Why This Car Is Special

The 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 is already a significant machine on its own. It was the first year of the third-generation Camaro, built on an all-new platform that Chevrolet had been developing since the mid-1970s. The new body was lower, wider, and more aerodynamically efficient than the second-gen cars it replaced, and it landed on the cover of nearly every automotive magazine that year. Motor Trend named it Car of the Year for 1982, making it one of the few Camaros to earn that distinction.

But this particular car goes a step further. The 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 was selected as the official pace car for the 66th Indianapolis 500, held on May 30, 1982. Chevrolet produced a limited run of Pace Car replicas to commemorate that honor, and this is one of them. These cars left the factory with a specific two-tone blue and silver exterior treatment, the Indy 500 pace car decals, and the matching silver and blue interior — all of which are present on this example. The Indy Speedway license plate on the front bumper is an authentic period touch that most of these cars have lost over the decades. This one still has it.

What separates this car from the typical Pace Car replica is the drivetrain. Most Indy replicas were ordered with the automatic transmission. This one carries the 4-speed manual, which was a less common combination and makes it considerably more engaging to drive. Pair that with the Cross-Fire Injection 5.0-liter V8 — itself a historically significant piece of hardware — and you have a Pace Car edition that was actually built to be driven.

Features List

- Cross-Fire Injection 5.0L V8 (LU5) - 4-Speed Manual Transmission - Indy 500 Pace Car Edition - T-Tops - Dual Exhaust - Factory Hood Scoop - Pace Car Decals (full exterior graphics package) - Indy Speedway License Plate (front) - Cross-Fire Injection Badging - Z28 Badging - Sport Wheels - Power Windows - Power Locks - Center Console - Tachometer - Silver and Blue Vinyl Interior

Mechanical

The engine under the factory hood scoop is the LU5 Cross-Fire Injection 5.0-liter V8, one of the more historically interesting powerplants Chevrolet produced during the early 1980s. Cross-Fire Injection was GM's first fuel injection system on a V8 since the short-lived 1957 Rochester fuel injection, and it debuted on the 1982 Camaro Z28 and Corvette simultaneously. The system used two throttle body injectors mounted in a cross-ram intake configuration, one over each bank of cylinders. It was controlled by the early Computer Command Control system, which was also new at the time.

The LU5 produced 165 horsepower in 1982, which sounds modest by modern standards but was competitive for its era. More importantly, it offered better throttle response and fuel economy than the carbureted alternatives, and it was a genuine technological step forward for American performance cars at a time when the industry was still finding its footing after the emissions and fuel crisis years.

The 4-speed manual transmission in this car is the Borg-Warner Super T-10, which was the correct gearbox for the third-gen Z28 application. The combination of Cross-Fire Injection and the manual gearbox was available but not commonly ordered on the Pace Car edition, which adds to this car's appeal as a driver-focused example of the model. The dual exhaust exits cleanly at the rear, visible in the undercarriage photos, and the underside of the car shows solid structure with no significant rust concerns visible.

Interior

The interior follows the correct Pace Car color scheme: silver and blue vinyl throughout, coordinated to match the exterior two-tone treatment. The door panels are silver vinyl above the beltline and blue carpeting below, with the Indy 500 tri-color logo badge visible on the lower door panel — a small but authentic factory detail. The power window and power lock controls are integrated into the door panel and appear to be in working order.

The center console runs the length of the cabin and houses the shifter for the 4-speed manual, positioned correctly for the driver-focused cockpit layout that the third-generation Camaro was designed around. The dashboard carries the Z28 instrument cluster with a tachometer, which was a standard feature on the Z28 trim but worth noting because it was not available on lower Camaro trims. The gauge cluster on the 1982 third-gen cars had a clean, horizontal layout that was a departure from the earlier Camaro designs.

The T-tops are present, and the headliner area shows no obvious signs of the sagging or water damage that these removable roof cars are prone to after four decades. T-tops were a popular option on the third-gen cars and were factory-installed, not an aftermarket addition on this example.

Exterior

The two-tone silver and blue paint scheme on this 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Pace Car replica is factory correct. The silver covers the upper body, hood, and roof, while the blue runs through the lower body and front fascia. The pace car graphics package adds the multi-color pinstripe treatment along the body sides and the Indianapolis 500 lettering and logo on the doors. This graphics package was applied at the factory, not added afterward, and it is present and legible on this car.

The factory hood scoop is functional in appearance and correct for the Z28 trim. The front fascia integrates the deep lower air dam that was part of the aerodynamic package Chevrolet developed for the third-generation car, and it contributes to the low, wedge-shaped profile that made the 1982 Camaro's design so influential. The sport wheels are the correct five-spoke alloys for the period Z28, shod with Goodyear Eagle tires visible in the undercarriage photos.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway license plate mounted on the front bumper is one of the details that makes this car stand out. These plates were issued to Pace Car drivers and officials and were associated with the 1982 race. Many Pace Car replicas have lost this plate over the years, either replaced or simply discarded during prior ownership. The fact that it remains on this car, correctly mounted on the front bumper, indicates that at least one previous owner took the car's provenance seriously.

Conclusion

The 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy 500 Pace Car edition sits at a meaningful intersection of automotive history. It is the launch year of the third-generation Camaro, the debut year of Cross-Fire Injection on a V8 Chevrolet, a Motor Trend Car of the Year winner, and the official pace car of one of the most famous races in the world — all in a single model year. This specific example adds the 4-speed manual transmission to that story, making it the rarer, more driver-oriented version of an already collectible car. The original graphics, the correct interior color scheme, the Indy plate, and the matching Cross-Fire Injection and Z28 badging all remain intact. For a collector focused on correct, unmodified third-generation Camaros, there are very few boxes this car does not check.

To learn more or schedule a time to see this 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Pace Car in person, call Skyway Classics at 941-254-6608.

Disclaimer Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.