The IROC-Z Camaro Z28 was a Masterstroke in the 1980s Pony Car Wars
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- čas přidán 5. 10. 2023
- Full review and test drive of a 1985 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 IROC-Z
Review by Bill of Curious Cars
Vehicle from private collection, and soon to be sold on Bring a Trailer.
Prior reviews referenced in this video:
The IROC-Z project:
• The IROC-Z Project, or...
The Starship Camaro:
• The Starship Camaro - ...
1984 Camaro Z28
• When GM Got The Camaro...
1992 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T:
• The Forgotten 1992 Dod... - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Can’t understand why any decent person would want to watch this channel, unless you want to be excellently informed, thoroughly entertained, and need to laugh yourself silly. All while seeing cool cars. 😊
Couldn’t agree more! This is my favorite channel on the YouTOOBs
I keep trying to get Bill to review my Citroën SM and Isuzu Piazza (JDM Impulse). Old fat drunk bastard hasn’t taken my offer yet. God Bless Him. Hopefully the cigarettes don’t take him out before he can get around to it.
Damn, that’s a very nice compliment. Thank you.
You said it! Bill needs his own tv show
@@user-xj4jh8ho4x He seems camera-shy.
Bill the kind of guy to pump gas with a cigarette in his mouth and another one in his hand.
Oh, stop - just the one. Two would be overkill.
Lol
@@curiouscars9282braahhhh
LoL My kind of people watch these videos . Warms my heart to know that like minded people are watching these along with me.
You could dunk a cig in gas and it wouldn't light off. As long as you get it lit before you pump, you're good
Yeah the reason this is a great review is because he loved it. When a younger person reviews these vehicles, they can never communicate the impact these had at the time. Great video.
Agreed.
As a car guy when these came out, we hated them. Realize, there were still a lot of late 60's early 70's Camaros out there, and these cars, that GM struggled with to meet new EPA regulations, were slow and plasticky. The IROC helped, if only because it referenced a great racing series. Check out some car mag reviews from those days, it's not pretty. Still, I like that they're becoming classics.
Great review of this classic gem. My 89 IROC went 330,000 miles with only minor issues (normal things like water pump, alternator, etc.) that needed replacing. Best car I ever owned.
Thank you for bringing us these 80’s gems, I graduated high school in ‘89. If you had an IROC, 5.0 Mustang, Trans Am or Grand National you were an instant legend. These cars bring back great memories for me, please keep ‘em coming👍🏻
Graduated in 94. Since about 89. If I saw somebody young driving with 5 speed with some flowmasters especially the 5.0 fox. It was a little bit of envy going on. With a sprinkling of hate. I would charge them $5 more that quarter bag of Reggie. I mean, who do they think they are! Having nice things!
I graduated in 1989 with a 4speed 383 Plymouth Roadrunner…I was a legend. These were pretty fucking cool though!
Graduated in 1991. Drove a 1975 Lincoln town coupe with cut springs
Bought a brand new 1987 IROC 5.7 t-tops. Loved that car. So did the chicks. Loved the 80's!!
Oh the chicks loved it you had one you were king !
that was the car
Nice one Bill my cousin in New York was the proud owner of one during his life and he bought it with his paper round money that he earned from his teenage years. His pride and joy until he passed away at a young age of 40....
What a shame he passed so young, but it's good he got to enjoy his youth in an IROC-Z.
You're right, these were pretty exciting cars back in the day. I was one of the first IROC owners back in the spring of 85 in the Chicago western burbs. The 305 TPI motor made beautiful music: big intake roar and deep, resonant exhaust note. The Gatorback Goodyears tram-lined something fierce and the brakes pulled a bit to one side. Also, the trans was super clunky around town due to the lock-up converter. A Chevy recall eventually fixed that. At low to mid-range speeds the motor did a fair imitation of a big block due to the abundant low-end torque of the injected motor. A few days after new car delivery we drove the IROC to Florida, driving through GA at high rates of speed. Going through downtown Atlanta, the car was making noises like a dishwasher. I checked the trans fluid and it didn't even register on the dipstick. Great new-car prepping by the Glendale heights dealer. We topped off the trans fluid and completed the round trip ok, with no trans leaks or further fluid issues. Top speed later observed, once I had a GM over the counter 140 mph speedometer installed, was a touch over 140.
