1978 Chevrolet Camaro

1978 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Hardtop It'll put butterflies in your stomach, a lump in your throat and a smile on your face. It's exciting, it's virile, it's a legend. Owning and driving a Z28 is a rare experience enjoyed most by those who enjoy driving the most. Exclusive to Z28 are the louvers in the front fenders and the simulated air scoop in the hood. From the 1978 Camaro brochure.   For consignment, a 1978 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 hardtop showing 98,495 miles, but the true miles are unknown due to exemption. If you're doing a double take, we understand. This built car now wears a 1972 Camaro split bumper front end and is dyno'd at nearly 600 horsepower. ***Due to modifications of the emissions control devices installed by the manufacturer, please check your local, state, and federal laws to determine if this vehicle is applicable for use on public highways in your area.***   Exterior And it is that front end that gets your attention first, not because it's that of a '72 split bumper, but the blacked out trim, dark set LED headlights, and massive, arching cowl hood. While the entire car glistens with two stage medium blue metallic, the hood presents in a more matte blue with multiple dzus pins around the perimeter. In profile, intentions are clear with heavily staggered 15-inch Race Star Industries wheels wrapped in tires no older than mid 2020. The raked stance and the obvious plexiglass side windows plus the bump on the nose just look bad to the bone. Other than the power shut off, fat meats, and visible fuel pump lines, the back is otherwise pedestrian '78 Camaro with of course, the three part wing. Imperfections include chipping on the fiberglass hood, cracking paint by the door handle, various scratches, paint chips and rock chips, and paint runs on rockers.  Interior Carbon fiber patterned plastic door panels keep things light on the inside and we turn to the cabin that is nicely appointed and attractive with tan vinyl racing seats and bright blue racing harnesses. The rear 2+2 remain in stock configuration and are clean while up front, a tan rimmed steering wheel shares the column with a AutoMeter tachometer and shift light ahead of the stock looking instrument cluster. A racing toggle panel is to the left and an AM/FM/CD player to the right along with an added triple gauge pod. Perched on the transmission tunnel is a B&M shifter over tan carpet that shows some staining front and rear. Meanwhile, the perforated tan headliner looks like it's fresh from '78.  Drivetrain The hood comes completely off so you can access the 434ci V8 with Air Flow Research heads, a 4-barrel carburetor, headers, and a dyno sheet showing 591.2 horsepower. That's to the 12 bolt axle with 4.30 gears and Strange Axles, routed through a Powerglide 2-speed automatic transmission. A couple of gauges, (boost and fuel pressure), are mounted on the cowl. Undercarriage Race ready is the name of the game here with dual exhaust that flows through race mufflers and terminates short, under the car. There is no catalytic converter on board. Aerospace brakes make up the disc brakes on all 4 corners. Suspension consists of coil springs up front and leaf springs with traction bars in back. We note some residual red sauce visible on the transmission pan but the rest is dry, and a chrome differential cover adds a bit of bling to an all business bottom.  Drive-Ability The sound reverberates through the mall and when out on the test loop, over the hills and valleys of Morgantown! This is an intentional car of course and lets its presence known. It has enormous straight away power and decent handling despite the tire stagger. We note the reverse lights, front turn signals, wipers, speedometer, and odometer don't work but all other functions operate as they should. We also noted the brakes are very soft. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions