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1977 Camaro

The comeback

The Z28 returns midyear, pushed by the Firebird, and the Camaro outsells the Mustang for the first time.

Edited by Bill Pierce. Reviewed October 2026.

Silver 1977 Camaro Z28 with black-and-orange hood graphic, front three-quarter, plate blurred for privacy
1977 Camaro Z28 Photo: Greg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; license plate pixelated

The comeback year. The Z28 returned in spring 1977 after a two-year absence, the Camaro outsold the Mustang for the first time, and production reached 218,853. The second generation had stopped being a survival story.

The reborn Z28 was a handling package built around the 350 V8, not a homologation special, and buyers took 14,349 in its short first season.

Gold 1977 Camaro coupe with body side mouldings and chrome wheels
Gold 1977 Camaro coupe with body side mouldings and chrome wheels, front three-quarter view, on grass at an outdoor car show Photo: GPS 56, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; licence plates blurred Original photograph License

A battered 1977 Camaro later played the "before" form of Bumblebee in the 2007 Transformers film. The fifth and sixth generations page tells the marketing story that grew out of that role, and a Bumblebee-liveried Camaro of this era is preserved at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Did you know

  • Car and Driver's April 1977 comparison of the 185-hp Z/28 and the 200-hp Trans Am 400 split the results: the Camaro was quicker in the quarter-mile (16.3 seconds at 83 mph against 16.9 at 82), but the Pontiac had the higher top speed (110 mph to 105) and the better skidpad number (0.80 g to 0.74 g).
  • The Camaro's margin over the Mustang II in 1977 was about 65,700 cars: 218,853 against 153,117. A year earlier the same comparison had been a near miss.
  • Silver led the 1977 color chart at 27,450, with Firethorn Metallic close behind at 25,743. Brown Metallic (code 69), at 19,785, outsold Black (17,472), and Aqua Metallic went on 10,206 cars.
  • Buyers kept loading up: factory air conditioning went on 101,901 Camaros in 1976 (56 percent), 144,767 in 1977 (66 percent) and 194,584 in 1978 (71 percent). By 1977 nine in ten Camaros also had the Turbo Hydra-Matic, 196,506 of 218,853.
Dark blue 1977 Camaro coupe with white vinyl roof and body side moulding
Dark blue 1977 Camaro coupe with white vinyl roof and body side moulding, side profile, parked on a residential street Photo: Hip, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; street numbers blurred Original photograph License

Production

One production figure is listed for 1977: Total production, 218,853.

Record Count
Total production 218,853
Dark brown 1977 Camaro coupe
Dark brown 1977 Camaro coupe, rear three-quarter view, parked in a yard beside a house Photo: Niels de Wit, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; licence plates blurred Original photograph License
Silver 1977 Camaro Z28 coupe with rear spoiler
Silver 1977 Camaro Z28 coupe with rear spoiler, rear three-quarter view, on grass at a cruise night Photo: Greg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; licence plates and faces blurred Original photograph License
Black 1977 Camaro Z28 coupe with orange pinstripes
Black 1977 Camaro Z28 coupe with orange pinstripes, front three-quarter view, at an evening cruise night Public domain (Bull-Doser), via Wikimedia Commons; faces blurred Original photograph

Engines

The 1977 table lists four engines: the 250 cu in inline-6 (RPO L22), the 305 cu in V8, the 350 cu in V8 and the 350 cu in V8 (LM1/Z28). The highest power rating shown is 185 hp (net), for the 350 cu in V8 (LM1/Z28).

Code Engine Power Torque Note
D 250 cu in inline-6 (RPO L22) 110 hp (net) at 3,800 rpm (federal); 90 hp (net) at 3,600 rpm (California) 195 lb-ft (net) at 1,600 rpm (federal); 180 lb-ft (net) at 1,600 rpm (California) L22; September 1976 Power Trains table retains the federal figures above 4,000 feet.
U 305 cu in V8 145 hp (net) at 3,800 rpm (federal); 135 hp (net) at 3,800 rpm (California) 245 lb-ft (net) at 2,400 rpm (federal); 240 lb-ft (net) at 2,000 rpm (California) LG3 two-barrel; federal and California figures from the September 1976 rating table.
L 350 cu in V8 170 hp (net) at 3,800 rpm (federal); 160 hp (net) at 3,800 rpm (California or federal above 4,000 feet) 270 lb-ft (net) at 2,400 rpm (federal); 260 lb-ft (net) at 2,400 rpm (California or federal above 4,000 feet) LM1 four-barrel; ordinary Camaro rating table, not the separate spring Z28 specification.
L 350 cu in V8 (LM1/Z28) 185 hp (net) at 4,000 rpm (Car and Driver); 160 hp (net) at 3,800 rpm (February MVMA) 270 lb-ft (net) at 2,400 rpm (Car and Driver); 260 lb-ft (net) at 2,400 rpm (February MVMA) Z28; April 1977 Car and Driver test-car specifications disagree with the February 1977 MVMA Z28 row. No cause is established. Chevrolet's product sheet requires the automatic in California.
Purple 1977 Camaro with hood raised showing a dressed-up V8 engine bay
Purple 1977 Camaro with hood raised showing a dressed-up V8 engine bay, at an outdoor car show Photo: Katherine Tompkins, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Original photograph License

Options, packages and special editions

The 1977 list has 22 options, packages and special editions. Every entry shows a price, and 1 shows how many were built.

