_1981
1981 brought the end of an era in more than one way. The 1981 was the last of the second generation Camaros, and the first of the computer controlled Camaros (debut of CCC, or Computer Command Control). More electronics=less horsepower. The Z28 350 was down 15 horsepower to 175, and worse yet, the 350 was available only with an automatic. All 4 speed Z28s sold in the US got the 305, a pattern that would go years into the third generation Camaro. Automatics received a lock-up torque converter which functioned in second and third gears with the Z28 and third only for the rest of the Camaro line.
The Computer Command Control monitors six different powertrain functions and controls as many as eight engine/transmission operations, replacing the California only C-4 system of 1980. The CCC has an oxygen sensor system, an electronically controlled variable-mixture carburetor, a three-way catalytic converter, throttle position and coolant sensors, a barometric pressure sensor (BARO), a manifold absolute Pressure sensor (MAP), and a check engine light on the dash. It can also be used as a self diagnostic tool by tapping into the system.
Canadian optioned Z28s could still be had with the 350 and 4 speed combination, and the more relaxed Canadian emissions allowed that their 350 engines were not computer controlled like the US engines. A 1981 Canadian Z28 is basically a 1980 US Z28. 1981 Engines
229ci/110hp 6-cyl
231ci/110hp 6-cyl (California)
L39 267ci/115hp V8
LG4 305ci/150hp V8
LG4 305ci/165hp V8 (Z28 with 4-speed manual transmission)
LM1 350ci/175hp V8 (Z28 with automatic transmission)
LM1 350ci/190hp V8 (Z28)
1981 Dimensions
Length........................................ 197.6 inches
Height......................................... 49.2 inches
Width.......................................... 74.5 inches
Wheel Base ................................... 108.0 inches 1981 Factory Options
RPO Description Qty Retail
Camaro Sport Coupe, 6-cylinder 62,614 $6,581.23
Camaro Berlinetta Coupe, 6-cylinder 20,253 7,356.23
Camaro Z28 Sport Coupe, 8-cylinder 43,272 8,025.23
AN6 Adjustable Seat Back, driver side 16,688 23.00
AU3 Power Door Locks 24,683 86.00
AO1 Soft Ray Tinted Glass, all windows 112,832 70.00
A31 Power Windows 38,428 133.00
B37 Floor Mats, color-keyed front and rear 65,490 25.00
B80 Molding, roof drip 57,849 24.00
B84 Moldings, body side 39,514 44.00
B93 Moldings, door edge 32,516 13.00
CC1 Roof Panels, removable glass 30,445 644.00
CD4 Windshield Wipers, intermittent 31,982 38.00
C49 Defogger, rear window 60,058 99.00
C60 Air Conditioning 96,095 525.00
D35 Mirrors, sport right & left rem ext 54,317 43.00
D80 Spoiler, rear 33,101 57.00
F41 Suspension, sport 3,604 41.00
G80 Rear Axle, limited slip 12,126 63.00
G92 Rear Axle, performance ratio 933 18.00
K35 Speed Control, with resume 35,364 123.00
LG4 Engine, 305ci, 15Ohp V8 17,909 75.00
LM1 Engine, 35Oci, 19Ohp V8 (inc with Z28) 37,400 nc
L39 Engine, 267ci, 115hp V8 18,826 75.00
MM4 Transmission, 4-speed wide range 10,780 133.00
MX1 Transmission, automatic 107,760 332.00
N18 Locks, wheel covers (Berlinetta only) 4,964 32.00
N33 Tilt Steering Column 69,837 75.00
N90 Wheels, aluminum 31,153 312.00
PE1 Wheels, custom-style 1,800 142.00
P01 Wheel Covers, bright metal 3,341 43.00
QJY Tires, P205/75R14 radial whitewall 63,839 47.00
QKL Tires, P205/75Rl4 radial white letter 16,364 60.00
TR9 Lighting, auxiliary 36,443 37.00
TT4 Headlights, halogen 8,715 36.00
UA1 Battery, heavy-duty 21,504 19.00
UM2 Radio, AM-FM with stereo tape 8,182 252.00
UN3 Radio, AM-FM with stereo cassette 23,665 264.00
UP6 Radio, AM-FM stereo CB & power antenna 208 487.00
U05 Horns, dual 18,212 9.00
U14 Special Instrumentation 4,214 111.00
U35 Clock 6,740 23.00
U58 Radio, AM-FM stereo 26,008 178.00
U63 Radio, AM 25,031 90.00
U69 Radio, AM-FM 8,264 142.00
U75 Antenna, power 7,552 47.00
U76 Antenna, windshield type 27,674 25.00
U80 Speaker, rear seat 7,667 19.00
V08 Cooling, heavy-duty 5,248 58.00
YF5 Emission Equipment, req for California 9,911 46.00
ZJ7 Rally Wheels 47,478 93.00
Z21 Style Trim Group 49,834 72.00
1981 Colors
Code Exterior Quantity
11 White 16,137
16 Silver 10,359
19 Black 14,157
20 Bright Blue 9,464
21 LightBlue 11,516
29 Dark Blue 13,102
51 Bright Yellow 1,816
54 Gold 6,964
57 Orange 3,056
67 Dark Brown 10,745
75 Red 7,615
77 Maroon 8,302
84 Charcoal 12,907
1981 brought the end of an era in more than one way. The 1981 was the last of the second generation Camaros, and the first of the computer controlled Camaros (debut of CCC, or Computer Command Control). More electronics=less horsepower. The Z28 350 was down 15 horsepower to 175, and worse yet, the 350 was available only with an automatic. All 4 speed Z28s sold in the US got the 305, a pattern that would go years into the third generation Camaro. Automatics received a lock-up torque converter which functioned in second and third gears with the Z28 and third only for the rest of the Camaro line.
