The second generation winds down as the fuel-economy era bites.
The inline six that had been the base engine since 1967 gave way to V6 power for 1980, and the Z28's rear-facing hood scoop became functional.
The lineup was Sport Coupe, Rally Sport, Berlinetta and Z28, with 267 and 305 V8s and, for the Z28, the 350. Production fell to 152,005 as a second fuel crisis and a recession cut into sales. The body was now eleven years old, and the all-new 1982 car was in development.
One production figure is listed for 1980: Total production, 152,005.
| Record | Count |
|---|---|
| Total production | 152,005 |
The 1980 table lists six engines, from the 229 cu in V6 (LC3) to the 350 cu in V8 (LM1/Z28). The highest power rating shown is 190 hp (net), for the 350 cu in V8 (LM1/Z28).
| Code | Engine | Power | Torque | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | 229 cu in V6 (LC3) | 115 hp (net) at 4,000 rpm | 175 lb-ft (net) at 2,000 rpm | Federal; all models except Z28. 3-speed manual base, automatic available. |
| A | 231 cu in V6 (LD5) | 110 hp (net) at 3,800 rpm | 190 lb-ft (net) at 1,600 rpm | California only; all except Z28; automatic. |
| J | 267 cu in V8 (L39) | 120 hp (net) at 3,600 rpm | 215 lb-ft (net) at 2,000 rpm | Federal; all except Z28; automatic. |
| H | 305 cu in V8 (LG4) | 155 hp (net) at 4,000 rpm | 240 lb-ft (net) at 1,600 rpm (federal); 230 lb-ft (net) at 2,400 rpm (California) | All except Z28. Federal 4-speed manual or automatic; California automatic. |
| H | 305 cu in V8 (LG4/Z28) | 165 hp (net) at 4,000 rpm | 245 lb-ft (net) at 2,400 rpm | California Z28; automatic. |
| L | 350 cu in V8 (LM1/Z28) | 190 hp (net) at 4,200 rpm | 280 lb-ft (net) at 2,400 rpm | Federal Z28; 4-speed manual base, automatic available. |
The 1980 list has 20 options, packages and special editions. Every entry shows a price.
| Code | Description | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1FP87 | Sport Coupe, 6-cylinder (3.8 L V6) | $6,075.60 | Base price, July 1980 |
| 1FP87 / Z85 | Rally Sport Coupe | $6,085.60 | Base price |
| 1FS87 | Berlinetta Coupe | $6,838.60 | Base price |
| 1FP87 / Z28 | Z28 Sport Coupe, V8 | $7,541.32 | Base price |
| L39 | Engine, 4.4 L 2-bbl V8 | $80.00 | |
| LG4 | Engine, 5.0 L 4-bbl V8 | $80.00 | $50 credit on the Z28 |
| LM1 | Engine, 5.7 L 4-bbl V8 | No charge | Z28 only |
| CC1 | Removable glass roof panels | $695.00 | |
| N90 | Color-keyed aluminum wheels | $337.00 | $184.00 on Berlinetta, $257.00 on Z28, $237.00 on Rally Sport |
| — | Custom interior — vinyl or cloth buckets | $328.00 / $353.00 | |
| MX1 | Automatic transmission | $358.00 | $63.00 on the Z28 |
| MM4 | 4-speed manual | $144.00 | No charge on the Z28 |
| G80 | Limited-slip differential | $68.00 | |
| C60 | Four-Season air conditioning | $566.00 | |
| AU3 | Power door locks | $93.00 | |
| A31 | Power windows | $143.00 | |
| K30 | Automatic speed control | $112.00 | |
| U14 | Gage package with tachometer | $120.00 | Standard on Berlinetta and Z28 |
| UY8 | AM/FM stereo with digital clock | $353.00 | |
| F41 | Sport suspension | $44.00 | Standard on the Z28 |
This table has 14 exterior colors for 1980, each with its paint code. They include Black, Bright Blue Metallic and Dark Blue Metallic.
| Code | Color |
|---|---|
| 19 | Black |
| 24 | Bright Blue Metallic |
| 29 | Dark Blue Metallic |
| 80 | Bronze Metallic |
| 67 | Dark Brown Metallic |
| 84 | Charcoal Metallic |
| 76 | Dark Claret Metallic |
| 57 | Gold Metallic |
| 40 | Lime Green Metallic |
| 72 | Red |
| 79 | Red Orange |
| 15 | Silver |
| 11 | White |
| 51 | Bright Yellow |
This table has 15 interior trims for 1980, each with its trim code.
