The record year
282,571 built, the best-selling Camaro model year ever, and the Berlinetta debuts.
1979 is the best-selling model year in Camaro history: 282,571 cars, a record no later generation has approached. The Z28 set its own record inside that total, and the new Berlinetta replaced the Type LT as the comfort model.
The range was Sport Coupe, Rally Sport, Berlinetta and Z28, with the 250 six and the 305 and 350 V8s carried over. No convertible was offered at any point in the second generation.
The table lists three production figures for 1979. It opens with Total production, 282,571, followed by Z28 (84,877) and Berlinetta (67,236).
| Record | Count | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Total production | 282,571 | All-time record model year |
| Z28 | 84,877 | Record year for the package |
| Berlinetta | 67,236 | Debut year |
The 1979 table lists four engines: the 250 cu in inline-6 (L22), the 305 cu in V8 (LG3), the 350 cu in V8 (LM1) and the 350 cu in V8 (LM1/Z28). The highest power rating shown is 175 hp (net), for the 350 cu in V8 (LM1/Z28).
| Code | Engine | Power | Torque | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | 250 cu in inline-6 (L22) | 115 hp (net) at 3,800 rpm; 90 hp (net) at 3,600 rpm in California or above 4,000 feet | 200 lb-ft (net) at 1,600 rpm; 175 lb-ft (net) at 1,600 rpm in California or above 4,000 feet | October Power Trains and September MVMA; altitude exception is explicit in MVMA. |
| G | 305 cu in V8 (LG3) | 130 hp (net) at 3,200 rpm; 125 hp (net) at 3,200 rpm in California or above 4,000 feet | 245 lb-ft (net) at 2,000 rpm; 235 lb-ft (net) at 2,000 rpm in California or above 4,000 feet | Two-barrel; altitude exception is explicit in MVMA. |
| L | 350 cu in V8 (LM1) | 170 hp (net) at 3,800 rpm (engineering tables); 165 hp (net) at 3,800 rpm in California or above 4,000 feet; 165 hp (net) in the brochure federal table | 270 lb-ft (net) at 2,400 rpm; 260 lb-ft (net) at 2,400 rpm in California or above 4,000 feet | Ordinary four-barrel. Brochure and engineering tables differ on the federal rating; brochure peak speed is not printed. |
| L | 350 cu in V8 (LM1/Z28) | 175 hp (net) at 4,400 rpm; 170 hp (net) at 4,000 rpm in California or above 4,000 feet (engineering tables); 180 hp (net) federal / 175 hp (net) California (brochure) | 270 lb-ft (net) at 2,400 rpm; 265 lb-ft (net) at 2,400 rpm in California or above 4,000 feet | Z28. Dated engineering tables and brochure disagree; no cause inferred. Brochure peak speeds are not printed. |
The 1979 list has 22 options, packages and special editions. Every entry shows a price, and 2 show how many were built.
| Code | Description | Price | Built | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1FQ87 | Sport Coupe, 6-cylinder | $5,162.90 | — | Base price, July 1979 |
| 1FQ87 / Z85 | Rally Sport Coupe, 6-cylinder | $5,571.90 | — | Base price |
| 1FS87 | Berlinetta Coupe, 6-cylinder | $5,905.90 | 67,236 | Base price; new model |
| 1FQ87 / Z28 | Z28 Sport Coupe, V8 (5.7 L 4-bbl) | $6,748.35 | 84,877 | Base price |
| CC1 | Removable glass roof panels | $655.00 | — | |
| UY8 | AM/FM stereo radio with digital clock display | $395.00 | — | New for 1979 |
| N90 | Color-keyed aluminum wheels | $315.00 | — | $172.00 on Berlinetta, $242.00 on Z28, $222.00 on Rally Sport |
| — | Custom interior — vinyl or knit cloth buckets | $307.00 / $330.00 | — | No charge or $23.00 on Berlinetta |
| LG3 | Engine, 5.0 L 2-bbl V8 | $310.00 | — | |
| LM1 | Engine, 5.7 L 4-bbl V8 | $465.00 | — | Standard on the Z28 |
| MX1 | Automatic transmission | $335.00 | — | $59.00 on the Z28 |
| MM4 | 4-speed manual | $135.00 | — | |
| G80 | Limited-slip differential | $64.00 | — | |
| C60 | Four-Season air conditioning | $529.00 V8 / $562.00 six | — | |
| AU3 | Power door locks | $86.00 | — | |
| A31 | Power windows | $132.00 | — | |
| K30 | Automatic speed control | $103.00 | — | |
| C49 | Electric rear window defogger | $99.00 | — | |
| U14 | Special instrumentation | $112.00 | — | Standard on Berlinetta and Z28 |
| — | Vinyl roof cover | $112.00 | — | |
| UM2 | AM/FM stereo with cassette | $335.00 | — | |
| F41 | Sport suspension | $41.00 | — | Standard on the Z28 |
This table has 21 exterior colors for 1979, each with its paint code. They include Beige, Black and Bright Blue Metallic.
