Cooler than a new Z28? Driving Matt's 755HP LT5 1979 Z28 Camaro 'Survivor Series' build.

Heavy metal riff with an all new beat: - Jeremey and Phil Gerber take us for a ride and rundown on Matt's recently completed '79 Z28 'Survivor Series' build. It packs a 755hp LT5 punch combined with all new handling prowess and ride quality courtesy of a new, 100% bolt-in SPEC 2nd Gen F-Body chassis! 🇺🇸
Subtle mods throughout retain the late 70's roots, with a newly fabbed hood scoop and graphics to accommodate the taller LT5 motor. A newly upholstered interior by Miranda Built Inc houses Recaro seats with graphic gradient inserts, modified center console and machined bezel for the gauge and info touch encoder. Our full width custom electronic gauge setup sits within a 3D printed dash surround complementing a lower 7" screen controlling audio, AC and vehicle systems.
White FORGELINE JO3C wheels complete the look perfectly in 18x9.5" front (265/40r18) and 19x12 rear (345/30r19) with 13" Baer Brakes
Check out the full build gallery and details on the bolt-in 2nd Gen F-body SPEC chassis HERE: roadstershop.com/galleries/ma...

[@malibubarbie5349]

I had one!!! Last of the hard bodys. Mine was a new, factory ordered 1979 Z-28, 350 V-8, 4 speed, dual exhaust, aluminum wheels, Uniroyal tires...Dad took me to Siler City, NC to the Chevy dealership to order it, when I was 19. My payments were less than 200$. Total cost around 9200$$$. Heavy duty battery, positraction rear end. Sky blue seats and carpet. No t-top or power windows, with 8-track. I should have got cassette, but had lots of 8 tracks...Same color, but hood vent had only blue around it ... I Sold it in 1983. I was married in 1980 with a tot and one on the way and had to have a family car...Oh to see it again to give it to my grown son...

[@ChicagosM0stWanted]

2nd Gen Camaro's don't get the love they deserve!!! Absolutely love these cars!!

[@Greenlightfilming]

Nothing says 'merica like a mountain of power, a manual transmission and no seat belts lmao.

[@matthewklein9225]

Eat the dash like autotopia

[@charlieb308]

Yeah until you’re going 45 and a car pulls out in front of you, I had my seatbelt on and it saved me.

[@povilassiurblys447]

Well U.S is more associated with automatic transmission...

[@catchk9]

I was noticing the same thing....dashboard sandwich!

[@OOICU812]

Almost as bad as riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

[@spottedauto7735]

That Camaro is a work of Art and great piece of history to own!

[@horsefly1020]

Except the interior makes me want to barf.

[@barrywhite5502]

@@horsefly1020 Agreed. It's like that short suede from the 60's and 70's that wears out and gets a dirty look easily.

[@Bruce_Learoy]

These Roadster Shop reviews deserve millions of views!!!

[@tmikemay6223]

Good lookin car but hate that blue interior yuk

[@R6Dave11]

755 HP and hooks up that well ? Nice chassis set-up and tire combo. Well done.

[@leanlifter1]

Its all the TQ not HP that makes it fast and fun and smooth and hook up nice. HP is overrated and a bit of a misnomer.

[@buixrule]

This car is absolutely beautiful. I've always loved this particular 2nd gen style. Just was depressing on power. You guys have obviously rectified that issue with this gem.

[@gregoryfranks7347]

holy shit this is the only camaro ive ever wanted!!!! spicoli and me cruisin' to the beach.my mustang sitting home lookin' sad. gentleman this is hands down the coolest most bad ass pony car i've seen this year.killer recaro cse style seats. oh my god this might even be better than another other pro touring build this year. freaki' outstanding!! standing ovation. now stand on it. put the motorcity madman in the cassette deck and run your fingers thru your mullet. COOL IS BACK IN TOWN!!!

[@yamahaguy1732]

These 78-81 camaros are extremely underrated imo I love them. They were turds stock. But how many still have the original engine these days?

[@MrGmilton]

Seen the new playboy? Bo derricks tits!

[@steveogee7458]

I had a black on black 4 speed 1980 Z28 in 1980. What a thing to have had you guys do your thing to it. Wow. Super TA killer.

