Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 1978 - Chevy Camaro Z/28 - GM Chevrolet publicity campaign

Description

A superb and rare photo of the new
1978 Chevrolet Z/28
musclecar with its tuned 350 c.i. engine, photographed for the publicity campaign of the
model year 1978
.
The 1978 Chevrolet Camaro was a car of the second generation Camaro’s. Introduced in February 1970, the second generation Camaro would remain in production through 1980, as in 1981 it was replaced by the new, third generation Chevrolet Camaro. The second generation Chevrolet Camaro was somewhat larger and wider then its predecessor, however was still based on the F-body platform. The RS, SS and Z28 performance packages remained, though the Z28 received an engine upgrade to the LT-1 350 cu. in. unit.
The magnificent
Chevrolet Camaro
debuted as a fully new car model for the 1967 model year during a press preview in Detroit, Michigan on September 12, 1966 and then later in Los Angeles, California on September 19, 1966. The Camaro officially went on sale in dealerships on
September 29, 1966
for the 1967 model year in RS, SS, and Z28 performance packages. The first generation Chevrolet Camaro would be in production up to 1969 on a new rear-wheel drive GM F-body platform and would be available as a 2-door, 2+2 seating, coupe or convertible with a choice of 250 cu in (4.1 L) inline-6 and 302 cu in (4.9 L), 307 cu in (5.0 L), 327 cu in (5.4 L), 350 cu in (5.7 L), or 396 cu in (6.5 L) V8 powerplants. Concerned with the runaway success of the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet executives realized that their compact sporty car, the Corvair, would not be able to generate the sales volume of the Mustang due to its rear-engine design, as well as declining sales, partly due to bad publicity from Ralph Nader's book, Unsafe at Any Speed. Therefore, the Camaro was touted as having the same conventional rear-drive, front-engine configuration as Mustang and Chevy II Nova. In addition, the Camaro was designed to fit a variety of power plants in the engine bay. The first-generation Camaro would last until the 1969 model year and would eventually inspire the design of the new retro fifth-generation Camaro. Introduced in February 1970, the second generation Camaro would remain in production through 1981. The car was somewhat larger and wider with the new styling, thus resulting in a heavier car. Still based on the F-body platform, the new Camaro was similar to its predecessor, with a unibody structure, front subframe, an A-arm front suspension and leaf springs to control the solid rear axle. The RS, SS and Z28 performance packages remained, though the Z28 received an engine upgrade to the LT-1 350 cu. in. unit; Road & Track magazine picked the 1971 SS350 as one of the
ten best cars on the planet in August 1971. 1980 and 1981 Z28's included a rear facing intake, with an intake door that opened under full throttle. The third generation Camaro was produced from 1982 to 1992. 1982 you could get a 4 speed behind a 305 V8. In 1983 they went to the five speed. These were the first Camaros to offer modern fuel injection, Turbo-Hydramatic 700R4 four-speed automatic transmissions, five speed manual transmissions,
16 inch
wheels, a standard 4 cylinder engine and versatile hatchback bodies. The cars were nearly
500 pounds
lighter than the long running second generation model. The legendary IROC-Z was introduced in
1984. In
1986, Camaros received a center, high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) to comply with Federal legislation; these were placed on top of the back hatch window. In 1987, the potent L98 5.7 V-8 engine was available in the Z28, paired with an automatic transmission. The "20th Anniversary Commemorative Edition" was offered in 1987 and a "25th Anniversary Heritage Package" in 1992. Beginning in 1988, the famed 1LE performance package was introduced, for the street models and for showroom stock racing in the U.S. and Canada. The B4C or "police" package was made available beginning in 1991. This basically created a Z28 in more subtle RS styling. The fourth-generation Camaro debuted in 1993 on an updated F-body platform. It retained the same characteristics since its introduction in 1967: a coupe body style with 2+2 seating (with an optional T-top roof) or convertible (introduced in 1994), rear-wheel drive, and a choice of V-6 and V-8 engines. The standard powerplant from 1993-1995 was a
3.4 liter
V-
6. A
more powerful
3.8 liter
