The third-generation Camaro, which launched in 1982, was just what the company needed. The outgoing Camaro had been in production since 1970 and to say that it was getting a little old was an understatement. GM needed a new pony car, and the Camaro delivered.
Unlike the Ford Mustang – which became a much smaller car in the Fox Body iteration – the new Camaro was a bigger car, which gave it more presence. I was a freshman in high school when the new Camaro was released and remember thinking about how good it looked.
A few years into the car’s life cycle, GM introduced the IROC-Z, and it seemed to be a hit from the start. This performance-focused version of the Camaro included all the performance bits GM had to offer at the time, including an aerodynamic body kit with revised spoilers and a louver-style hood; heavily revised suspension with special high-performance springs, shocks and sway bars fitted; 16×8-inch alloy wheels with 245/VR50 series tires and a stiffened chassis. This all worked to give the IROC-Z an incredible skid pad number of .92g. In addition, the car had a 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds, which made it one of the best-handling and quickest cars of the time.
Featured on AutoHunter right now is a truly amazing example of one of these cars, a 32,000-mile 1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z. The auction will end on Monday, April 7.
The seller describes this IROC-Z as powered by a 5.0L V8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. Finished in Bright Red over a red cloth interior, this original pony car is now offered by the selling dealer with the original window sticker, original sales invoice, showroom brochure, clean CARFAX report and a clear title. All of that to me spells potential show-winner, as the documentation matters with these cars.
The listing goes on to state that the exterior of the car is in truly excellent condition and free from any substantial imperfections. This IROC features optional T-Tops (which I like because of the extra headroom they provide) and is riding on its correct 16×8 IROC wheels clad with correct-size 245/50 BFGoodrich G-Force radial tires.
The interior of this IROC-Z also looks to be in showroom condition. It is finished in what I can only assume is its original red velour with no noticeable wear anywhere. Even the headliner and internal covers for the T-Top panels are perfect. Options include air conditioning, tilt steering column, leather-covered factory steering wheel, original factory Delco AM/FM cassette stereo system, power windows and power locks.
Under the hood is the car’s original carbureted 5.0-liter V8 with 170 HP and 250 ft-lbs of torque. Everything looks as you would expect it to for a true all-original, low-mile Camaro from the era, and the engine compartment looks perfect and original.
The underside of the car is also simply unbelievable. It looks as good as it did when it rolled off the assembly line. I could not even find any surface rust on the fasteners.
If you want a true collector-grade, all-original, potential show-winning IROC-Z, this one is it. It is the cleanest example I have ever seen on our site and one of the nicest examples I have come across since these cars were new.
The auction for this 1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z ends Monday, April 7, 2025, at 11 a.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
