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View Full Version : NJSteve's 1987 IROC Z28


Xplantdad
05-29-2006, 08:01 PM
Howdy everybody!


Here is the 1987 IROC Z28 I recently found in my neighborhood. I have been jogging by this car for the past 5 years or so. It was 1.75 miles from my house. I would always use this car as the turnaround point in my jogging route. In all these years I never saw it move from the covered carport it had been sitting in. In the winter it would be covered with a car cover and in the summer it would just sit there, fading in the sun.


After all these years I finally got the inclination to stop and ask about the car. I knocked on the door and an elderly woman answered. I introduced myself as her neighbor down the street and asked about the car. She said it was her son-in-law’s and that he'd be back later that day. I left my name and number and waited. About three hours later I get a call and the owner invited me over the house. He thought it was a really weird coincidence since when I showed up earlier that day, he had been out getting copies made of a flyer he was going to put up offering the car for sale. I guess timing is everything We talked about the car for a while and he told me he was the second owner, having it since 1994 when he bought it from the original owner who still lived in the area. The majority of the paint is original on the car. After a while I offered him $3800 and he said he'd think on it and call me back. A day later he called and we ended up settling on $4000. Which I think is still a heck of bargain for any type of running car no matter what it is.


The first thing I did when I got it home was the rip out the cheesy woodgrain interior kit added by the original selling dealer and the hokey rear wing that was added by the original owner. I fixed a dent in the rear quarter and the rear wing holes in the trunk lid, replaced all the filters, brake hoses and brake linings and flushed out every fluid in the car. Oh, and I had to rip out the original mildewed carpet due to a grommet left out during a 1980’s stereo installation that let water in under the drivers side.


As for production numbers: In 1987 Chevy made 38,889 IROC Camaros. The carbureted 305 was the standard engine with a TPI 305 as an option in the Z28. A step up from there was the IROC, which was an option on the Z28.


The IROC had its own optional engine: 1987 was the first year for the Corvette L98 roller cam, Tuned Port Injection 350 in the IROC, which was the only Camaro you could get the 225 horse L98 in. It was a $1,045 option. Only 12,105 L98-powered IROCs were built of the 38,889 IROCs produced.
The color on this car is called Yellow Gold. It was a very rare color for the Camaro line in 1987, which was the last year for that color. Out of the 137,760 total Camaros built, only 3,052 were painted Yellow Gold. Unfortunately Chevrolet does not have the data to extrapolate how many Yellow L98 IROCs were built but one would guess that it has to be a pretty rare item.


The interesting thing about these cars is that GM of Canada still has the documentation on file that GM in the US doesn’t. Thanks to the assistance of members of this site, I was able to get in contact with them, pay the $40 US, and in a couple weeks had the full GM of Canada document package for my car What is interesting is that this car is one of the last 1987s produced. It was built on August 19th of 1987, and delivered to Bennett Chevrolet in Allentown, Pennsylvania in late August. 1987 was the last year of Norwood Camaro Production. The plant closed at the end of the 1987 model year.


This is a really neat car. I was never one for third generation Camaros since they are so common today but it sort of dawned on me when I first decided to get this car that it is 19 years old: When the first generation Camaros were 19 years old, they were all over the place too, available at a similar price. Now try to find a nice one for $4,000 Twenty years seems to be the magic mark for muscle car prices to start rising.


Anyway, I really get a kick out this car. It is ridiculously quick, and fast. It rides nice and everything works. Even with 120,000 miles on it, the horsepower rating of 225 seems to be very underrated. This would run circles around my old 350/300 horse Z11. If you ever get a chance to pick one up I would strongly recommend one, given the current market prices. It makes for a great parts chaser. And my kids like the T-Tops, too –they think it’s neat

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/NJ%20Steve/tn_P5020028a.jpg


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/NJ%20Steve/tn_P5020019a.jpg


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/NJ%20Steve/tn_P5020020a.jpg


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/NJ%20Steve/tn_P5020021.jpg


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/NJ%20Steve/tn_P5020024.jpg

Rick H
05-29-2006, 08:56 PM
Nice car. I know of one just like it in my neck of the woods but unfortunately it's not for sale.....YET!

"The interesting thing about these cars is that GM of Canada still has the documentation on file that GM in the US doesn’t."

The US does have the info on file. They have most of the cars built after 1981. I got the vehicle invoice for a 1982 Pace Car. You can call the following number to get the invoice. All you need is the VIN. Ask for Stacy.

GM Media Archive - Vehicle Invoices
734-421-0273 ext. 107


Rick H.

Z-11 396
05-29-2006, 09:03 PM
<<< STEVE >>>, ONE GREAT LOOKING http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif CAR, GREAT STORY TO GO WITH IT,, YOU MUST HAVE PUT MORE MILES ON ''YOU'' THAN THE CAR DID.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif...KASEY

firstgenaddict
05-29-2006, 11:52 PM
Really nice, I loved the powder yellow color from the moment it came out.
I had a burgundy and gold one in highschool and a good friend had a electric blue and gold L98 with the four wheel discs (I think that was standard with the L98??)
Boy oh boy the memories... they were fun cars with a chip, fuel pressure regualtor, throttle body, and some 1.6 roller rockers.

njsteve
05-30-2006, 01:37 AM
It's kinda funny -everyone that sees it gives me the same "I had one of those IROC's back then" stories. Even the inspector at the motor vehicle inspection station walked away from the other inspection lane to come over and check it out. He had a white one back in the day.