[@stevescoville8465]

Dude, I graduated high school in 79. There was a guy in my autos class who’s parents bought him this car brand new in blue, it was awesome! I always hated him for that. As always another awesome job by you guys!

[@brianteed7390]

Had something similar happen when I was in high school in the mid 80s, I graduated in 87. Had a friend pull in to the parking lot one day in a brand new IROC-Z.

[@ShelbyBikeBoy]

Steve, I too graduated HS (in Az) in ‘79. Had a couple kids in my class that had the same scenario happen to them. Was jealous as hell. And here as a senior I was driving my lowly ‘69 Mustang Grande’ 351C coupe! Hahahaha 😂

[@AdaywithJoe]

super cool.. My uncle purchased 79 z $6,800 and change, the same color scheme back in 79- 350 4 barrel auto..with air... After 5 years, he traded it in the new monte SS... the monte was faster than the z.. and BTW, that was a high production year because everyone had one back then literally. And you're correct. When you said the tops are not rattling or noisy,...excellent work on that chassis looks similar to an old vette chassis..

[@benjamanmitchell4946]

I’m definitely gonna skip year one and send my 79 Z to these guys!!! Excellent build.👍🏾

[@tomvalpo9361]

What an awesome car! I had a '79 WS6 T/A 6.6 4 spreed. I have great memories!

[@thebacdoc6464]

I had one of those to. Blk with gold velour, everything but t tops. 81 high school graduation present. I smoked a lot of 79 Camaro Z28s with it, but not this one.

[@keewatin427]

This was the PERFECT song selection 🤌🏽

[@Bill_Hartnett]

Had not seen your videos before but this caught my eye. Dad used to have a 1980 Z28 in light blue & I loved that car. I told him not to let my sister drive it and of course she launched it over a curb & bent the frame. I often wish we still had it though. The fun part for the 80 .vs the 79 is that on the 79 the scoop is in front, but in the 80, it's in the back and when you mashed the pedal 2 little flaps would snap open right in front of you.. lol Excellent job on this one guys & I guess I'll be watching more of your videos..

[@2snailz135]

Incredible build! Love how you kept it true to the original/era.

[@kayjayjames1271]

I had a 79 z28 wide body, midnight bronze with a 79 nomad 327 block with 254 heads and roller rockers, a 3.25 crane cam with a double 750 double pumper Holley and edelbrock high rise bored 60 over with an lt2 muncy 5 speed and triple posi, posi posy bars, stabilizers and 356 gears! Red velvet flush interior on black with t-tops, god I miss that car, had aluminum 5 slots, VR60 Goodyear's in the back and VR50 perrelis in the front😐 god I miss that car😐

[@michaelsites1498]

My dad had a 1981 Z28 silver w/blue interior 5.0 liter 305 with a4-speed and T-tops!!! I mean that car was super cool to a 10 year old boy!!!! Especially when the 4-barrel carburetor kicked in and the doors on the hood scoop flipped up!!!!! I can just imagine that car with this setup!!!! That’d be the coolest Z EVER!!!! Great job guys sharing the love on this ole girl!!!! I’m sure the owner is loving it too!!!

[@martymorse2]

Most interesting car videos on KZbin! Keep them coming Roadster Shop.

[@audrybella6405]

My older brother bought a 1979 Z/28 Camaro brand new. I had a 1980 Z/28. Both were blue and both had factory 4-speeds. If we still had either one..... well, lets just say one or both would be in your shop right now!! Awesome!!

[@dtruth5769]

I'm a Mopar guy..but have to give props to this beautiful ride!

[@rayzalinski4792]

That car is amazing, it's just so subtle and badass at the same time!

[@transam4555]

Man I did not even have to finish the video to really appreciate this cool build. From a distance it looks like a really nice clean restored Camaro. A true car enthusiasts would quickly realize this is no ordinary stock Camaro I love what you guys have done here those huge meats in the back look perfect.

[@EPstroker]

As a kid of the 70s and teen of the 80s.......these z28s and 77 bandit trans am were the coolest. This coming from a life long ford guy.

[@Mmmmchocolate]

Had a 78 z28, pulled the 2 bolt main, put in a 350 from earlier camaro with 4 bolt, shift kit, chirped second almost always when not even trying, built like a tank - safe, LOVED that car.