I had a 1985 Camaro z28 with the LB9 engine. It was the 305 tpi. It was white with gray z28 ground effects. I loved the iroc z look that I turned it into a iroc z. I bought 4 iroc wheels and tires and the iroc z quicker ratio steering box. This was back in 1993-94. It was a good car. Then in 1995 I traded it in for 1988 firebird formula 350 man what a car. I loved those f-bodies.
Bill's sighs are pure oxygen for me
Me too. Hilarious 😂
1985, I remember it well. I purchased a new 1985 Mustang GT 5-speed, T-Tops. Interest rate was like 12.9% at that time. I wanted the IROC but it was like an extra 4k . I have ridden a few times in a 1987 IROC that a friend purchased new with the 305 Cubic Inch TPI High Performance motor 215 HP 5-Speed. I tell you the handling was incredible for that time. The gearing made the car feel like a rocket. The Stock Exhaust sounded nice. Thanks for the video Bill. Brings back many memories
12.9% sucks for back then but financing 15k on it isn’t bad..try financing 60-70k on that rate today and we’re there (13% today is probably a 640 credit score )..big difference.
I had a big poster of a blue IROC on my dormroom from 1987 to 1990. This was to remind me that if i studied hard, i could get a good job and buy one. I graduated in 92 and bought a dark green t top Trans Am, which i still own and drive. After all this time, i still see this design as absolute perfection.
Owned an 84 auto Camaro carbureted 2.8 V6 in 89 and this model was at the top of my Mount Rushmore. Great review Bill.
I had an 86 IROC. One of the best looking cars ever designed by GM
Bill is the best. It’s like a history lesson, automotive tutorial, and a comedy act all in one video . 👍🤗
1985 is peak 80's. Just look at the amazing films released that year.
Great video, Bill! I’ve seen you drive many, much more expensive rides without the true joy and nostalgia you had driving this one! That was fun to see. We could feel the passion and I get it being a Gen X myself and remembering them all over the road back in the day!
I found myself chain smoking while listening to some Def Leppard and wishing I had enough hair on top to attempt a mullet! 😂
Thanks, Bill, that was awesome!
Yes sir great comment
You will have your mullet one day Tiger 🐅
Yeah man, it really is hard to understate just how many 3rd gen Camaros were out in the world back then. They were everywhere. From the women driving the betlinettas and RS packages all the way up to the IROC’s, they’re seemed to be a model geared toward everyone and the price was reasonable enough for everyday folks to get their hands on one. It’s amazing how few are left considering how many used to be around. If I see one now, I practically stop what I’m doing and just stare till it’s out of sight. I miss them a lot. And never got one myself! I had a 78 Camaro as my first car. Gen 2s were cool but I was a kid of the late 80s and wanted a 3rd gen!
I graduated in 1985. I remember a couple of “rich kids” in high school having one.
I do like the way you called them “cigarettes”🤣 as far as cruising around smoking on a Saturday night!😁
Love it. My first new car was a 1985 Mustang GT, and this car was my nemesis on the roads of suburban Detroit. I could nudge out a win bareiy, but the launch had to be absolutely perfect. The Camaros just looked and sounded great...GM hit it on all cylinders with this edition.
Thank you so much, Bill! Always looking forward to your videos. You know, the third gen Camaro has been my poster car since childhood. Although I ended up riding a bicycle the Camaro remains bringing me memories of endless optimism.
Brings me back to the 80s, Members Only jackets, Whitesnake on 98 KUPD, fun times
Damn Bill, beautiful! I am so glad I found an 83 with zero rust that now has a LQ9 LS Too much fun! Drives like a go-cart.
Bill, I don't care how many videos you do on 3rd gens, I will always watch them!
Here in Arizona the Canadians are arriving early.
I’m coming next week 😂
We want to leave Canada ASAP
The resturant's all better hide the salt and pepper shakers or they be gone!!! lol
Fun fact , IROC stands for "I ride On Credit"
I Ran Outta Cash 😆
I Reek Of Cologne
Bill I always enjoy your videos and your unique sense of humor and knowledge about cars. You're the type of guy I'd talk about cars with and drink with while doing so.
