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The car was specially built by Vince Piggins for then Chevy General Manager, Pete Estes.
The Chevy Camaro is a genuine celebrity and a movie star, having appeared in several Blockbuster movies and fantastic TV productions since 1967. In the end, who could forget the 1969 Camaro convertible Indy Pace Car Edition from "Charlie’s Angels" or the 1979 Camaro Z/28 in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," which competed with a very young Sean Penn for the viewer’s attention? But there were other super productions like the "Fast and Furious" saga and TV series that celebrated the iconic Camaro throughout the years.
Celebrities also love their Chevy Camaros. Sylvester Stallone had various Camaros during his decades long career, and Jay Leno and LeBron James are also big fans of this phenomenon. Naturally, with so many models, it is difficult to select the sickest and rarest model, but the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 convertible has to occupy a top position in any list of legendary Chevy Camaros. Considering that everything about the 1968 Camaro Z/28 convertible is mythical, this is what makes this renowned car so special.
Related: A Close Look At The 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
Rarity always leads to higher prices and higher margins. That’s why most of the luxury brands, today, come up with numerous “limited edition products” and “special designer collaborations.” But despite their efforts, there are few things that in this vast global market are truly rare, so driving a car that is unique and was built in a singular unit is truly a remarkable experience.
Around 7,199 Z/28 coupes were built for the 1968 model year, but the “Estes Camaro” was truly unique. There was only a unit built from the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 convertible, so customers who want to buy it would have to go through back channels and drop millions of dollars for this spectacular car. Without a doubt, this scarcity makes this car even more special and appealing.
Car enthusiasts and fans of Chevy Camaro probably know how this legendary automobile came to life. Vince Piggins, who was manager of product performance for Chevrolet Engineering, wanted to bring the Z/28 to the public. But, back then, the Z/28 was known as a track-only car that won the SCCA Trans-Am championships in 1968 and 1969, and not as a mass production vehicle. Accordingly, Piggins came up with a brilliant plan. He went ahead and built a special convertible coupe just for Chevrolet’s General Manager Pete Estes. This way, Piggins hoped to convince Estes to send the car into production.
There’s no doubt, Piggins knew that Estes loved convertibles, so adding the Z/28 options and some extras to a convertible Camaro was a brilliant move. The car was ordered under Dealer Code 00-500 and was built at GM’s Norwood assembly plant on July 15, 1968, according to Muscle Car Plus.
Jim Mattison who worked for Chevrolet’s Fleet Special Order Department at the moment Piggins wanted to build the special edition Z/28 for Pete Estes said that he ordered the automobile as a convertible with a special release for the regular production Z/28 package and added other regular production options.
After assembling it, the car was taken to the GM Executive Garage. "Then, before they gave the keys to Estes, it was sent to the GM Tech Center, in Warren, Mich., where the special stuff and parts were put on it,” Mattison told Muscle Car Plus. “Then, it was taken back to the GM Executive Garage and made available for Estes to use.”
After all this back and forth, Pete Estes got his fancy convertible car. Needless to say that he adored it, and the project was approved.
Related: Here’s How Much A 1968 Camaro Z28 Costs Today
The 1968 Chevy Camaro Z/28 had under the hood a 302 cubic inch V8 engine that could generate a staggering 400 horsepower. This powerful engine helped the Chevy speed up from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.4 seconds and reach the top speed of 135 miles per hour. Interestingly enough, the “Estes Camaro” had even more power under its hood.
The “Estes Camaro” came equipped with special and very modern features. For instance, the cabin had folding seats for increased comfort and safety. Muscle Car Plus notes that the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 convertible also had unique interior features like power-operated windows, a cool blue light in-car AM/FM stereo system, personalized seat belts, and auxiliary console-mounted instrumentation.
The exterior was also revamped and improved thanks to the remote outside rearview mirror, a rear window defroster, and the cowl plenum fiberglass hood. Meanwhile, the racing accessories included four-wheel disc brakes, a performance suspension package with Koni shock absorbers, and a cross-ram intake manifold and factory-built tube headers.
Eugenia Akhim is a luxury car aficionado. She naturally gravitates towards the legendary 911 and the classic Ferrari because they are fun to drive and have a killer aesthetic. In her column, expect to read more about turbo-powered vehicles.