I'm looking at two Iroc's, trying to decide which one to buy. The first is all original, untouched with the 350 motor and automatic transmission. The interior is gray and in immaculate condition and it has 87k documented original miles. The paint is original and is in pretty good shape overall. There are a few small scratches that might buff off, but I'm not sure. The car is the "dark red" color that is sort of burgandy-ish.

The second car I'm considering is a 1985 Iroc. It has the 305 motor with 5 speed manual. The interior is in decent shape overall, but the front seats need to be recovered. It has 132k miles. It is black on the exterior and red on the interior. The paint is in excellent shape on this one.

With all that in mind, does anyone have an opinion or information as to which car is the better deal? Is one more valuable than the other? I'm just not sure if anything sets them apart, such as the year or the motor size or the paint/interior.......I would appreciate any opinions.

 

The car with the 350 hands down,305 is a turd motor and the 350 car is more valuable if it's an original 350 car especially if it's a numbers matching motor etc.

 

Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it. I was leaning in that direction, but just curious if my thinking was correct. Do you or anyone else have an idea of a fair price for a nice, original Iroc with the 350?

 

With those miles its not going to be a unrestored show winner so I think you will have to look locally. The values vary a fare amount from one region to the next. With a low miles an all original car people are willing to travel to get it so that kind of levels the playing field. Check out Hagerty, Kelly Blue Book, and NADA. All three calculate values different. NADA is more wholesale, Kelly is the price people paid based on taxes and Hagerty should be "we can find a replacement at that price any day." As an non-dealer you will not get the average sale price but you should get above NADA value. Condition is key.

 

Is one year more valuable than another? For example, is an 89 any more or less valuable than an 87?

 

I doubt much difference in 3rd gen IROCs,the value is more about options (like the 350 motor) and condition.
By the way the 5 speed if you prefer a manual is a wimpy trans,that's why it wasn't an option with the 350 engine.

 

I would not know why, its been expearance the newer the better. There was no major changes in the L98 350, I think in 90 they went to speed density for fuel control but there where Proms available so that you could do speed density even on cars that came with a MAF sensor. Like I said check the above sites and try a few years with all the same option. Also check Ebay and limit the search to completed sold auctions within 100 miles of your location.

The only variation I can think of that added any real value was the LE1 option. That was the race car option and only in the later years., I am sure a quick "3rd gen camaro LE1" search on google would get you the details. I also seem to remember a deal installed option of a T56 six speed for the 350, If I remember right is was near 7K but GM made all the parts and you could get it installed at the dealer. One of those would be pricey. I think that was the Viper T56. The Corvette used some kind of German trans.

 

I'm still looking for an Iroc. I'm still considering the one here locally with a 350, but I also found another one with a 350. The latest one I'm considering has everything the other one has, but it doesn't have T-Tops. Does that option effect the value much (T-tops)?