Mario's Tribute to the Camaro 3rd Generation 1982 to 1992

1 1982 Camaro Z28. New quad headlights for this Generation. New redesigned body style. The front windshield reclined at 62 degrees. The 1982 Camaro Z28 was voted Motor Trend Car of the Year. The 1982 Camaro was released for sale in December 1981, beginning production on October 12, 1981. Z28s included lightweight fiberglass SMC hoods with functional hood air induction flaps. The Z28 had a different nose.

2 1982 Camaro Z28. The 1982 model introduced the first Camaros with a hatchback body style. The large and complex rear window reflected recent advances in car glass design. The 1982 Camaro was also chosen as the Indy 500 Pace Car and Chevrolet sold 6,000 replicas.

3 1982 Camaro Z28. The rear seat folded down to expand into the luggage compartment, which was accessed through a large rear hatch. For 1982 three models were available: Sport Coupe, Berlinetta, and Z28.

4 1982 Camaro Z28 5.0 L 305 ci V8 145 hp 4 BBL Carb. The new Camaro received positive reviews for its styling and handling but was also criticized for the low power ratings for the Camaro Z28. 1982 sales were 189,735.

5 1983 Camaro Berlinetta. The base coupe and Berlinetta carried on as in 1982 with very little change other than newly available colors.

6 1983 Camaro Berlinetta. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive replaced the 3-speed automatic transmission in the Z28.

7 1983 Camaro Berlinetta. A Borg-Warner 5-speed manual transmission replaced the previous 4-speed stick.

8 1983 Camaro Berlinetta 305 ci V8 175 hp 5-Speed manual. The 305 V8 was supplemented in April 1983 by an all-new 5.0 L L69 4 bbl 190 hp. 1983 sales were 154,381.

9 1984 Camaro Sport Coupe. The 1984 body and features remained mostly unchanged, except the Z28 fiberglass SMC hood was replaced with a steel version. A new feature was the addition of a hydraulic clutch linkage on manual transmission cars.

10 1984 Camaro Sport Coupe. Road & Track selected the 1984 Camaro/Firebird as one of twelve best cars in the world and in the Best Sports GT category in the $11,000 to $14,000 range. Car and Driver picked the 1984 Camaro Z28 as the best handling car built in the United States.

11 1984 Camaro Sport Coupe. The dashboard pad on all models received a revised shape and finish. In the Berlinetta, the standard instrument cluster was replaced by electronic readouts, including a bar-graph tachometer and digital speedometer. The new dash came with an overhead console and pod-mounted controls for turn signals, cruise-control, HVAC, windshield wiper, and headlights. The radio was mounted inside a pod on the console that could swivel toward the driver or passenger.

12 1984 Camaro Sport Coupe 305 ci V8 5.0 L HO 190 hp L69. 1984 sales were 261,591.

13 1985 Camaro IROC-Z. For 1985, Chevrolet introduced the IROC-Z version that was named after the International Race of Champions. Offered as an option package on the Z28. New for 1985, all Camaros featured refreshed noses, and new deeper valances and front spoiler for the Z28 and the newly introduced IROC-Z.

14 1985 Camaro IROC-Z. The IROC-Z featured an upgraded suspension, lowered ride height, specially valved Delco-Bilstein shocks, larger diameter sway bars, a steering/frame brace known as the "wonder bar", a special decal package and an optional Tuned Port Injection system taken from the Chevrolet Corvette.

15 1985 Camaro IROC-Z. It also shared the Corvette's Goodyear "Gatorback" unidirectional tires in a 245/50/VR16 size vs the Corvette's 255/50/VR16 size and received unique new aluminum 5-spoke 16-by-8-inch wheels. The new wheels were designed with different offsets front and rear, resulting in the words "Front" or "Rear" cast into the wheels to distinguish which wheel went where. The speedometers no longer had the unique double-pointed needle that simultaneously read mph and km/h. They were replaced by conventional single-pointer 85 mph units.

16 1985 Camaro IROC-Z 305 ci V8 190 hp L69. The Camaro IROC-Z was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1985. 1985 sales were 180,018.

17 1986 Camaro Berlinetta. The Last Year for the Camaro Berlinetta. 1986 would be the final year for the Berlinetta trim level due to low sales. A friend of mine had a brand new white 1986 Camaro Coupe T-Top with the new optional 350 ci 5.7 L V8 225 hp L98 and it was pretty peppy.

18 1986 Camaro Berlinetta. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Regulations required a Center High Mounted Stop Lamp starting with the 1986 model year. For 1986, the new brake light was located on the exterior of the upper center area of the back hatch glass.

