These are some of the best looking Camaros ever made. Back in my high school days, these were drool worthy, unobtainable dream cars for us broke ass kids.
as someone who owns one - it does have "cup holders" (or at least unofficially) you snug the bottle between you and the center console behind the belt latch
Haha when I had my 87’ it was just between my legs crotched up..or I would open console put it in back and have arm holding it towards back corner…..soon as cars came with 300 cup holders seems to coincide with obesity.
My parents bought a 1992 RS used in 1994 or so and handed it off to me in 2019 after putting around 150,000 miles on it. My first car, I drove it for another ten thousand or so miles until the mechanic bills were just too much to handle as a broke college student. It sat for many years unused before I started driving it, and I'm not very mechanically inclined so it was a bit too much for me. Iirc it was the 25th Anniversary Edition in Polo Green II, like a really dark metallic green, with gold racing stripes, one of around 500 in that configuration in the US. Very fun car to drive in my teens/early twenties, sometimes I still miss it. Sold it and used the money to buy a last year of the last generation Lincoln Town Car with 80k on it. Thanks for the video, Zack.
The best thing about these cars are the stories from past owners. I can relate. I will have to thank my mom once more for helping me get my Camaro Iroc z when I was in my late teens or early 20s.
Nice review! My first dream car was a (Red) 1990 IROC-Z 5.7 TPI w/700R4. It looked so aggressive with the “IROC”stripe/decal package/wheel combo. It had the flowmaster exhaust and hypertech chip! One of the greatest Camaro’s ever made. The handling was levels above the competition in its heyday. The only disappointment was was the fact it wasn’t offered with a manual..🥹 Regret selling it..✌️
"If you have to carry a lot of 'L' shaped objects, then this is the car for you." 😂😂 That is awesome! The 3rd gen were my favorite! Nice video, and your camera work is top notch!
yeah, I’ve owned 8.. 4Irocs, 4Gtas back in late 80s, 90s all 350s.. but they’re all fun, just a nice throttle body, gear & shift kit would help it out a good bit for not very much cash, an they hold to the road very well, also!
My pops had a 1986 camaro. He sold it when I was 4. He put some money into it (some performance parts) but could never beat mustangs off the line he told me. Then us kids came along and he had to sell it.
I give this Generation Camaro it's respect and cool as hell but I would love for you to review a Pontiac Firebird mostly because my dad had one and I went with him when I was 8 back in 1986 to pick his up fresh off the showroom floor.
That is a gorgeous vehicle. This has not aged because it was sexy day 1 and is sexy these many years later. Killer looks and performance for the times.
There was an optional RPO for the IROC cars to get a 140 mph speedo starting in 1986. Also I have always felt that the tpi cars should have gotten the 200-4R transmission. I helped a friend swap one into an 86 after the 700-R4 died, and the first to second gear spacing helped acceleration so much it was like a different car. Just a few mods to make the torque arm work, a longer driveshaft, and it was great.
The 140 speedo was not an RPO, and it was not an option. The 140 speedo was introduced mid year 1986 on both the Camaro and the Trans Am, as the mandate for the 85mph speedo was lifted.
That's such a nice & very cool car. When I was a kid, my neighbor had a 1986 Z28, he bought it new, it was yellow & the door decal said 'IROC - N - ROLL!
Had an '85 IROC in white. It was a cool looking car, rode like a tank and it was seriously under powered. Mine had an issue with it's 5.0. 2 years after I bought it at 23k miles the cam wiped. It was under warrantee, so the dealership replaced it. Then at 41k miles another cam wiped and the T-tops started leaking... This would ultimately be the car that turned me away from GM, almost. I ended up trading it after that cam was replaced for a 1990 300 ZX Turbo. That thing scatted and 0 issues with it until 1994 when it was stolen, stripped and set on fire in a field. Apparently the huge issue with Nissan at the time was you could break into one and start it with a fingernail file lol. I did ultimately buy another GM car when the 300 ZX was stolen. It was a 1987 Buick Grand national with 30k miles on it. It reminded me not to buy GM again... ever. Fast as hell, comfort for days, but I learned after just 5k miles I had to put it's second transmission into it from the shop after mine went out. 10k more miles and another tranny was gone. Got the trans replaced again sold it for almost what I paid for it at 45k miles and learned to never buy GM again lol. I switched up and bought a new 1996 F150 with the 300 I6. Drove it until 2016 with 450k miles on it and only ever had to replace an AC compressor, and sold it to a neighbor after buying a new F150. He to this day drives that truck to work everyday in 2023 and has done nothing to it. Last I asked, he was up to nearly 600k miles... Ironically, the newer (2016) F150 is the reason I'll never buy Ford again lol. Nothing but one headache after another (I should have just kept the 1996 F150)
Great Camaro Review. I'm from the UK and have owned two 3rd gen Camaros. My first one was an white 87 IROC-Z which I owned way back in the early 90's as a very young man. Bearing in mind this was in the UK, it turned heads everywhere. Great fun and sounded awesome. I too love cars from the 80's (probably my favourite era for cars, music and culture). 👍
Man I forgot about that blank space on the dash! I had an 84'Camaro and an 85 Trans Am (plus a bunch of others but this is more specific), and I just completely forgot about that. I don't remember Trans Am wise, but the Camaro is just asking for a screen there to be able to update the interior without any permanent modifications that could screw with anything later on down the road. You could literally just throw an iPad on there to call it a day, but at least it will be updated. Either way though, another great video and I'm going to be messaging you soon about a Trans Am and Corvette I have
I remember riding in that back seat as a kid! With the t-tops off, the wind was so bad that my brother and I held up the cardboard windshield shade so we could breathe! That car had the 5.7 (350). I'm now in my late 40's and had never owned an American car (trucks and suv's, yes). Ironically, I recently bought a Camaro and my kids are around the same age I was when my parents got theirs! I just found your channel this morning. Good stuff! You're bringing back memories!
Was this the Camaro generation that got the abysmally underpowered Iron Duke engine? I can't imagine driving something this big with an engine that makes only 85hp.
Yup. 82 -84 the 2.5 was the base engine. In 85 it was dropped and the base engine was the 2.8 multi port fuel injected V6 good for 135hp. In 82-84 the 2.8 was good for a wheezing 110hp through a Rochester varajet 2 bbl carburetor.
I’ve only ever had the 350 V8 Camaro and Trans Am in the late 80’s. They weren’t super powerful. Think they had 240-250hp. Everyone put a flowmaster, hypertech chip and K&N filters in them back in the day. I did a little more work on mine and put a different throttle body on it. Still, prob only 250-260hp. But back then, that was pretty good. My V8 Mercedes has twice that horsepower today 😂. But I enjoyed my Camaros and Trans Ams. I didn’t switch to European cars til after I got smoked by a BMW M3. 😂 But they were fun cars for me in my early 20’s.
Yup for 82,83 and 84 you could get the iron Duke. I've had around a dozen third gen f bodies, including a iron Duke 4 cyl. I put Z28 sway bars, springs, and 16" iroc wheels and tires on it. It was a turd in a straight line but went thru corners like you would not believe, because it was so light.
My step brother in law used to have an 85 Iroc-Z like this one in blue….I loved riding in it as a kid but unfortunately someone stole it and stripped it for parts years ago
Gotta put this gen second on my list. A '67 (1st gen?) is just so beautiful, especially in black....and really had the classic muscle car credentials, especially the top spec ones.
One of the best looking cars in the whole world for me. At least in the top 10 easy. And that's including every car ever made that I have ever seen. The headlights especially makes the look for me. And the side profile is amazing too.
Great review. Especially since the car is somehow connected to your family as your reminder. I'd love to see a review of the 3rd gen Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. They were sayin' that despite they built them up at the same plants (Van Nuys Ca, Norwood Oh) they somehow were different in their road manners. Engines were the same and somehow ....a shame for their looks. Something that started to change a bit in their late years.Especially for the more aerodynamic Firebird considering its drag at 0.30 compared with Camaro's 0.36. But nonetheless it'd be a pleasure watching ya reviewing a Bird.
These have aged well, in an 80s way. This car just screams mullet and cassette tapes. T-tops are cool when they fit. I'd still prefer a Firebird for the more refined style. When I was younger and before I knew what these were, I would see the nose of a red one like this parked next to a house. I didn't know what it was and I thought it was something Italian. Later when I found out it was a Camaro I was surprised.
Owned 4 F body second gens...a '72 Firebird Formula 400, '77 Camaro Type LT, "79 Z28, and an '80 Berlinetta. Wish that I could have bought an '81 Yenko Camaro Turbo Z, but only 13 were ever made. But by the time that I could afford an IROC Z, I no longer wanted one. Went for a '92 GMC Sonoma ST extended cab 4x4 pickup. Looked similar to a Syclone after I customized it, except much roomier cab.
I'm a Mustang fan-boy and I love the Fox Mustangs from that era, but I'll admit the 3rd Gen Camaro is a cooler looking car. That one's a great example, too! Nice video :)
I feel your mom's pain. In '99, I gave up my poster car, a silver '85 911, for my first girl. Went from an '85 911 to an '86 240 wagon. That being said, I am very glad to hear how much your mom's sacrifice, and it was a sacrifice even wirh the untold lemon story, meant to you, and how this was a full-circle moment. Very cool!
It's not a trailer park car. If you were especially a young adult with a decent job back in the 80's and you wanted a sports coupe that was relatively affordable. A quick car for its day, a good handling car for its day, a stylish car, well the Chevrolet Z-28 / IROC-Z was one good choice. The peers to it that you could choose from through the 80's included. Pontiac Firebird/ Trans am Ford Mustang GT. Dodge Daytona Turbo/ Shelby Z Chrysler Laser turbo Mazda RX-7 Toyota Supra Nissan 300z Mitsubishi Starion/ Plymouth Conquest All were relatively affordable, sporty, cool and fun drivers sporty cars.😎 My choice was eventually a Dodge Daytona Shelby Z... Loved that car.😎
I own a 1992 rs with a 5.0 I'm still trying to get it running but man am I excited to drive it. It has the 5 speed manual and no longer has carpet since mice exist
Being a kid in the '70s I grew up with & adored the previous gen "Smokey & the Bandit" Camaro models, however I must say that the looks of these Gen 3's have really grown on me in later years. Same with the Corvettes; always loved the swoopy, almost clownish lines of the C3's however acquiring a nice C4 is now a priority for me. Something about the wedge-shaped, compact, angular design of sports coupes in the 80's is just timeless to this day (who knows, with the recent release of the Cybertruck maybe this design style will make a comeback?)
I remember my first car I test drove a 1990 iroc with like 88,000 miles... that was in 2000. It was automatic and I remember it was just smoke tires off so easily. I remember smashing gas to floor and it smoked tires. It was cheap I can't fully recall but I feel like the asking price was around $4,000. I ended up buying a 1991 LX 5.0 mustang in Ohio for around $4,000 I was the 2nd owner but the mustang didn't need anything besides a driver.
Fun review! Did you know that the third gen F-bodies were the first cars entirely designed by computers? The biggest letdown on this generation (including the Firebird) was the abysmal build quality. I owned a '83 Firebird SE 5.0L as a 4 year old trade in and every possible system failed at least once..power steering pump, rack, EGR, ball joints, front struts, differential bearings, bushings, u-joints, the whole drive shaft, transmission output seal, transmission casing, cylinder head crack, camshaft lobe severe wear, rear lift gate would become dislodged and cracks started propagating at hinges while going up driveways, rear wheel bearings (both), axle seals - the list goes on and on and on...so when you mentioned lemon law, It reminded me how troublesome these cars were with the first and second gen owners - the owners that depended on them as daily drivers, through all weather conditions. Obviously my car was not covered by the Lemon Law at that time and I lived with it until I just could not take it anymore. As an enthusiast retro cruiser or modded hot rod, the third gen cars have earned a much better reputation since the expectation of continued tinkering, fixing and modifications are expected - and part of the fun.
I believe the tuned port wasn't available in the F body. Until 1987 because the Corvette had to have tpi first. Kinda like the LS for 1998 F body cars. And the LTs before.
Nope tpi as follows:85/86 305 auto only…87’ 305 auto, and 1st year for manual with tpi,,and first year for 350-auto only..88-92 same .. 89-92 305’s in manual only got the 350 hotter cam and were just under the 350 autos horsepower like 10 less… these same 5 speed cars were hardtop only as the had g92 performance gear with the g80;posi. Very tricky ordering combos on these that most have no clue what’s what… all this changed with the 4th gen. 350 ,manual t- tops ,everything could be bundled together
88 iroc 0-60 5 second range 1/4 13 seconds range that's the 5 speed 305 tpi check out motor week iroc vs iroc. 89 iroc top speed 149 mph motor trend 89 top speed shoot out USA vs the world Ferrari testarossa was in it to
Put a one year only crappy cam in it and it’s the one year only for the third rear mounted brake light ..on outside of back hatch..87-90 brake light went into spoiler on trunk ..85 didn’t need the rear brake light by law yet… 86 is the worst year iroc…easily noticeable by that brake light …just like a 90’s easy to know by looking at steering wheel for the airbag and reworked guage cluster…
The 305cid IROC's were junk, especially with the 700r4...! The 350cid, 5-speed with the tuned port beat everything in Sarasota Florida back then...! Bee Ridge rd extension.... The fox bodies didn't stand a chance in factory form...! Thanks for the memories... Keep up your awesomeness...