It's as bad as it sounds and glad it was stick....😎
Good day Bill, hope you've been keeping well and out of trouble this week.
Thanks, Paulie. It's been a week, but I'm still here. Hope you're hanging in.
@@curiouscars9282It has definitely been a week. Cigar, brandy, and your review of this car takes me back to high school. Hope you have a great weekend.
The early IROC’s didn’t come standard with the tuned port engine. It was a common option but the standard engine was the 305 4 bbl.
Hearing Bill's voice relaxes me. I can relate we're about the same age.
Wanted one of these in the worst way back then. Truly a great milestone in the ponycar wars. Used to drool over the red '87 IROC a lady that I worked with back in the day would drive to work some days. It was her husband's and I would think what a lucky dog to own one of these. Truly a modern man's car back in those days!
what a treat :) after a long day without any anti-Soviet whiskey I come home and there's a new video form Bill !! absolutely love your reviews Bill, you really make a difference to the day !
Really appreciate that, thank you.
thanks again Bill, really enjoyed that and looking forward to the next one !@@curiouscars9282
I bought an 84 Z28 H.O. in 1990 for @ $ 5,000. Under 60,000 miles in excellent condition, no T-tops, and a modified valve body transmission, wheels squealed in 2nd and 3rd gear . Loved that car ...bullet proof reliability. Kept for 8 years , decided to sell and ship to my brother in Minnesota from Florida. Minnesota took the car away from him......too many speeding tickets! 🤣🙄😑
Sweet IROC! I remember seeing the third generation Camaro for the first time in '82 when I was 13. I still like the look of these cars.
Close to the same age for me. It blew me away.
I was 12 in 1982 and had an inner battle with the Camaro and 5.0 Mustang
At "Rat Round and Round" I hit pause and watched the video, so fitting!
29 years ago I drag raced my 85 Iroc had a 400 small block Dsrt aluminum heads 410 rear gear car did a 12.66 in street form, drove it 100 miles to the track made 6 passes and drove it 100 miles back home there was a stock one at the track those stock ones were pretty slow doing a paultry 15 5 in the quarter mile.
Love it. I'm a Gen X'er and bought one last year. So nostalgic. Get tons of thumbs-ups. Like you said, you just don't see too many of them cruising around these days.
I hope one day you do a first gen scirroco. That was my baby back then.
Great car. So much fun to drive with the reclined seating position.
First little car to do 10 sec 0 to 60.
Thank you, Bill!
Ditto! I had a 1980 Scirocco that I bought from a guy when I was stationed in Germany. What beautiful little car. I ended up dropping a newer 1.8 liter engine in it after the 1.6 died. It could take a standard 944 off the light. 😊
You give the most realistic reviews on CZcams with all of the period recollection and all.
Hey Bill, glad to see you and this is one of my favorite cars of all time 🙋🏻♂️
Me too - love these cars.
I so relate to that evil laugh under full throttle. We could solve all of the problems with our youth by letting these phone jockey kids experience an IROC just one time. My apologies to the 1987 hapless car salesman that allowed me a test drive against all of his better judgement. Yes pal, I lied, sorry. My dad wasn't rich and even if he was, especially if he was, he would never buy me an IROC.
Dang, that looks almost brand new. Absolutely great car.
Born in 85 Bill, dad is a GM guy through and through... he and mom are visiting for Canadian Thanksgiving, and he had a stroke mid Sep. All good now, but I'm gonna show this to him tomorrow for sure. Much appreciated. -G & Z in the driveway here, dad's 2nd favourite was always Datsun. ;-)
Love these Gen 3 Camaros. This is a great find. Thanks Bill for another great video
Hi Bill. 👋 My favorite F body vehicle from 80s.
Kid in my high school had a Red IROC-Z - I would watch him get into that thing and take off and dream of me driving it while I was taking the bus home. The love for that car drove my passion for car for decades after...this is still one of the most beautiful cars Ive seen..thanks for the memories.