V-6 was introduced as an option in 1995 and made standard in 1996. The LT1 V-8 engine with 275 horsepower (at the flywheel), which was introduced in the Corvette in 1992, was standard in the Z28. Optional equipment included a new six-speed manual T-56 transmission and all-speed traction control. Anti-lock brakes were standard equipment on all Camaros. The 1997 model year included a revised interior, and the 1998 models included exterior styling changes, and a switch to GM's aluminum block LS1 used in the Corvette C5. The Camaro remained in production through the 2002 model year, marking 35 years of continuous production. Production of the F-Body platform was stopped due to slowing sales, a deteriorating market for sports coupes, and plant overcapacity. Based on the 2006 Camaro Concept and 2007 Camaro Convertible Concept, production of the fifth-generation Camaro was approved on 10 August 2006. Oshawa Car Assembly produces the new Camaro which went on sale in spring of 2009 as a 2010 model year vehicle. The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is offered as a coupe only in LS, LT, and SS trim levels. LS and LT models are powered by a 3.6L (217ci) V6 producing 304 hp (227 kW), mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic with manual shift. The sprint from 0-60 is covered in 5.9 seconds with the V6. The SS is powered by the LS3 6.2L (376ci) V8 producing 426 hp (318 kW). It is paired with a 6-speed manual and runs 0-
60 mph
in 4.8 seconds. The automatic gets a L99 with 400 hp. The RS appearance package is available on both the LT and SS. Production began on 16 March 2009 as a 2010 model.
The Camaro was one of the prominent vehicles in the SCCA-sanctioned Trans-Am Series. Chevrolet contracted Roger Penske to operate their "unofficial" factory-backed Trans Am team, winning the title in 1968 and 1969 with Mark Donohue. Jim Hall's Chaparral team replaced Penske for the 1970 season. Warren Agor of Rochester, NY, was the series' leading Camaro privateer, his orange #13's often jousting with the factory cars. Maurice Carter of car dealer Maurice Carter Chevrolet-Oldsmobile in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada took a new Camaro off his lot and entered the 1970 Trans-Am Series. Carter earned the highest placed Canadian independent driver score of all the Trans-Am racers. Camaro were in use in Trans-Am until the late 1990s and won further titles in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1998. There was also another SCCA Trans-Am Series Camaro that wasn’t popular because of racing but because of its body modifications. This Camaro had been built and driven by Henry “Smokey” Yunick. It had proudly worn the number 13 and in later years would make people look back on it. Smokey Yunick was an innovator ahead of his time when building the 1968 Camaro. He brought a new style into the racing world in many ways. The Camaro had acid dipped body parts, thinner safety glass and other weight reducing devices. The Penske/Donohue Camaros also had the front sheet metal dropped, all four fenders widened, windshield laid back, front sub-frame “Z’d” to lower the car, the floor pan moved up and even the drip-rails were moved closer to the body. This Camaro had always kept its stock look and only had a 302 engine that was able to produce 482 horsepower. This Camaro had later on been bought by Vic Edelbrock. At this time he put it to use as a test car for new age Chevy small block performance part. One part that had come out of his testing was the Edelbrock Cross-Manifold. To this day the Smokey Yunick 1968 Camaro is owned by Vic Edelbrock Jr. The Camaro was the official car of and used in the International Race of Champions starting in 1975 and lasting for 12 years until 1989. It was the first American car of the series succeeding the Porsche Carrera RSR. Today, Camaros are raced in many forms of auto racing throughout the world. They are a favorite in drag racing and can be currently found in several series from the National Hot Rod Association, International Hot Rod Association, and United States Hot Rod Association. Road racing Camaros can currently be found in the Sports Car Club of America's American Sedan series. They have also been the exclusive vehicle used in the Swedish Camaro Cup series since 1975. The Camaro not only participated in racing, but was bestowed the honor of Indianapolis 500 Pace Car duties in 1967, 1969, 1982, 1993, and 2009. The Camaro also paced races at Daytona, Watkins Glen, Mosport in Canada and Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Camaro was also a regular in the IMSA GT Series. The fifth-generation Camaro is expected to take to the tracks in
2010 in
