1982 Camaro

Two Engines, Two Reputations

Both ends of the 1982 engine range were fuel-injected. The Z28's optional Cross-Fire Injection 305 used two throttle-body injectors fed through outside-air hood doors. The January 1982 US brochure lists it only with the automatic, and it powered the Indianapolis pace cars, a real if modest step forward. The base engine was the other story. The 2.5-liter "Iron Duke" four, also throttle-body injected, made 90 hp against a curb weight of about 2,864 pounds, roughly 31.8 pounds per horsepower. It existed to meet fuel-economy targets rather than to perform. MotorWeek's contemporary review said it could not be recommended, and later retrospectives regularly rank it among the weakest factory Camaros (see the third generation).

An all-new car, model by model

Chevrolet's ordering guide sold the "all new 1982 Camaro" on its shape and packaging. It had a 62-degree flush windshield, a full-opening rear hatch, fold-down rear seats with a deep-well cargo area, more compact outside dimensions and better rear knee room. The instrument panel was designed like a cockpit, with side-window defoggers. Underneath were a strut-type front suspension and power front disc brakes, and power steering was standard on every model. Plastisol coating protected the lower body from stone chips.

Each of the three models was tuned for its own job. The Sport Coupe had the four, 14-inch wheels with hubcaps and black sport mirrors. The Berlinetta had the 2.8-liter V6, gold-accented aluminum wheels, full gauges, a quartz clock, a custom interior and its own smooth-ride suspension. The Z28 had a four-barrel 305, a front air dam, ground-effect rocker moldings, a dual-scoop hood, a rear spoiler, 15 x 7 five-spoke aluminum wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a sport suspension.

The Indy 500 Commemorative Edition

Chevrolet's own account says the Car of the Year award is why the new Camaro was chosen to pace the 1982 Indy 500. The racing history lists all nine of the Camaro's pace-car appearances.

The replica (RPO Z50) was a Z28 in silver with a bright blue metallic lower body framed by blue and red stripes. It had red-accented silver aluminum wheels on white-letter tires, custom cloth Conteur seats, a special dash applique and commemorative decals. Buyers chose the four-barrel 305 or the Cross-Fire V8 with an automatic. A Chevrolet release of May 1, 1982, described the 160-vehicle Indy fleet and put the planned Commemorative Edition run at 6,000 cars. The official pace car differed from the replicas: it ran on blackwall tires and had a 140-mph speedometer, a roof light bar and an ABC television camera mounted behind the right taillamp.