Sorting through the tons and tons of used car deals out there is a crapshoot. Do you go for original and pay later to modify the car or do you roll the dice on a previous project? If you have any real budget going, the first option is best because you can utilize the “project” as a second or backup car. If this is the route you take, though, you want to find the cleanest, most un-molested example that you can find, and this 1997 Chevy Camaro Z28 is about as good as they get.
1997 was the last year of the LT-1 and the first year of the redesigned taillights for the Chevrolet Camaro. The 285 horsepower rating is fairly pathetic by today’s standards, but in 1997 it was plenty stout and with 325 ft/lbs of torque on hand, fairly competent too. It’s not an LS1, but the LT series can still be built into a decent piece, and there is that third pedal and shifter that indicates that this is the fun version. And it’s clean, with the only visible mod being the C5 Corvette wheels and the aftermarket taillights! Sure, it’s done 146,000-ish miles, but as well-taken care of as this one is, I wouldn’t expect to do much work past any brake and clutch servicing that’s needed. That, and find some stock taillights ASAP. $4500 takes it home, and from where I’m sitting, it would be $4500 well spent. What say you?
Craigslist Link: 1997 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Those LT1s are rock solid. I still miss the Impala SS I had. I also had a teal 96 Z28 in college, you can’t go wrong with these. Just replace the opti-spark and your good to go.
I’d buy the car for the engine/trans setup and sell the body. Came close to doing the 6spd setup with my 95 9C1.