chazman

iTrader: (4)

Yellow '86 IROC, hardtop with base interior. LG4/T5. Supposedly 70K miles. Virtually every panel has some sort of dent in it, but the guy claims rust free. Those door panels look homemade too.

He had advertized for $5000...then $4500......now $4000. Still seems too high but I love yellow IROCs with sticks. I have a sickness.


http://www.use.com/e3a844d07cd330ca103e?p=12#photo=7

redneckjoe

if runs really good,.... maybe $1,500 tops. thats an aweful shade of yellow, jmo.

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

I think it's worth more then that. The body is clean - looks like no rust. Color is a matter of personal preference, but the car is solid. It's probably worth at least 2500. It does have some kind of front end damage by the driver's side headlights.

Jason E

With a 145 MPH speedo it isn't supposed to have, who knows what the mileage is? I can see why you like it...just be careful. I think he's still $1,000-1,500 high, but that's what negotiations are for!

chazman

iTrader: (4)

'86s are a funny year with speedos. They started off with 85 MPH and by midyear, (when the feds lifted the 85 MPH rules), had both 85 and 145 almost randomly without rhyme nor reason. I can remember that I was surprised when a classmate of mine, bought a new '86 IROC and it came with a 145 MPH speedo.

What's on your '86 T/A?

puma1552

iTrader: (1)

I'd avoid the castrated '86 years. Plenty more yellow ones where that one came from, in '85 or '87 flavor. Uncommon, sure, but they are around.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Castrated? Ha! 1986 was the highest power LG4 ever!

camarosrock1989

iTrader: (1)

Looks close to my old 86 Iroc, has the Tbi in it. Mine had the 5.7 TPI.
I love the old Iroc yellow. They are sweet! I like it! Little high on price.
How does it run?

chazman

iTrader: (4)

According to the guy it runs like a "new car". Of course, he also told me that the car is mint. When I mentioned that it appeared that virtually every panel had body damage, he said that was nothing to fix. In fact when I spoke to him several weeks ago, he told me that if it didn't sell by the end of the week (again, several weeks ago), he'd paint it and ask double. Which seemed odd, because 30 seconds earlier he said it wasn't his car and was selling it for a friend.

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

Good catch buddy! An '86 should have an 85 MPH speedometer. The one in it is from an '88-89 B2L or LB9 car. Huge red flag if you ask me.

Seems to be a common practice to swap out the speedos in these. Saw an '85 about a year ago that had an '84 and earlier double pointer speedometer. They must be prone to breaking. Yea, that's it

Makes you wonder how many get it right and put the correct replacement in. If they had, you'd never know. Goes to show that you can't rely on the stated mileage on these cars. You have to look close and see if the mileage matches the condition.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

From TGO's Tech Data section: Late in the 1986 model year, the 85mph speedometer in the Z28 and IROC-Z were replaced with a new 145 mph unit.

Also, as I mentioned, I remember seeing it on a new 1986 IROC.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Holy beater Iroc, Batman!

Run, don't walk, RUN away.
It doesn't look that great in pics, I can't imagine how beater it is in person. That yellow doesn't look that good when it's not faded, and I've yet to see one in person that wasn't faded. The base interior with cloth high back seats in an early Iroc? I don't know which is more lame, that Sport Coupe interior or the carbed 305. It'd be neat if it were in mint condition, but it'd still be an LG4 with the cheap interior. As it is, it looks like it was driven by a drunk, a woman, or Stevie Wonder... Possibly all three! Take that car back on the track and hit the pace car...

Whatever floats your boat, but that thing is beat with a price that's way out of line.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

I think you can find better Charlie. Just saying, LOL.

Jason E

My TA has a 140 speedo, which is funny when you think about it because my 88, a far better performing car, only has a 120 in it!

I know the 145 was available during 86, but I thought it was only available on TPI cars? Maybe I'm wrong??? I didn't think non-TPI cars could have it. I remember years ago looking at a beautiful copper 86 Z28 with 26k miles on it, and with TPI that one still had an 85 speedo...must've been an early 86.

I know you want this car for the yellow and the stick...but it'd have to be pretty cheap...that body is going to cost you over $4,000-4,500 easily to make it right. He could definitely paint it and ask double, but then he'd be losing money!

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Oh, I know Chris. This is like that mangy dog that followed you home.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

For sure, Jason. The guy selling it, (whether it's his car or not), is in his own little world. He keeps stressing how mint the car is, eventhough it's obvious that this car is BTS. And if it's obvious in the pics, as Drew said, imagine how beater it is in person.