Code Description Price Built Note
1FQ87 Sport Coupe, 6-cylinder $4,124.45 — Base price, June 1977
1FS87 Type LT Coupe, 6-cylinder $4,489.45 — Base price
1FQ87 / Z28 Z28 Sport Coupe, V8 (350-4) $5,181.06 14,349 Returned spring 1977; power brakes, spoilers, sport suspension and special instrumentation standard
Z85 Rally Sport equipment $281.00 — $186.00 on Type LT
— Custom interior — vinyl or cloth buckets $275.00 / $295.00 —
Z54 Interior Decor / Quiet Sound Group $57.00 —
Z21 Style trim $61.00 —
LG3 Engine, 305-2 V8 $120.00 —
LM1 Engine, 350-4 V8 $210.00 — No charge on the Z28
M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic $289.00 — $37.00 on the Z28
M20 4-speed manual $252.00 — Close-ratio M21 no charge on the Z28
G80 Positraction rear axle $54.00 —
C60 Four-Season air conditioning $488.00 V8 / $517.00 six —
AU3 Power door locks $74.00 —
A31 Power windows $114.00 —
K30 Cruise-Master speed control $84.00 —
CD4 Intermittent windshield wipers $30.00 —
U14 Special instrumentation $99.00 — Standard on Type LT and Z28
D80 Front and rear spoilers $87.00 — Standard on the Z28
— Vinyl roof cover $96.00 —
PE1 Custom styled wheels 14 x 7 $125.00 —
UM2 Stereo tape with AM/FM stereo radio $324.00 —
Gold 1977 Camaro coupe with white vinyl roof
Gold 1977 Camaro coupe with white vinyl roof, front three-quarter view, arriving at a classic car run on a paved street with marshals in the background Photo: Alf van Beem, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; licence plates and faces blurred Original photograph License
Black 1977 Camaro Z28 coupe with rear spoiler
Black 1977 Camaro Z28 coupe with rear spoiler, side and rear three-quarter view, in a parking lot Photo: dave_7, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; licence plates blurred Original photograph License

Exterior colors

This table has 14 exterior colors for 1977, each with its paint code. They include White, Silver Metallic and Black.

Code Color
11 White
13 Silver Metallic
19 Black
22 Light Blue Metallic
29 Dark Blue Metallic
36 Firethorn Metallic
38 Dark Aqua Metallic
44 Medium Green Metallic
51 Bright Yellow
61 Light Buckskin
63 Buckskin Metallic
69 Brown Metallic
75 Red
78 Orange Metallic
Black 1977 Camaro coupe with aftermarket wheels
Black 1977 Camaro coupe with aftermarket wheels, side profile, in a backyard with jack stands Photo: Nick Ares, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Original photograph License
Blue 1977 Camaro Z28 coupe with rear spoiler and aftermarket chrome wheels
Blue 1977 Camaro Z28 coupe with rear spoiler and aftermarket chrome wheels, rear three-quarter and side view, in a strip-mall parking lot Photo: time anchor, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; licence plates blurred Original photograph License

Interior trim

This table has eight interior trims for 1977, each with its trim code.

The September 1976 factory matrix for 1977, printed Body p. 4 (GM kit PDF p. 36), also lists all eight code and material rows and the A51 bucket seats. Its usage legend distinguishes R Oxen vinyl/Oxen bolster, N Plisse horizontal-rib vinyl/Wallaby bolster, B Radcliffe 722 WC woven Sport Cloth/Radcliffe bolster, and C Regis 723 WC knit cloth/Dover bolster. Standard coupe and Type LT code rows remain distinct. Paired 62/64 entries are printed together under Light Buckskin; the page does not establish why both prefixes appear, so they are not assigned separate shades, dates or materials. The paint matrix distinguishes recommended R from acceptable A combinations. These recommendation letters are matrix ratings, not upholstery suffix decoding. The page says ZP2 override permits any interior/exterior combination; it does not establish a separate vinyl-roof rule or a later model/package application. No physical-tag/VIN crosswalk, individual authenticity or neighboring-year rule is inferred.