19 1986 Camaro Berlinetta. 1986 was the only year to see the new center brake light attached to the outside hatchback glass on the base model Sport Coupes, Z28s, and IROC-Zs. A 145 mph speedometer became standard in the IROC-Zs and Z28s with tuned port injected engines while the carbureted Camaro models and 2.8-liter V6 retained the 85-mph speedometer.

20 1986 Camaro Berlinetta. 5.0 L V8 305 ci 190 hp L69. The 2.8 L V6 was now the standard engine in the base model, replacing the 2.5 L I-4 engine. 1986 sales were 192,219.

21 1987 Camaro IROC Z28 Convertible. The convertible body style returned in 1987 after being last produced in 1969. A total of only 1,007 convertibles were produced in the first year of production and this is a very rare Camaro today if you can find one. The 1987 model year marked the 20th anniversary of the Camaro, and the convertibles were considered the anniversary editions and included a dash badge that read "20th Anniversary Commemorative Edition".

22 1987 Camaro IROC-Z Z28 Convertible. For 1987 and later, the CHMSL (3rd Brake Light) was either mounted inside the upper hatch glass or integrated into the rear spoiler as in this convertible. All 1987 models came with a unique "20th Anniversary Commemorative Edition" leather map pocket.

23 1987 Camaro IROC-Z Z28 Convertible. The Berlinetta was no longer available this year, replaced with a new LT model, while the base Camaro and Z28 continued as before. This was the last year of production at GM's Norwood, Ohio, facility as sales continued to decline consolidating Camaro assembly to the Van Nuys factory located in Southern California.

24 1987 Camaro IROC-Z Z28 Convertible. The new 350 ci 5.7 L (RPO code L98) 225 hp V8 was available only in the IROC-Z with an automatic transmission. Total 1987 sales were 137,760 with 1,007 Convertibles.

25 1988 Chevy Camaro Convertible. 5,620 convertibles were sold this year, a big jump from 1987’s 1.007. The Camaro line was greatly simplified for the 1988 model year, starting with discontinuing the slow-selling LT model and dropping the base Z28. The IROC-Z package proved popular, and the package became standard on Z28s. This resulted in two models remaining, the base coupe and the IROC-Z.

26 1988 Chevy Camaro Convertible. The Z28's ground effects and spoilers were now standard on the base Camaro coupes. Base models received a new raised spoiler for the first half of the production year.

27 1988 Chevy Camaro Convertible. All engines were fuel-injected this year; the 2.8 L running 135 HP, the 5.0 L 305 cid V8 gained throttle body injection, bringing net horsepower to 170; the 305 cid TPI manual transmission models were rated at 220 HP, automatic at 195 HP and the 350 cid TPI got a small increase to 230 HP.

28 1988 Chevy Camaro Convertible 305 CI 5.0 L 195 HP V8 automatic. Total 1988 sales were 96,275 with 5,620 Convertibles.

29 1989 Camaro RS T-Top. The 1989 model year signified the return of the RS designation (last used in 1987 on a limited-edition California only model). The Rally Sport was now the base model featuring body ground effects mimicking the IROC-Z and the previous Z28 but with the 2.8 L V6 fuel-injected engine as standard with the 305 ci 5.0 L V8 as an option.

30 1989 Camaro RS T-Top. The raised rear spoiler that became available in 1988 on the base coupes was short-lived and done away with for this year. 1989 was also the last year any third generation with the B2L RPO 350 TPI L98 engine could be ordered in combination with the CC1 RPO removable T-Top roof panels.

31 1989 Camaro RS T-Top. The engine ratings carried over from 1988 with the addition of IROC-Z Coupes. It had a new dual catalytic converter exhaust option N10 that was standard with the G92 option only available on the 305 TPI motor with a manual transmission and the 350 TPI only available with the TH700-R4 automatic.

32 1989 Camaro RS T-Top. 2.8 L V6. Power ratings varied in the 305 from 170 hp to 230 hp with manual transmission and RPO N10 dual catalytic converter exhaust and a boost to 240 hp for the 350 with RPO N10 respectively. 1989 sales were 110,739 with 7,185 Convertibles.

33 1990 Camaro IROC-Z Convertible. Last IROC-Z made and a very rare convertible. The 1990 model year finished the lowest production to date due to a truncated 1990 model run followed by the early introduction of the facelifted 1991 models. 1990 also marked the final year for the IROC-Z. Chevrolet had decided not to renew its contract with the International Race of Champions (IROC).

34 1990 Camaro IROC-Z Convertible. 1990 was a distinguishable model year as it was the only third-generation Camaro that did not feature the updated ground effects of the 1991–1992 models.

