Throughout most of their existence, the F-bodies became generational cars, thanks in no small part to their long production cycles. Say the name Camaro or Firebird, and depending on your age, a very specific image will probably come to mind—whichever generation you grew up with. In my case, that image is the 1980s models. The trials of the era meant some were still saddled with malaise-era performance issues, but regardless, they were cars to be seen in. And in today’s images, there are plenty to choose from.
As I said, these were cars to be seen in. While a certain expectation of “performance” always hangs in the air when pony cars are mentioned, plenty of them were really the automotive equivalent of fashion. Not particularly well packaged, and some far removed from performance-oriented, but from entry-level inline-fours (in the early years) to V6s and V8s, there was a Camaro for just about anyone who wanted the pony-car looks. There were several appearance packages as well, with everything from alloy wheels to dog-dish hubcaps (again, early on). Berlinettas sat alongside the more performance-oriented Z28s and –from 1985 and on– IROC-Zs, with choices to suit a wide range of budgets. Then there were the colors—remember those?—along with ground effects, trim packages, and seemingly endless exterior combinations.
As usual with most of these vintage photos found online, none came with locations. Perhaps someone will be able to identify them in the comments. Regardless, judging by the cars, the images appear to date from the early to late 1980s—and there are plenty of Camaro choices to admire.
If you’re worried about picking an Iron Duke model from the earlier photos, here’s a somewhat later 1987–88 IROC-Z at Nalley Northside in Marietta, Georgia. As with most things automotive in the 1980s, the specs had improved over the years. By ’87, the IROC-Z featured a lowered ride height, stiffer stabilizer bars, Delco-Bilstein shocks, and an upgraded steering box with quicker response. Engine choices included the 305 V8 in either 165 or 215 horsepower form, or the 350 L98 with 225 horsepower. Doesn’t sound particularly impressive today, but they were enough to deliver 0–60 mph in about 6.3 seconds—and sounded a whole lot better than the 1982 Z28’s 145 and 165-hp offerings.
Regardless, if you liked these back in the day, you probably still have a soft spot for them today. They’re also relatively easy to set up with lots of upgraded hardware. Do any of these still survive in completely original form? That’s a challenge I’m not likely to take on. From the start, these were perennial customizable toys, and that was part of their appeal. But like all vintage things, what goes around comes around, and against today’s sea of tall SUVs and CUVs, these low-slung Camaros and Firebirds stand out in traffic once again.
All I need do to see an ’88 IROC-Z 350 is look out into my garage! I’m not the original owner, I’m #3, but I did REMOVE the “improvements” the previous owner had installed; which made the car run poorly. Now the car is back to stock and DOES run properly! 🙂 DFO
In their annual Camaro versus Mustang road test, when comparing the third gen Camaro against the Fox-body Mustang, they chose the latter. Although the Camaro technically won, they wrote that it was “one of those cars that was all numbers and not much fun.”
Interestingly, that situation would be reversed when the SN95 Mustang (particularly the OHC versions) went up against the 4th gen F-body with the LT1 engine and new six-speed combo.
Which publication are you referring to? Car And Driver had two separate Z28 vs. Mustang GT articles. The first one was from 1983, and the Z28 won. That article’s summary below in quotes:
“When you come right down to it, the Mustang and Camaro are awfully close. If you like low-speed stunt driving accompanied by clouds of tire smoke, the Mustang GT gets it. But when it comes to real driving, to harnessing the power of a big American V-8 and putting it down on the road, the Camaro Z28 H.O. is the clear winner.
Development has improved both cars tremendously. This year, Chevrolet wins by a nose, but who can guess what Ford is tooling up for 1984?”
Then there was another in 1987 where an IROC-Z, Firebird Formula, and Mustang GT went head to head. Their conclusion was really a draw based on buyer preferences:
“These cars are all good performers and fun to drive. The Mustang GT is best for powertrain, seating, and ride. The Firebird and Camaro excel in handling and looks.”