@@kurtisstutzman7056 interesting, to my knowledge the iroc would’ve been faster than the corvette at that time with that combo which is why they refrained, could’ve possibly been dealer swapped for appeal but must’ve been a fun car with that drivetrain
@@jakubmk1526 Yeah, I'm not sure, but it probably was dealer installed because he still had warrantee on it... He also had an 85 Z28, he blew up the factory 305 and replaced it with a built 350, also with a 5-speed... It had 4bbl Holley and all the normal bolt-ons... It was his fastest car, but neither the 90 IROC, or the 85 Z28 ever lost to a factory 5.0 Mustang...!!! Thanks for the info, I never knew the factory never offered a 350/5-speed Camano... It is too bad the factory disallowed them, but you're right, nothing could be faster than the Corvette... They axed some very cool cars for the reason alone...! Thanks again
I'm sure it drives well but, the looks..? I grew up in this era and even in high school, I found this model to be the most boring car of that year that wasn't the Mustang or the Firebird. The 1981 Z28 was a much better looking vehicle IMO.
This generation of GM interiors would dry out and disintegrate and rot. ,,,, Oh and the picture of the red camaro, with the toilets in the background,😮
![State of Play | September 24, 2024 [ENGLISH]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fVs0suPHAX8/mqdefault.jpg)
These are some of the best looking Camaros ever made. Back in my high school days, these were drool worthy, unobtainable dream cars for us broke ass kids.
And broke ass young adults too!
My favorite Camaro based on looks. They're also really light so they make decent track cars with some work.
as someone who owns one - it does have "cup holders" (or at least unofficially) you snug the bottle between you and the center console behind the belt latch
Or between the legs lol
Haha when I had my 87’ it was just between my legs crotched up..or I would open console put it in back and have arm holding it towards back corner…..soon as cars came with 300 cup holders seems to coincide with obesity.
The most underrated Camaro generation 😊 they’re very fun and easy to daily too
My parents bought a 1992 RS used in 1994 or so and handed it off to me in 2019 after putting around 150,000 miles on it. My first car, I drove it for another ten thousand or so miles until the mechanic bills were just too much to handle as a broke college student. It sat for many years unused before I started driving it, and I'm not very mechanically inclined so it was a bit too much for me. Iirc it was the 25th Anniversary Edition in Polo Green II, like a really dark metallic green, with gold racing stripes, one of around 500 in that configuration in the US. Very fun car to drive in my teens/early twenties, sometimes I still miss it. Sold it and used the money to buy a last year of the last generation Lincoln Town Car with 80k on it. Thanks for the video, Zack.
You sold it for a FORD Luxury car ? Oh, you are going to hell
The best thing about these cars are the stories from past owners. I can relate. I will have to thank my mom once more for helping me get my Camaro Iroc z when I was in my late teens or early 20s.
I love these cars. Third gen camaro’s and firebirds are some of the coolest cars out there.
Nice review!
My first dream car was a (Red) 1990 IROC-Z 5.7 TPI w/700R4.
It looked so aggressive with the “IROC”stripe/decal package/wheel combo.
It had the flowmaster exhaust and hypertech chip!
One of the greatest Camaro’s ever made.
The handling was levels above the competition in its heyday.
The only disappointment was was the fact it wasn’t offered with a manual..🥹
Regret selling it..✌️
Rare IROC bc if it was a 90 it was manufactured in 1989 bc the licensing ended Jan 1 1990.
"If you have to carry a lot of 'L' shaped objects, then this is the car for you." 😂😂 That is awesome!
The 3rd gen were my favorite!
Nice video, and your camera work is top notch!
yeah, I’ve owned 8.. 4Irocs, 4Gtas back in late 80s, 90s all 350s.. but they’re all fun, just a nice throttle body, gear & shift kit would help it out a good bit for not very much cash, an they hold to the road very well, also!
My pops had a 1986 camaro. He sold it when I was 4. He put some money into it (some performance parts) but could never beat mustangs off the line he told me. Then us kids came along and he had to sell it.
My dad had a 84 and a 87. My mom had a 1990 iroc z. I remember riding around in that car. But now pops has a 2000 ss and a 2014 ss
I give this Generation Camaro it's respect and cool as hell but I would love for you to review a Pontiac Firebird mostly because my dad had one and I went with him when I was 8 back in 1986 to pick his up fresh off the showroom floor.