This is an abused car to buy for a song, but the seller insists it's a mint creampuff. Let's see how much he'll want for it when he's still sitting on it in the dead of winter.

FryeDaddy

iTrader: (1)

Looks like a risky buy, I wouldn't offer more than $2k for it. Theres alot of body damage, and you will most likely run into promblems with it.

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

It's not worth $4,000. No way. I don't even think $2,500 is reasonable. I've bought better condition cars for around that amount of money. No rust, and almost zero dents.

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

You guys down south are spoiled. Anything here in NY is going to be a rust bucket. That car would definitely get decent money here.

burnout88

I do not think the car is that bad. Finding a yellow 5-speed in general is not an easy task. It probably actually does run good. My old 85 LG4 was the best running 3rd gen I ever owned and it is a very simple motor to work on.

For performance I can guaranteethe car will run a mid 14 with just some mild mod's. Personally, if the car truly does not have any rust and it is actually located in the midwest within a days drive that is a damn good find. I would not pay 4k for it. But I would pay 3k.

I think overall it would make a fun project and having a Yellow IROC 5-speed with a factory carb motor would be a unique thirdgen to have (since damn near 99% of the ones left are 305 tpi auto cars). You could also slip a factory 5.0 HO cam in it on Sunday afternoon and have a car that runs just as fast if not faster then your TPI 5-speed car. The carburetor third gen's are so easy to work on.

FryeDaddy

iTrader: (1)

Lol, buy a camaro from the south then?

chazman

iTrader: (4)

That's kind of how I look at it too, Brian. You don't see a yellow, hardtop, stickshift, IROC everyday. And the LG4 doesn't scare me much either. Think of it as the last carb'd Camaro - EVER. And as you say, LG4s are easy to work on and actually respond pretty well. I'd expect this one already has 3.23 gears at a minimum. I certainly wouldn't be afraid of hitting a cone or two if I'd autocross it.

But of course his price is out of line. $2500-$3000 would be more like it for me.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

$3k for an 80k mile, 86 Iroc, with an LG4? It better be minty condition. That guy could spend $3-4k repainting that car and it'd STILL be a $3-4k car. So what it's yellow. So what it's a 5spd. That doesn't magically triple the value. That's a $1500 thirdgen all day long, $2000 tops if the buyer really has a hard on for it. Any more then that and you're into solid TPI territory.

burnout88

Heck, go check the thing out with some cash in hand and see what happens. This way you will really know what the condition is and won't wonder if it is the one that got away. Hell, I am half tempted buy the thing.

And to all you who think that car is only worth 1K. You are nuts!! Even here in AZ 1k to 1.5k will get you a car with 150k miles and the paint burned off it and the interior melted. Let alone a rare color and combo like this one. A real rolling piece of garbage is all you can get for $1,500.

lonestar7

iTrader: (1)

I like the yellow color myself, but the 86 is my least favorite year for the IROC because of the strange 3rd taillight location and the low power. Still, if it is a rust free under 80,000mi (I would be suspicious about that) car with the drive train in good shape, $2500 or so would not be an outrageous price, IMO.

Jason E

One thing that more people need to consider is up here in the Rust Belt, anything rust-free is worth $1,500-2,000 simply based on that fact. Everything else is icing on the cake.

The car is worth $2,500 all day long, but it isn't worth more than that IMO to someone like the OP. If someone is simply going to drive it and enjoy it? That might be one thing....but knowing Charlie, that thing will be pristine in 12 months' time, which is going to cost some coin.

I absolutely robbed my TA at $3,000, but it took $5,500 to make it look show quality. The sad thing is, it isn't really worth much more than that.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Stop. Making. Sense. That's not how I roll.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

You sure did rob that T/A, Jason. I remember the year before you bought it, you were considering that or that green Heritage RS. I told you to go for the RS - I was wrong. That T/A is a creampuff.

On a side note: I've been seeing this yellow '86 IROC driving around my neighborhood for the last 10-15 years. A couple of days ago I saw it parked in a parking lot and pulled in for a closer look. TPI, t-tops, rear aluminum drums, black interior. ~ 75K miles, (or is it 175k????), Lots of surface rust around the wheel openings and various bumps and bruises. The interior is pretty nice, except for the steering wheel leather and lettering on the shift plate. Just then the owner comes out, the original owner who is a 60 year old woman. We chatted for abit and I asked her if she wanted to sell it. She's thinking about it. Anyways, I offered her $1000 and gave her my cell phone number.

