1981 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta
The final year for the second generation Camaros saw a couple of extremes. A flared out, decal laden winged muscle car in the Z28, and the plain Jane commuter version which flew under the radar. Chevy also addressed one other segment, one that was more upscale and created the Berlinetta. Although it's now known that women were targeted with the Berlinetta, having one in high school was still cool. Nobody cared about marketing campaigns, market research, or target demographics. We all just wanted a Camaro!
For consignment, a heavily modified 1981 Camaro Berlinetta lovingly built, piece by piece, by a longtime Chevy dealership employee. He only used GM or Summit parts for the car and it comes with a large binder of invoices and receipts, and he even mixed the unique shade of purple himself at the dealership. For added depth, he added a blue tint to the clear coat, and it works!
Note: 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
Uniformly coated in the deep purple, our Berlinetta has some Z28 design cues including the tri colored emblem on the black grille and a sculpted, non functional hood scoop. The aggressive styling of the Z28 is further enhanced by the air grabbing scoop emerging from a hole in the hood. Headlights and turn signals are dressed with black bezels and the window frames pick up on the black as well. Cragar SS wheels are 14-inch up front and 15-inch in the rear. Combined with rear tires that are 1.5 inches wider and 1.5 inches taller than the fronts, the car is left with a classic raked stance. Fender vents and bumper covers complete the monochromatic look, and the paint is in excellent condition.
Interior
Black suede and vinyl door panels are neat and clean, while the soft cloth of the black front bucket seats look barely used. The same goes for the 2+2 seating in back and the molded black wall panels are in great shape. A 4-spoke aftermarket steering wheel provides extra grip and fronts a custom gauge package on the dash with white faced AutoMeter ProComp dials relaying all the information with bright red needles. An AM/FM/CD radio sits in the center stack just in front of the T-handled Hurst shifter in the center console. Electric window controls are next, housed on smooth molded black plastic and the armrest doubles as the lid for a storage comportment. The low pile black carpet, soft headliner, and visors are all in very good condition. The trunk is clean and lined in black carpet where three amplifiers are mounted for the radio.
Drivetrain
The business end of the car houses a rebuilt 350ci V8 with a Weiand supercharger and our consignor states it's good for 650 horsepower. All of those horses drink through a Holley 4-barrel carburetor and giddy up via a Saginaw 4-speed manual transmission. The engine bay is show worthy with chrome valve covers, a polished alternator, chrome radiator top, and headers. The rear drive houses 3.42 gears in a 10 bolt axle. Power disc brakes slow the front wheels while power drums help out in the back.
Undercarriage
It's all pretty clean underneath, mostly uniformly black with very little surface rust to speak of, mostly reserved for the headers. From those headers, the dual exhaust through glasspack style mufflers and then exit downfacing behind the rear wheels. We note a few drops of oil on the purple oil pan and a chrome differential cover, surely visible by followers with tail high in the air. Coil springs are found up front and leaf springs in the back.
Drive-Ability
There's nothing introverted about this car and the exhaust amplifies that fact. Turn the key, and the purple Berlinetta roars to life, no catalytic converter here to bog things down. Shift into first and around the test loop we go and we're instantly transformed to the local pizza joint on a Friday night, 1983. Some kids had their parent's sedans, but a fortunate few had F-bodies! At any rate, the car has immense power and impressive acceleration. Braking, tracking, and comfort all get an A+ from us. Lower grades are assigned to the power locks not working and the reverse lights not illuminating.
Big sound, from the engine and the radio are winning attributes of this car. Throw in deep purple paint, chrome goodies, a supercharger, and you've got a retro ride that becomes more desirable each year. Maybe you had one just like it in high school, or maybe you drove your parent's sedan and always dreamed of one. This is a well done car waiting to bestow a new purple reign in a new garage.
1G1AS87J9BN110118
1-USA
G-General Motors
1-Chevrolet
A-Manual Belts
S-Camaro Berlinetta
87-Sport Coupe
J-267ci V8
9-Check Digit
B-1981
N-Norwood OH Assy Plant
110118-Sequential Unit Number
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