The 1980s wasn’t just the best decade because of the amazing movies, music, and pop culture, but also that it was a time of unifying joy. The 1960s and 1970s were scarred by political strife and class warfare, while the 1990s and beyond have been a prolonged period of gloominess with political division as well as civil unrest. While the ’80s was certainly a time of prosperity and understanding, there was one contentious area and that was whether the Ford Mustang GT was cooler than the Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z.
The ‘Stang 5.0 and the IROC-Z were the ultimate ’80s rides, with the Ford maybe ruling the decade simply because it was produced for all ten years, while the Chevy debuted in 1985. The IROC-Z, however, had a much hotter design than the boxy Foxy Body Mustang, which is a victory unto itself. Until recently, either car was a great budget muscle car acquisition, but prices have been surging. With the IROC-Z, used prices have soared over 100% in the past ten years, and while still affordable, represents a classic collectible that is sure to increase in value.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources such as Hagerty, Mecum, and Bring a Trailer.
The Rise Of The IROC-Z
The International Race of Champions was a series that used identical cars, prepped in the same way, to showcase the pure skill of the drivers from diverse disciplines, like NASCAR, IndyCar, and F1. For the inaugural season in 1973, drivers were behind the wheels of Porsche Carrera RSRs, and from 1974-1980, Chevy Camaros. The series took a hiatus until 1984, with the Camaro returning as the default ride. In 1985, Chevy figured if they were going to sponsor the race series, they should probably promote it with a special Camaro trim, and thus, the IROC-Z was born. Based on the third-gen Camaro, the IROC-Z was an option package for the Z-28, but became its own model in 1988.
Camaro IROC-Z Production Numbers
- 1985: 21,177 units
- 1986: 49,585 units
- 1987: 41,427 units
- 1988: 27,811 units
- 1989: 24,007 units
- 1990: 5,507 units
The IROC-Z wasn’t just an appearance package, though its graphics were definitely killer, but a real performance upgrade with better suspensions, brakes, and engine options. In 1985, the 5.0-liter V-8 got a 60-pony bump over the Z/28 in the IROC-Z, rated at 215 horsepower. In 1987, the 5.7-liter V-8 was introduced to the IROC-Z, and climbed all the way to 245 horsepower, which was massive for the 1980s. 1990 was the last year of production for the IROC-Z, as Chevy decided not to renew its contract with the International Race of Champions. The car, however, was a major player in ’80s culture and the ride for those looking to get noticed. With an $11,830 ($35,517 adjusted for inflation) sticker price, the 1985 IROC-Z was an eye-catching, affordable street machine.
How Much An IROC-Z Is Worth Today
10 years ago, sellers were practically giving away Camaro IROC-Zs, with pristine, low-mileage examples barely cracking five-digits. A decade later, 80s nostalgia is huge, penetrating all manner of pop culture, which has Gen-Xers trying to reclaim a piece of their youth. Part of that is wanting to plant their butts behind the wheel of a cool 80s ride, which has sent IROC-Z prices soaring. In general, IROC-Z prices have increased around 400 percent, which is an insane investment windfall that kicks every IRA or mutual fund where the sun don’t shine. The IROC-Z isn’t quite on the same level as a classic Hemi-equipped Mopar or Chevelle 454 LS6, but it has increased in value more than either of them recently.
IROC-Z 10-Year Average Valuation Change
|
2015 |
2025 |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Hagerty |
$20,000 |
$55,000 |
|
Hemmings |
$12,000 |
$70,000 |
|
Kelley Blue Book |
$20,000 |
$50,000 |
|
J.D. Power |
$15,000 |
$26,700 |
Both Hagerty and Kelley Blue Book set the value of an IROC-Z, across all six years of production, at around $50k, with Hemmings going into the stratosphere with $70k valuation. These are prices for perfect cars with low odometer readings, so it’s still possible to find a good condition ride for an equally good price. J.D. Power, which bases their prices on actual sales, reports that the average retail for any year IROC-Z is just above $25,000, but that doesn’t represent auction sales, which is where the cherry rides are sold. From 1988-1990 Chevy produced 177 units of the special edition IROC-Z 1LE performance package, which is obviously the unicorn car of this lot, but the only one to pop up in recent memory failed to meet the reserve at Mecum Kissimmee 2025, so we don’t know its true value.
