This 1989 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z is a pretty special classic that its first owner ordered with a focus exclusively on performance. They decided to forego creature comforts, outfitting this classic with the relatively rare 1LE options combination. It is a dry-climate vehicle that recently underwent a meticulous restoration, ready to find a new home. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting the IROC listed here on Craigslist in Annapolis, Maryland. The seller set their price at $32,500 for a classic that appears to need nothing.
American manufacturers were hitting their stride by 1989 as they strived to reduce The Malaise Era to a bitter memory. Chevrolet focused on weight reduction and aerodynamic efficiency with its Third Generation Camaro, although it was also coming to grips with fuel injection and other technology by 1989 to claw back years of lost horsepower. The first owner ordered this 1989 IROC-Z in dazzling Bright Red, and it remained a Californian resident until recently. Once it found its way to its current location, the seller commenced a meticulous cosmetic restoration on a classic that was rust-free. They dismantled the body, stripped the panels to bare metal, massaged them to perfection, and performed a repaint in the original shade. The effort was worthwhile because this classic looks like it just rolled off a showroom floor. Finding anything to criticize is seemingly impossible, from the sparkling paint to the crisp stripes and the flawless 17″ alloy wheels. The 1989 Camaro isn’t a particularly rare vehicle, but this one is guaranteed to command more attention than most.
The theme of spotless presentation continues with this Camaro’s interior. The seats are original, but the seller replaced the carpet, headliner, and door trims. The result is stunning, and the lack of wear on the factory seatcovers emphasizes the fact that this classic has been treated respectfully since Day One. There might be slight wheel deterioration, but it isn’t bad enough to detract from the overall appearance. This is where I would typically list this car’s luxury appointments, but there are none. The first owner’s craving for ultimate performance is reflected by the lack of air conditioning, power assistance for the windows and locks, and the blank panel where most people might expect to find a radio. What you receive for your money is cloth seats and the sports gauge cluster.
We’ve reached the point where we can discuss what makes this IROC-Z genuinely special. The first owner ordered this classic with the 305ci TPI V8 generating 220hp and 290 ft/lbs of torque. They teamed this with a five-speed manual transmission and the G92 performance rear axle package. Doing so while foregoing air conditioning automatically triggered the 1LE option, which added such features as an aluminum driveshaft, larger brakes, upgraded springs and shocks, and a baffled fuel tank to the equation. The result was a car that would comfortably gallop through the ¼-mile in 15.3 seconds on its way to 144mph. As we will see, this combination was pretty rare in 1989. The seller indicates that this IROC-Z retains its numbers-matching engine, and is in excellent mechanical health. It runs and drives perfectly, so if you’re the type of enthusiast who likes to “take it to the max,” this Camaro might be extremely tempting.
While Chevrolet produced 110,739 examples of the 1989 Camaro across all variants, only 111 buyers splashed their cash on an IROC-Z with the 1LE options combination. The sole purpose of these cars was to maximize performance potential, hence the lack of interior creature comforts that would add weight. This one is a beauty, and the seller’s price looks realistic compared to recent successful sales. Are those thoughts enough to convince you to pursue it further?
Cool 😎 Iroc. Couple nice SLP upgrades. Driver’s car.
Can’t fault the design of these cars. Good looking out of the box and faster than most cars then and now. Great example what the US can do when it wants to.
Still couldn’t beat an ’89 LX 5.0 in the quarter mile though. And that’s against an LX with AC and power windows, lol. And the LX was probably $5k cheaper so that’s $5k you could spend to put it into the 13’s in the Qtr mile and make it handle a little better
A Mustang LX 5.0L V8 wasn’t $5k cheaper than the IROC Z in 1989. It was cheaper, by a couple of thousand, but not that much. I’m a Chevy guy but agree that the 5.0 Mustang was a better “bang for the buck” and did outperform. However, I was there, having graduated high school in 1989. I shopped both, but decided to rebuild the engine in my 1971 El Camino SS instead. It was “just” a 350, but once the project was done, I didn’t have a car payment for four or five years.