[@shaunmccuin5954]

Brings back memories. I had an 81 Z28 and my best friend had a 79 Z28 same color as the one you built. Very nice job on car and video

[@crw3673]

Very impressive! Looks and performance. 👌

[@427Musclecar]

So glad I was raised GM. Awesome car and great job!

[@GKTV1]

I love what you guys do to classics!! Makes them a lil bit BETTER!!

[@johnnymiller3793]

I cannot thank you enough for posting this incredible rebuild. We had one of these Camaros when I was between 4 and 5 years of age and this has to be one of the nicest ones I've seen yet aside from the Metallic Blue and the black and blue colored models. Well done! Your interior photo shots are amazing, and your before-restore image of your blue interior is the only other interior picture of this car type I could find with the same car stereo console as I remember us having in ours as well, only that ours was beige and brownish colored inside, and the outside of our car was beige also. Very nicely done.

[@EverythingAutomotive13]

Amazing! About time that Z gets some love! Everything the chassis, build quality, interior. Insane guages! No drone either from that exhaust.

[@Brian-sh2gi]

That first burnout was everything.

[@tonysteppan8495]

Boy Howdie That's a build that got better every second of watching. Everything works with that one, year, color inside and out, Oh yea lots of power! At first look that blue interior was Jess, but when you take in the quality of the work. That's it, hard to see it any other way! Frame set up. even the wheels. Just bad ass. The build quality, no raddles, banging hardware. A well thought out car. Customer is getting a big bang for the bucks! THANK'S for the ride along!

[@JDOzzy37]

Someone built the exact car that'll I've been wanting to build since I had to sell my 1979 white with blue stripes and T-Tops Z-28 in 1984. Great job guys!!

[@carlos64030]

This is easily the nicest 2nd gen Camaro I've ever seen! I typically don't see this generation of the Camaro making any noise... it's always the sister car, the Trans Am that gets all the attention, which is the car that I prefer. At any rate, this Camaro is freakin' bad-ass! Sooooo, ummm... I'm REALLY interested in that chassis! I have a 1991 Trans Am GTA that I would LOVE to make that chassis in it like the one in this car since it rides on the same F-Body platform.

[@TraxxasMafia_504]

My dad bought his white 1981 Camaro in 1985 and we just painted it and redone all the bushings and the interior and we kept it stock and re did it just like it was when it came off the assembly line... The only difference between this car and my dad's is that it's a 81 it don't have T-tops and the stripes are red and the interior is red with a black dashboard (all factory colors) it's got over 300,000 miles on it because it was our family car for most of my life and I'm 31 but it's still got the original timing chain and motor has never been into ever... Goes to show when you maintain your car like you should it will last a long long time... He's got a little notebook and he logged every oil change carburetor change alternator change every battery change and trust me it's spotless and you would never believe it has 300,000 on it until you look at the odometer

[@alvinnelson4439]

Nice Ride guys, very cool.

[@LastCallDemon170]

Nice build! Even the stock second Gen's rode like a pretty modern car. THe greatest underrated muscle car of all time.

[@catchk9]

What a build,I can only say wow! That is a bad ass ride!!

[@stevenrodriguez7668]

New sub here now! This video makes me a even more proud owner of a late 2nd Gen 1980 camaro . Wish I could hot rod it like this but it's never just an overnight process. Unless your hot rod magazine!

[@johnbehneman1546]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH MY ROADSTER SHOP FAMILY!!!! I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHARE YOUR TRUTH!!!

[@55Dag]

Very nice build. The intro music fit perfectly. I've been thinking about building a late 70's Camaro.

[@jordanbest3926]

You guys officially have some of my favorite builds these days.

[@davidruiz6376]

You guys nailed it with this beautiful 79 Z-28 & now it’s a true muscle car!!! This has to be my favorite year & color in the Z-28. Lol, I loved (When you wished you could pull every viewer into the front seat!!!) I know that I would enjoy the ride and seeing it in person to truly appreciate what you did with it. ❤👍🏻👍🏻🙌🏻

[@criscoscorner3791]

Beautiful job... glad you kept the look of that hood

[@jeepfan75]

awesome awesome build !!! my first car was a 1979 camaro I am 47 now that was when I was 15. brings back the memories !!! mine was powder blue paint and powder blue interior also.