I know that feeling one kid had a Iroc Z and another kid had a trans am GTA they had all the girls and would rip by me at the bus stop 😩
we had a 87 in Dark Red metallic, gold wheels. bought new in Dallas back then, stayed all night in Dallas, then next morning woke up to roads covered in ice and snow. had to drive back to Oklahoma like 40mph cus it was so slick, a real bummer! but at least the car got broke in gently over the following week. then when all thawed out, it was IROC time! and yep, me and friends used it to go to all the Rock concerts, mostly in the Dallas, TX area.. Texas Jam, etc. i'd give anything to get that car back! ☮
Thanks for this one, Bill ! I had one of these as a demo back in the day.. Fun times, and yes, peak '80s. Take care !
Nothing helps you wind down after a long day, than a new Bill vid. Parent’s (moms car) had a black 85 Z28 w/ t-tops and the 4 barrel H.O., with their other daily driver being my dad’s 78 Z28 w/ the 350 and exact same black paint scheme as their 85, plus that awesome center hood scoop.
Good evening Bill from Ron in a freezing cold and wet Manchester. What what a fantastic car to review
Hey Bill, really enjoy your videos every time and I'm always looking forward to new posts! BTW, just a quick FYI- I noticed that the Temp Gauge was not ticking up from its zero position as you were well into your drive. Looks like it's not working- you should have it checked out as keeping these cars cool was always an issue. I should know- I owned two f-body cars back in the 80's and the cooling was something that always needed attention. Thanks again for the content Bill! Keep up the great work 😉👍
Like any good car salesman, Bill will never point out any deficiencies in any car he's reviewing.
@@MarinCipollinahater
Nice color. I wouldn't have liked it then but do now. Aged well.
Fully agree. Felt the same way.
Hey Bill, I'm glad that the weather is a little more bearable, you can't be too careful though so keep up with the coronavirus whiskey!!!
This IROC Z is stunning!! Several of my friends refer to this yellow color as California Blonde!!! Have a great weekend!!! 🥃
Your review was spot on with these cars. You definetly know them. The hard shift set up from the factory on these '85 TPI cars was problematic for most owners. I worked at a Chevrolet dealer in the late '80's and had a discussion with our transmission tech. He was telling me people were bringing these cars in wanting the shifts "softened up". He said OK but you're gonna wear your transmission out! This yellow IROC should bring BIG $$$. A true unicorn, low mile, rare color and a hardtop. I wish you all the best with this one!
It is the time of year when you get below 40 and i had ice on the truck window this morning.
Hot 80's chick to a bar Chad. "So, what color Camaro do you drive?"
My aunt let me drive her IROC when I was ten! First car I drove!
For the Ontario, Canada crew. You'd cruise up to Wasaga Beach in one of these blasting Stevie B's 'Spring Love' on the stereo
Sounds like the right event for an IROC.
Never seen one in that color. I had a white '91 Z28 350 TPI. Couldn't get a manual trans with the L98 in '91 . I liked it but it nickel and dimed me to death. I ended up trading for a '91 5.0 5 sp. Mustang LX hatch and added an '89 5.0 5sp. notch shortly after and had a love affair with the 87-93 5.0's ever since.
The Fox body was a great car. I think the Camaros and TAs had the better looks and handling, but stoplight to stoplight, the GTs were a force to be reckoned with.
@@curiouscars9282 czcams.com/video/k6WIjIrTC_g/video.html
For a while after I traded for the Mustang I kinda doubted myself. Like you mentioned in your video, the seating position in the Mustang was very conventional and upright compared to the low slung sportier Camaro position. In stock form the Camaro was way ahead in the handling department. Looks wise, the Camaro definitely made more of a statement.
What made me realize I made the right decision was when I started to work on and modify the Mustang. It was much friendlier to work on and there was/is a huge aftermarket.
The Mustang and Camaro were both great cars in the end and I'm glad to have owned both.
Owned a new ‘82 Z-28 with all disc brakes and a manual transmission. Quality-wise it was the worst car I have ever owned by far. And it was slow, crappy seats, leaking t-roofs as new. Sounded great, handled well, looked awesome, attacted cops too well. Sold it quick.
IIRC Car and Driver had one for their long term test in 1982 and it had 13 Unscheduled stops
I had a white one. 1984 L69 with a Borg Warner 5 speed and a big Rochester 4 barrel carburetor. 3:73 gears, 4 wheel disc brakes and a Tee Top.
