IROC Camaros: any potential upside?

This one was suggested to me as a potential toad for our motorhome. https://abbotsford.craigslist.org/cto/d/chilliwack-1990-iroc/6949072628.html

I have driven in a couple of these and they are pretty dang nice cruisers. They are not what I would call a serious collector car, having no racing pedigree and not being particularly rare, but I am wondering if this may be a car that would hold its value if bought well? This one has a five speed and looks nice but the owner is not returning my messages so I have not looked at it. I see prices ranging from the low end (this one) all the way up into the 30's. Anyone got one? Anyone considering one?

How easy is it going to be to get a tow hitch setup on it?  Seems like you would have to wreck the front end to get a tow hitch on it. 

No racing pedigree? Um, what?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Race_of_Champions

The Camaro is literally the face of 80s IROC. It's in the name for Christ's sake

I like these and the sister Monte Carlo SS's.  I know they didn't have today's power but I still like them.

First $5500 cash buys it?  I always wonder if you show up with $5,200.......

In reply to Dootz :

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the iroc racecar was the z28. The iroc just traded on the series name. I could and probably am wrong.

In reply to bearmtnmartin :

I believe you are correct.

Google "Players Challenge".

Flat tow would be tough with the nose.  Dolly would probably work done.

Datsun310Guy said:

First $5500 cash buys it?  I always wonder if you show up with $5,200.......

Not a bad price, depending on how many Poison and Motley Crue cassettes come with it.

They look pretty fun to me with some parts thrown at them....

https://youtu.be/mUYDrPuTnjk

bearmtnmartin said:

In reply to Dootz :

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the iroc racecar was the z28. The iroc just traded on the series name. I could and probably am wrong.

I thought the IROC package was only available on the Z28 of the inappropriate 80's model years? I mean you couldn't get it on the 4 banger or v-6 crammits...

That's why its called an IROC-Z.

In reply to bearmtnmartin :

You're correct in a way. What GM did was offer a special IROC-Z package available only on the Z/28 (1985), and only a couple years later would GM make the package standard for Z/28s (1988)

In reply to Dootz :

Thank you for the edification. 

I kind of like them. And I'm pretty sure I can engineer a couple inconspicuous attachments for a base plate if I go this route.

Laugh now, but we'll all be kicking ourselves for not buying that $5,500 IROC in a few years.

Tom_Spangler said:

Datsun310Guy said:

First $5500 cash buys it?  I always wonder if you show up with $5,200.......

Not a bad price, depending on how many Poison and Motley Crue cassettes come with it.

Quoted for post of the year status. 

I tip my hat to you

A clean IROC Z/28 will pull a premium in a few years like a Spoon engine before Race Warz. 

IMSA Firehawk and SCCA Escort Endurance series would beg to differ on the racing pedigree.  I worked for Joe Varde in the Firehawk series.  We ran an ‘88 IROC-Z to start the year, until GM decided they wanted Trans-Am’s to win IMSA, and the IROC’s to win SCCA, which is exactly what happened.

racerfink said:

IMSA Firehawk and SCCA Escort Endurance series would beg to differ on the racing pedigree.  I worked for Joe Varde in the Firehawk series.  We ran an ‘88 IROC-Z to start the year, until GM decided they wanted Trans-Am’s to win IMSA, and the IROC’s to win SCCA, which is exactly what happened.

You worked for Party Joe Varde? Dang I bet you have some stories. 

There are few hard tops, fewer still with 5 speeds so if they were to appreciate theater would probably be the one to get. They’re as fun to drive as flexy somewhat powerful for the day cars get. They nose is very low and long so a dolly might be tough, You may want to see if those grills on either side of the license plate area come out and pass tow bar brackets though the openings.  

Appleseed said:

Laugh now, but we'll all be kicking ourselves for not buying that $5,500 IROC in a few years.

I'd almost guarantee you won't lose money on that car. Seeing lots of newer pro-touring style 3rd gens. That's where the market is going. DSE's car is probably the best known example and it's a seriously high dollar car that's gotten lots of exposure. 30-50 year olds in their prime earning years want to be nostalgic, and drag guys have taken a lot of the Fox bodys and G bodys off the road already.

The price is most definitely on the upswing on clean original third gens. Besides the high miles this one clicks all the right boxes to be able to buy, enjoy for a while, and sell for a profit.

I no longer have enough hair...or gold chains...to own one.  However, they were one of my most lusted after cars when I was a teen.  I built a large scale model of one that was black with red letters.  A car like this still makes my pants tight and I'd love to have one...

Appleseed said:

Laugh now, but we'll all be kicking ourselves for not buying that $5,500 IROC in a few years.

IMO, this is spot on. If a cheap, high-volume car like a Fox Mustang can appreciate, so can it's direct competition.

Tom_Spangler said:

Appleseed said:

Laugh now, but we'll all be kicking ourselves for not buying that $5,500 IROC in a few years.

IMO, this is spot on. If a cheap, high-volume car like a Fox Mustang can appreciate, so can it's direct competition.

No way to know for sure, but if I were a gambling man I'd tend to agree.  Guys like me grew up worshipping these cars as teens, as I mentioned above.  Many of us (guys in our 40s and 50s) are now starting to get to that point in life where we have disposable income.  As the guys who worshiped the '69 Mustang continue to age and pass away, the torch will be passed to cars like this.  If I had the money, I'd pay $5500 in a heartbeat for an IROC-Z.  I'd pay $10k for one...if I had that kind of money to throw around.  I happen to choose to spend my extra money on my kids and LeMons, but if I hit the lottery I assure you an IROC is in my collection...as is a Grand National (which is already going through the roof), a Starion, a 5.0, Countach, maybe even a Pulsar Sportback.