The 1980 dealer order guide revised March 24, 1980 lists fifteen material/color codes across Berlinetta, Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, printed pp. 2/4/6/8: five vinyl, two cloth, three custom vinyl and five custom cloth. The seven ordinary vinyl/cloth entries were absent from the previous custom-only table. All four charts list the eight existing custom choices; ordinary styles appear in Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28, not the Berlinetta custom-seat rows. Ordinary cloth is Blue CDD2 or Camel CCC2; Black and Carmine ordinary cloth are not listed. Black has ordinary vinyl/custom cloth but no custom-vinyl cell. Oyster has ordinary vinyl VWW2 and custom cloth FWW2, without an Oyster custom-vinyl cell. Green is absent from these 1980 rows, and the prior year's S-prefix custom knit cloth codes are not substituted for the F-prefix custom cloth codes. The Camaro custom rows carry a D35 Sport Mirror requirement. The prior year's Oyster Gray instrument-panel/carpet statement is not carried into these charts. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| FBB2 | Black custom 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. |
| FDD2 | Blue custom 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. |
| FCC2 | Camel custom 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. |
| FRR2 | Carmine custom 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. |
| FWW2 | Oyster custom 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| VWW2 | Oyster vinyl bucket | Listed in the Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, not in the Berlinetta custom-seat chart; paint/stripe compatibility remains separately restricted. |
| CDD2 | Blue cloth bucket | Listed in the Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, not in the Berlinetta custom-seat chart; paint/stripe compatibility remains separately restricted. |
| CCC2 | Camel cloth bucket | Listed in the Rally Sport, Camaro and Z28 charts, not in the Berlinetta custom-seat chart; paint/stripe compatibility remains separately restricted. |
This table gives five specifications for 1980, 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 1980 Camaro: VIN and Z28.
| Item | What to look for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| VIN | 1 Q/S 87 [engine] 0 N/L 100001-up | Series Q Camaro, S Berlinetta; body 87; engine code in position 5 (see engine table); year digit; plant |
| Z28 | Functional rear-facing hood scoop, graphics, spoilers | Many exterior parts interchange with base cars |
Decode a specific car with the VIN decoder, the cowl tag decoder and the engine and drivetrain stamp decoder.
Where the Camaro turned toward economy: a V6 base engine, a small 267 V8, and production down by nearly half from the record year.
The new base engine was Chevrolet's 3.8-liter (229-cubic-inch) V6 with a two-barrel carburetor, rated at 115 hp and offered with a three-speed manual or an automatic. California cars got Buick's 3.8-liter (231-cubic-inch) V6 instead, at 110 hp and automatic only.
The V8s grew in number. A new 4.4-liter (267) V8 made 120 hp outside California. The four-barrel 5.0-liter (305) made 155 hp in ordinary Camaros in both markets; the California Z28 had its own 165-hp 305 configuration. Both required power brakes. The Z28 kept the 5.7-liter 350 at 190 hp, except in California, where it had to use the 305 with an automatic.
Some features were now standard across the range. They included power steering, front disc brakes with audible wear sensors, a Delco Freedom battery, High Energy Ignition and steel-belted radial tires. New low-friction upper ball joints, a refined grille and new taillamp lenses rounded out the year's changes.
The 1980 Z28 had a hood air intake that actually worked. A solenoid opened it at full throttle to feed the carburetor cooler outside air. The fender louvers gave way to functional exhaust ports, and the grille was now body color. The package also included a close-ratio four-speed, a 3.08 axle, sport suspension, power brakes, heavy-duty cooling, and body-color 15 x 7 wheels on P225/70R15 white-letter radials. New cast aluminum wheels (RPO N90) were optional, in a 15-inch size for the Z28 and 14 inches for the other models.
By July 1980 the Z28 listed at $7,528, which was $1,828 more than in May 1978.
The Rally Sport got a new grille pattern and new striping. Its contrasting paint could now be black, dark blue or camel, applied to the hood, fender tops, side-window surrounds and lower body. Tri-tone stripes marked the edge, with Rally Sport decals on the fenders and rear panel. A rear spoiler, sport mirrors and 14 x 7 Rally wheels were included. It had a list price of $6,073, just $10 more than a $6,063 Sport Coupe. The options table shows the suggested retail prices, which add a $12.60 factory charge for taxes Chevrolet had paid: $6,085.60 and $6,075.60.
The Berlinetta, in its second year, now came with wire wheel covers as standard, along with whitewall tires, a gauge package with tachometer, an electric clock and the Quiet Sound group. It listed at $6,826.
The fall from 1979's record 282,571 was steep, and the engine list shows which way Chevrolet was heading. Two V6s and a small V8 now sat below the 305, and each was rated for economy first.
Sponsored
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}