While modern-day versions of muscle cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird are no strangers to being stored with low to moderate miles on the clock, finding what one would consider a standard trim level with under 5,000 original miles is a bit exceptional. This 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z has just 2,808 miles on the clock, and the condition leaves no question as to that super-low reading. I’d love to know the story behind this one, as this type of mileage is usually reserved for pace car tributes and other low-volume models. Find the Camaro here on eBay where bidding is over $22,000 with the reserve unmet.
In addition to the obvious appeal of low mileage, I suspect bidding is active simply because this isn’t just another pace car. That’s another wrinkle when determining what cars and trucks will be collectible someday. You could have a low mileage Chevy Citation, but who cares? It’s miserable to drive, so having the best of the worst doesn’t much matter. Finding a time-capsule example of a standard model from a desirable product family – one that you actually would like to get into a cruise in on a quiet Sunday morning – well, that’s the ticket towards owning something that will never lose value.
Here’s the other thing about a car like this: yes, a lot of its value is wrapped up in its low mileage. But because it’s just a standard IROC-Z, and not a one-of-5o special edition, you don’t have to be nearly as paranoid about adding some actual mileage each year. Its value is not dependent on it begin the lowest mileage Camaro around, but rather, remaining one of the nicest. And as you can see by the interior, it really does seem like one of the best 1986 examples left with unmarked tan cloth, carpets, and door panels, and even mint condition factory floor mats still in place. The A/C works and it comes equipped with power windows, power door locks, and T-tops.
The Camaro is equipped with the venerable 305 and an automatic transmission. It’s not an exotic setup, but it will work just fine for adding a few hundred miles each year. The seller notes the fluids have been drained and replaced, and a new battery installed, but that the original belts remain installed. This is strange to me, and I’d recommend swapping those out immediately by the next owner. The tires are also the original Goodyears, and the factory nose cover (bra) and T-top bags remain inside the Camaro, unused. This is likely pretty close to a once-in-a-lifetime car, but the question is, are you prepared to spend upwards of $30K on an ’86 Camaro IROC-Z?
To answer your question…YES. Worth every bit of 30k.
To answer your question…NO. Too many better choices at $30k.
Yup. Better performing newer choices and far more interesting older choices.
A car’s value is not necessarily based solely on whether or not there are better choices out there at a certain dollar figure. If I only had $30k to spend on a vehicle, I too would probably choose something else. But a car is worth what someone is willing to pay for it…and I believe there are many people out there who would pay $30k for this IROC.
Had this car back in the early 90’s. Engine is an absolute dog. It handles OK, like all cheap cars of the era it became a rattle machine. That said, as long as you know how cheap it actually was made, but just like the looks and crazy low miles it certainly is a 20K car anyway. Just too many other better cars exist in the 30K range.
Peanut cam from the LG4 and the lowest rated TPI engine. Tasty treats for 5.0 Mustangs of the era.
Underpowered but much better cars. GM should have put 5-speeds behind 350s all day long. They were way too conservative.
You think that until you powershift a T-5 on drag radials and break everything aft of the flywheel.
And my GLH Turbo easily ate these for lunch.
And my ‘87 Buick GN will easily eat all of the above for lunch, including Corvettes from that era… 🙂
Power anything kills the value. My 1986 was manual windows and door locks. I would pay a premium for that configuration.
No power windows or a/c and I’ll walk right by.
What is the current bid? I’ll pay sticker price for this one.
So contact the seller and do it…
Looking at the photos with 3 days to go it looks like the headliner and visors need to be repaired. Typical GM issue of cars from that era. The material breaks down and separates. Car is still beautiful and I love 3rd gens even though they are often derided. The body design has aged well. The beauty of this car was the engine wasn’t whipped like a lot of irocs.
I had an IROC-Z (`88-no T-tops)
In the late `80,s these cars had respectable power. Mine was used as
a long distance touring car, and was quite comfortable. The build quality & materials was typical G.M. – but they were built for a reasonable price point.
As stated previously, the design has aged well. Price, as always, will be determined by what someone is willing to pay. Don’t see these with 3K
miles everyday, though.
This one is a puzzle.
Fairly ordinary Camaro, weak engine, auto – but a nice looking car. The premium here is on the low miles but the car itself is just OK.
So do you pay the premium, spend $30K and drive this several hundred miles a year to protect your “investment?”
Not me.
Buy a car you can drive and enjoy or buy a truly collectible trailer queen that mostly sits in the garage.