An 89 LX could be had $5k cheaper than the IROC…but you wouldn’t be comparing apples to apples. It would come equipped with a 4 banger for that price.
It was. a base LX 5.0 was around $12.5k and a loaded up IROC was around $18K, a $5.5k difference. I was there too, graduated in ’89 and considered buying a bare bones LX 5.0 and building it the way I wanted with Saleen parts. Wound up buying an ’86 GT instead, which I still have.
Comparing an LX Mustang to a third gen 1LE Camaro is comparing an apple to an orange to put it mildly. Sure, the Mustang was quicker in the quarter mile but the 1LE was an almost secret set of options for Camaros that would very likely end up on a race track not going light to light in small town America. Both are cool in there own way bit built for very different drivers and purposes.
Fair enough Baja. 🏁
Can’t argue JCA. Ford had the
HO 302 package dialed right in for about 8 yrs. 🏁
I couldn’t justify the asking price for a stripped down Camaro capable of only doing 15 second 1/4. However this Camaro is in great condition.
The 17″ wheels are an aftermarket copy of the original 16″ design. Camaros didn’t get 17s until Gen 4. They look the part though and are well done.
Wanted PERFORMANCE why not ordered with a 350 engine ?
Because you couldn’t get the 5-speed with the 350 It was Auto only
Any 305 that can pull a car to 144 mph tops is something special, and this car is a beautiful restoration. Its only flaw is that these are still pretty much anonymous non-head turners. Its the same problem with most cars of the era including Mustangs, they won’t grab you by the eyes.
I wholeheartedly disagree with Terry, I take my black, 85 all original IROC out on a weekend cruise, I get all kinds of people honking and commenting on it. From stoplights to pedestrians to everyone. It’s a head turner, and I live in a community of 250k plus, and NEVER see another IROC on the road. 305 TPI, and it’s a beast. Fun as hell.
Delusional seller. 116,000 miles for $32,500, grossly over priced.
Hardly, there is a 60% premium for the 1LE package and while the miles are high, the seller’s price is in the right ballpark.
So what on the quarter mile times.
Stop light racers…
This combo was designed for the track. Which is where the IROC ate up the Mustang.
I still think that dollar for dollar, an LX 5.0 Mustang with $5k in mods would eat up a stock IROC 1LE in 1989.
This has an aluminum driveshaft, so if you beefed it to 350hp or so, would it destroy driveshaft or no?
For those that would actually like to learn about these cars, their origins and their value here’s a good article from Hagerty…
https://www.hagerty.com/media/market-trends/valuation/chevys-camaro-iroc-z-1le-is-a-red-blooded-80s-homologation-special-you-can-afford/
no radio — to improve performance? How heavy is a radio??
Can’t compare a 1LE with a Mustang 5.0, LX or GT. I had 2 5.0s, both wwre great cars for street use but couldn’t stand up to any track use without brake, suspension and cooling system work. All the things that GM did to create the 1LE package. The Ford’s advantage was the lower starting price and lighter weight. The Windsor was also more amenable to performance bolt-on’s than the 305 which never breathed well. I wanted a 1LE badly but the lack of A/C was a deal breaker in South Florida. 1LE, along with Z51 Corvette proved GM could build a outstanding handling car if they wanted to.
on the 1 le why not the 350 instead of the 305 ?
@ JCA
Great comments and in general agree but in my past ….
I do love this IROC Z
Also …
Loved eating all Fox 5.0 for breakfast – like Denny’s – 24/7
Loved it . 1991-1995 commuting to college , street racing at night … different times then.
Driving w skill can take out most idiots who think they can drive.
225 hsp 5.0 base power on the Stangs .
A car with 180 hsp beat them always . Always.
Street racing was different back in the early 90’s.
Who ever let off last usually won. That was me and my friend Steve.
Both of
Us had 350 olds v8 power plant in G & A body respectively .
Good times .
Hope this IROC finds a nice home . Drive it
Those are aftermarket intake runners, have a set on my 86 383 vette convertible.