by At the bottom of Sebago Lake in Maine, a true automotive legend has been discovered — a submerged 1974 Chevrolet Camaro Z28. Local law enforcement is trying to unravel the mystery of how this muscle car ended up at a depth of 17 meters.
How the Legendary Camaro Was Found
Jason Smith stumbled upon the find while exploring the lake using an underwater drone. Initially, he planned to find an old snowmobile he had spotted a week earlier. According to Smith, the Camaro Z28 was lying at approximately 55 feet (17 meters) deep, right in the middle of the channel between Frye Island and the mainland.
Vehicle Condition and Identification
In the underwater footage published by Smith on Facebook, the car appears to be surprisingly well-preserved, considering it has likely spent decades in the water. The car was quickly raised from the lake, although it sustained damage in the process. Nevertheless, a partial VIN number was found, and thanks to the local Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department was able to determine the full identification number.
Theories of the Submersion
Investigators are trying to identify the first owner, who would likely know how the Z28 ended up underwater. Several theories are currently being considered.
The first version suggested that the Camaro slipped off the Frye Island ferry. However, this was quickly ruled out. Ferry operators claim that a car falling overboard would have been recorded, the vehicle would have been recovered and remembered, but none of this happened.
The second theory is insurance fraud: the car was taken to a quiet spot and pushed into the water for the payout. This is possible, but proving it after decades is extremely difficult.
The most likely answer is also the most typical for New England. The Camaro was probably driven onto the frozen lake, the ice broke through, and the car went to the bottom along with it.
This story is a reminder that even in familiar places, one can find real treasures of the past. Although the exact circumstances of the Camaro Z28’s submersion remain unknown, the very fact of discovering such a rare car after decades is fascinating. Perhaps this find will encourage other explorers to study the bottom of local water bodies more closely, as not only old snowmobiles but also true automotive legends, waiting their turn to be found and possibly even restored, may be hiding there.
