BladeX10

So i was looking around at some other peoples 83 Z28's and i noticed theirs have electric windows with the switches below the shifter.. so i was like wtf My 83 has manual windows.. Whats up with that? Did they have 2 seperate z28 models or something with less features?

I have a 5 speed 83 and have heard from some people that they are kinda rare in a way.. Is that true?

And wth is the quartz clock or whatever on the console? What is its purpose?

coolram62

iTrader: (2)

I have a '83 Z28 also that's on the other end of the spectrum option wise she has everything including pwr driver's seat and antenna. You could order a car with or without individual options back then. Then later ('87 I believe) GM started using option packages to group items which made for ease of manufacture by lessening combinations (just my take on this).

The Z28 itself was a RPO on the Sport Coupe - that's why there's no separate VIN designator (fifth digit) like the Berlinetta. As for your 5 speed car being rare it depends on which 305 you have. The manual was the standard trans for the LG4 (eighth VIN digit H) and the only trans for the L69 (eighth VIN digit 7). There were 3,223 L69 Z28's built in '83.

As for the console clock (RPO-U35) it was standard on the Z28 and Berlinetta in '82-'83. It was deleted when a radio with built in clock was ordered but it could still be ordered separatly (mine has it). It's a neat feature but the clocks have thier little problems -especially with the second hand.

klause83z28

I too have an 83 z28, and I also have the pw and pdl. I would say that manual windows is a relatively rare option, something to hold on to(at least for z's anyway). Here is a link to the particular options that were available for that following year. http://www.camarosource.ca/php/camar...eels&year=1983

Cheers!!!

BladeX10

Looks like 5 Speed 83's are kinda rare as only 32k of them were made.

Nothing in my car is electronic.. Everything is manual. I cant find how many where made with no electronics..Unless i missed it in that link.. :P

scottmoyer

Rare? Not by any stretch.

coolram62

iTrader: (2)

Blade finding a low option Z28 like yours is uncommon as Klause referred too. What would make her somewhat rare is if she has the L69 305 as I stated before. The eighth digit of the VIN would be a 7 to be a L69 car. But on finding how many were built equipped like yours is next to impossible because records that specific were generally not kept. What you will find a total number produced for a given option. One way to narrow it down is finding the lowest production option your car has. For example my car has RPO-G92 which the number produced in '83 is 1,009 according to the "Camaro Whitebook".

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

Wasn't the vin designation for the L69 a "G"? I know it was for my 84 T/A, did it change between 83 and 84? And having a manual tranny and manual windows in a Z28 doesnt make the car rare. It made it a cheaper V8 Camaro on the dealer's lot back in 1982/83. Even if it did make it "rare" (a relative term), desirability is the other side of the equation that is even more important if you're thinking that "rare" = valuable. So just enjoy the heck out of the car and don't worry about rarity. Far too many posts in this section of the boards ask if a car is rare... and as the word itself indicates, most cars out there are not rare at all.

coolram62

iTrader: (2)

"JeremyNYR yes the VIN designator for the L69 was changed for '84. When the L69 was introduced in April '83 the designator was a "7". Oddly though the LU5 used this in '82 but was changed to a "S" for '83 (advance planning IMHO). Then for '84 and thru '86 the L69's designator was changed to a"G".

And yes the term "rare" is very over used and I prefer "uncommon". That said it was uncommon to see a Z28 not well optioned. But in the early ,'82-'86, you could order your car just the way you wanted it. I could see a dealer doing this also to sell a better euipped car.

BladeX10

Out of about 20-30 camaros i found at 3 pick n pulls today.. only 1 had a manual transmission.. Why are Automatics so common?

I found an 83 like mine today.. too bad it was stripped completely.. could have used some of its parts

69-er

Being a 23 year-old in the Air Force, I special ordered my 83 Z/28 with the performance options in mind to keep costs down. All the Camaros on the lot were too optioned out for my budget.

I ordered the L69, 4-wheel discs, no AC, (kinda dumb in New Mexico, but hey, hot rodders don't need no AC!), and manual everything. I did "splurge" on the custom cloth interior, T-Tops, defogger, halogen high beams, cassette, and floor mats.

I never considered my car to be uncommon, other than the AC delete. I figured if one wanted a performance car, keep it light and cheap.

I've come full circle now. I installed AC, power door locks and windows, hatch release, and cruise control, all factory from the salvage yards.

Larry