Code Trim Note
19R Black vinyl, standard coupe The September 1976 usage legend defines R as Oxen vinyl with Oxen bolster; this is a standard-coupe bucket row.
62R / 64R Light Buckskin vinyl, standard coupe The September 1976 usage legend defines R as Oxen vinyl with Oxen bolster; this is a standard-coupe bucket row. Both 62 and 64 codes are printed under Light Buckskin; this page does not explain the difference, so no separate color, date or material is invented.
62B / 64B Light Buckskin cloth, standard coupe The September 1976 usage legend defines B as Radcliffe 722 WC woven Sport Cloth with Radcliffe bolster; this is a standard-coupe bucket row. Both 62 and 64 codes are printed under Light Buckskin; this page does not explain the difference, so no separate color, date or material is invented.
19N Black vinyl, Type LT The September 1976 usage legend defines N as Plisse vinyl (horizontal rib) with Wallaby bolster; this is a Type LT bucket row.
24C Light Blue cloth, Type LT The September 1976 usage legend defines C as Regis 723 WC knit cloth with Dover bolster; this is a Type LT bucket row.
24N Light Blue vinyl, Type LT The September 1976 usage legend defines N as Plisse vinyl (horizontal rib) with Wallaby bolster; this is a Type LT bucket row.
62N / 64N Light Buckskin vinyl, Type LT The September 1976 usage legend defines N as Plisse vinyl (horizontal rib) with Wallaby bolster; this is a Type LT bucket row. Both 62 and 64 codes are printed under Light Buckskin; this page does not explain the difference, so no separate color, date or material is invented.
62C / 64C Light Buckskin cloth, Type LT The September 1976 usage legend defines C as Regis 723 WC knit cloth with Dover bolster; this is a Type LT bucket row. Both 62 and 64 codes are printed under Light Buckskin; this page does not explain the difference, so no separate color, date or material is invented.

Specifications

This table gives five specifications for 1977, among them wheelbase (108.0 in) and standard tire (FR78-14).

Item Value Note
Wheelbase 108.0 in
Standard tire FR78-14
Overall length 195.4 in 187.8 in less bumpers
Overall width 74.5 in
Track, front / rear 61.3 / 60.0 in Type LT 61.6 / 60.3 in
Black 1977 Camaro Z28 coupe with rust on the lower body
Black 1977 Camaro Z28 coupe with rust on the lower body, front three-quarter view, in a store parking lot Photo: dave_7, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; licence plates blurred Original photograph License

Identification

What to check on a 1977 Camaro: VIN and Z28.

Item What to look for Note
VIN 1 Q/S 87 [engine] 7 N/L 100001-up Series Q Camaro, S Type LT; body 87; engine code in position 5 (see engine table); year digit; plant
Z28 Returned mid-year with graphics, spoilers and badging Confirm through the VIN and engine code

Decode a specific car with the VIN decoder, the cowl tag decoder and the engine and drivetrain stamp decoder.

Why it matters

The start of the Camaro's late-1970s boom, which peaked two years later at a record 282,571 cars.

Gold 1977 Camaro coupe with hood raised showing the engine
Gold 1977 Camaro coupe with hood raised showing the engine, front three-quarter view, at an evening cruise night Public domain (Bull-Doser at English Wikipedia), via Wikimedia Commons; faces blurred Original photograph

The Z28 Comes Back, Because of the Firebird

The Z28 had been dropped after 1974, when unleaded fuel and catalytic converters ended the high-compression formula (see the second generation). What brought it back was not Camaro demand directly but Pontiac's Firebird Trans Am, which sold more than 46,000 cars in 1976, about 42 percent of all Firebirds, while Chevrolet had nothing to answer it. Chevrolet brought the Z28 back as a model of its own, a reaction to a GM sibling as much as to Ford.

Back by popular demand

Chevrolet's product sheet for the new Z28 opened with "Back by popular demand" and itemized a car built around handling. It had a four-barrel 350, a heavy-duty Borg-Warner four-speed with a 2.64 first gear, an 11-inch clutch and a 3.73 axle. An automatic was available, and in California it was required. Unusually, it was tuned for high shift points, 4,900 rpm from first to second. Fast 14:1 power steering, high-rate springs, a larger front stabilizer bar, a rear stabilizer bar, specially valved shocks and firmer suspension bushings came with it. It rode on body-color 15 x 7 wheels with GR70-15 white-letter radials. A low-back-pressure dual exhaust, power disc brakes and full instrumentation were standard.

The look was blacked-out trim, with a black grille, bezels, window moldings, sills and rear panel, against color-keyed hood and body striping, front and rear spoilers and Z28 badges. From June 27, 1977 the Z28 had a list price of $5,167, against $4,111 for a six-cylinder Sport Coupe and $4,476 for a Type LT. The options table shows suggested retail prices, which add a factory charge for the tire weight tax ($13.45, or $14.06 on the Z28): $4,124.45, $4,489.45 and $5,181.06. The four-barrel 350 cost $210 on the other models, and air conditioning $488 with a V8.

Silver 1977 Camaro Z28 coupe with hood stripes and scoop
Silver 1977 Camaro Z28 coupe with hood stripes and scoop, front three-quarter view, on grass at a cruise night Photo: Greg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; licence plates and faces blurred Original photograph License

The Type LT's peak

The Z28 got the headlines, but the Type LT was 1977's volume story. Chevrolet built 72,787, a third of the year's cars and the model's peak. Its run went 32,327 (1973), 48,963 (1974), 39,843 (1975), 52,421 (1976), 72,787 (1977) and 65,635 in its 1978 finale.

Sources