35 1990 Camaro IROC-Z Convertible. This year was the first year for an airbag to be offered in any F-body. The new airbag came along with a new "half-moon" gauge cluster, that was offered only in the 1990–1992 Camaro. The sharp edges on the dash surfaces were rounded and the lettering on the gauges switched to yellow from white.

36 1990 Camaro IROC-Z 5.0 L V8 Tuned Port Injection. The 2.8 L V6 was upgraded to the 3.1 L V6. 1990 sales were 83,089, the lowest of any year Camaro. Convertible sales were 5,279.

37 1991 Camaro Patrol Car. Z28 Camaro B4C of the California Highway Patrol (CHIPs). Production for the 1991 Camaro started in February 1990. Big changes occurred, as all Camaros received a facelift in the form of a ground effects package for not only RS but also the Z28 models, while the IROC-Z was no longer offered.

38 1991 Chevy Camaro Patrol Car. The B4C or "police" package was made available in 1991. The Z28 also featured a high-rise spoiler and non-functional hood "blisters". The CHMSL Brake Light was relocated from the spoiler to the top of the Hatch again like the 1986 models, except the housing was now on the inside rather than the outside of the hatch. The Convertible still retained the spoiler-mounted third brake light.

39 1991 Chevy Camaro Patrol Car. Just under 600 B4C Camaros were sold for 1991. The B4C "Special Service" option was made available to law enforcement, the government, and military agencies. The B4C amounted to little more than a Z28 powertrain and suspension in the RS. Beginning with the 1991 model year, GM pioneered some modified assembly techniques with the F-body Camaro and Firebird which were carried forward into the fourth generation. Different seam sealers, structural adhesives, and body assembly techniques were employed in key areas in an effort to reduce squeaks and rattles and improve the perception of quality.

40 1991 Chevy Camaro Patrol Car 305 CI V8 230 HP. 1991 sales were 100,838 and Convertible sales were the best ever at 8,532.

41 1992 Chevy Camaro Z28 25th Anniversary Heritage Edition. The 1992 models offered a "25th Anniversary Heritage Package" with stripes and a unique spoiler plaque. 1992 was the final year of the third-generation Camaro. A "25th Anniversary Heritage Edition" option had been planned with Corvette aluminum cylinder heads, tubular exhaust headers, and a 6-speed manual transmission, but this was scrapped in favor of a "Heritage Package" option (RPO Z03) which was only a graphics package of badges and rally stripes.

42 1992 Chevy Camaro Z28 25th Anniversary Heritage Edition. 1992 Camaros received a "25th Anniversary" badge on the dashboard. The 1992 version of the Camaro B4C (Special Service Package) got the addition of 1LE brakes. A total of 589 B4Cs were sold. The B4C option was also deemed popular enough to be carried on to the fourth-generation model.

43 1992 Chevy Camaro Z28 25th Anniversary Heritage Edition. Some TPI 1992 Camaros received some of the "leftovers" from its Corvette cousin, which switched from Tuned Port Injection to the new LT1 engine series in 1992. They received the rough texture, cast aluminum style, and intake runners from the TPI Corvette instead of the regular Camaro smooth tube ones. In some cases, they were built with black painted valve covers instead of the normal silver valve covers. Some also received a blank throttle body plate, like the LT1, instead of the normal plate with "Tuned Port Injection" script. The change was purely cosmetic. Performance remained identical to the previous year.

44 1992 Chevy Camaro Z28 25th Anniversary Heritage Edition. 350 CI V8 240 HP. This was the last year of production for the Camaro at the assembly plant in Van Nuys, California (and the United States until 2015). The last third-generation Camaro produced was a red Z28 coupe on August 27, 1992 that features signatures of the assembly line workers. 1992 sales were 70,007 and 3,816 Convertibles.

45 1982 Camaro Ad

46 1983 Camaro Ad

47 1984 Camaro Ad

48 1985 Camaro Ad

49 1986 Camaro Ad

50 1987 Camaro Ad

51 1988 Camaro Ad

52 1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS, S-10 Pickup, Cavalier and Beretta Ad

53 1990 Camaro Ad

54 1991 Camaro Z28 Ad

55 1992 Camaro Ad

56 1982 Chevy Camaro Z28 Indy 500 Pace Car

57 The last third-generation 1992 Camaro produced was a red Z28 coupe on August 27, 1992. The Camaro features signatures of the assembly line workers.

58 This was the last year of production for the Camaro at the assembly plant in Van Nuys, California (and the United States until 2015).

59 The Last 3rd Generation Camaro in Final Inspection getting ready for shipment.

60 Delivery of the last 1992 Camaro. This Camaro is still owned by the original owner, Leonard, and the car is located in a private storage in North Dakota with original 125 miles. How much do you think this car is worth today?