Yes, I am the IROC stalker.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

What do you think you're looking at? "A real rolling piece of garbage" is exactly how I'd describe what I saw in the pics. I've said it before but I'll say it again, a "rare" color doesn't mean a damned thing when considering value. When you look up a car in the NADA guide does it break the values down by color? What's so "rare" about the combo? Out of 114,741 V8 1986 Camaros, 68,293 (~60%) of them were LG4s. Aside from the fact that it's a low rent, budget Iroc, there's nothing that uncommon about the car. The supposed "rare" options do nothing for the value. The car would be worth MORE if it were a LB9, or a L69. I'd even venture a guess if you surveyed 100 random people off the street, the majority would prefer one of the other colors available in 1986 over the pukey yellow.

Sorry I don't mean to rant or anything, but get real... If the OP were SERIOUSLY interested in this car, totally in love with it, to the point of accepting the inflated BS price, he'd have bought it and posted pics of it sitting in his driveway instead of running it by the committee. Someone has to be the voice of reason.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Hey brother, if you LOVE the car and can't live without it, go for it. Friends just don't let friends make emotional impulse buys without playing Devil's advocate. I wouldn't presume to tell you how to spend your money, but I'd encourage you to look for an 87, with the custom level interior, and I'd personally avoid body damage.

Jason E

Damn, I forgot we talked about that RS! I'm glad I didn't buy it, between the TBI, the exterior needed to be re-done, the interior needed to be re-done, the rear end was howling, etc....and he was at $2,500 with 88k miles. The ONLY advantages to that car was the green/gold 25th scheme and t-tops...but frankly, I really like this T/A without t-tops. Its at least quiet!

I wish I didn't love it...it'd be easy to sell it and free up room and cash. At this point, that ain't happening. Unlike my '91 RS, which kept milking me and never came out the way I envisioned in my head, this one came out BETTER than I expected for less coin. The only mods planned are a decent, well-done aftermarket stereo with sub...even with that, my investment will still be sub-$10k for a great running, great looking car.

To me, that's the sweet spot...under $10k for a "done" third gen.

89rs454

That IROC kind of reminds me of this one lol, https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/auto-detailing-appearance/602438-how-much-87-iroc.html
Note with the owner feeding me a line of bull **** "it's mostly all original", I test drove it. It had no headliner the rear view mirror fell off as i got on it, the clutch slipped and smelled burnt the driver side seat was not bolted down fully and rocking all over the place. The whole car smelt of Dog/cat, i was disgusted to go 80 miles for a complete Piece. I felt like hitting this guy in the face as hard as i could in the back of my mind.

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

I'm just going off the Camaro White Book, which doesn't reference the 145 MPH speedometer until the '88 model year, and then on cars with the LB9 or B2L engine. Other models, that year, had 115 MPH speedos. Seems very odd to me that an '86 LG4 would have a 145 MPH unit but, again, I'm only going off one source here.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Very true. That's why I like to run this stuff past you guys before my itchy finger pulls the trigger.

Jason E

I was tossing this very thread around in my brain this morning on the way to work. In all seriousness, Charlie, I would avoid this one. There's a few reasons behind it...

1) I doubt he's going to take $2,500 for this car, the way he's talking.

2) Even if he does take $2,500, do you really want the car anyway? Consider the fact that the paint job on that car is going to be AT LEAST $4,500 because of all the dents. Then, if you're like me, you're gonna re-finish the wheels because with shiny paint, the wheels will look like crap. Add $600. Then add $500 for odds and ends the interior will likely need (headliner ok? Dash perfect? Carpet faded? We KNOW the steering wheel has to be beat up)

We now stand at a little over $8,000 for an LG4/5 speed/assumably 70k mile IROC with no t-tops, a base interior and no power goodies. We also haven't even turned a wrench on ANYTHING mechanical yet. No tune up...brakes...tires...suspension goodies...fluid changes....nothing.

I really think this will end up being a $10,000 investment, maybe more, all-in. I'd pass. It depends on how much of a perfectionist you wanna be. If you're like me, and the outside is beautiful, then the inside better match the quality of the outside. I know for a fact I've seen LG4/5 speed/lower mileage IROCs on eBay for less money. Granted, they may not be yellow. However, I'd rather see you spend $7,500 on a GEM, repaint it for $3,000 or so, and for $10,500 have a diamond.