[@jeepfan75]

I want this car !!!

[@ryand4786]

These cars always looked cool in my opinion, but were overweight/underpowered, not the best handling etc. you guys did an amazing job on it while keeping it subtle , that’s the best part I think , and sounds killer 👍

[@BrainFuck10]

They weren’t overweight just underpowered

[@jimmyrobertson9563]

Handling was WAY better than the 1st gen camaros.

[@carbonfibercreationswashin7213]

I like the blue interior. LT5 and an RS chasis! You can't beat that.

[@FloreaniGarage]

Great Video! Looking forward to my spec chassis for my 81 z28 to be built and shipped.

[@jimcollins9999]

Awesome transformation! 👍

[@LordHolley]

Very cool gentlemen! Nice to see something that's just fun.

[@imakeituptoyou]

I’m a foxbody Mustang guy but I’ve gotta say this is truely bad ass! I’ve always like the graphics on these cars. Nice job!👍

[@CTemple82]

I think if you put the same drivetrain in a 74-76 Camaro, the plain most basic model with no wing no t-tops, with the factory yellow or gold, maybe even that ugly brown color they offered would be a cool ass wolf in sheeps clothing sleeper version of what y’all built with this car. Amazing build, once again y’all nailed it and I love the blue interior!

[@stevenrodriguez7668]

You give me ideas ! I have a ugly brown 80 camaro that I'm going to keep ugly for some time and just hurt some feelings meanwhile I slowly build onto it !

[@alpeena]

great idea

[@randysiggers5332]

Epic. Much love. Amazing work.

[@coreywhitacre6581]

Killer looking camaro, love it!

[@johnmoser2689]

I like everything about this sweet old Z28 Super cool 😎 Excellent build 👌 👍 👏 Such a well thought out chassis system

[@WheelNuts]

Awesome! It is my dream to be able to bring my 74 Camaro to Roadster Shop some day!

[@randymillsjr.1730]

Wow very nice. Love the stock looks

[@i-still-cruz2430]

Wow! One nice looking Z. Everything well done and I don’t mind all the blue interior. One of my favorite cars of that era👍

[@SaneCayne]

Oh wow, the 80s graphics on the infocenter... So rad!

[@chrisgobeil4751]

Needs a love button, not just a like button. I would 100% build a '78 Z28, it was my dad's first new car, I've got a special place in my heart for them, drove a few in the early 90's. AWESOME job on this one.

[@wyo_garage20]

I’ve only recently come around to these later gen 2 Camaros. Always preferred the Firebirds. Sweet setup

[@robertpoudrette4483]

What the 79 Z should always have been. Tasteful upgrades and almost original look in the best color combo. Love the pale blue insides, nice change from the grey, black and beige we keep getting these days. How much? OH, and where are your seatbelts guys? Another KZbinr got into an accident without his belt not long ago and got some stitches done...

[@m0j0rising]

That's a gorgeous build. Well done!

[@rkymtn9335]

Inspiring build guys! I had a 79 Z28 black with red/orange striping and red interior with LT1 4 speed. What a car, smooth, fast and fun--regret selling it way back in 80s. Maybe time to resto mod one, just saw a black/gold one in a field in SD, problem is many are autos.

[@onekoneb]

Wow, nicely done!

[@corynirchio7733]

Awesome build I love it it’s really bad ass it sounds really good with everything that puts it together

[@denalidriven1574]

That blue interior with LT5 great combo.

[@americanfleet9099]

I met Matt's mother at Anthology senior living. She told me about this video and Matt. So cool. I own a mobile ceramic.coating biz in the Detroit area.

[@brandonchang4685]

I was waiting for RS to do something crazy like this and she is beautiful!! I want one!!

[@tonyvermeer7409]

Super nice build! I love the comforts more than the HP. A guy I went to college with started freshman year with that same color combo Z28. It was stock and in perfect shape. Four years later when we graduated, the midwest winters, salt, leaves and acorns from parking under oak trees on campus.. all took its toll. It was roached. He's a doctor now with a wife and no kids. I'll send him this link. Maybe he'll be tempted to give you a call.