I’m pretty sure this dealership was John Smith Mazda in Smyrna, Georgia. The site is still a Chevy dealer today (Steve Rayman Chevrolet). A then-and-now comparison of the lot below shows how the popular vehicles in Georgia have changed over the decades.
The setting sure seemed like the South, and the view of a Mazda sign in the background of Picture #2 provided a big clue, because there were a lot fewer of those than Chevy dealers. A Mazda dealer (Chris Imports Mazda) was right next door to the John Smith Chevrolet.
Google StreetView link:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CukswRbjAaDXtPeC9
Yep that’s it! I recognized the original photo immediately being Cobb Pkwy/Hwy 41. Just up the road there northbound over the top of the hill is Dobbins Air Reserve Base to the left where the runway is. Great military plane spotting parking places all around there in business parking lots. That is also where the Lockheed plant is that continues to make the C-130J and was the final assembly plant of the F-22.
Also note the plastic center caps are missing on those Z28s. They’d get stolen at dealerships likely from others who lost theirs. I spot hot-glued mine on as all that held them in was plastic prongs. Aggressive driving or a bumpy road and they could fly off.
Those seats also point to that photo being from either 1982 or 1983 for the model year. In 1984 and up the Z28s had separate head rests.
I stand corrected. That could be a 1984 model year shot as the seats with the headrests were an upgrade option, but I remember the dealers optioning quite a few Z28s with the upgraded seats. One upgrade had “Camaro” written up and down the seat inserts.
My 84 Z-28 H.O. 5-speed undergoing PDI and delivery at Best Chevrolet in Hingham, Massachusetts. I worked their from 1978-1985 and saw a lot! I ordered the car from the factory and kept it over 20 years accumulating 235,000 miles. Wish I still had it!
The Camaro has been scuttled twice but I’m sure it will be back. It will have a lot more cargo room in it’s next incarnation.
The green IROC Z all by itself with the Armor Alled tires is in Marietta Georgia according to the rear license plate.
I used to rent them (V6) on business trips back in the mid/late 80’s. They were a hoot to beat the tar out of, but took it well. The T-bird of that era, we found that you could hold the brake pedal, give it throttle until the car twisted enough that traction was lost on the right wheel and you could just spin it while sitting stationary (creating a huge cloud of rubber smoke). Tip: don’t ever buy a used rental…
“Tip: don’t ever buy a used rental…”
A friend of mine worked for a rental company at the airport while in college. His favorite line was always “Rental cars are the fastest cars in the world.”
Yes, I have taken an Altima where a Jeep would have been a better choice.
Nice pictures, I remember the locals calling them “bellybuttons” because ‘everyone had one’ .
I cannot imaging the thrashy Iron Duke engine in one of these .
-Nate
That held pretty true throughout the years for the 2 (later 3) pony cars, the Camaro, Mustang, and Challengers of the mid-2000’s to present. Impossible not to see dozens of each of them on the roads now. In my town (roughly 50,000 people), I only know of 2 regularly-driven 3rd gen camaros and 2 firebirds I see around town.
I had an ’84 Z28 in high school, which was bought used a year old, someone traded it in on a new ’85 IROC-Z. There were changes to the Camaro Z28 from 1984-1985 with deeper body aero skirts, a revised hood fake twin scoop design, rear tail light update, and interior gauge redesign. It was a fun car with the L69 “H.O.” engine which cranked out 190hp, but was saddled with a slush box. It had T-tops which took priority for me then and cruising in Florida in mall marking lots and to the beach! In 1986 that third tail light was added on to the hatchback glass at the top and really looked goofy. Thankfully in 1987 it was integrated into the rear spoiler for both the Camaro and Firebird.
I traded that car in on a 1988 Trans Am GTA in college, as I liked the looks better and definitely the interior felt better quality than the IROC-Z I also looked at. I ordered the GTA and that was my first experience with checking boxes which would be my car my way. A great feeling.