I just bought an 88, got an absolute deal on it, and it's an absolute blast!
That is a gorgeous vehicle. This has not aged because it was sexy day 1 and is sexy these many years later. Killer looks and performance for the times.
Exactly it's a classic design that like most 80's sports cars will age well .
There was an optional RPO for the IROC cars to get a 140 mph speedo starting in 1986.
Also I have always felt that the tpi cars should have gotten the 200-4R transmission. I helped a friend swap one into an 86 after the 700-R4 died, and the first to second gear spacing helped acceleration so much it was like a different car. Just a few mods to make the torque arm work, a longer driveshaft, and it was great.
yeah, an a nice gear is about best bang for your buck on anything!
The 140 speedo was not an RPO, and it was not an option. The 140 speedo was introduced mid year 1986 on both the Camaro and the Trans Am, as the mandate for the 85mph speedo was lifted.
I had a 1973 Firebird. Very heavy steering for the day and I loved it.
Got my license on my Dads back in the Day!! What a cool memory.
That's such a nice & very cool car. When I was a kid, my neighbor had a 1986 Z28, he bought it new, it was yellow & the door decal said 'IROC - N - ROLL!
Had an '85 IROC in white. It was a cool looking car, rode like a tank and it was seriously under powered. Mine had an issue with it's 5.0. 2 years after I bought it at 23k miles the cam wiped. It was under warrantee, so the dealership replaced it. Then at 41k miles another cam wiped and the T-tops started leaking... This would ultimately be the car that turned me away from GM, almost. I ended up trading it after that cam was replaced for a 1990 300 ZX Turbo. That thing scatted and 0 issues with it until 1994 when it was stolen, stripped and set on fire in a field. Apparently the huge issue with Nissan at the time was you could break into one and start it with a fingernail file lol.
I did ultimately buy another GM car when the 300 ZX was stolen. It was a 1987 Buick Grand national with 30k miles on it. It reminded me not to buy GM again... ever. Fast as hell, comfort for days, but I learned after just 5k miles I had to put it's second transmission into it from the shop after mine went out. 10k more miles and another tranny was gone. Got the trans replaced again sold it for almost what I paid for it at 45k miles and learned to never buy GM again lol. I switched up and bought a new 1996 F150 with the 300 I6. Drove it until 2016 with 450k miles on it and only ever had to replace an AC compressor, and sold it to a neighbor after buying a new F150. He to this day drives that truck to work everyday in 2023 and has done nothing to it. Last I asked, he was up to nearly 600k miles...
Ironically, the newer (2016) F150 is the reason I'll never buy Ford again lol. Nothing but one headache after another (I should have just kept the 1996 F150)
Get a tundra or Nissan Z!
Great Camaro Review. I'm from the UK and have owned two 3rd gen Camaros. My first one was an white 87 IROC-Z which I owned way back in the early 90's as a very young man. Bearing in mind this was in the UK, it turned heads everywhere. Great fun and sounded awesome. I too love cars from the 80's (probably my favourite era for cars, music and culture). 👍
My favorite Generation Camaro!!!
This car and some DRAKKAR back in the day would guarantee a good night 😉
I still wear drakkar daily, and I’ve had 16 thirdgen F-bodies.
I had a 1985 Pontiac Trans Am with the 305 TPI that I bought brand new.
My favorite Camaro. I had a 1985 V6 Base Model.
You should have blasted some Motley Crue and grew a mullet 😊
Man I forgot about that blank space on the dash! I had an 84'Camaro and an 85 Trans Am (plus a bunch of others but this is more specific), and I just completely forgot about that. I don't remember Trans Am wise, but the Camaro is just asking for a screen there to be able to update the interior without any permanent modifications that could screw with anything later on down the road. You could literally just throw an iPad on there to call it a day, but at least it will be updated.
Either way though, another great video and I'm going to be messaging you soon about a Trans Am and Corvette I have
I remember riding in that back seat as a kid! With the t-tops off, the wind was so bad that my brother and I held up the cardboard windshield shade so we could breathe! That car had the 5.7 (350).
I'm now in my late 40's and had never owned an American car (trucks and suv's, yes).
Ironically, I recently bought a Camaro and my kids are around the same age I was when my parents got theirs!
I just found your channel this morning. Good stuff! You're bringing back memories!
Was this the Camaro generation that got the abysmally underpowered Iron Duke engine? I can't imagine driving something this big with an engine that makes only 85hp.