| Code | Color | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Beige | |
| 19 | Black | |
| 24 | Bright Blue Metallic | |
| 29 | Dark Blue Metallic | |
| 22 | Light Blue Metallic | |
| 69 | Dark Brown Metallic | |
| 63 | Camel Metallic | |
| 77 | Carmine Metallic | |
| 40 | Light Green | |
| 44 | Medium Green Metallic | |
| 75 | Red | |
| 15 | Silver | |
| 11 | White | |
| 51 | Bright Yellow | |
| UU | Beige vinyl roof | Recommended with 61, 63 or 69 |
| BB | Black vinyl roof | Recommended with 11, 15, 19, 24, 51, 61 or 75 |
| DD | Light Blue Metallic vinyl roof | Recommended with 11, 19, 22 or 29 |
| RR | Dark Carmine Metallic vinyl roof | Recommended with 77 |
| GG | Light Green vinyl roof | Recommended with 40 or 44 |
| Silver vinyl roof | Recommended with 15 or 19 | |
| WW | White vinyl roof | All except 15 |
This table has 19 interior trims for 1979, each with its trim code.
The 1979 dealer order guide lists nineteen material/color codes: five vinyl, four Sport Cloth, four custom vinyl and six custom knit cloth. Berlinetta (printed p. 2), Camaro (p. 6) and Z28 (p. 8) charts are revised February 5, 1979; Rally Sport (p. 4) is revised April 16, 1979. The nine ordinary vinyl/Sport Cloth entries were absent from the previous custom-only table. All four charts list the ten existing custom choices; ordinary styles appear in Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28, not the Berlinetta custom-seat rows. Green has ordinary vinyl VGG2 and custom knit cloth SGG2, with no Green Sport Cloth or custom-vinyl cell. Oyster is custom knit cloth SWW2 only, with Gray instrument-panel pad and carpet despite Oyster seat/headliner/door trim. The Camaro custom rows carry a D35 Sport Mirrors requirement. The Camaro header permits additional combinations by D60 verification of customer desire; Berlinetta, Rally Sport and Z28 prohibit non-recommended D60 combinations. Recommended/acceptable paint, striping and roof combinations remain model-specific and are not a complete cross-product of this compact material table. Codes describe these dated ordering charts, not a physical stamping/VIN crosswalk or authentication of an individual car. Later revisions, exact rollout dates and neighboring-year applications are not inferred.
| Code | Trim | Note |
|---|---|---|
| XBB2 | Black custom vinyl bucket | Listed in the Berlinetta, Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts; the Camaro custom rows require D35 Sport Mirrors. Paint, stripe and model combinations remain restricted. |
| SBB2 | Black custom knit cloth bucket | Listed in the Berlinetta, Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts; the Camaro custom rows require D35 Sport Mirrors. Paint, stripe and model combinations remain restricted. |
| XDD2 | Blue custom vinyl bucket | Listed in the Berlinetta, Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts; the Camaro custom rows require D35 Sport Mirrors. Paint, stripe and model combinations remain restricted. |
| SDD2 | Blue custom knit cloth bucket | Listed in the Berlinetta, Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts; the Camaro custom rows require D35 Sport Mirrors. Paint, stripe and model combinations remain restricted. |
| XCC2 | Camel custom vinyl bucket | Listed in the Berlinetta, Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts; the Camaro custom rows require D35 Sport Mirrors. Paint, stripe and model combinations remain restricted. |
| SCC2 | Camel custom knit cloth bucket | Listed in the Berlinetta, Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts; the Camaro custom rows require D35 Sport Mirrors. Paint, stripe and model combinations remain restricted. |
| XRR2 | Carmine custom vinyl bucket | Listed in the Berlinetta, Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts; the Camaro custom rows require D35 Sport Mirrors. Paint, stripe and model combinations remain restricted. |
| SRR2 | Carmine custom knit cloth bucket | Listed in the Berlinetta, Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts; the Camaro custom rows require D35 Sport Mirrors. Paint, stripe and model combinations remain restricted. |
| SGG2 | Green custom knit cloth bucket | Listed in the Berlinetta, Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts; the Camaro custom rows require D35 Sport Mirrors. Paint, stripe and model combinations remain restricted. |
| SWW2 | Oyster custom knit cloth bucket | Gray instrument panel and carpet. Listed in the Berlinetta, Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts; the Camaro custom rows require D35 Sport Mirrors. Paint, stripe and model combinations remain restricted. |
| VBB2 | Black vinyl bucket | Listed in the Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, not in the Berlinetta custom-seat chart; paint/stripe compatibility remains separately restricted. The February 5 Camaro/Z28 and April 16 Rally Sport, 1979 revisions are kept distinct. |
| VDD2 | Blue vinyl bucket | Listed in the Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, not in the Berlinetta custom-seat chart; paint/stripe compatibility remains separately restricted. The February 5 Camaro/Z28 and April 16 Rally Sport, 1979 revisions are kept distinct. |
