The Ford Mustang may be the first name most people think of when they think of muscle cars, but not far behind is the Chevrolet Camaro.
One of the greatest examples of nameplate, the 1967 Camaro Z28 Trans-Am race car, will be auctioned off during Mecum’s upcoming Kissimmee sale. And “The Lightweight,” as it is better known to pony car history buffs, looks just like it did when it was dominating the race track nearly six decades ago.
The Camaro went on sale in late 1966, two years after the Mustang. One way Chevy hoped to make up ground was with high-performance packages. The SS may be the most famous, but the Z28 is the most interesting because it basically turned the two-door into a legitimate race car—after some key modifications, of course.
Penske Racing 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Trans-Am Race Car
Mecum Auctions
The example headed for auction was one of six Sunoco Camaros built by Penske Racing and was actually driven during the 1967 and 1968 Trans-Am seasons by future Indy 500 winner Mark Donoghue. The car would win two races in 1967 (Las Vegas and Seattle) and another in 1968 (Sebring), the last of which helped team owner Roger Penske win his first Trans-Am championship. It earned its nickname after it was dipped in acid to save weight, according to Road & Track. Because of this, the car was banned late in 1967 for being underweight, but thanks to some clever maneuvering that saw other cars weighed in its place, it would again see action on the track.
It is finished in the same dark blue and yellow racing livery it wore back in the 1960s, down to the no. 15 roundels on the sides and hood. The interior is completely devoid of anything resembling a creature comfort but does feature a roll cage and a single racing seat. The car’s real beauty can be found under the hood, though. It’s powered by a 4.95-liter Traco racing V-8 that makes 550 hp, according to the listing. The mill is equipped with an aluminum intake, and dual four-barrell carburetors and is mated to a four-speed manual.
Inside the “Lightweight” Trans-Am Camaro
Mecum Auctions
Interested in owning a piece of Chevy racing history? The Lightweight, which is being sold for the first time in over three decades, will hit the block on Saturday, January 18, as part of Mecum’s annual Kissimmee auctions. No price is listed, but considering its history we imagine it won’t come cheap.
Click here for more photos of the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Trans-Am race car.
Mecum Auctions
