Weekly Treasure: 1985 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 IROC-Z

The future of the Chevrolet Camaro remains a bit of a mystery. There have been numerous rumors, ranging from the current generation being the last to a significant upgrade involving some level of hybridization, or a complete redesign that'll see it become a full-on electric vehicle. At this stage, we just don't know for sure and Chevy has remained mum on the subject. Fortunately, there's still decades of Camaro history to look back on as well as numerous special editions and unique versions.

One of those came in 1985 during the height of the third-gen Camaro, the IROC-Z. IROC stood for International Race of Champions that was last run in 2006. The IROC-Z was actually an option package for the Camaro Z28 and it earned high praise at the time for its solid combination of power, handling, and value.

Like the Z28, the IROC-Z was powered by a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 rated at 215 horsepower. Hey, it was the 80s and that was solid power at the time. The engine also featured tuned-port fuel injection and power was routed to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic, the sole gearbox offered, believe it or not. Other notable upgrades include an upgraded suspension (though it wasn't an independent rear suspension, unfortunately), dropped ride height, unique Bilstein rear shocks, larger sway bars, and the so-called "wonder bra" frame brace.

The exterior was graced with unique decals, rear lip spoiler, and five-spoke, 16-inch alloy wheels with IROC-Z center caps and gold accents.

No significant changes were made to the interior save for a Z28 IROC-Z logo stamped on the front passenger dashboard. The seats were all cloth and there's hard plastic everywhere. Again, typical GM for the time. The IROC-Z managed to remain part of the Camaro lineup until 1990, a year before the Camaro received a significant refresh.

There's a decent number of surviving examples still out there but we doubt few are still in the same level of condition as this one currently up for auction on Bring A Trailer.

This 1985 Camaro Z28 IROC-Z looks practically brand new inside and out for one major reason: it has only 3,000 original miles. As far as we know, everything still works just fine, such as the power-adjustable driver's seat, cassette stereo, and power windows. Everything appears to be stock. The seller has also done a good job of maintaining it, replacing the heater core three years ago, though there is one area that requires attention: the air conditioning does not blow cold.

As of this writing, the highest bid was only $5,000 but there are still a few days left until the auction ends.