Yup. 82 -84 the 2.5 was the base engine. In 85 it was dropped and the base engine was the 2.8 multi port fuel injected V6 good for 135hp. In 82-84 the 2.8 was good for a wheezing 110hp through a Rochester varajet 2 bbl carburetor.
I’ve only ever had the 350 V8 Camaro and Trans Am in the late 80’s. They weren’t super powerful. Think they had 240-250hp. Everyone put a flowmaster, hypertech chip and K&N filters in them back in the day. I did a little more work on mine and put a different throttle body on it. Still, prob only 250-260hp. But back then, that was pretty good. My V8 Mercedes has twice that horsepower today 😂. But I enjoyed my Camaros and Trans Ams. I didn’t switch to European cars til after I got smoked by a BMW M3. 😂 But they were fun cars for me in my early 20’s.
Yup for 82,83 and 84 you could get the iron Duke. I've had around a dozen third gen f bodies, including a iron Duke 4 cyl. I put Z28 sway bars, springs, and 16" iroc wheels and tires on it. It was a turd in a straight line but went thru corners like you would not believe, because it was so light.
@williamsinger4124 110hp for a V6 is still very underpowered. The 80's was really a bad time for American sportscars.
My step brother in law used to have an 85 Iroc-Z like this one in blue….I loved riding in it as a kid but unfortunately someone stole it and stripped it for parts years ago
Gotta put this gen second on my list. A '67 (1st gen?) is just so beautiful, especially in black....and really had the classic muscle car credentials, especially the top spec ones.
I think the ashtray is the most used feature of most Cameros.
I had the same red '85 IROC, but with grey trim instead of tan.
One of the best looking cars in the whole world for me. At least in the top 10 easy. And that's including every car ever made that I have ever seen. The headlights especially makes the look for me. And the side profile is amazing too.
Cool story on the Z28 plates :)
Add a shift kit, corvette servo, and a 2k stall to wake that transmission up 😎
Im a more Mustang guy, but this Camaro is just awesome!
Great review. Especially since the car is somehow connected to your family as your reminder. I'd love to see a review of the 3rd gen Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. They were sayin' that despite they built them up at the same plants (Van Nuys Ca, Norwood Oh) they somehow were different in their road manners. Engines were the same and somehow ....a shame for their looks. Something that started to change a bit in their late years.Especially for the more aerodynamic Firebird considering its drag at 0.30 compared with Camaro's 0.36. But nonetheless it'd be a pleasure watching ya reviewing a Bird.
My 87 iroc still turns heads every time I take her out.
Got a 2013 SS and the IROC makes me break my neck every time I see one go by. That is still and awesome car.
The iroc-z is a straight up straight to you American muscle car that can is also a great GT car too
These have aged well, in an 80s way. This car just screams mullet and cassette tapes. T-tops are cool when they fit. I'd still prefer a Firebird for the more refined style.
When I was younger and before I knew what these were, I would see the nose of a red one like this parked next to a house. I didn't know what it was and I thought it was something Italian. Later when I found out it was a Camaro I was surprised.
Owned 4 F body second gens...a '72 Firebird Formula 400, '77 Camaro Type LT, "79 Z28, and an '80 Berlinetta. Wish that I could have bought an '81 Yenko Camaro Turbo Z, but only 13 were ever made.
But by the time that I could afford an IROC Z, I no longer wanted one. Went for a '92 GMC Sonoma ST extended cab 4x4 pickup. Looked similar to a Syclone after I customized it, except much roomier cab.
I'm a Mustang fan-boy and I love the Fox Mustangs from that era, but I'll admit the 3rd Gen Camaro is a cooler looking car. That one's a great example, too! Nice video :)
I feel your mom's pain. In '99, I gave up my poster car, a silver '85 911, for my first girl. Went from an '85 911 to an '86 240 wagon.
That being said, I am very glad to hear how much your mom's sacrifice, and it was a sacrifice even wirh the untold lemon story, meant to you, and how this was a full-circle moment. Very cool!
Started watching the RX7 series. Staying for the classic reviews! Love the intro & outro as well.
Those buttons on the center console did have labels,they just wore off from years of use.
Could you please do the 4th gen camaro next? preferablely 93-97
Great review! Love me some V8! 3rd is my second favorite gen, but I did snag a set of IROC-Z wheels for my 4th gen. 😍
It's not a trailer park car. If you were especially a young adult with a decent job back in the 80's and you wanted a sports coupe that was relatively affordable. A quick car for its day, a good handling car for its day, a stylish car, well the Chevrolet Z-28 / IROC-Z was one good choice.
The peers to it that you could choose from through the 80's included.
