The Chevrolet Camaro in its third-generation seemed to break free of the malaise era doldrums, even if performance still wasn’t spellbinding. There just seemed to be more optimism that muscle cars would eventually come back to life, if for no other reason than they were still the coolest looking cars on the road. The Camaro was able to rub enthusiasts the right way with its muscular shape, aerodynamic enhancements, and T-top roof panel. Eventually, performance would get up to snuff and it would check all of the necessary boxes, but it was still clear in the interim that the muscle car was back. Check out this 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC here on eBay with bids to $2,000 and the reserve unmet.

The third-generation Camaro and its corporate twin, the Pontiac Firebird, still represent a solid value on the project car landscape, even if the nicest ones available are commanding stronger money these days. The challenge is buying the right car at the right price, as there are always numerous projects available for short money. How do you make the best decision possible about when to pull the trigger? There are some limited-edition trims and performance models that are worth chasing, but those also tend to fetch a strong price. If it were me, I’d look for an IROC with a stick and a somewhat rare color; this particular car is neither of those things.

That doesn’t make it a bad find, however. The Camaro looks clean with no signs of major rot or prior accident damage, although the clearcoat is beginning to fade. The interior of these cars was typical bargain basement GM quality, which is to say it wasn’t all that nice. The dash in this Camaro has seen better days, and the same goes for the carpets and seats. Fortunately, the best thing about a Camaro from this era is that you can find all the spare or replacement parts you need within 15 minutes of joining the appropriate message forum or Facebook group. Though the seller is quite clear that this Camaro has not been inspected or otherwise vetted in terms of how extensive its needs may be, it does run and perform lot drives.

In IROC Z28 trim, the Camaro was a formidable performer, with its 305 V8 kicking out a respectable 215 horsepower and 290 lb.-ft. of torque. The numbers may have still seemed like a far cry from the horsepower wars of the 1960s, but at least performance was trending in tie right direction. The seller has a reserve on this listing, but one can hope it’s not much more than the current bid price. Popular or not, project-grade third-generation Camaros don’t sell for a whole lot, but unmodified examples like this one are certainly worth reviving for a reasonable sale price.