four decades. That is exactly what happened here. This red-over-gray Z/28 has covered just 3,793 miles from new, and it shows in every corner of the car.

The paint, the interior, the undercarriage, the engine bay — all of it reflects a car that has essentially never been used. For collectors focused on unrestored, documented originality, this 1983 Camaro Z/28 occupies a category that rarely comes to market. The third-generation Camaro arrived for 1982 after a brief production delay and was immediately received as one of the sharpest-looking American cars of its era.

Motor Trend named it Car of the Year for 1982, a distinction the redesigned platform earned through its aerodynamic sheetmetal, improved chassis dynamics, and much-needed weight reduction compared to the second-gen car it replaced. By 1983, Chevrolet had sorted out early production details and the Z/28 was hitting its stride. The 5.0-liter V8 was the performance engine of choice, backed in this case by the Borg-Warner T5 five-speed manual — the gearbox that put real driving engagement back into the Z/28 after years of emissions-era automatics defining the experience.

The combination of the 5.0 V8 and the five-speed was exactly how most buyers who cared about performance ordered their Z/28, and it remains the most desirable drivetrain specification in the third-gen lineup. The VIN on this car confirms it was built at the Van Nuys, California assembly plant, codes consistent with a 1983 model year Camaro Z/28 carrying the 5.0-liter V8 and five-speed manual transmission. Van Nuys-built third-gen Camaros are well documented among collectors.

Features List - 5.0L V8 Engine - 5-Speed Manual Transmission (Borg-Warner T5) - Z/28 Trim Package - Dual Exhaust - Functional Hood Scoop - Bucket Seats - Center Console - Tachometer - AM/FM Cassette Radio - Goodyear Eagle GT Tires - Sport Wheels - Power Steering - Power Disc Brakes - Air Conditioning - Clean Undercarriage - 3,793 Original Miles Mechanical The 5.0-liter V8 under this hood is the LG4 small-block, rated at 150 horsepower in 1983 trim. Those numbers look modest by today's standards, but context matters — this was the peak of emissions regulation pressure, and the 5.0 with the five-speed manual delivered a driving experience that the 305's horsepower rating alone does not fully describe. The Borg-Warner T5 five-speed was a significant improvement in feel and engagement over the three-speed automatic many buyers chose, and it is the correct transmission for a Z/28 buyer who actually wanted to drive the car.

With under 4,000 miles on the odometer, this drivetrain has barely been broken in. The engine bay presents as clean and unmodified, consistent with the overall story this car tells. Dual exhaust exits at the rear, correct for the Z/28 specification.

Power steering and four-wheel power disc brakes round out a chassis package that was genuinely competent for its time and remains pleasant to drive today. The undercarriage has been inspected and shows clean, with no rust concerns — notable for a car of this age regardless of mileage. Interior The gray vinyl interior is in the kind of condition you would expect from a car with 3,793 miles — which is to say it looks like it just came off the showroom floor.

The bucket seats show no wear. The center console is intact and correct. The dashboard carries the Z/28's standard instrumentation including a tachometer, which was central to the Z/28's driver-focused identity.

The AM/FM cassette radio is the period-correct unit, and its presence unmodified reflects the overall philosophy of this car: nothing has been changed, upgraded, or touched. Door panels, headliner

Classic Chevrolet Camaro Buyer's Guide

Full guide
M
Mike Sullivan
Muscle Cars
1967–2002
~4 min read
Updated Apr 2026
Everything you need to know about buying a classic Chevrolet Camaro — from 1967-1969 first-generation icons to the third-gen IROC era. VIN authentication, common rust hotspots, engine identification, and current market pricing.
This guide covers
10-point inspection checklist
Common issues & what to avoid
In-person inspection guide
Market pricing by year & condition
5 FAQs answered
History & fun facts

Chevrolet Camaro Market Overview

Based on 360 Chevrolet Camaro listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

360
Listed Now
$46,743
Avg. Asking Price
1967–2001
Year Range
Price Position on Our Site — Average Range
This car: $34,997
Low: $4,995 High: $259,900
Transmission Distribution
Automatic 63%
Manual 28% ◄
Condition Distribution
Excellent 14%
Good 8%
Fair 2%
Poor 1%
Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 360 listings →

Classic Chevrolet Camaro Buyer's Guide

The Chevrolet Camaro launched in September 1966 as Chevy's direct response to the Ford Mustang, and for over five decades it has defined American performance for an entire generation of enthusiasts. Whether you're hunting a numbers-matching first-generation Z/28, a survivor split-bumper second-gen, or a clean third-gen IROC-Z, the Camaro buyer's market is deep, varied, and full of pitfalls for the unprepared.

