Not many people would know what to do with a 1985 Camaro IROC-Z, let alone one that has been sitting for more than 28 years. Fortunately, classic car prospectors exist – and scouring through the isolated countryside looking for hidden relics like this is precisely what tickles their fancy.
Dylan McCool, in a YouTube video, recently stumbled upon a one-of-one 1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z. In case you don’t know, the Camaro IROC-Z has a special backstory. It was born out of the International Race of Champions (IROC) that debuted in 1974. This was a motorsport extravaganza designed to bring out the very best driver in the world – a battle purely based on skill.
According to a YouTuber, the one-of-one classic racer had been abandoned for close to 30 years. The 1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z had been parked in a storage unit since 1997 – along with two other vehicles. On his most recent episode, McCool was attempting the impossible – bringing this classic motorsport heritage vehicle back to life.
McCool is looking to restore the 1985 Camaro IROC-Z to its former glory
“Today, we see if this IROC can be restored to its former glory,” he said, introducing the classic sports car in its current state.
McCool and his team had dug this classic racer out of a storage unit. His first line of action before cranking the engine was to perform a thorough overhaul of the fuel system, ensure the ignition system was where it needed to be, and check the engine oil.
The 1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z featured an optional base LG4 305-cid small-block V8 (optional L69 305 capable of 190 hp) that produced 155 hp (157 ps) and 240 lb-ft (325 Nm) of torque.
McCool’s find is white with a red interior. The seats were still in good condition. It featured a convertible top (no rips or tears). This ‘85 Camaro IROC-Z also came with air conditioning, power steering, and brakes. It also had 92,000 miles on the odometer, which the YouTuber believes to be genuine.
Underneath, the floor looked good; however, he noted that the exhaust system was a bit rusty (the muffler was fine, but the tailpipe needed replacing). The swaybar in-links were gone, and the fuel tank had a leak – at the time of publishing the video, he’d ordered a replacement.
Did it crank to life? Well, we wouldn’t want to spoil all that fun for you – we’ll let you enjoy that fun and more in the video below. Sit tight, the video is a little over an hour long, but we promise, you’ll love his meticulousness in trying to get this classic sports car running.