I love seeing people save third gens...but unless you're gonna do EVERYTHING on your own, I'd pass, my friend.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Good points Jason. I'm ALWAYS advising people to get the best car they can afford, since it's much cheaper in the long run. To get this car to a certain level will burn money like a drunken sailor. It's always fun to look at a neat but rough car and say, now that would be cool to buy and fiddle with. My '83 Crossfire was rust free, dent free, accident free and molestation free, and I'm still dropping money into it to make it better/nicer.

You're right. This car has a $10,000 + price tag if I want it to be nice.
Maybe I'll just wait for your buddy to put his overpriced yellow IROC up for sale again. Probably cheaper in the long run.

burnout88

We not taking bets on the damn stock market here and restoring cars for a return on your investment porifollo. It's NEVER cost effective to restore a car unless the thing is going to be worth 50k when you are down. Not going to happen with a thirdgen.

NADA value is worthless with these cars. The cars have reached a point to where the color and unique options and combos on the cars really do drive the value and DESIRE to own them.

The point of all this is finding a decent car to start with in the combination that you like and enjoying the restoration process. I have triple into my car of what it is worth. But is a very rare color option that virtually no one else has and now draws literally a crowd at the local cruise events. If it was white no one would give a damn about it.

jhainer

4500 for a car that needs a pass door fixed new hood and new drivers side fender. has base interior and now options like t-tops now if it had a 1le package or even the g92 option personally I have bought better than that for under 2500. since i moved to the south i have bought 3 camaros a 90 a 92 and now my 86 the 90 i paid 500 bucks for drove it home 2 hrs had t-tops sony radio with xm the interior was shot (seats and headliner) I wasn't able to keep it long a guy came up and bought it off of me for 1500 2 weeks after i bought it . the 92 i paid 300 for put a 600 motor in it and sold for 1700 body and interior were mint. the Iroc different story sent my son to buy it while i was at work he bought it without me even seeing the car he paid 1100 for it I would have paid half of that but 3 years later i still own it and have close to 10,000 in it and still have probably another 3000 to go to make me happy. it reaches a point where even if you know it isn't worth what your doing you still do it just because. you have gone so far and could never sell it for what you have in it. what i am trying to say is this yellow cars are hard to find theres one in macon for 12000. i would never pay that much for one. but 4500 is more doable if you plan on keeping it forever. but realize you are not getting perfection for the 4500 and you are going to need to put money in it in time. whem done right it would be a sharp car. but you will have more money in it that it is worth. I too like the yellow and would pay alittle extra for that color since i like the color. but maybe max of 3000. but more along the lines of 2500 i would look into getting the body work done then repaint it the 99 dodge ram yellow which i think is just a shade brighter than the iroc's color

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Yeah, I was talking to a couple of my Camaro buds a while ago, kind of whining that I already had more into my '83 than it was worth - and I wasn't even done yet. They responded, "Charlie, it's a hobby, not a business", which of course is true.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Brian, I've got a black one and a white one, so I need a color with a little bit more pizzaz. At the top of my list are yellow or medium orange metallic like yours.


Maybe I'm so hung up on yellow because in the '80s there was a guy in my neighborhood with a perfectly detailed yellow, '86 IROC. I mean it was magnificently fresh and clean at all times. I'm also pretty sure it was a slow poke LG4/700R4, but it always grabbed my attention whenever I saw it.

jhainer

Exactly it's a hobby if it something you have been looking for or dreaming about than it is all worth it. for instance Since i was a kid and seen a article in one of the hot rod mags. Gm had taken a 454 ho dropped it in a i want to say 86 z28 it had air a 700r4 and the stock goodyear gatorbacks and ran something like 12.30 and looked like it came from the factory like that they even gave all the part numbers to be able to do the swap. i have always wanted a big block third gen. after the iroc was some what finished and was still drivable with the 305 tpi i picked up a very nice 468 for 2500 bucks and the project was started. funny when i bought the motor my intentions wasn't for the iroc the iroc was for sale but after about a week of seeing both sitting in the garage. that childhood dream started to take shape. but for the money i have in it. i could have done a very nice small block and alot less headaches.
partiot headers and floor pan headache
ac/heated holes in the firewall headache
sub frame headaches
gauges working headache now useing after market gauges.
the speedo cable is a 1973 monte carlo from cruise control to trans tehy both screw in
the body was in bad shape underneath and one rocker was crushed Headache. doors sagged and pass door slamming it might get it to close cause of the rocker. but being from Michigan finding one with no rust and the rear none replaceable part of the car was straight it was worth putting new fenders and doors on I cut out the rocker and replaced it car was white with red interior it is now hugger orange with black and gray interior plastics are black the seats are gray. the car was an auto it is now a 5 speed. so it ends up being a bigger project than you ever figured but when your done it becomes all worth it. my wife kids me and says once i finish it this time i will just tear it apart again and rebuild it again differently this it the 3rd rebuild on it but everytime it gets better. I have owned it now 3 years and drove it to the corner and back once with the big block. it a hobby my stress releaf so it is worth it.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Whoa, whoa, hold up a second... You said that this car is worth more then $1,000 or $1,500, then you went on to imply that it's somehow worth more primarily because it's a "rare" color and combo. That is flawed logic. Sure it's your opinion and you're welcome to it, but those of us who are realistic about it aren't "nuts" for seeing the bigger picture. That's the point.