What to Check Before Buying

Verify VIN against cowl tag and build sheet — Cross-reference all three for matching production date, paint, trim, and option codes. Mismatched cowl tag = body swap.
Check engine block partial VIN — Stamped on driver-side block deck near cylinder head. Must match dashboard VIN for "numbers matching" claim.
Inspect rear window channel and trunk pan — Rust here is hidden but ruins structural integrity. Pop the rear seat and look at the rear window inner channel.
Magnet test rocker panels and quarters — Body filler is non-magnetic. If the magnet doesn't stick, the panel has been filled — meaning underlying rust.
Verify Z/28 RPO code on cowl tag — Genuine Z/28s carry the "Z28" code. Without it, the car is a clone, regardless of badging.
Inspect 12-bolt rear end (first-gen) — Z/28s and SS396s used the 12-bolt. Check for original gear ratio code stamped on axle housing.
Check transmission stamp and ratio — Muncie M21 close-ratio four-speed in Z/28s. Stamping on the side of the case identifies original.
Examine motor mounts and frame rails — Big-block cars are notorious for breaking motor mounts. Look for cracked rubber, lifted engines, or aftermarket safety chains.
Test drive on highway and parking lot — Listen for differential whine, transmission slip, brake pulsation, steering wander. Drive at least 20 minutes.
Document with HD photos before purchase — Photo every panel, every stamp, every sticker. Document VIN, cowl tag, engine, transmission, rear axle. Build the case before you wire money.

Common Issues

Rust is the silent killer of every Camaro generation. First-gen cars (1967-69) hide rust under the rear window, in the trunk pan, around the rear wheel arches, and at the cowl seam where the windshield meets the firewall. Second-gen cars (1970-81) are notorious for rotten quarters, rocker panels, and floor pans — many cars on the market have been patched poorly or filled with body filler. Mechanical issues vary by generation. First-gens commonly suffer from worn 12-bolt rear ends, leaky Muncie transmission seals, and broken motor mounts (a Big Block specialty). Second-gens add tired steering boxes, crumbling vacuum lines, and EGR issues post-1972. Third-gens (1982-1992) are plagued by failing TPI sensors, sloppy T-tops that leak, and worn front coil-over-shock units on the IROC-Z.

What to Look For

Always start with the VIN. The first character tells you the country, the third tells you the model line, and the eighth (on 1972-and-later cars) tells you the engine. Cross-reference the VIN against the cowl tag and the trim tag — mismatches mean somebody swapped a body or a clip. For first-gen cars especially, find the partial VIN stamped on the engine block (driver's side, near the head, on Big Blocks) and on the transmission. Original drivetrains can add $15,000-$30,000 to a Z/28 or SS valuation versus a date-coded replacement. Look closely at the rocker panels, lower quarter panels, and the rear wheel arches with a strong magnet. Body filler is non-magnetic. If the magnet doesn't stick, you've got Bondo — and that's the cheap fix being hidden, not the expensive metal repair.

Price Guide

First-generation Camaros (1967-1969) are the gold standard. A driver-quality 1969 SS396 in good condition runs $55,000-$85,000 today. Z/28 prices range from $60,000 for a clean driver up to $200,000+ for documented, numbers-matching, low-mileage examples. Base 1967-1968 small-block coupes start around $28,000 for project cars, $45,000-$65,000 for nice drivers. Second-generation cars (1970-1981) have appreciated significantly in the last decade. 1970 Z/28 LT-1 cars are the high-water mark at $60,000-$120,000. Split-bumper 1970-1973 base coupes run $25,000-$45,000. Mid-second-gen cars (1974-1977) are the bargain entry point, often available for $15,000-$30,000 for solid drivers. Third-generation IROC-Zs (1985-1990) have entered serious collector territory. Clean L98 IROC-Zs sell for $18,000-$35,000, with low-mileage 1LE and B4C cars commanding $45,000+.

Did You Know?

The original 1969 Z/28 was conceived purely to homologate the Camaro for SCCA Trans-Am racing — the 302 V8 (a destroked 327) was built specifically because Trans-Am rules required engines under 305 cubic inches. The Mustang outsold the Camaro throughout the entire first generation. The Camaro did not outsell the Mustang until 1977, during the second generation. Only 69 ZL1 Camaros were built in 1969 — they were essentially a factory drag racing special with an all-aluminum 427 big block, and they cost more than a new Corvette. A documented original ZL1 sold at Mecum's Indianapolis auction in 2018 for $1.05 million.

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