Vehicle Description
1988 Chevrolet Camaro IROC Z28
A concept created partially by Roger Penske, the International Race
of Champions or IROC would pit all star drivers from numerous
venues of racing against each other in similarly prepared cars. The
inaugural year was 1974 and was won by Mark Donohue. While
primarily run on oval tracks, it was also run at Riverside's road
course, Watkins Glen, and at Daytona Speedway's road course. From
1975 to 1989, Chevrolet Camaros were used as the race car
bodies.
For consignment, a 1988 Chevrolet Camaro IROC Z28 with a title
verified 59,661 actual miles. This ode to the famous race has been
owned by our consignor since 1992, making him just the second
owner, although technically he is the 1st owner as the selling
dealership owner drove the car on the MCO. Living a pampered life,
this has always been agaraged the car, avoiding rain at all costs,
and stored the car during the winter.
Exterior
Inset headlights in black coves bounce off GM's Bright Red paint
that engulfs the car and just seven years beyond the second gen
Z28's and their bold striping and body kit, more subtle cues were
selected for Gen 3's including a double stripe that encircles the
bottom of the car. There are hints of boldness too with IROC Z
taped on the side is a space age horizontally lined font that fades
up in pure 80's style. Fog lights, also cove mounted, flank the
front license plate, and distinctive dual hood vents adorn the
horizontal surface in unmistakable fashion. This is a solid roof
car, and that roof connects with the sloping rear window which
directs air to the rear wing. Black trimmed tail lights help
differentiate the IROC and 16-inch gold trimmed wheels with IROC
center caps were specific to the car and pick up on the smaller,
gold IROC emblem on the rocker panel trim. The paint is in great
shape and only two imperfections were noted. A swirled scratch on
the front bumper and some flex cracks by a front marker light.
Interior
Simple door panels are flat sections of tan tweed cloth with a
saddle carpet lower, showing some looseness and discoloration on
the driver's side, a saddle vinyl armrest and black plastic control
panels. The leather bucket seats pick up the pattern with a tweed
insert surrounded by saddle leather and the driver gets basic
electric controls on the shell. The rear 2+2 is in good condition,
showing an indentation in the center panel indicating the seat back
might have down on the belt receptacle for a time. Meanwhile, the
saddle and tan molded side walls look great. In front, a 3 spoke
steering wheel, modest by today's muscle car complexities, in front
of a simple analog gauge cluster on a flat black dash. No digital
readout, no screens, no accent lighting. The center stack shows
GM's typical arrangement of the A/C control panel over the Delco
AM/FM/Cassette radio marking the only spot where digital numbers
will light up. The manual shifter has a slightly weathered leather
wrapped ball handle in a setting of hard black plastics, angular
and clean. On the floor, low pile saddle carpet has held up well
and goes on to coat the rear cargo area in fine fashion. A few
dimples in the padded velour headliner, but overall very nice
condition with button fronted fasteners.
Drivetrain
Car lover status plays out in the engine bay that shows very
cleanly here and houses the 305ci V8 rated at 220 horsepower. This
is in the wake of the malaise period and horsepower numbers started
rising, even as modest as 220 now seems in 2024. Fuel injection was
becoming standard in the mid-80's and is found on this car, which
also has a T5 5-speed manual transmission sending power to the 10
bolt rear axle. Power brakes are found as discs in the front and
drums in the rear.
Undercarriage
If not for the surface rust and typical patina, this would look
very much like 1988. It's clean and dry underneath. The single
exhaust flows to an original muffler in the back which sends out
two tail pipes that exit all but invisibly under the back. This
would remain the configuration until the next generation Camaro Z28
which would have showy, square external tips. Coil spring
suspension is in the front and a torque arm with coil springs are
out back.
Drive-Ability
We steer the F-body onto the loop where it provides adequate power
from the 305, not blistering fast but not slow either. Handling
excels in the Z and takes turns with very little roll. Shifts are
crisp and the power brakes perform as expected. During our short
ride, we note the A/C is not working and we notice some chatter in
the rear axle. All other operations function as they should. While
Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at
the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions
will be working at the time of your purchase.
his is the one everyone wanted back on the day but couldn't always
afford. Competition from Pontiac and Ford prowled the streets, but
for cool factor, the IROC-Z won hands down. The name alone is not
just brilliant marketing but sounds tougher than "GT" or "LX".
Maybe you had to settle for a Berlinetta back then. Well, here's a
well preserved IROC and your chance to get that car that eluded you
in the 80's. It's still cool today, only now it's a classic!
1G1FP21F6JL118163
1-USA
G-General Motors
1-Chevrolet
FP-Camaro
2-2 Door Sport Coupe
1-Manual Belts
F-305ci V8 EFI 220hp
6-Check Digit
J-1988
L-Los Angeles, CA Assy Plant
118163-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
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