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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
GM didn't make any 350 Convertibles. However, in 1987, ASC made the vert for Chevrolet as a 20th Anniversary Edition in a 305 only, but dealers and owners were able to buy a 1987 350 car and have it converted. Instead of being listed as a 20th Anniversary model, it was labeled Special Edition and had a numbered plaque. The 350 cars are ALL VIN'd with a 2 as the sixth digit, while a factory vert had a 3.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by 88IROCvertZ
Looks a lot better, but not ready for wax.. I think some more polishing time will do wonders..
Looks like a 60-100 hour polish job to me.. I have a feeling Chazman doesn’t mind
Only bummer is once you get more reflection, you’ll probably find more dings.. hopefully not..
You know me too well!
I find that kind of thing fun, relaxing and satisfying . I’m now considering ordering the Dr Color Chip road rash kit. Many hundreds of stone chips have become visible. Too many to do individually. BTW, it took 2 clay bars to get around the car once. The first one went ***** up halfway around the car.
I need to find a PDR guy willing to work on this car. The sheet metal is super thin compared to a 3rd gen.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Thanks for throwing me under the bus Scott... You should have at least added to my 2016 Roush RS3 the 2005 Mustang Convertible I bought for my wife just to kick me further under the bus while you were at it.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
You know how we joke about poor build quality and how crude our cars are? Well, get yourself a Fox body and see the difference. You'll think your IROC or GTA were made by BMW!
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
The Mustang has never had the build quality of a Camaro or Firebird... Ford period has never had the build quality of a GM product for sure... Except for maybe a GEO... And I own 2 Fords... I know... Lincoln is on par with Buick from what I can tell however.
one thing that the new Mustang has over the Camaro is 1) Mustang is much more comfortable to sit in 2) You can see out of a Mustang. Camaro is claustrophobic.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by okfoz
The Mustang has never had the build quality of a Camaro or Firebird... Ford period has never had the build quality of a GM product for sure... Except for maybe a GEO... And I own 2 Fords... I know... Lincoln is on par with Buick from what I can tell however.
one thing that the new Mustang has over the Camaro is 1) Mustang is much more comfortable to sit in 2) You can see out of a Mustang. Camaro is claustrophobic.
and 3) The Mustang is better looking than the new Camaro.....
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Appearances wise there is definitely less of a gap between the Camaro and Mustang today with the 6th generations. However go back to the 80's and 90's and the Mustang was down right homely compared to the F-body. The Fox Mustang looked like a modified Chevette, or one of those 80's chargers, or something... It really was not that special looking... The 94-04 Stang was slightly better than the 79-93, but way way behind appearances to the 4th gen. I own a 2005 Mustang and honestly the build quality is maybe slightly only slightly better than a late 3rd gen...
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by okfoz
The Firebird, especially the 98-92 was easily the best looking of the bunch. The 93-97 not so much unless it had the ram air hood.
agreed. Saw a mint 93 Firehawk at a cruise night the other night and it got a lot of attention. I’d say the 4th gen Firehawk is the winner of the mid-late 90s. True classic.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Lots of Fox Mustang hate. IMO the 5.0 LX coupe is one of the nicest cars ever made, especially 92-93 with body color mouldings. If they look like a Chevette I'd have to say an IROC looks like an 88-90 Z24 hahaha. Those early 80s chargers did have a similar looking front clip tho.
Fourth gens the 98-02 Bird is definitely the nicest of the bunch. Camaro I'd have to hit a 97 because no catfish and has the newer dash. The 93-96 dash is pure *****.
Mustangs 05-09 I don't find they are aging well. Later S197s (10-14) look outstanding.
2015 - present -- Mustang wins all the way. Challenger second and Camaro dead last for me. We had a green 2017 SS 1LE traded in at my work. Nice car but all I saw was a donor motor for my Trans AM hahaha. I swear I would rather rock a mint IROC over any 5th and 6th gen.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by okfoz
The Firebird, especially the 98-92 was easily the best looking of the bunch. The 93-97 not so much unless it had the ram air hood.
I was only thinking of Camaro's. The best looking 4th gens are the Firehawks hands down. The biggest problem with the fourth gen is even the SLP cars had wheel and tire combinations that are too small. It's most noticeable if you are looking at an angle of the back of the car.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Don't take me wrong... It is not that I "hate" the Fox Mustang, but it just seemed bland compared to the 82-92 F-body. The Capri was a much much better looking car from 79 - early 80's than its Mustang Sibling...
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by okfoz
Don't take me wrong... It is not that I "hate" the Fox Mustang, but it just seemed bland compared to the 82-92 F-body. The Capri was a much much better looking car from 79 - early 80's than its Mustang Sibling...
I agree, the first time I sat in a 88 Fox Mustang LX I was disappointed that It felt like I was in my friend’s mom’s Taurus station wagon. The first time I saw an IROC up close I was sold. More exotic, more muscular stance, sporty, muscular interior with that “Z28 IROC Z” badge just staring at you.. The Mustangs grew on me as more of a sleeper type car. The first time I got barked at by an LX notchback I was taken aback. And even moreso when it would beat me by more than a car length.. Wouldn’t expect that from it’s looks which is a cool thing.