the GT class of the Grand Am Road Racing Championship. Stevenson Motorsports has announced it is seeking to run a two-car team of Pratt & Miller built cars, based on the same spaceframe as its existing Pontiac GXP-R. The team already runs Camaros in the Koni Challenge Series. The Camaro has also made several notable appearances in film. One of the most popular movie Camaros was a black 1967 model driven by actor John Cusack in the 1985 film Better Off Dead. It also appeared in the music video for "Top back" by rapper T.I. featuring Young Dro, Young Jeezy, Big Kuntry and B.G. In addition, the Camaro continues to find its way into modern day fiction. The vehicle mode of the character Bumblebee in the 2007 film, Transformers, is first a 1976 model Camaro and later a fifth-generation concept variant. A modified fifth-generation Camaro reprises the role of Bumblebee in the sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Chevrolet
, or
Chevy
, is a brand produced by General Motors. It is the top selling GM marque, with "Chevrolet" or "Chevy" being at times synonymous with GM. Chevrolet has a very interesting history. Louis Chevrolet was a race-car driver, and William Durant, founder of General Motors, had been forced out of GM in 1910. He wanted to use Chevrolet's designs to rebuild his own reputation. As head of Buick Motor Company, prior to founding GM, Durant had hired Chevrolet to drive Buicks in promotional races. Chevrolet first used its "bowtie" logo in 1913. It is said to have been designed from wallpaper Durant once saw in a French hotel. More recent research by historian Ken Kaufmann presents a compelling case that the logo is based from a logo for "Coalettes". In 1915, Durant was in the process of setting up Chevrolet production facilities in
Toronto
,
Canada
. Later that year, during a luncheon meeting in New York with "Colonel Sam" McLaughlin, whose McLaughlin Motor Car Company manufactured McLaughlin-Buick cars, it was agreed that Chevrolets with McLaughlin-designed bodies would be added to the Canadian company's product line. Three years later, the two Canadian operations (Chevrolet was by then a part of GM in the
United States
) were bought by GM to become General Motors of Canada Ltd. By 1916, Chevrolet was profitable enough to allow Durant to buy a majority of shares in GM. After the deal was completed in 1917, Durant was president of General Motors, and Chevrolet was merged into GM, becoming a separate division. In the 1918 model year, Chevrolet introduced the Model D, a V8-powered model in four-passenger roadster and five-passenger tourer models. It also started production of a overhead valve in-line six. Most cars of the era had only low compression flat head engines. These cars had 288in3 35 hp (26 kW) engines with Zenith carburetors and three-speed transmissions. Chevrolet had a great influence on the American automobile market during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1957, Chevy made the first fuel injected engine. In 1963, one out of every ten cars sold in the
United States
was a Chevrolet. The basic Chevrolet small-block V-8 design has remained in continuous production since its debut in 1955, longer than any other mass-produced engine in the world, although current versions share few if any parts interchangeable with the original. Descendants of the basic small-block OHV V-8 design platform in production today have been much modified with advances such as aluminium block and heads, electronic engine management and sequential port fuel injection, to name but a few. The small block Chevrolet V-8 is used in current production model (2008) The design is simplistic as compared to the Overhead cam V-8 that Ford Motor Company uses in its line of larger cars and light trucks. Impala sedans, a variety of light and medium duty Chevrolet trucks, and the current generation Corvette sports car. Depending on the vehicle type, they are built in displacements from 4.8 to
7.0 litres
with outputs ranging from 295 to 638 horsepower (476 kW) as installed at the factory. It will also be used as a performance option in the forthcoming (2010 model year) revival of the Chevrolet Camaro. The engine design has also been used over the years in GM products built and sold under the
Pontiac
. Oldsmobile, Buick, Opel (
Germany
) and Holden (
Australia
) nameplates. Recently, a 6-litre, 400 horsepower (300 kW) version of the small-block V-8 designed initially for the C-6 Corvette has been installed in a factory-built high performance version of the Cadillac CTS sedan known as the CTS-V.
This is a very nice and very rare photo that reflects a wonderful era of Chevrolet ‘s automotive history in a wonderful way.
This is your rare chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 7.8" x 12" (ca. 20 x
30 cm
).
It makes it perfectly suitable for framing.
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy.   For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files
and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.