What SCCA racing series inspired Chevrolet to create the Camaro Z/28?

The SCCA Trans-Am Series inspired Chevrolet to create the Camaro Z/28.

Chevrolet introduced the Z/28 option for the 1967 Camaro as a street-legal performance package closely tied to the Sports Car Club of America’s Trans-Am racing series. The series’ under-5-liter class led Chevrolet to develop a special 302-cubic-inch V8, combining a 327 block with a 283 crankshaft.

The Z/28 package included more than the engine. It added performance suspension, front disc brakes, a close-ratio four-speed manual transmission, and other equipment intended to make the Camaro competitive on road courses. Its racing purpose also explains the model’s high-revving character and relatively modest advertised horsepower rating.

The name Z/28 came from Chevrolet’s RPO ordering code for the Special Performance Package, not directly from the racing series’ name. The Z/28 was initially obscure because Chevrolet did not prominently advertise it in 1967, but later racing success and rising sales made it one of the most recognized Camaro variants.