“Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” has been the rationale behind factory involvement in motorsports for eons. Whether or not success on the race track actually translates to higher sales numbers, I don’t know, but that doesn’t stop automakers from offering commemorative editions of cars with ties to racing. And if that racing involves a one-make series, the bragging rights are there for the taking. Both Chevy and Dodge cashed in on this one, in their time, and today we’re going to take a look at one of each of their special editions.
Both of our competitors yesterday were powered by the same engine, the venerable Chevy 350 small-block. One or two of you took umbrage at my calling the Jeep Commando “ugly,” but that’s tough; I stand by my assessment. The old green Checker cab is no beauty queen either, but enough of you preferred it to give it a slight win.
I agree. I love removable-top 4x4s, but the late-model Commando would be way down on my list if I were actually to go looking for one. I just can’t get over that front end, or see over it, probably. Besides, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Checker. It’s just so brutish and utilitarian that it comes across as charming. Plus, it would match my truck.
What would happen if you took the best racing drivers from all different series, who are all used to driving different types of cars, and let them race against each other in a bunch of identical cars? That was the idea behind the International Race of Champions, or IROC for short. (It’s “international” in the same way the baseball “World Series” involves the whole world, but whatever.) But what car do you choose for such an elite gathering of drivers? In 1974, for IROC’s first season, Porsche 911s were used. But from 1975 until 1990, the IROC series was run with Chevy Camaros. By 1985, the popularity of the series prompted Chevy to offer the IROC-Z package for the Camaro Z28.
In 1990, IROC switched from Chevy to Dodge, and the cars were Dodge Daytonas, at least visually. Under the skin they were RWD tube-frame stock cars, just like the Camaros had been. Seeing the success of the IROC-Z Camaro, Dodge wasted no time in creating an IROC package for the Daytona. But the Daytona IROCs are a lot harder to come by than the Camaros are. Our friend Stephen Walter Gossin found one for sale this week, though, so I had to go and find a nice Camaro IROC to pit against it. Let’s check them out.
1987 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 IROC-Z – $17,500
Engine/drivetrain: 5.0-liter (or maybe 5.7 liter) OHV V8, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Menasha, WI
Odometer reading: 62,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
If you’re close to my age, there was probably some guy in your high school who drove an IROC Camaro, and he was probably a dick. [Ed Note: This is a song reference and not a stereotype, I’m realizing. -DT]. But that’s not the car’s fault. The IROC-Z was as fancy as Camaros got in the ’80s, with bigger tires, stiffer suspension, and more power than a standard Z28. It also had the all-important “IROC-Z” lettering along the bottom of the doors, because what was the point of spending the extra money if you couldn’t brag about it? The suspension improvements really did help, though, and made the already-good-handling Camaro even better.
A few different flavors of small-block V8 were offered in the IROC. This one obviously has Tuned Port fuel injection, but I don’t know whether it’s a 305 or a 350. It’s a difference of thirty-five horsepower in the automatic cars, which is significant. We get very little information about this car, only that it has low miles, new tires, and a new battery. Any further assessment of its condition will have to be done in person.
I don’t remember seeing very many red-on-red IROCs, and I’m not sure I like it. It’s too much red, I think. It is in good condition, except for a little wear on the driver’s seat. It has an aftermarket stereo, which one would hope is good enough to make your Mötley Crüe CDs rattle the T-tops. Don’t have any Crüe CDs? That’s all right; there’s a CD holder in the back seat, and I’d bet a Bud Light there’s one in there.
With fresh registration, new tires, and a new battery, I suspect this car was just recently pulled out of storage, which would explain the low mileage. It also probably spared it from a lot of Wisconsin winters, so I wouldn’t be too worried about rust underneath. And for this price, there had better not be any.
1993 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T – $9,000
Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 2.2-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Bolivia, NC
Odometer reading: 103,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The Dodge Daytona didn’t have the long pedigree of the Camaro, having only arrived on the scene in 1984, but it had a lot going for it. Performance-oriented versions of the Daytona were available from the start, with turbocharged engines, and later some suspension tuning by Carroll Shelby. Sure, it was front-wheel drive, and based on the lowly K-car, but the Daytona managed to hold its own performance-wise against the Camaro and Mustang. After IROC made the switch from Chevy to Dodge, the Daytona IROC hit showrooms, with all the Shelby goodies and special badging. But Dodge saved the best Daytona for last; in 1992 and ’93, a special IROC R/T model was offered, with a little something extra under the hood.