| VCC2 | Camel vinyl bucket | Listed in the Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, not in the Berlinetta custom-seat chart; paint/stripe compatibility remains separately restricted. The February 5 Camaro/Z28 and April 16 Rally Sport, 1979 revisions are kept distinct. |
| VRR2 | Carmine vinyl bucket | Listed in the Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, not in the Berlinetta custom-seat chart; paint/stripe compatibility remains separately restricted. The February 5 Camaro/Z28 and April 16 Rally Sport, 1979 revisions are kept distinct. |
| VGG2 | Green vinyl bucket | Listed in the Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, not in the Berlinetta custom-seat chart; paint/stripe compatibility remains separately restricted. The February 5 Camaro/Z28 and April 16 Rally Sport, 1979 revisions are kept distinct. |
| JBB2 | Black Sport Cloth bucket | Listed in the Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, not in the Berlinetta custom-seat chart; paint/stripe compatibility remains separately restricted. The February 5 Camaro/Z28 and April 16 Rally Sport, 1979 revisions are kept distinct. |
| JDD2 | Blue Sport Cloth bucket | Listed in the Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, not in the Berlinetta custom-seat chart; paint/stripe compatibility remains separately restricted. The February 5 Camaro/Z28 and April 16 Rally Sport, 1979 revisions are kept distinct. |
| JCC2 | Camel Sport Cloth bucket | Listed in the Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, not in the Berlinetta custom-seat chart; paint/stripe compatibility remains separately restricted. The February 5 Camaro/Z28 and April 16 Rally Sport, 1979 revisions are kept distinct. |
| JRR2 | Carmine Sport Cloth bucket | Listed in the Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, not in the Berlinetta custom-seat chart; paint/stripe compatibility remains separately restricted. The February 5 Camaro/Z28 and April 16 Rally Sport, 1979 revisions are kept distinct. |
This table gives five specifications for 1979, among them wheelbase (108.0 in) and overall length (197.6 in).
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 108.0 in | |
| Overall length | 197.6 in | |
| Overall width | 74.5 in | |
| Overall height | 49.2 in | |
| Track, front / rear | 61.3 / 60.0 in | Berlinetta 61.6 / 60.3 in |
What to check on a 1979 Camaro: VIN and berlinetta.
| Item | What to look for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| VIN | 1 Q/S 87 [engine] 9 N/L 100001-up | Series Q Camaro, S Berlinetta; body 87; engine code in position 5 (see engine table); year digit; plant |
| Berlinetta | Aluminum wheels, dual pinstripes, cloth bucket interior | Replaced Type LT |
Decode a specific car with the VIN decoder, the cowl tag decoder and the engine and drivetrain stamp decoder.
No Camaro year before or since sold as many cars, and it did it with a body already nine years old.
Nobody has pinned down why 1979 was the peak. The body was far from new, and the American market was heading into the second oil shock by the end of the year. The record is solid; the reasons behind it are not, and no single explanation should be taken as settled.
The Berlinetta, with cloth bucket seats, sold 67,236 in its first year. The Z28 still outsold it, at a record 84,877, but the Berlinetta's debut was strong in its own right. Its name had a Chevrolet precedent in the 1963 Corvair Berlinetta show car. There is no evidence of a "Corvette Berlinetta" concept, despite a claim that sometimes circulates (see the second generation).
Chevrolet's data book set out four distinct looks. The Sport Coupe had an argent grille, bright bezels and a bright spear molding on the rocker panel. The Rally Sport painted the front of the roof, the window surrounds, upper doors, fender tops, hood and front bumper cover in a contrasting color, separated by tri-color stripes. The Berlinetta had a bright grille, pinstripes running from the bumper to the deck lid, a Berlinetta nameplate on the sail panel, a brushed-stainless-look instrument bezel and dual-note horns. The Z28 had a black grille and bezels, a hood scoop, a combined front air dam and wheel-opening flares, front fender louvers, body-color 15 x 7 wheels on P225/70R15 white-letter radials, and accent stripes around the air dam, fenders, spoiler and scoop.
The engine list was now written in metric units: a 4.1-liter six, a 5.0-liter two-barrel V8 at $310 and a 5.7-liter four-barrel V8. Ratings slid again. The 305 fell from 145 hp to 130 (125 in California), while the base six edged up from 110 to 115, and Chevrolet's own paperwork gave the Z28's 350 as 175 hp in the engine data book and 180 hp in the power-team chart.
From July 2, 1979 the Sport Coupe had a list price of $5,150, the Rally Sport $5,559, the Berlinetta $5,893 and the Z28 $6,735, before destination. The options table shows suggested retail prices, which add a $12.90 factory charge for the tire weight tax ($13.35 on the Z28): $5,162.90, $5,571.90, $5,905.90 and $6,748.35. Removable glass roof panels cost $655.
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