1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

Description

Don't look now, but this 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC Z/28 is an icon, and a collectable one at that. If you grew up in the '80s, this was the car to beat on the street, with an awesome combination of traditional muscle car acceleration and impressive handling.

Repainted in White Diamond Pearl to a high standard, the new finish is a welcome update from its original plain white. With new decals installed at the same time, it's the ideal throwback to the 80s that still looks like a million bucks today. It has never been wrecked or rusty, obviously, and as a non-T-top car it feels tight and well-composed. That's all proof that this car has led a very easy Texas life, unlike so many of its siblings which were often victims of their low price and high performance. The ground effects remain in great shape, and it still carries its original fog lamps up front. Seriously, if you're familiar with these cars, you know their fate but this one seems to have escaped and is instead on its way to being a legitimate collector's item. Things like the taillights, the weather seals, and even the black inserts on the hood remain bright, crisp, and clear.

With two-tone bucket seats, this Camaro is a lot more upscale than its price tag would suggest, both then and now. The interior is in excellent condition, having been redone from its original red, and it has a comfortable, welcoming look. That cloth upholstery holds you in place during spirited driving, and with a long list of comfort and convenience options this one is a no-compromises V8 muscle car. R134a A/C, power windows, a tilt steering column, cruise control, and an AM/FM radio all make the IROC feel like the top-of-the-line car that it is. The center console houses most of the controls, plus the shifter for the 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission that matches nicely with the leather-wrapped wheel. The gauges are in great shape, although the anemic 85 MPH speedometer is kind of a wet blanket, but it fits nicely within the tidy dash. The back seat is in excellent shape and folds down to make the cargo area downright massive.

GM's bulletproof and powerful 5.0 liter V8 with Tuned-Port Injection was the standard engine on the IROC, and was more than competitive with the Ford unit from across town. As a small block Chevy, it's also insanely easy to modify, which also explains why so many Camaros went to meet their makers prematurely. Fortunately, this one is all stock and recently rebuilt (along with the transmission) and it runs beautifully. Turn the key and it fires quickly, settling into a cackling V8 idle that suits the flashy muscle car perfectly. Lots of fresh maintenance parts under the hood means that this one has been loved, and thanks to a lifetime in the warm, dry south, the chassis is impressively tidy for being more than 30 years old. The original 16-inch alloys are in excellent condition with no curb rash and wear 245/50/16 BFGoodrich performance radials.

More than just a nice driver, this car still commands respect on the street and will surely have a future in the collector car world. And with that curb appeal, it won't last long. Call today!