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1LE 5-Speed: 1989 Chevrolet Camaro

The 1LE package Chevrolet Camaro continues to pop up with surprising frequency after seemingly for years being impossible to find. Perhaps the ongoing appreciation for iconic 1980s performance cars is causing sellers to sense an opportunity to cash in, but the high asking prices for these secret performance model offerings from Chevy may be preventing the track-ready specimen from finding a new home immediately. The asking price for this five-speed manual 305-powered example listed here on craigslist is $30,000, which is all the money for what looks like someone’s track day toy.

The 1LE package wasn’t exactly easy to pick off the options chart when reviewing the paperwork with your salesperson. Different options and combinations were needed to trigger the 1LE package, along with deleting air conditioning. For the owners savvy enough to figure it out, the package resulted in a standard IROC Z getting outfitted with some of the best racing hardware money could buy, especially considering it came from factory channels. Stiffer suspension, bigger brakes, free-flow exhaust, aluminum components, baffled fuel tank, and more. This example remains in impressive condition inside and out, with a spotless interior and just 38,383 miles noted.

The 1LE package found immediate favor with the track day and autocross crowd, which is fairly typical when a factory decides to build a limited-production performance offering with an emphasis on handling over pure straight-line performance. The seller notes that his car is just one 0f 29 models built that year, and given we’ve featured several 1LEs with automatics, it’s nice to see a dedicated track day car outfitted with the preferred five-speed manual in the console. The 305 V8 will be easy to live with, and the race-ready hardware underneath will have you smiling ear-to-ear.

Comments

  1. Avatar Mitchell Gildea Member

    I get that it’s a 1LE and a 5-speed, but 30 large still seems overpriced. I could be wrong tho. Wouldn’t be the first time

    Like 13
  2. Avatar Air Boss

    Given the ‘driving school’ lettering, I wonder what the transmission internals and clutch look like?

    Like 6
    • Avatar Frank Sumatra

      Powdered metal.

      Like 1
    • Avatar Doc Member

      Look like they will need replaced

      Like 0
  3. Avatar Keith

    Way too over priced.

    Like 7
  4. Avatar Cory

    Looks like that emergency brake is gonna need some attention as well, don’t think it should travel that far ouch

    Like 5
    • Avatar Air Boss

      Probably jammed full on in service as a “drift school” car…

      Like 1
  5. Avatar JEB BUCHER

    SSGT was an SCCA class back in the day, but there is no way this car was ever raced without a full rollcage, race harness, etc.
    Someone threw some decals on it as a show car.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Air Boss

      Or they removed the bolt-in safety gear after its SSGT and track day ‘racing career’…

      Like 0
  6. Avatar Jef Fowler

    Rarity elevates price and models like this deserve it.
    Even having to wade through options and deletions in front of maybe bewildered sales staff becomes an appealing detail.
    Surprised they offered an auto. Drag racers? Were the boxes modified?

    Dodge offered an ACR version of the neon back in the mid-nineties. Not too much macho but fun.
    Sales guy had to ‘speak with his manager’ as I spec’d a 2.0 coupe with a/c and radio delete and the package of race bits. They had no idea.

    Not mine anymore. Be interesting to be around in 20 years (if l reach 88!) to see what the value is then. Probably zip now even if you can find one.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Steve S

    An engine bigger than the 305 or 350 would be more fun.

    Like 0

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