The official first day of summer is June 20, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to take off your T-tops, hit the road, and enjoy the wind in your hair. How about a ride in a classic Camaro?
The Pick of the Day is a 1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Chantilly, Virginia. (Click the link to view the listing)
“The car runs and drives beautifully,” the seller says. “It is a great example of a true IROC-Z with a little added grunt.”
During the 1980s, the Camaro was marketed under Chevrolet’s “Heartbeat of America: Today’s Chevrolet” slogan. One of my favorite advertisements for the 1987 Camaro has a picture of a black IROC with a police light on the roof. It says, “Your Worst Nightmare.” We just recently talked about “unique,” or perhaps unexpected, police cars. Imagine getting lit up by a stealthy black unmarked IROC.
The wedge-shaped profile of the third-generation Camaro was all the rage for its time, and Chevrolet worked tirelessly to market the Camaro as a potent performer. This story I wrote in 2020 talks more in depth about how the IROC (or International Race of Champions) version Camaro was born.
Today’s featured car received a recent repaint in Bright Blue Metallic and features IROC-Z decals on the lower side panels as well as replacement hood louvers. The cockpit has also been upgraded with new upholstery, sound deadening, a headliner, a dash cap, cup holders, and a Bluetooth audio system.
Perhaps most importantly, the car received some special treatment under the hood. It originally came optioned with a 305cid V8, but under prior ownership (about 3,500 miles ago), a rebuilt 350cid “Tuned Port Injected” V8 was installed. A Lunati camshaft was also added, and the rear end was rebuilt to handle the additional power. Included with the listing is a video of a start-up and an exterior walk-around. The car looks great and sounds healthy from what we can tell.
As this period-correct television commercial said, “When you want to feel the thunder, put yourself in today’s Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z and listen to your heart beat.”
Does today’s featured F-body get your heart pumping? Put the pedal to the metal. Just remember to watch out for speed traps along those wide-open stretches of pavement.
The asking price is $22,499 or best offer.
To view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com, zoom on over to the listing.
I’ve always loved the look of Camaros even though I have never owned one and this car is no exception. Maybe because my first car was a 66 Mustang and it made me a Ford fan. The IROC-Zs were some of the best looking next to the 69 Z-28 or SS. Even though it is not an original engine car, everyone knows the 350 upgrade is a fantastic improvement over a 305. 22K is not a lot of money these days and if everything is right about this car, it could be a lot of fun although I have absolutely no idea about aftermarket restoration or maintenance parts. I thought about buying one of these cars in 1982. I drove a really nice looking one that was metallic brown with the brown interior, T-Top and a 305. I was totally unimpressed with the performance and handling but still liked the looks. I decided to keep my 73 Charger another eight years until I traded it for a new Mustang GT.