We aren't talking about return on investment, we're talking about getting the most for your money. There isn't anything going for this car except a sorta rare color and a 5spd, both of which are subjective. Not everyone is looking for a yellow Iroc, so there isn't a huge demand to drive up the value. If you love it, yeah it seems more attractive to you, but not everyone is obsessed with yellow 5spd Irocs.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

I wonder what the guy selling that car would think if he knew that a thread like this existed about his car? He'd probably ask $9500!!

Anyway, he's got 3 ads going for it now. One says both $4500 and $4000 the other two both say $3800.

burnout88

Hey, your probably right!! I still think you should go check it out. Even if you don't buy it would be fun for the thread to get a real perspective on the car. I would go with you if I was still back in the chi-town area.

Jason E

That's kinda my point...you're in a position to afford something nicer and better, which will cost you less over the long haul. I wanted to get my RS to that "burn money like a drunken sailor" level of perfection, and in the long run the car drove me nuts. It needed too much, and I ended up with over $5,000 more in it than what I sold it for. I swore I'd never do it again, hobby or no.

People can say they're gonna keep a car forever, and it doesn't matter what you spend on it. I understand people that say that. But how many of us REALLY keep the damn thing forever? Versus how many of us whine in the classifieds how they're "sacrificing" their great car at a "low low sale" price? I learned my lesson...just wanna keep you from making the mistake I did

From the sounds of it, if your crossfire was a much better car, and it makes you happy, hold out for the better car. I didn't buy the "overpriced yellow IROC" you mentioned above because even though it looked better than my TA, overall it still needed a paint job PLUS redone wheels PLUS a totally new interior to be up to my level of satisfaction, AND it had twice as many miles AND it was $1,000 more!

Sure, it was a yellow/t-top/IROC, which in my mind those 3 things are worth more than a blue/hardtop/TA. In the end, though, I stuck with the better starting point, and I'm so glad I did.

Plus, in the end, I find it to be the most attractive of the 3 I own. There's something about a blue/silver TA with a silver screaming chicken I never thought it would be the one I like the looks of the most!

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Those are the people with the classic muscle car rotting into their driveway. The ones people bitch about asking if they'd sell the car and the owner says "I'm gonna restore it someday!". Incidently, I once asked about a Yellow 85 Iroc that hadn't moved in YEARS. The owner told me they JUST put in a new GM crate motor (did I mention it hadn't moved in years?). He showed me the car, it had the 305 equivalent of a Targetmaster crate engine. Black valve covers with Goodwrench decals, etc. Dude said he could never sell it, and he had a fortune invested. He said he was planning to restore it and paint it purple. LOL

burnout88

I have had my car for 17 years. I think Charlie has owned his since new so that would be 21 years. My dad has owned his 85 Z28 for 23 years. Plenty of people keep them forever.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

I think if you surveyed the regulars on this particular sub-forum, you'd probably find that most of us have had our cars for a LONG time. That isn't was Jason was saying, the majority might THINK or SAY they're keeping a car forever, then life throws a curve ball and the car is for sale.

The point is why try to save a buck at the beginning, when you know the cost to reach the eventual destination? The money is going to be spent either way, but one option it slowly bleeds you dry while you're stuck with a less then ideal car, and the other gives you instant gratification.

eseibel67

That's a great point. And let's be honest, of all the hobby cars to choose from, it's pretty tough to beat a third gen in the dollars/fun ratio. You can buy an awesome third gen for $10k. You can have a great time with it for years, and as long as you don't mess it up, you could still recover all or most of your $ if you ever had to.