Pontiac Firebird/ Trans am
Ford Mustang GT.
Dodge Daytona Turbo/ Shelby Z
Chrysler Laser turbo
Mazda RX-7
Toyota Supra
Nissan 300z
Mitsubishi Starion/ Plymouth Conquest
All were relatively affordable, sporty, cool and fun drivers sporty cars.😎
My choice was eventually a Dodge Daytona Shelby Z... Loved that car.😎
I own a 1992 rs with a 5.0 I'm still trying to get it running but man am I excited to drive it. It has the 5 speed manual and no longer has carpet since mice exist
Being a kid in the '70s I grew up with & adored the previous gen "Smokey & the Bandit" Camaro models, however I must say that the looks of these Gen 3's have really grown on me in later years. Same with the Corvettes; always loved the swoopy, almost clownish lines of the C3's however acquiring a nice C4 is now a priority for me. Something about the wedge-shaped, compact, angular design of sports coupes in the 80's is just timeless to this day (who knows, with the recent release of the Cybertruck maybe this design style will make a comeback?)
I had an 85 iroc with red interior 5.0 manual. Was a fun a car.
LG4 or L69?
@@Joesmusclecargarage not sure It was a tpi that’s about all I remember sorry.
Bad ass cars when these ruled the road when brand new.
Love it, awesome vid Zack! Appreciate u makin the vid!!
My brother's favorite generation as well, me personally I like the 74-81 best but these are second.
Great review Zack.
Nothing should have been a IROC-Z except the 5.7 TPI
That is my favorite Camaro too!
That low-grade interior plastic... 🤦♂️
still holds up
I remember my first car I test drove a 1990 iroc with like 88,000 miles... that was in 2000. It was automatic and I remember it was just smoke tires off so easily. I remember smashing gas to floor and it smoked tires. It was cheap I can't fully recall but I feel like the asking price was around $4,000. I ended up buying a 1991 LX 5.0 mustang in Ohio for around $4,000 I was the 2nd owner but the mustang didn't need anything besides a driver.
I got rides to school in a dark purple one that also had a wood grain dash kit (!) Was great and beautiful and did not like slick roads...
wow. thanks for sharing.
Beautiful final thoughts....
Once my trans am gta notchback is in better shape I’ll submit a request, would love to see a review of it. Great video.
Love your videos !
Had it, and love it!
I hope to get one of these before they become complete unobtanium
If I remember correctly, I think the 85 speedometer was a federal regulation. I may be wrong.
You are correct. The regulations went into effect in 1980, and was lifted in 1986. The 2nd gen Camaro in 1980 had 85 mph. The 1979 had 130 mph.
Love your perspective on it
I used to own that same exact Iroc z that you just reviewed
Loved the end!
Fun review! Did you know that the third gen F-bodies were the first cars entirely designed by computers?
The biggest letdown on this generation (including the Firebird) was the abysmal build quality. I owned a '83 Firebird SE 5.0L as a 4 year old trade in and every possible system failed at least once..power steering pump, rack, EGR, ball joints, front struts, differential bearings, bushings, u-joints, the whole drive shaft, transmission output seal, transmission casing, cylinder head crack, camshaft lobe severe wear, rear lift gate would become dislodged and cracks started propagating at hinges while going up driveways, rear wheel bearings (both), axle seals - the list goes on and on and on...so when you mentioned lemon law, It reminded me how troublesome these cars were with the first and second gen owners - the owners that depended on them as daily drivers, through all weather conditions. Obviously my car was not covered by the Lemon Law at that time and I lived with it until I just could not take it anymore.
As an enthusiast retro cruiser or modded hot rod, the third gen cars have earned a much better reputation since the expectation of continued tinkering, fixing and modifications are expected - and part of the fun.
I believe the tuned port wasn't available in the F body.
Until 1987 because the Corvette had to have tpi first.
Kinda like the LS for 1998 F body cars.
And the LTs before.
Nope tpi as follows:85/86 305 auto only…87’ 305 auto, and 1st year for manual with tpi,,and first year for 350-auto only..88-92 same .. 89-92 305’s in manual only got the 350 hotter cam and were just under the 350 autos horsepower like 10 less… these same 5 speed cars were hardtop only as the had g92 performance gear with the g80;posi. Very tricky ordering combos on these that most have no clue what’s what… all this changed with the 4th gen. 350 ,manual t- tops ,everything could be bundled together
Those buttons were labled from the factory
Anyone know why there is a circular black sticker on the speedometer between 40 and 50 mph?
Or am I seeing things?