Me too. Mine had blue interior with "Camaro"script down the middle of the seats. Beautifully optioned car.T tops. I went through 4 t 5 transmissions and 2 10 bolts. But it was my favorite car I've ever owned. My dream is to have another just like it but I haven't found 1 yet
I love the 80s. Thanks for this video Bill. It makes me happy to watch this. Even tho my car at that time was a 944 I always loved the iroc especially the 85 as I had the original 84 z before I got the 944. It brings back the endorphin rich feeling of those times. Thanks Bill
Very cool video! Brought me back to my 1979 Camaro in yellow as well. I always envious of the rich kids in high school that had the IROC.
Excellent work as always, thanks!
The first time i ever heard Poison was in the back seat of a red '86 Camaro V6. I'm so glad I grew up in the 80s. Thx for the trip down memory lane!
This will be the first October I have not visited Naples for years and even I got misty eyed about these cars and the way of life in the mid 1980's from London England! You know how to move people Bill. Anyway looking forward to April next year when we will be in town if America is still functioning by then! Keep up the good work Bill love your self deprecating style and depth of motoring knowledge allied to the sinical snarkiness of your attitude!
Appreciate the Focus and Simpliciuty of the subject you are showing. Great car the IROC Z also agreat car to restomod
I absolutely love that exhaust rumble. I realize that this is a Camaro, however, this video takes me right back to when I had a 3rd generation Firebird Formula 350. Fun times. Nice IROC!
Very good review and walk around .IROCs are timeless 1980s cool.
The color is choice, great overview and review
Appreciate that, thank you.
Iroc-z's were the best. Had 4 of them. The best one was the 87-90 5.0 tuned port injection with a 5 spd and 3:45 posi. My brother and I had twin cars built to those specs. Mine was red, his was black. Truly amazing cars! Now I have a Velocity yellow 14 Corvette Z51 M7 supercharged :)
My first car was a 1985 IROCZ. I bought a $1,500 mustang 4 cylinder and sold it to the mailman for $3,000.I added $2,000 and bought the IROCZ for $5,000.I was 15 going on 16.I’m a lot older now and have a 2018 ZL1 and I love it but always remember my 1985 IROCZ.Great video
That's one clean windshield, Bill!
👏🏽👏🏽Sir u crack me up every dam time you do a review, u could review a gocart & im positive I would be thoroughly entertained 😂
This is one I’m of my bucket list cars the year I graduated 👍🏽
Forgot about required sand bags un back for traction in snow.
I sure miss my 1987 IROC-Z, owned it for 10 years, and have regretted selling it ever since. Mine was black over grey cloth, with grey/blue stripes, with the 305 TPI and auto transmission. Not a rocket ship, but it handled extremely well and was a great highway cruiser. I had a lot of fun with that car, and when I sold it the engine, transmission and rear end were all very tired. I should have kept it, put in a new/refreshed power train, and I would most likely still have it. Just a great car. Enjoyed the video.
Ah, the pleasures of "burying the needle" on an 80s-era speedometer (which happened early-and-often). Great little overview, Bill.
Loved this episode- in my garage sits my 2nd owner Arctic White/ red interior 1988 117K (original) miles - mint condition- added a MTX 15” subwoofer kit in rear (back in 1992) and the full black out kit for headlight/taillight. Otherwise all factory. 🙌
Very cool review!!
Birds were going crazy!
I recently picked up an 88 IROC-Z with a 350. All stock. Needs love, but a solid runner. Great deer hunting rig!
in1996 my wife needed a daily as her 84 mustang gt was tired. we found a fresh tradein 88iroc. 5.7, slicktop, LOADED, and i mean loaded. she loved it. her coworkers were the kool kids , talking about i got a 2.0, i got a 2.5 and the badass with a 3.8 Pontiac gp. so kittie, what's your new car have? 5.7. nahhh, its a 5.0, they all are. blah blah blah.
oh yeah? I'll show you little punks.
on her way out of work, she started it up, and popped the hood. boys looked, poked, prodded, etc. she verified operating temp. she proceeded to do the best burnout of all time. measured at over 200 feet, WELL into 2nd gear. glorious. just celebrated 28year anniversary with her.
Bill is back! What a car, my uncle Johnny use to have a red one.
Sir, you're off the chain and I love it!!