In place of the usual 2.5-liter turbo or Mitsubishi 3.0-liter V6 engine, the R/T featured a twin-cam 16-valve, 2.2-liter turbo engine, making an impressive 224 horsepower. It’s the same engine found in the infamous Dodge Spirit R/T sedan, as well as a select few Chrysler TCs by Maserati. It was only available with a five-speed manual, of course, and probably yanks the steering wheel right out of your hands with the torque-steer it produces. But hey, a tribute to a race car should be a little raucous, right? This one has just a little over a hundred thousand miles on it, and the seller says it runs and drives well.
If there’s one place where this car is a step backward from earlier Daytonas, it’s the dashboard. I never did like this redesigned dashboard, which was also shared with the Chrysler LeBaron at the time. The switchgear feels cheap and flimsy, and some controls are in downright weird places. The old square dash was a lot more logical. Nevertheless, it’s in good condition, and those seats do look comfortable.
I love the seller’s attempt at some artsy shots in this ad, but the trailer under a tarp in the background kind of spoils it. Oh well, at least they tried. You can see that the Daytona’s paint is in great shape, and the body is nice and straight. I wouldn’t expect any rust issues on this one either, but take a peek underneath just to make sure. I love the fact that both this car and the Camaro have aftermarket louvers on the rear windows. That’s something you don’t see much anymore. Does anybody even make them for newer cars?
So that’s our show for next week. See, I didn’t get too weird with the choices. Well, except for those trucks. Next week, I think I’m going to go international and look at some cheap car options overseas that are old enough to import. Until then, you can choose which era of IROC you want to celebrate. Thanks for reading!
We used to say that IROC stood for “Italian [Rooster] Out Cruising”.
Neither in most cases, the TPI was a boat anchor of a motor. ran out of steam at 4,000 RPM. the Daytona is the 2.2, which was always kind of meh, it is kind of reminiscent of the GLHS versions, but man those Stationary Headlights and fugly wheels made that year Daytona particularly unattractive to me. but it does have a manual trans, so I guess I would begrudgingly go that route.
The IROCZ and even just the Z28 in 87 had the best looking 16 inch wheels. and it looks far more attractive, but not at that price. I would have to spend about 10k to make the drivetrain more my style and I would not want tot do that in the end.
Not Mötley Crüe, with all that red it needs a little more Curry.
https://youtu.be/kXPCsaO_55o
That’s a rather tender subject. For me, no matter how you slice it, it’s still Meatloaf.
Ah yes, Mr Loaf.
Like them both, like the Camero more, but not at that price difference. Give me the Daytona.
I could easily be convinced to spend $18k on a 350-equipped Trans Am GTA, in maroon with the gold wheels. Today I will be voting for the rare Daytona.
Camaro level: bitchin’. I don’t care if it’s overpriced, I wanna let my inner dirtbag loose.
Came here for bitchin’ Camaro.
You had me at “T-top” plus the low miles and RWD. I did know someone in high school with one of these, same model same year but white. But that was so long ago it was brand new. He was actually a very nice guy and drove it like he had a driver’s ed teacher in the car. Its 1987, you are a teenager with a new IROC Z and you never smoke the tires leaving school, maybe that’s the dick move?
Ha ha, I actually thought it was the other way around:
“One is quite possibly the least attractive vehicle ever to carry the Jeep name, and the other is also pretty ugly, but iconic”
Well, I guess it’s you calling both ugly! I was just surprised that you called the Checker pretty ugly…of course it’s all subjective anyway.
Camaro! I really like this one and it’s in great shape. Even though the Daytona is a stick, I just prefer the Camaro more. The Dodge is still a cool car though. I will have a blast cruising in the Camaro w/ the awesome V8!
Im having a vision… get the camero, pull out the 305 and auto, swap in a 5.0 coyote and put in a dct… improve performance and give heart attacks
The Camaro is cool but overpriced. The Daytona (with all due respect with our SWG) is the unlikely offspring of a Plymouth Reliant and a Renault Fuego.
A front overhang that belittles Cyrano de Bergerac is an instant bone-killer.
Aw, come on now!
That Daytona is the heat!
If it’s Autopian money “With David We Rust” then the only IROC car I want is the Porsche 911 RSR.
The Camaro is rear wheel drive. Discussion over.
Why is the Conquest/Starion RWD but the Daytona is FWD?