[@alcastillo4901]

Sweet Ride. Love it. I Have 80 Z-28 #18 off the assembly line, had her since 92. Parked her in 2006. In the garage @ my mom's. Needs some TLC. I'll get to her soon and finish her off. Love the set up and stance. Those meats out back. Yeah!!!.. Still have the 15" centerline(aluminum ones) Autodrags on. Thanks for the killer video. She's a Beautiful Beast..

[@mikegarcia7623]

Great job guy’s amazing..brought back a lot of memories..I’m down in Ft. Lauderdale bring that down to the Strip please

[@Jstall7543]

I Love The 79 Z28! I Remember Pulling The Front Wheels To Change The Spark Plugs! But Man They Were So Cool!

[@rankinrueda9990]

This is sick dude. I love the custom work. Definitely a car I’d wanna own someday🔥🔥

[@victorcumba6305]

That thing is very nice and clean and with that LT4 perfectly matched with a good amount of power 🔥yeah boy paint job very nice I need that chassis and that motor for my 81 RS Camaro 👍

[@landerwyoming9720]

Thank you for sharing - great video!!!

[@DpHo888]

Roadster Shop you guys did an awesome job on this beast of a car! I hope to have mine recently given to me for my 41st birthday to be this awesome! Love it! ❤

[@alteredstateskustom]

Only a true car guy would notice all the mods when it drove past him That Z/28 is so subtle and COOL

[@chriswalshe499]

You blokes do cars right. Your Buick Grand National, Pontiac Catalina, etc. great loyalty to the original. Top job fellas.

[@hailstorm1986]

I love how the original look was preserved but the right upgrades were made to compliment the Z28 overall!!!🤍😇

[@c10vatos23]

I could see the mullets growing thru the video.

[@RoadsterShop]

😎

[@rarebreedtwin5309]

Awesome Build Love it Mane

[@jasonrackawack9369]

wow that car is beautiful😲 love the colos and factory stripes

[@kevinsee794]

Stunning build 👌

[@maxpaul11]

Omg! Stunning car! You did a great job on this!

[@jhawk1985]

Such a nice car. My very first car was a 79 Z28. I bought the body and started to build a 4 bolt main 350 but money wasnt right at the time and I sold it all. Man this video reminded me of that car and how badly I wanted to finish it

[@williamscore5322]

This things not a 79 Z28 any more.

[@Chris-Rife]

They're good looking cars. I have one but it has coyote 302 in it and a 6r80.

[@valentinvazquez7074]

The color combination is beautiful and crazy performance 👍 you guys are artists

[@malibubarbie5349]

I had a factory ordered heavy duty everything 1979 Z-28. 350 V8, 4-speed. Positraction rear end, 8-track player, Air Conditioning. I sold it in 1983 when I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I miss it everyday

[@alexmedinarn]

This car is sick! You guys nailed it. Love love love it.

[@Rampant_Colt]

Exactly like the Z that I had in high-school, except for the T-tops, and mine had 175hp LoL. I really like what you did with that!

[@larrysutton925]

Always thought these cars were drop dead gorgeous...great build!

[@thomasmagda4580]

What a great build!

[@steviewaichulis]

Sweet Build !!!

[@kellywoodworth310]

Roadster Shop!!! Simply the Best!!! Love your stuff!!!

[@jhodges3131]

Fantastic. We talk alot about the artistic genius of the American car design of the 50's & 60's. The folks that came up with the 79 Z28 were just as genius.

[@ronrichards5051]

Unbelievable ,my dad bought one in 79 4 speed that beautiful dark blue I was 15 he used to come out and see it missing all the time great Car Guys thumbs up two thumbs up

[@stephenwayant2790]

Sweet ride! Always been a fan of this style Z

[@quantumphaser]

⚡️White Lightning⚡️ 100% Baddass Build.

[@3rdGenFireChicken]

Nothing beats this z28 body style always said this body car was always ahead of it’s time. The best color combo also. Love your car my man. 💯

[@dchockeyinc]

My uncle used to have one of these when I was a kid, I didn’t think it was that cool at the time, now I wish I had one of my own.

[@thud9797]

Always loved these cars, cool days late 70's early 80's when they and the Trans Am were everywhere.