Not just the narcotics and whisky! (My favorite part of the entire upload ) bill I love your pure honesty and effortless comedy ! Not to mention the laser sharp automotive knowledge…
Bill I’m 46 and you are right, this will get us gen-xers reall pumped at the shows. It is THE car that got me into Camaros. I own a brand new 6th gen, just ordered and delivered to me last month. A 2024 Camaro SS. But it’s these 3rd gen f-bodies that formed my foundation.
GM is about to end Camaro production on Dec.7th, and that will be a sad day (well, for another reason really - why they chose that day I have no idea)…… these 3rd gens sold 160,000/year and Camaro sales today are maybe 40,000/yr if they’re lucky.
The car is still beautiful and hot in 2023!!! I'm the same age, I was 15 when this model came off the assembly line.
Great 80's memories as well, the best decade ever especially growing up in.
So many people in the mid- to late 1980s just had to have an IROC-Z. Cool era. I already had a 1979 Trans Am, so I celebrated alongside.
My much older cousin had a 5-speed red IROC, and he took me for a ride in it when I was 14-15yo. I was more interested in the Japanese stuff during that time, with the turbos and variable valve timing tricks. But I still remember the raw feeling of it during the ride, with the growl of the engine and hard shifting transmission. He got on it a few times for me, and I didn't even ask him to. LOL.
had this model in this color with T-tops and louvers in the back. LOVED it
A friend of mine had a 1le with no AC or radio. Black. It was like driving around in a pizza oven. But it was very quick and cornered absolutely flat.
I lived by a bowling alley in the 80s and 90s and there was 3 guys that had these in all different colors. 1 guy even had 2 of them. My buddies mom had a non Iroc, manual 4 cylinder model she bought new. It actually wasn't as bad as it sounds since it was stick.
Iron Duke 4cyl was an absolute DOG of an engine, and was woefully inadequate for the car. Not even a manual transmission helps.
@@MarinCipollina Lol, we were 15 yrs old & it was buddies moms cars, chill out. I wouldn't own it, but all I know is it was reliable, it wouldn't die and it got good gas mileage on the highway for the lady.
@@R.J.1 Nothing personal.. I get it.. But I was selling new Pontiacs that era, and the dealership I worked for, the Monterey Park California Pontiac dealership just loaded up on those 4 banger Firebirds.. Talk about a tough sale !! sheesh !!
@@MarinCipollina I understand, I don't take it personal because it wasn't my car. Car is only noteworthy to me for I learned to drive a manual on it. Indeed all 95hp of the iron duke is ridiculous but everything was bogged down due to SMOG. Surely a tough sale, but it was likely in F Body cars to be marked to women and teens perhaps. Talk about "sheesh", the big block in my 90 454ss truck only made 220hp due to SMOG.
@@R.J.1 On the other hand, they sold every 2.8 liter V6 they got in inventory pretty quickly.. At least the V6 could hold its own, and was respectable.. Not the fire breathing mighty V8 of the Trans Am, but an engine that was very easy to live with.. I also had a 1984 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta as a demo.. The "Starship" Camaro was very cool, and it also had the 2.8 liter V6.
Memories.. ii bout one of those in 85, drove it off the showroom floor.. Cool car , but didn't perform up to it's hype.. But the thing did drive good and seemed put together well. Should have kept it. Had a lot of good times in that car . Great review! keep up the good work!
Just on time, I’ve had this random fix for an I-Roc, I’m more so a mid-late 90s Benz or vette guy…. But something about these are special, and I remember my pops had one. Which I think inadvertently made me such a car junkie so this may be on my grail list
Them days 1 had a 1976 trans am 455 4 barrel with the big bird on the hood & a real hood scoop. I was 18 in 1985. Them were the days great times
love the videos bill if you want to do longer driving bits i would be welcome to that .
that tach is trippy .
The weather talk reminds me of why I miss Florida, Bill. LOL
I had one. With the big hatchback, it was very flexible. I carried a washing machine home.
With the big hatch, T-roof, and 300 HP, it was very flexible in corners too.
That’s a much better lookin car than the Camaro is today in my opinion. I had a 1990 RS and loved it
LMAO! "Looking in the back, where you'd be sitting if you were low on the totem pole heading to the Winger concert..."
We love Bill, from the UK 👍