Good points, Stephen. Here’s how I see it. Instead of just looking at the car as it sits in your garage, you can enjoy driving it…even 10k a year if you want…and still have a beautiful low mileage car to sell when you’re ready..(as long as you’re careful with it of course).
Anthony – I agree. Driving this car a few hundred miles a year makes no sense to me – but that’s what the article suggests.
Buy it right (way less than $30K), drive it and enjoy it.
Heres the scenario here, happened to a friend of mine, had a new 87 Monte SS, 305 puffer, beautiful car, kept it for 2 yrs the moved on, he’s in his 50s now, successful business man, has owned many cars since then, including S550s S63, Mercedes, but always wanted his Monte back, so we found one, Chicago auto museum, same Burgandy on Burgandy, t tops,gets it home, and calls me after his first ride, something is wrong with this car, so I go and drive it, and I remind him it’s just an 80s 305 180 hp Chevy, and all those fantasies in his head were just smoky memories of a terrible time in the American auto industry, and that’s why we drive Mercedes today, instead of Cadillac or Lincoln’s
No disrespect intended, but the only Mercedes I’d take over this car is a mid 80s 560sel. To me the pinnacle of benz design and engineering. Since about 95 most Mercedes have ho hum stying and now are as common as a bellybutton. Certainly not exotic like they once were. Recently drove a 2014 Mercedes and talk about underwhelming. I laughed that someone paid what they did for that heap. New Lincoln’s are nice and the Cadillac ct6 looks attractive
I agree whole heartedly with what you wrote, I too drive Mercedes and had one of these in white; bought it off the showroom floor. I have always had a nostalgic desire to have this car back. It’s a fun car to drive, it’s not an autobahn blitzen machine. However, it will remain a nostalgic memory for now, but if I had the space I would buy it and unappologetically enjoy it for what it is.
In 1986, It was common knowledge among car people that GM was well into development of the next-generation Camaro and Firebird, known internally as GM-80. These were to be front-wheel-drive cars with four and six cylinder engines. A number of people, my brother included, bought ’86 and ’87 Camaros and Firebirds because they were expected to be the last available with a V8. My brother used his ’87 IROC-Z sparingly, at least until the GM-80 program was cancelled and V8 Camaros and Firebirds lived on. He still has it, and it has well over 100K at this point.
Not every “barn find” has to be a jet dragster or we would be excluding 98% of the cars featured here. Everyone is always complaining how expensive restoration is on a project vehicle. Well, consider this an already restored car that’ll go anywhere you point it. Some basic items like the tires and belts and you are done. Heck that’s an afternoon’s enjoyment with the family. As far as racking up mileage? It’s inconceivable that people pay 40-50-60-70 thousand for a new car and then drive it into the ground, only to lose 1/2 it’s value on trade in. To me this is a no brainer of a good deal for good basic fun.
Good deal at what price?
I say good deal at $30k or less. The car is so “new” that you can enjoy it as long as you like and as much as you like. Example: say you drive it for 3 years and put another 25k on it. You maintain it, and you take good care of it, and now you want to sell it. So in 3 years you offer a 28k actual mile ’86 IROC in original immaculate condition for say $32k. Even if you only net $27k…you did well in my opinion.
Well said…I agree.
My “well said” comment was meant for DuesenbergDino..not myself…lol.
Item location:
Houston, Texas
Anthony D – Not sure I follow.
Buy it for $30K and sell it three years later for $32K and net $27K? Net here is $2K.
If you can buy it now for $30K, why would anyone pay $32K three years later with 25,000 more miles?
This is not a particularly collectible car that happens to have low miles and is in great shape. I think a buyer at $30K gets killed three years later.
Since you’re starting out with a car that has only 2800 miles, I was suggesting that after 3 years of driving and enjoying the car, you would still have a low mileage ’86 IROC to sell…even if you put another 25k miles on it. If you asked say $32k, and accepted (netted) an offer of say $27k, you would have only spent $3k, plus upkeep and maintenance, and you would have enjoyed driving and showing the car all that while. It’s only one possible scenario, but it beats storing the car for 3 years while hoping to make a profit…or break even. This is a car that you would not be driving down the value by driving it.
Well, two each their own, if someone has 30k to spend on this, more power to them. Myself, I’m a real car guy and know this one was built on a low budget and too much plastic.
DOES JAY LENO have one in his collection?
I would rather have a notch back 5.0 !!!