Where To Find An IROC-Z For Sale
In the old days, finding a specific used car was a major chore, pouring through classifieds, and limited to the local area. Now, thanks to the miracle of the Interwebz, there are thousands of ways to find the perfect rides from all over the world. Bring a Trailer is probably the best online source for cool cars like the IROC-Z and in fact, they have listed 175 of them over the past few years. Prices range from practically free to taking out a second mortgage, depending on condition, mileage, etc… That stunning red 1990 IROC-Z Coupe pictured above sold for $77,000 a few years ago on BaT, which is way above the average value, but it was an exceptional car. In absolutely perfect condition, the IROC-Z had only 567 miles on it, so it was basically brand new a generation later.
Top IROC-Z Auction Prices
- Barrett-Jackson: $102,300
- BaT: $77,000
- GAA: $64,000
- Mecum: $84,700
Rear world auction events are also a great resource for finding classic IROC-Zs, but those cars are going to be the best of the best, so they’re not for bargain hunting. Every once in a while, it’s possible to get lucky on a no-reserve car, but all it takes is two eager bidders to send the price soaring. At the Mecum Florida Summer Special 2025, a highly-original 1987 IROC-Z with 3,053 miles on it, dropped the gavel at $84,700 and that’s not even a record. A 557-mile 1990 IROC-Z convertible, one of only 1,294, sold at Barrett-Jackson’s 2023 Scottsdale, AZ auction for a bank-busting $102,300. With that, the Camaro IROC-Z is officially a six-figure collectible, and shows the potential of this car as an investment.
What To Look For Before You Buy
The Chevrolet Chevelle SS is the most notoriously faked classic because, in certain years, there’s nothing in the VIN or fender tag to indicate the trim, so it’s as easy as adding some badging. Other cars, like Boss Mustangs and Pontiac Trans Am SD-455s are often frauds, but so far the Camaro IROC-Z isn’t a victim of auto counterfeiting. With prices surging, however, it may become a thing, but luckily, a true IROC-Z will have the “B4Z” RPO code, so it’s easy to spot. The 1987-1989 IROC-Z T-tops with the 5.7-liter V-8 were exceedingly rare, so make sure it’s a legit car before shelling out the big bucks. Also, the ultra-rare 1LE package cars were built for racing and shipped without features like AC and radios, so beware if one is loaded.
Important IROC-Z RPO Codes
- B4Z – IROC-Z Sport Equipment Package
- Z28 – 1985-1987 IROC-Z base model
- 1LE – Performance package
- G92 – Performance Axle Ratio
- LB9 – 5.0-liter V-8
- L98 – 5.7-liter V-8
Other things to look for when picking up a sweet IROC-Z are everything that might be an issue on any used car, like visible damage, rust, operational condition. Getting underneath that sucker and then taking her out for ride will give you a pretty good indication of the condition of the car. Issues specific to the IROC-Z to look for include chassis cracks near the steering box mount, growling rear ends that haven’t been properly maintained, and the infamously wonky third-gen F-body electrical systems. If you’re looking for a great project car, the IROC-Z is nearly perfect as Chevy made a gazillion third-gen Camaros, so parts are easy to find, and a fully restored Z is going to be worth way more than you put into it.
’80s Street Icon Finally Gets Recognition
The epic 1980s war between the Mustang GT 5.0 and the Camaro IROC-Z actually had two winners, though in different theaters of battle. The Five-Oh! won the popularity contest, starring in film and rap videos, while the IROC-Z was the superior street machine, both in looks and performance. The third-generation Camaro historically didn’t get enough credit for its sleek, aggressive design, but people are definitely coming around to what an amazing-looking ride it is. Also, the recent wave of 80s nostalgia has folks rediscovering the coolest set of wheels from the coolest decade, which is no doubt responsible for the rise in IROC-Z prices. In fact, now might be the best time to snap one up, because its profile is rising and so is its value.
Just 10 years ago, the IROC-Zs were as close to being worthless as possible, and now they are hot collectibles that, as we’ve seen, can stretch into the six-figures at auction. The IROC-Z has always been awesome, but the perception was they were cheap throwaways that had no chance of becoming big-money classics. Once again, Gen-X has come to the rescue, showing the world that this killer ride from their formative years is truly worthy of collectible status. It may be lost on the Boomers, but Millennials and Gex-Z are getting a taste of IROC-Z awesomeness as one stars as the hero car in the Peacock streaming series Twisted Metal. The IROC-Z has a bright future both as a prized collectible and a viable investment, becasue it is finally getting the recognition it deserves.