1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
After 11 years of production of the second-generation GM F-body, the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird got much-needed redesigns for 1982. The new model was much more advanced and aerodynamically designed with improvements in suspension and handling. The hottest version of the new Camaro was the Z/28 with a 305 V8 delivering 165 HP.
Although the power was low compared to the Z/28 from the late ’60s, the 1982 Camaro was a relatively fast car by the standards of the day. In fact, it was 500 pounds lighter than the previous generation. Also, the five-speed manual transmission was standard.
As soon as the Z/28 hit the streets, some backstreet hot rodders realized they could change the intake system and camshaft. This would significantly increase the power and performance of the stock Z/28, making them desirable for people wanting pure speed.