Last edited by 88IROCvertZ; 08-22-2018 at 03:25 PM.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by 88IROCvertZ
Looks solid! Interior looks good too!
The undercarriage of this car is immaculate. It should clean up great once I power wash it. I think I'm done rubbing on this paint, it's as shiny as it's gonna get.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by 88IROCvertZ
I agree, the first time I sat in a 88 Fox Mustang LX I was disappointed that It felt like I was in my friend’s mom’s Taurus station wagon. The first time I saw an IROC up close I was sold. More exotic, more muscular stance, sporty, muscular interior with that “Z28 IROC Z” badge just staring at you.. The Mustangs grew on me as more of a sleeper type car. The first time I got barked at by an LX notchback I was taken aback. And even moreso when it would beat me by more than a car length.. Wouldn’t expect that from it’s looks which is a cool thing.
After I got my black IROC, I realized almost immediately I wasn't going to daily drive it. I kept my old '84 GLH going, but it was becoming a maintenance nightmare. I almost bought a '90 LX notch, 5 speed, 3.08 as a daily driver. I reconsidered and got something FWD.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by chazman
You know how we joke about poor build quality and how crude our cars are? Well, get yourself a Fox body and see the difference. You'll think your IROC or GTA were made by BMW!
Told you so... Not a whole lot to them for sure.
Main reason they muscled well against the 3rd gens is because there just wasn't much weight there.
Which in turn made them fun to drive.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by F-body-fan
Told you so... Not a whole lot to them for sure.
Main reason they muscled well against the 3rd gens is because there just wasn't much weight there.
Which in turn made them fun to drive.
Yes you did. And I knew it, but really know it now!
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by George Klass
I had one, an 89 lol. My grandfather has an 84 Eurosport. In Greece since 1990. I love that car. We are both 84s and it was my first introduction to the General.
Just about anyone that has owned a Celebrity has liked it. A Eurosport with the 2.8 was a darn fine car, not to mention that with a good set of tires, the handling was very near that of a 3rd gen.
And imho, the comparison of a fox body to a Chevette was not a good one. They always reminded me of an Escort EXP. The early GT's were the better looking of the Fox's though.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
The chevette was a complete roller-skate. It was in a league of its own. Built cheap & meant for economy only.
From just a build quality perspective to GM, I would compare the Fox bodies closer to the Chevy Monza's & Vegas.
While not being produced throughout the same time period, they had a lot of the same type of fit & finish characteristics imo. The 89 mustang GT was a cool year. If I was to get another GT, it would be a solid colored 87-89 5 speed,
The ground effects with the finned wheels & body colored taillights was a cool look. Not a fan of the two tone with silver bottom though. The front end that came out in 87 seemed ok at the time, but doesn't do much for me today.
Last edited by F-body-fan; 08-25-2018 at 05:49 AM.
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by chazman
Anyone here ever regret selling a car?
Not yet, but I got cold feet on selling my GTA. It's still listed, but I'm not pushing the sale and I'm not moving on price if anyone asks. So maybe I'm avoiding some heartburn?
I do regret not buying your 83Z, but it just wasn't a good time for me $$ wise. I'm in position now to buy it, which is the annoying part LOL
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by 1MeanZ
Not yet, but I got cold feet on selling my GTA. It's still listed, but I'm not pushing the sale and I'm not moving on price if anyone asks. So maybe I'm avoiding some heartburn?
I do regret not buying your 83Z, but it just wasn't a good time for me $$ wise. I'm in position now to buy it, which is the annoying part LOL
Do you regret getting rid of the 'stang?
No regrets. Sometimes you are just done with a car, and the desire to own it ends like someone clicked off a light switch. I figured I’d sell it in the Spring or Summer and just put it on eBay for the heck of it - and whaddya know it sold!
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
I have sold several cars over the years, I have never really regretted it. I might miss them, never said "I should not have sold that" It is a perk of owning a 3rd gen, they are comparatively cheap...
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by okfoz
I have sold several cars over the years, I have never really regretted it. I might miss them, never said "I should not have sold that" It is a perk of owning a 3rd gen, they are comparatively cheap...
Re: 1987 IROC-Z convertible. Are 4 IROCs too many?
Originally Posted by F-body-fan
Seeing you know what he paid for it, it should be the same price?
Here's the thing. When I sold it, I felt that for me personally, I would NEVER spend that kind of money on this car. Not that it wasn't worth it for someone, just not me. He wants me to buy it for $1500 more than what I sold it to him for. Probably still fair, but if there is no way I'd spend what I sold it for, I'm certainly not going to buy it for even more.
It would have to be for substantially less than I sold it for. Plus there is also the crazy price of shipping nowadays to consider.
The current owner has A LOT of cars. But he wants to make room for a Ferrari and a all steel deuce coupe. Also some changes were made in the past 3 years. He installed a tan top, (like he had on it's twin back in the day), had the carb rebuilt even though it didn't need it and removed the cat because his mechanic said it was clogged.
I think.....I'd be in at around $14K, which probably means this deal won't happen.