I am looking to purchase an Iroc, I found a 1989 but it seems to be a base model. The Iroc doesn't have t-tops, power windows or rear defrost. It also has the 305 tpi/auto and 15 inch wheels. The RPO codes reflect this according to this site. My question is: I thought Iroc's were "top of the line" Camaro's, why is this one so stripped down compared to others that I have looked at? The car is all original with one repaint but all VIN stickers are in place.

 

Check under the console lid and check the RPO codes. You should see Z28 listed there which would verify it being an authentic IROC.

But I'm pretty sure, everything listed were options, not standard. Maybe the original owner was cheap?

 

Most of the IROCs sold were pretty well loaded - but as DJ pointed out, just about everything was technically an option, not standard. The IROC level did not automatically get you any luxury or convenience features. You could order an IROC as stripped down as a base-price Camaro if you wanted to.

 

GM offered the cars with different options so that the buyer could buy as little or as much car as they wanted. In the interest of keeping things simple, and taking advantage of marketing, for the 1988 model year, GM decided to make every Z28 an Irocz. Instead of UPGRADING every Z28 to Iroc status, they basically just painted the ground effects body color, and added Iroc badges. Aside from the cosmetic changes the entry level Iroc was basically the same as the previous years stripped down entry level Z28.

In 85-87 the Iroc was always an upgraded Z28, in 88-90 not so much.

 

What standard additional parts did the IROC package come with that you could not get unless you had an IROC? The 85-87 cars must of had special parts to distinguish them from standard Z28's. Did GM use the same parts on the 88-90 IROCS or did they drop the ball and use standard Z28 parts for the IROC package?

 

The Iroc package from 85-87 meant monochrome paint (GFX painted body color), Iroc decals, 16" wheels, and for 87 it was the only way to get a 350 TPI. Everything else on the Iroc was available on the Z28. The hood, body treatments, fog lights, all were available on the Z28. Theoretically the Iroc suspension was unique, it was advertised that way, but most of that individuality was related to the shocks and struts. Z28's had the same springs, sway bars, etc with RPO FE2. 88-up the Iroc package is dumbed down to just the FE2 suspension, paint, and decals. The 16" wheels were made optional, they weren't even part of an option package.

 

First and foremost - in 1988-1990, you could NOT get TPI unless it was a Z28 (and from 88-90, all Z28s were IROCs).

 

Thanks all for your replies your knowledge is very helpful.

 

Thanks all for your replies, your knowledge is very helpful.

 

One thing to remember is the IROC-Z was the top dog Z28 in 85-87. In 1988 - 90, all Z28s were IROC-Zs and not 2 different option lines, so the IROC-Z came as base as the earlier Z28s or as loaded as the earlier IROC-Zs.

 

It's not a base model. While it doesn't have many options it could have been worse. It could have ended up with just the LO3 TBI 5.0L engine. You got the LB9 TPI 5.0L engine. That's some good news among the few options that ride does have.

 

I don't know of any Camaro that came 'loaded' with all the options standard, other than the Berlinetta...even the fourth gen SS's didn't have leather or t-tops standard.