1974 Chevrolet Camaro. Photos courtesy ProductionCars.com.
By the 1974 model year, muscle cars were no longer the hot sellers they once were, killed off by rising insurance premiums and emission control requirements that saw performance begin a downward spiral in the early years of the decade. For 1974, Chevrolet wanted Camaro buyers to know they could still get the legendary Z28, but on the other hand, the coupe came in an affordable, practical version, too.
Calling the 1974 Z28 a muscle car may be a bit of a stretch. While the model still came with a 350-cu.in. V-8, fed through a four-barrel carburetor and exhaling though a dual exhaust, output was down to 185 SAE net horsepower. Two years earlier, in 1972, the Camaro’s 350 V-8 made 255 SAE net horsepower, while the year before it was still rated at 245 SAE net horsepower. By the 1974 model year, the Z28′s Positraction rear would likely have been needed on wet pavement only, but at least buyers could appreciate the car’s sport suspension, Vega-influenced restyling and bold Z28 graphics (which were, thankfully, an option).
Frugal 1974 Camaro buyers could opt for “approach A,” which advised that the base V-6 model’s sticker price of $3,162 was “less money than you might imagine.” Those seeking more amenities (but not necessarily added performance) could opt for the LT trim level, with its undefined “sumptuous interior and other elegant touches.”
Overall, the 1974 restyling (and perhaps Chevrolet’s marketing efforts) delivered dividends. In 1973, Chevrolet built 89,988 Camaros for domestic sales, including 11,574 with the Z28 package. The following year, it built 146,595 Camaros for U.S. consumption, including 13,802 Z28 models. While that represents a 2,228 unit increase in Z/28 sales, as a percentage of production, the Camaro’s sportiest version fell from 12.9 percent of sales to 9.4 percent of sales.
In 1975, the Z28 was temporarily dropped from the Camaro product line, but it would reappear midway through the 1977 model year. It would remain as Chevrolet’s highest performance model until replaced by the International Race of Champions-inspired IROC-Z in 1985.
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