The Computer Command Control monitors six different powertrain functions and controls as many as eight engine/transmission operations, replacing the California only C-4 system of 1980. The CCC has an oxygen sensor system, an electronically controlled variable-mixture carburetor, a three-way catalytic converter, throttle position and coolant sensors, a barometric pressure sensor (BARO), a manifold absolute Pressure sensor (MAP), and a check engine light on the dash. It can also be used as a self diagnostic tool by tapping into the system.
Canadian optioned Z28s could still be had with the 350 and 4 speed combination, and the more relaxed Canadian emissions allowed that their 350 engines were not computer controlled like the US engines. A 1981 Canadian Z28 is basically a 1980 US Z28. 1981 Engines
229ci/110hp 6-cyl
231ci/110hp 6-cyl (California)
L39 267ci/115hp V8
LG4 305ci/150hp V8
LG4 305ci/165hp V8 (Z28 with 4-speed manual transmission)
LM1 350ci/175hp V8 (Z28 with automatic transmission)
LM1 350ci/190hp V8 (Z28)
1981 Dimensions
Length........................................ 197.6 inches
Height......................................... 49.2 inches
Width.......................................... 74.5 inches
Wheel Base ................................... 108.0 inches 1981 Factory Options
RPO Description Qty Retail
Camaro Sport Coupe, 6-cylinder 62,614 $6,581.23
Camaro Berlinetta Coupe, 6-cylinder 20,253 7,356.23
Camaro Z28 Sport Coupe, 8-cylinder 43,272 8,025.23
AN6 Adjustable Seat Back, driver side 16,688 23.00
AU3 Power Door Locks 24,683 86.00
AO1 Soft Ray Tinted Glass, all windows 112,832 70.00
A31 Power Windows 38,428 133.00
B37 Floor Mats, color-keyed front and rear 65,490 25.00
B80 Molding, roof drip 57,849 24.00
B84 Moldings, body side 39,514 44.00
B93 Moldings, door edge 32,516 13.00
CC1 Roof Panels, removable glass 30,445 644.00
CD4 Windshield Wipers, intermittent 31,982 38.00
C49 Defogger, rear window 60,058 99.00
C60 Air Conditioning 96,095 525.00
D35 Mirrors, sport right & left rem ext 54,317 43.00
D80 Spoiler, rear 33,101 57.00
F41 Suspension, sport 3,604 41.00
G80 Rear Axle, limited slip 12,126 63.00
G92 Rear Axle, performance ratio 933 18.00
K35 Speed Control, with resume 35,364 123.00
LG4 Engine, 305ci, 15Ohp V8 17,909 75.00
LM1 Engine, 35Oci, 19Ohp V8 (inc with Z28) 37,400 nc
L39 Engine, 267ci, 115hp V8 18,826 75.00
MM4 Transmission, 4-speed wide range 10,780 133.00
MX1 Transmission, automatic 107,760 332.00
N18 Locks, wheel covers (Berlinetta only) 4,964 32.00
N33 Tilt Steering Column 69,837 75.00
N90 Wheels, aluminum 31,153 312.00
PE1 Wheels, custom-style 1,800 142.00
P01 Wheel Covers, bright metal 3,341 43.00
QJY Tires, P205/75R14 radial whitewall 63,839 47.00
QKL Tires, P205/75Rl4 radial white letter 16,364 60.00
TR9 Lighting, auxiliary 36,443 37.00
TT4 Headlights, halogen 8,715 36.00
UA1 Battery, heavy-duty 21,504 19.00
UM2 Radio, AM-FM with stereo tape 8,182 252.00
UN3 Radio, AM-FM with stereo cassette 23,665 264.00
UP6 Radio, AM-FM stereo CB & power antenna 208 487.00
U05 Horns, dual 18,212 9.00
U14 Special Instrumentation 4,214 111.00
U35 Clock 6,740 23.00
U58 Radio, AM-FM stereo 26,008 178.00
U63 Radio, AM 25,031 90.00
U69 Radio, AM-FM 8,264 142.00
U75 Antenna, power 7,552 47.00
U76 Antenna, windshield type 27,674 25.00
U80 Speaker, rear seat 7,667 19.00
V08 Cooling, heavy-duty 5,248 58.00
YF5 Emission Equipment, req for California 9,911 46.00
ZJ7 Rally Wheels 47,478 93.00
Z21 Style Trim Group 49,834 72.00
1981 Colors
Code Exterior Quantity
11 White 16,137
16 Silver 10,359
19 Black 14,157
20 Bright Blue 9,464
21 LightBlue 11,516
29 Dark Blue 13,102
51 Bright Yellow 1,816
54 Gold 6,964
57 Orange 3,056
67 Dark Brown 10,745
75 Red 7,615
77 Maroon 8,302
84 Charcoal 12,907