Xplantdad
05-30-2006, 02:09 AM
Steve,

Thanks so much for sending in the pics and the write up so that your cool IROC Z could be shared with everyone.

I also was a big fan of the yellow when those Z's came out.

MosportGreen66
05-30-2006, 06:09 AM
Nice Iroc Steve! With the price of vintage muscle skyrocketing I would be at all surprised if these Iroc cars start commanding more money and attention...

clean ride! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

firstgenaddict
05-30-2006, 06:26 AM
Some are commanding pretty good dollars...
I have seen some low mileage low production cars bringing upwards of 25k lately.

427TJ
06-01-2006, 06:55 AM
Good Lord, is that Butternut Yellow????

I graduated from college in '87 and went to USAF flight school in my brand-new Mustang LX 5.0. I was this close to going for the IROC but the LX was such a bargain. There were guys in my flight school class who had bought IROCs (and GTA Trans Ams and Supras etc.) and we would race all over the two-lanes of far west Texas. I was the only street racer in the class so I whupped those guys on a regular basis. I loved my LX but I always had a soft-spot for that IROC. Chevy finally got it right with those '85-'87 IROCs.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif x 100!

njsteve
06-01-2006, 06:23 PM
Chevy calls it "Yellow Gold" and it is a shade lighter than the old Daytona Yellow. It's hard to get a good photo of the color but it is rather bright. I always liked yellow cars dating back to when my brother had a Van Nuys-built Daytona Yellow 1969 SS396 Camaro back in high school.

njsteve
06-01-2006, 06:26 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Nice car. I know of one just like it in my neck of the woods but unfortunately it's not for sale.....YET!

"The interesting thing about these cars is that GM of Canada still has the documentation on file that GM in the US doesn’t."

The US does have the info on file. They have most of the cars built after 1981. I got the vehicle invoice for a 1982 Pace Car. You can call the following number to get the invoice. All you need is the VIN. Ask for Stacy.

GM Media Archive - Vehicle Invoices
734-421-0273 ext. 107


Rick H.

[/ QUOTE ]

I contacted them and they found the invoice and emailed it to me. They ended up not charging me the $50 fee as the image was not that good due to a microfiche problem on the disc containing my car's info. But it is still a great addition to the document file for the car.

njsteve
06-01-2006, 09:45 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Chevy calls it "Yellow Gold" and it is a shade lighter than the old Daytona Yellow. It's hard to get a good photo of the color but it is rather bright. I always liked yellow cars dating back to when my brother had a Van Nuys-built Daytona Yellow 1969 SS396 Camaro back in high school.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually I meant Los Angeles.

WILMASBOYL78
06-02-2006, 04:03 PM
Neat car! Good luck with it...


wilma

Pacecarjeff
06-04-2006, 07:53 PM
I had an 86 IROC-Z that I bought brand new.
It is a funny/sad story because it was the last GM car I ever bought. (as a daily driver)

I saved my money and paid $12K cash for a brand new TPI Camaro IROC-Z // Red with T-tops.
I drove the crap ot of it and loved that car. Met my wife while I owned that one.

In 1989 Chevrolet added the Convertible option to the Camaro line - I wanted one of those. I went down to the dealership with my mint 86 with pretty low miles, and was shocked when I was only offered $3500 as trade in on the new convertible.

I walked out with my tail between my legs, and drove that car for a few more years untill i could afford a used Toyota Celica Convertible- I never went back to an American car even to this day. And I wouldn't buy a new car until my Tundra in 2004. (only because the used ones were almost the same price)

The Car was a lot of fun, but like all GM of those days - Very undependable, and fast depreciation.
Sure was a looker - always liked the yellow ones.

Good luck, looks like they are now on their way back up in price. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

71-LS6
06-05-2006, 06:01 AM
You got a deal on that one, drive the heck out of it, then put it away.

njsteve
08-27-2006, 07:05 AM
While I was out today visiting my Trans Am's sheetmetal at the body shop in PA. I ended up taking a detour and drove to the original dealership that sold my IROC: Bennett Chevrolet in Allentown, PA. They have been in business 35+ years. I met a nice sales lady there who gave me license plate frame for the car. I left her my VIN on the back of a business card and she said she'd look to see if there was any old paperwork in the files. I told her if she found any, I'd buy a new car there to pay her back! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/bennet4.jpg

427TJ
08-27-2006, 09:27 PM
[ QUOTE ]
I told her if she found any, I'd buy a new car there to pay her back!

[/ QUOTE ]

And it should be a new 2009 Camaro! You could drive the IROC to the dealership and photograph both cars on the lot on delivery day.

indyjps
08-28-2006, 04:54 AM
they are great cars. i had an 89 formula firebird 350 tpi black/black and a 92 rs 305 red/red car. both were great drivers the 350 tpi was a runner up to 4500 rpm. if i could find a decent one i'd pick another up. right now im looking @ low mileage LT1 camaros, since the LS1 steals all the thunder they are a bargain.

markinnaples
02-01-2016, 08:19 PM
Whatever happened to the IROC Steve?

njsteve
02-02-2016, 10:08 PM
I sold it to a member here on the board who was collecting yellow Camaros from what I recall.

Weranc55 has a yellow '86 for sale now.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthrea...38k-mile#UNREAD (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/627390/gonew/1/1986-camaro-iroc-z-28-38k-mile#UNREAD)