1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 - Ridden Hard and Put Away Wet

Like old songs, cars are a great way to have a high school flash back. I was flashing back when I stumbled across this junker 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 that was all new the year I graduated high school. Today, let's dust off our metaphorical high school year book, leaf through the now sepia toned pictures and see what ever happened to old what's-her-name. 

Although I was disappointed that I would not graduate with the "Big Body" 1970 era Camaro as part of the backdrop of the year I graduated high school, why that mattered to me is now beyond me, I was quite fond of the "new girl". She and her stable mate, the very similar Pontiac Firebird, just may have been the the prettiest girls in the Class of '82. Forced to choose between the two, the Chevy would have been my prom date. 

Thanks to an all new suspension featuring MacPherson struts up front and a new coil spring and shock rear set up, the new Camaro was a markedly better handler than her leaf spring and shock equipped predecessor. Rack and pinion steering replaced the old recirculating ball system too. On the Z28, rear disc brakes were available and all in, on average, these cars were some three hundred pounds lighter than the car it replaced. Gee-whiz, was this a Chevrolet or a Porsche? 

No. She was no Porsche. Not even close. Despite by the comely exterior and decent track numbers, the 1982 Camaro was panned for a rattling interior, sloppy build quality, harsh ride and for being under powered. Ouch. But what did I know? Being in love with these cars I would hear none of that talk. Who cares if the car is a piece of crap and is a bitch and a half to drive. She looks cool. 

Anyway, with regards to our subject here rotting away behind an auto body shop near my house west of Cleveland, Ohio, after all these years it is somewhat disheartening to see something that was once so molten hot now appear, as they say, "was ridden hard and put away wet". This thing open like it is it stank of mold, mildew and animal droppings too. No doubt Mother Nature has had her way with her much like Father Time has had his way with that once super hot new girl back in high school. 

Seems our Camaro Z28 left the factory with Chevrolet's infamous "Cross Fire Injection" fuel injection system. Cross-Fire, which sounded so cool back then, was two throttle body fuel injection systems from Pontiac's 2.5 liter "Iron Duke" in line 4 working in tandem to help the little 305 develop 165 net horsepower. That sure sounded like a lot back in the height of the Malaise Era but it couldn't get a Camaro to 60 in under ten seconds. "Cross-Fire Injection" was, needlessly complex, fussy and  difficult to work on. I don't believe this car had been in a major accident from what I could tell so perhaps it's last owner got sick and tired of attempting to get the Cross-Fire Injection to work right. 

Within three years, Chevrolet did have port fuel injection on tap for these cars but by then the market was beginning to shift away from sporty, impractical coupes like this. The market got so bad for these cars that GM even pulled the plug on them altogether in 2002. Chevrolet reintroduced Camaro in 2010 on the GM Zeta platform that it shares with cars like the late, great Pontiac G8 and others of the same vintage. 

None of us are getting any younger and seeing cars from our wonder years destroyed like this makes us all aware of what eventually awaits all of us. Some of the gang from back in the day looks better than others but it's the rare person who looks arguably better with the wear and tear of thirty five years of life on their personal odometers. Sure hope those who were "ridden hard and put away wet" enjoyed the ride. 

The term "ridden hard and put away wet" refers to horses. Like humans, horses sweat heavily during exertion. Afterward, the hoses needs to be curried (groomed) to remove sweat from it's coat. to prevent a number of health and hygiene problems. A horse who was rode hard and put away wet would feel, look and smell awful.