1996 Chevrolet Camaro

1996 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 LT1 V8, T-Top, 54,301 Miles


Why This Car Is Special

The fourth-generation Camaro had a rough start when it launched for the 1993 model year, but by the mid-1990s Chevrolet had sorted out most of the early issues and the Z28 had become a genuine performance bargain. The 1996 model year is particularly notable for one specific reason: it was the final year of the LT1 engine in the Camaro before General Motors replaced it with the all-new LS1 for 1997. That makes 1996 the last of a specific engine lineage a small-block derived from Corvette development, with reverse-flow cooling and an opti-spark distributor, that powered everything from the Caprice police cruiser to the C4 Corvette. For Camaro collectors, a clean, low-mileage 1996 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 occupies a specific spot in that history.

This particular car shows 54,301 miles on the odometer, which is a realistic lifetime total for a car that was bought, enjoyed occasionally, and preserved rather than driven as a daily driver. It is finished in red over a gray cloth interior, a combination that reads clearly in the photos and shows no obvious signs of heavy use. The undercarriage photos are especially telling the floor pans, frame rails, and rear suspension components are free of rust and structural damage, which is exactly what you want to see on a 30-year-old car before committing to a purchase.


Features List

- LT1 5.7L V8, 285 horsepower
- 4-Speed Automatic Transmission (4L60-E)
- T-Top Roof
- Z28 Badge
- Factory 16-Inch Alloy Wheels
- 4-Wheel Disc Brakes with Red Brake Calipers
- ABS Brakes
- Dual Exhaust
- Fog Lights
- Rear Spoiler
- Power Steering
- Power Windows
- Power Door Locks
- Cruise Control
- Tilt Steering Column
- Bucket Seats with Rear Seat
- Center Console
- Tachometer
- Air Conditioning
- Rear Window Defogger
- AM/FM Cassette Stereo with Door Speakers
- Dual Airbags (Driver and Passenger)
- Clean Undercarriage


Mechanical

The LT1 5.7-liter V8 under the hood of this 1996 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 produces 285 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque in factory configuration. Those numbers were substantial for a production pony car in 1996 enough to run the quarter mile in the mid-13-second range in stock form. The LT1 used reverse-flow cooling, which directed coolant to the cylinder heads first before the block, allowing for tighter combustion chamber tolerances and higher compression without knock. It was a design philosophy borrowed from the contemporary Corvette program and represented a meaningful engineering step forward from the earlier L98 it replaced.

Behind the LT1 sits the 4L60-E four-speed automatic transmission, GM's electronically controlled overdrive unit that was well-suited to the LT1's torque curve. The 4L60-E in Z28 applications was calibrated for performance duty and includes a skip-shift inhibit function the dash indicator visible in the cluster photo confirms this car has that feature active. Braking is handled by four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, and the red calipers visible in the undercarriage and wheel-well photos indicate the brake system is intact and visually correct. The undercarriage photographs show solid floor pans painted in the factory body color, clean frame rails, and suspension components that are free of significant corrosion. The rear axle housing and torque arm are well-preserved. Dual exhaust exits through the rear bumper cutouts in the factory configuration.


Interior

Inside the 1996 Chevrolet Camaro Z28, the gray cloth interior is in presentable condition throughout. The bucket seats show normal fabric texture without obvious tears or heavy wear. The rear seat a standard inclusion on the coupe body style appears equally clean and has clearly seen very little use, which is typical for a rear seat in this body style. The center console is int