But back to these pictures, I do not recall a mint green type Z28/IROC-Z color in any year. I sure never saw one, because if I did, it may have changed my mind on the GTA! I love that color. I just checked and for 1987 and Chevrolet, there is an RPO color code 43 for “Light Green Metallic” but it was not available for the Camaro. Was that a rare custom color allowed by a dealer? The IROC-Z sticker is even a green tint!
One final thought, these F-bodies were made in either the Van Nuys CA plant or the one in Norwood Ohio. Rumors spread that the CA plant had serious quality control issues in the mid to late 1980s, but my GTA was built there and it never had a squeak or problem.
I had a ’79 Trans Am that I had modded to the point that it was a mid 13 second car, on stock sized tires, but the first time I saw an Iroc-Z Camaro, I was hooked on getting one. A relative was a sales person at Tommy Thomas Chevy in Panama City, FL. We were on a trip down there in October of ’86, so I went and looked. I had been told by multiple dealers that there would be no 350 Irocs for ’87, and I was dopey enough to believe them. Never believe anything a dealer tells you! Anyway, there was a maroon Iroc with (IMHO) an awful camel colored interior. I ended up getting a really good deal on it and drove it off the lot a couple of hours later. It did have some issues, the engine had a coolant leak from the intake manifold gasket on the driver’s side, and a couple of pieces of trim were cracked from the screws being gorillaed. After that stuff was fixed, I drove the hell out of it for the next week, just to make sure all was well before driving it from FL to NW Ohio. I flew a friend of mine down to drive my Caravan back and after we went to Radio Shack and bought the cheapest CB radios and magnet mount antennas they had, we headed for home. The trip home was uneventful, the Iroc did fine, but the interior squeaking when cold drove me crazy, and it just got worse. As we approached home, we passed by the Pontiac dealership, and a transporter was unloading a half dozen Trans Ams, and we stopped to check them out. Yep, all of them were 350 cars! Needless to say, I wasn’t happy about it at all. I was obsessed with getting rid of the squeaks and rattles, and never loved the car because of the 305 engine, the camel interior, the awful stereo, and the endless computer issues it had. Yes, they were covered under the emissions warranty, but they were never ending. Knock sensor, some kind of relay died a couple of times, it got to be “Does it run OK with the check engine light on?”, then I’m not gonna worry about it. By the time I sold it in 1996, I had most of the squeaks and rattles solved, I had replaced the stereo and speakers, and I had grown to just hate the tan interior a little bit. I want dark gray or black interiors, nothing else, and tan/brown is the one I hate the most. My biggest regret was selling off my T/A and seeing it once in a while. If I could go back, I would have resisted the Iroc urge, and maybe waited long enough for a 350 car, or just kept the T/A and had it painted like I had planned to. I don’t know where the Iroc is now, but the T/A is alive and well, painted a slightly darker red than it originally was.
“I don’t know where the Iroc is now”
If you still have the VIN info on that car in old records you can look it up in registration activity and look at when and where it has been registered after you (but you’ll have to pay for a one-time report like on CARFAX). It can also show service records if the auto service center participates in the CARFAX maintenance database.
I did just that for my ’88 GTA years ago wondering whatever happened to it – ordered new in Florida, then moved with me to Georgia after college. Traded it in on a 1994 Firebird Formula in Atlanta. The last record of registration for that GTA was in 2006 in Missouri. Favoring odds are it went to the crusher, and I’m sure yours met that same fate as most did. Many were modified to stupidity and ruined and abused until dead.
Interesting that you were in Panama City in 1986 as I was “next door” to the west in Fort Walton Beach. It was September ’87 when I ordered that ’88 GTA at the Pontiac dealership. With all the problems yours had with squeaks I wonder if it was built in the Van Nuys CA plant. Quite a few quality complaints out of there in the F-body production in those 1980s years, but I never had a problem with mine. Must have been a Wednesday car!
In my mind, one of the most iconic car designs of the 1980’s. Yes, they were rough and you could see and feel where GM was saving money, but the Z/28s were thrilling and the Camaro was generally affordable; no wonder they seemed to be everywhere.
I believe Mustang overall sold more in that decade but I feel the Fox body had less visual impact than the Camaro