I originally posted this in the Appearance and Detailing forum...I overlooked this board. Thought you all might be interested! Here goes (apologies if you've already seen this):

Hello all. My father and I are currently in the process of restoring a 1985 red California IROC. I've been reading these boards a lot lately looking for information on what's best for our cars, and have just now been able to get some pictures taken and posted of the car. There is a lot of history tied up in this little red beast.

For those of you who don't know, the California IROCs were part of a special promotional package offered only in California (thus the name), which had the decals, stripe, and rear spoiler removed. Only 500 (or 502 - there are conflicting claims) were made...I've heard from one source 250 red/250 black, and Dave Sauro, who owns a black hardtop Cali, has been quoted as saying 400 red/100 black. This special delete package is signified with the RPO code 1C5 (one - not "I"). I have only seen a few California IROC pictures on the internet - I have yet to see another one with T-Tops.

Anyways, I'd just like to give everyone a big "Hi" and hope to see you around the boards!

If you have any questions about the car's authenticity, feel free to contact me either here or by e-mail. I've provided the RPO/VIN # for verification.









-Anthony Helton

 

Adam,

Very nice. And welcome to our little corner of the world, where we like to discuss rarities and oddities!!

Are you the original owner(s)? Also, did GM have any promotional literature on these cars?

I've taken the liberty of posting a pic of Dave's car.

 

I don't believe GM offered any literature upon release of the car. Since then the only places I've seen info on it are in various Camaro Collector's books. (White Book, etc.)

I am the 4th owner of this car, with my dad being the 3rd. It has been in an accident, and stolen, and had its wheels stripped. (Accident was before I owned it, wheels were stolen while my dad owned it). After the wheels were stolen it sat in our driveway for 3 years, without ever being run. So, in the past 2 years, and $15,000 later...it has:

-Rebuilt motor (original block of course!), bored over slightly, giving it displacement of somewhere between 310-315, and with a more wild cam
-Rebuilt 700R4 Transmission with a "Jr." Shift Kit and corvette servo installed
-New Bilstein Shocks/Struts
-Used IROC-Z Wheels (off an 87)
-Dunlop SP Sport 5000s (soon to be Goodyear Eagle F1s)
-New ECM (original died)
-All-new cooling system (hoses, etc. - not the radiator though)
-New Master Cylinder
-New Brake Booster
-New Starter
-New Calipers/Rotors
-New Power Steering System (complete)
-New Fuel System (old one was ruined, gas left in the tank turned to varnish after sitting 3 years)
-New Steering Column (old one was busted open to steal the car)
-Passenger-side door lock fixed (jacked it open with a screwdriver)
-Alarm System Installed
-Original stereo removed (and stored safely - for collector's value)
-New Pioneer stereo system put in, complete with new pioneer speakers all around

That's pretty much it. It still needs:

-Bondo in front pass. fender and rear pass. quarter panel replaced w/metal (if possible)
-TONS of door dings/small dents removed
-A NICE paintjob
-SFC's
-New Headliner
-New weatherstripping
-New IROC wheels (or polish existing ones)
-Front-right strut needs to be replaced (defective from factory - makes a popping sound on bumps when turning)
-Drivetrain is making a rattling noise (under warranty)

Unfortunately, although the list has now grown small, there's still a good $10,000 _at least_ ahead of me. Probably more like another $15,000 (especially if I get those bondo panels replaced). Which would put me at about a total of $30,000. Hopefully it's worth something someday! But if not, it's still fun to drive, and _can_ look sharp

 

Nice car, I like the clean look of it. Although it does look odd with out the rear spoiler.

 

I love the california IROCs. If I ever do a stock restoration someday, I hope it's on one of those, or a 1LE car.

 

Jim,
When are you gonna post some California IROC pic's on your site? Now you have a black one (I think you have my pic's), and a red one! (If Anthony agrees).

Dave Sauro

 

Hehe, I'm always down for people posting pics of my car

-Anthony

 

Theres a second gen version of that sitting in my backyard. Its my cousins, he bought it back from Cali with him (we're in Philly). It's a 79 Berlinetta w/ T tops and a rebuilt 350. He's storing it here, it has no spoiler or defroster (but then did any 2nd gens have defrosters??). Just thought I'd share.

 

Nice car!! Can you take a few of the rear (high lighting the no-spoiler) and post?

I am thinking of leaving it off if I repaint.

thanks

 

I'll take it out for another photo shoot in the next couple days, and snag some rear pics for you.

-Anthony Helton

 

I love the way those Cali. cars look... they are so clean looking

Great looking car man, 2 thumbs up!

 

A lot of 2nd gens had a fan for rear defrost---up unitl a certain year when they got the electric grid--but the no spoiler thing was a lot more common then it was for thirdgens. I've seen alot of 70-73 Formulas with no spoliers.

But thats a totally different thing then a California Iroc

 

Anchient thread bump!

Ever get those rear pics? Learn anything new about the CA Iroc?

 

They should come with the following options:

- Heavy Duty radiator for the hours of traffic you will sit in.
- Non-Tinted windows to flip off the person who just cut you off.
- Triple coated underbody to handle all the trash, potholes, and tar/rocks from construction you will run over.
- A 4-cyl vehicle with 5 catalytic converters, swirl port heads, running on natural gas producing almost partially zero emissions and yet this still won't pass California's smog check.
- A 275 MPH Speedo to match the average speed a person drives on a California highway.
- Bullet proof panels, theft resistant wheels, and a feature with a flick of a switch can make the car looked like a rusted out POS for when you get lost in Compton or South Central L.A.

Now that's a true California car.

 

 

So, why was this a package? Any why only for California?