The Conquest/Starion is a captive import based on a Mitsubishi RWD platform and the Daytona is based on the K Car platform.
The IROC is most likely a 305, if it hasn’t been swapped. In ’87 you couldn’t get the 5.7L with tops, only hard top. Anything with TTops is a 305 (5.0).
Funny thing is, with the Camaro having the 305, the Daytona would likely beat it in a drag race.
I actually like both, but not in love with either. I’d rather drive the IROC, the roof comes off and it makes the right noises.
You mean the IROC, or the IROC?
Oooh… a Daytona with the DOHC 16V turbo with the manual? Sign me up! Those things were cool… way cooler and way more special than any slushbox Z28 from the 1980s
And the fact that it’s half the cost of that Z28 is just icing on the cake.
The price of that Z28 is pure crackpipe.
As much as I truly love Turbo Mopars (especially DOHC Turbo III Turbo Mopars), it’s the Camaro for me, hands down.
Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, the 3rd Gen Camaro (and Firebird, for that matter) was everywhere and highly coveted. I had piles of toy 3rd Gen Z28’s and Trans Ams, and I loved watching the M.A.S.K. cartoon with the flying Z28 and Knight Rider. I also spent a lot of time in and around 3rd Gens, from my mom’s friend who used to take us around in her ’82 Z28, to my cousin Enzo who had a few different IROCs, including one that looked identical to this one. But one of my dad’s friends had the one that had the greatest influence on me as a young gearhead. We’ll call him “Crazy Bobby”.
Crazy Bobby was the “fun” friend my dad had back in the day. He was like a big kid, and he did whatever he wanted at all times. I suspect a lot of his lowered inhibitions came from his probable supply of nose candy, but hey, it was the 80’s! One day, he rolled up to our house in his new car, which was a blue 1988 or ’89 IROC 350. He had fitted it with an aftermarket exhaust, and it sounded really great. I was geeking out over it BIG TIME. And surprise, he was there to take my sister and I to an amusement park in Rhode Island called Rocky Point. Awesome!
Well… there was one problem: He had his wife and daughter in the car, and with my sister and I, that was a total of 5 people. These cars seat 4.
Bobby opened the hatch and said, “Tony, just hop in back here, you’ll have your own little spot!”.
He stuffed me in the spare tire well in the hatch and closed it.
Next to a Flowmaster muffler belting out the soundtrack of that Tuned Port Injected 350ci V8.
On a trip from Boston to coastal Rhode Island and back.
Needless to say, that was the last time Crazy Bobby babysat me or took me anywhere. That trip probably gave me Stockholm Syndrome or something similar (or maybe permanent hearing loss, I’m not sure) but I don’t care. I still love these stupid mullet machines.
He lives on my block/ And drives an IROC
But it’s just a dirtbag Chrysler, baby
Even if you moved the decimal point over on that Camaro, I’d still pick the Daytona. It just seems more interesting and more special.
By 1993 at least the Daytona had an actual turn signal stalk and not that dumb up and down lever that came out of the side of the dashboard.
Even though it is substantially more expensive I prefer the Camaro just for the 80s vibes, maybe I can find my Members Only jacket put away somewhere.
Daytona, Camaro just doesn’t do it for me. They used to be everywhere driven by questionable people now I really don’t see the point.
I am going with Camaro as it is objectively better than the Daytona even considering the price difference. But in reality I would rather have a Mustang from that era for my midlife crisis..
This is a hard choice for all of the wrong reasons. Normally, a 5MT beats an auto any day of the week, so Daytona wins. Normally, RWD beats FWD any day of the week, so Camaro wins. Normally, Chevy beats Dodge. Camaro wins. Normally, anything beats that godawful red interior, so Dodge wins. Both are intriguing but both have fatal flaws. I guess I’ll go with the Daytona, drive it a couple of times just to see how bad the torque steer really is, and than park it and wait for it to appreciate.
This. For that price I want to like the interior.
Hmmmm. Automatic TPI 305/350 IROC for $17g? No. I guess the other even though it’s ugly, but I wouldn’t pay $9g for it, either. I’ll just hang on to my money.
Never cared much for the f-bodies, then or now. Give me the Mopar; I’ll row my own and enjoy some turbo raucousness.
Turbo 4, manual, torque steer? Hell, yeah!
I don’t think you probably need any music to make the T-tops rattle ???? Wasn’t that a standard festure?
The better choice is the Chevy. The Autopian choice is the Mopar.