Page 190 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

Convertibles started life as T-Tops shipped to American Specialty in 1987. It also introduced the Corvette-sourced 5.7-liter port-
Cars (an aftermarket convertible manufacturer that also built Cavalier and Toyota Celica convertibles) for conversion. All 1,007 factory Camaro convertibles produced that year wore a badge on the dash reading “20th Anniversary Commemorative Edition.”
The convertible wasn’t the only trick Chevrolet had up its sleeve
TOP: Camaro convertible returned to the lineup in 1987 after being dropped in 1969. Approximately 1,000 cars were converted by American Sunroof Corporation.
ABOVE: Tuned Port Injection V8 replaced throttle-body “Cross Fire” version and was offered in 5.0 and 5.7-liter variants.
188Wayne CariniAffordable Classics
injected V8 in an effort to keep up with the Ford Mustang GT. Though the engine was detuned and available only with the four- speed automatic, Motor Trend’s testing found that it still produced 225 horsepower and 330 lb ft of torque for a 6.4-second 0-60 mph run, and a Mustang-beating 14.43 second quarter mile at 94.6 mph. In early 1986, Car and Driver also pitted the newly enhanced Camaro against the Mustang and found it an interesting matchup between the better suspended Camaro and the lighter Mustang. In the end, the Mustang won the test, but not without plaudits to the Camaro’s chassis tuning: “In fact,” said Car and Driver, “it was excellent controllability that gave the IROC-Z its big advantage at Willow Springs. The Z’s nearly neutral cornering balance and ability to segue smoothly from understeer to oversteer made driving on the track easy. In long, sweeping corners, it was a cinch to choose a line and set the car’s attitude by gently caressing the throttle.”
In a bit of order sheet skullduggery that helped make the IROC-Z more competitive in SCCA Showroom Stock road racing events, buyers could opt for the $675 “G92” option. When ordered without air conditioning, G92 triggered the 1LE package, which included a long list of performance options, such as larger 11.65-inch rotors with two-piston aluminum calipers; an aluminum driveshaft; a special baffled fuel tank plus specific shock absorbers and stiffer suspension bushings. The fog lamps were also deleted (except in 1988). All buyers had to choose was the powertrain: either the 5.0-liter TPI V8 with 230 hp and 300 lb ft of torque and a five- speed manual, or the 245-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 mated to a four- speed auto. Only 111 were built in 1989.
With sales dwindling, the Camaro didn’t get significant changes for the rest of its lifetime as Chevy prepped for a sleeker follow-up. Model year 1990 was the last for the legendary Camaro IROC-Z as Chevy let its sponsorship with the series lapse.