Great car and video by the way.
That is where the Highbeam light pops up, bad placement
@@jakubmk1526 thanks!
305s did not make 200 unfortunately. Even with tpi. Its more like 180-190 if you’re lucky
The TPI was rated at 215 horsepower in 1985.
88 iroc 0-60 5 second range 1/4 13 seconds range that's the 5 speed 305 tpi check out motor week iroc vs iroc. 89 iroc top speed 149 mph motor trend 89 top speed shoot out USA vs the world Ferrari testarossa was in it to
great review as usual.
Just subscribed! Love Camaro's!
The official car of yelling at your wife in public and listening to Kid Rock on the weekends.
For those who don't know, the 1985 had more hp than the 1986 model (TPI equipped). They gutted the 1986 model just to get 1 more mpg. Go figure....
Put a one year only crappy cam in it and it’s the one year only for the third rear mounted brake light ..on outside of back hatch..87-90 brake light went into spoiler on trunk ..85 didn’t need the rear brake light by law yet… 86 is the worst year iroc…easily noticeable by that brake light …just like a 90’s easy to know by looking at steering wheel for the airbag and reworked guage cluster…
12 volt outlet? Whats that?
Its missing the cig lighter btw.
Yhanks.
12 volt outlet is the circular socket that cig lighters plug into
use mine all the time
I bought a blue Z when I was 18 in 1997 and one thing I can tell you is that I picked up a LOT of broads in it :^)
He lives on my block and he drives an IROC 🥵
Ricky kasso.. came form same town as singer and who that songs about. Satanic panic.
The wheels on those had a different offset on the front vs on the rear.
This car is very beautiful, but she is underrated since lot of people prefer the olders camaro.
They based alot of this gen Camaro and firebird on the Chevy monza
“I’m Jake”😂😂😂
I LOVE CAMARO I ROC Z CHEVY ❤❤❤❤❤1980s 😮😮😮😮😮😮
The 305cid IROC's were junk, especially with the 700r4...! The 350cid, 5-speed with the tuned port beat everything in Sarasota Florida back then...! Bee Ridge rd extension.... The fox bodies didn't stand a chance in factory form...! Thanks for the memories... Keep up your awesomeness...
350 didn’t come with the 5 speed manny
@@jakubmk1526 My buddy had one... Straight from, back then, Stinnett Chevrolet in Sarasota back in '90...
@@kurtisstutzman7056 interesting, to my knowledge the iroc would’ve been faster than the corvette at that time with that combo which is why they refrained, could’ve possibly been dealer swapped for appeal but must’ve been a fun car with that drivetrain
@@jakubmk1526 Yeah, I'm not sure, but it probably was dealer installed because he still had warrantee on it... He also had an 85 Z28, he blew up the factory 305 and replaced it with a built 350, also with a 5-speed... It had 4bbl Holley and all the normal bolt-ons... It was his fastest car, but neither the 90 IROC, or the 85 Z28 ever lost to a factory 5.0 Mustang...!!! Thanks for the info, I never knew the factory never offered a 350/5-speed Camano... It is too bad the factory disallowed them, but you're right, nothing could be faster than the Corvette... They axed some very cool cars for the reason alone...! Thanks again
@@kurtisstutzman7056 thank god they never lost to factory mustangs!!
nice 4th gen camaro very fast.
What was the difference in the RS,Z28,Iroc
RS lowest trim, Z28 was the in between, Iroc was the top tier, Rs was V6 or V8, everything V8 only
Four-cylinder horsepower out of a V8 is amazing
na the 4cyl had 90 hp
@@Dankcatvacs I’m talking about horsepower for four-cylinders in today’s cars like a civic si naturally aspirated or even a 2012 Sonata with 198 hp
That’s like saying!Hey a 25 year old bet a 60 year old in a race !
What a surprise!😅
I really wanna find an 85 iroc it's the year I was born
There are a ton of them for sale and they're very affordable to buy.
I'm sure it drives well but, the looks..? I grew up in this era and even in high school, I found this model to be the most boring car of that year that wasn't the Mustang or the Firebird. The 1981 Z28 was a much better looking vehicle IMO.
Why are sitting were Big subwoofers go ?!??
Dumby?!?!! Kidding really kidding!😆
I thought these were 5.7litre not 5.0...
0:39 is there gum on the tire?
Jean jackets and crimped hair rejoice!!!
Some of those bolts are real, some are fake.
This generation of GM interiors would dry out and disintegrate and rot. ,,,, Oh and the picture of the red camaro, with the toilets in the background,😮