IMHO, these were the best looking of any Camaro made after 1969. Enthusiasts weren't too upset about relatively mild horsepower figures because you could always add horsepower.
Beautiful example of an '84 H.O. car!! I was a junior in high school when these cars came out, and really wanted one. These cars were everywhere, and on Friday and Saturday nights me and a buddy of mine went to alot of Chevrolet dealers to check out the inventory. Even got some cool pictures of the'84 Z28's and '85 IROC's new on dealer lots. Much later I had them enlarged and framed. Today they hang on the walls in my office.
Thanks to the Camaro, Trans Am, and Mustangs of the 80”s the muscle car lives on. Love this car. I want to add an Iroc with a 350 next to my 1989 turbo Tran am in the garage. Next video should be a Trans Am GTA and a Mustang GT from 87-93.
Nice, I was looking for an iroc originally until this exact car popped up. I didn't let it slip away, but yeah thankfully GM & Ford hung in there through it all, the 80's stuff looks so good plus a few modern convinces.
That HO ran incredibly well, super smooth and would rev past 6500 in 3rd gear. Power delivery didn't fall off like a rock like it did in the TPI cars. Not a powerhouse by any means but it was a nice motor.
@@laiky71 The H.O. (L69) versions were faster than the T.P.I. (LB9) versions on the top end, while the T.P.I. equipped cars had more bottom end torque and were quicker out of the hole.
Oh man, my 1st brand new car! Ordered me one in September 1983, picked it up in November. Yeah she had only 190 HP, 5.0 H.O., but she handled really nice. It was Charcoal Gray metallic, Gray Interior, 5.0 H.O., 5 speed, posi and 4 wheel disc brakes.
@@TheVenom8343 I'm trying to remember what was on the lot when I ordered mine. I'm guessing most were automatics and typical red, white or silver. A couple had T-tops but that added over $1,000 to the price and another 2-3 weeks wait if I ordered it that way. In 1985 I ordered a bright blue metallic IROC-Z with TPI & T-tops, the price came down about $200. That one took a little longer to come in. The excuse was that GM needed a certain number ordered as the suspension was different and they want a whole shift to produce the cars. That and the T-tops were done somewhere else after the car was built. That said I ordered it in February and it finally came in July.
@@vernhoke7730 Man, that's a cool ass story!! I just wasn't quite old enough in the 80's and 90's to order me a brand new car. I would have ordered me a 1986 Mustang GT 5 speed or if it was after 86, I would have ordered an LX 5.0 5 speed hatchback.
I had one with the HO and 5-speed. It was actually pretty quick and had a good powerband. They were light cars so the 190hp was actually pretty decent with the 5-speed and 3.73 gears.
A Dyson vacuum cleaner probably makes more power than that Camaro even if it wouldn't handle that well but thanks to the "muscle" cars of 80's with their ultra-low emissions we live in a clean world with breathable air and drinkable water. We would have been in a Mad Max kind of world if it wasn't for the high-tech fuel-efficient 5 liter engines with 190ps and oh not to forget catalytic converters. I wonder how cleaner the world would have been if the GM engineers thought of the start-stop function back in the day? Amazon rainforests would have been probably twice the size.
@@salmonella1913 Camaros have a minimum of 275 HP now, from a 4 cylinder. The V8 starts at 455 and these drive a lot cleaner and safer than any of the cars back then. So that puny performance Camaro, Firebird, Corvette and Mustang paved the way for the fire breathing monsters of today that can put any and all the old muscle cars back on the trailers they came on.
@@robertpoudrette4483 I think you missed my point but anyway, technology always has evolved the automotive industry. I know you thought you were educating me but cars have become faster and more efficient since they started making them. Cars back then just had more style, today's stuff mostly looks like bars of soap. The only drawback for me driving my old stuff is the 45 min fuel stops because of people wanting to talk to me about it or take pics of it. Betcha don't get that with a brand new Camaro.
I was a young, single Air Force lieutenant when I special ordered my '84 L69 Z-28. I ordered all the goodies, including the 5-speed. IMHO, it was a great car, affordable, very acceptable power and great handling. The premium sound system was pretty good, too. I remember flinging that car all over the roads of the Black Hills, SD, while I was stationed at Ellsworth, AFB. By the way, Car and Driver tested this model for handling against the Porsche 944, and the Z-28 was declared the best-handling car of that year...period.
Scott, I had the exact same car. And the 5 speed. Absolutely loved it. I used to beat the new corvette. The H.O was always faster than what the specs showed. Miss that car.
great video as always. the '84 Z/28 came with a 3.42:1 axle ratio with the auto. and a 3.73:1 with the optional 5-speed. they were quicker than you stated, as a stock Z with the 5-speed ran a 15.00@92mph in a magazine test. the H.O.305 in the trans-am was just as quick. love your video's !
My first brand new car was a 87 Camaro sport coupe with the LG4 305 & automatic. By that point, even the sport coupe had basically a Z28 suspension, 215/65/15 Goodyear Eagle GT tires and a cool sounding exhaust right from the factory. Mine was bright red with black lower stripes, and the optional for the sport coupe rear spoiler. I loved that car. It wasn't the fastest, but it wasn't a V6 sport coupe, either. I loved freeway off ramps, that car stuck like glue. I proposed to my wife in that car in October, 1988! Car is long gone, wife still here. I currently own an 87 Monte Carlo SS, L69 305 H.O. Again, not that quick (faster than the LG4), but a flashback to 1987, and being 25 again! 80's muscle is worth remembering, I believe it truly was the 82 Mustang GT that revived performance in the 80's!
My parents had a black 1985 Trans Am with the LG4 engine in the mid 90s. I don't remember what red line on the tach was, but that engine fell flat on its face at 4500 rpm. Still, with a 700r4 transmission and 3.42 gears, it was a fun car.
I’m so glad you did a story on this car. 1984 really was a magical time; cars were coming back from the dead and this one really caused a lot of excitement. I lost a lot of sleep over these when they came out!
Some publications say this car runs a 15.2 in the 1/4 mile, that's actually faster than your average muscle car from mid 60's to early 70's. Of course there's those special muscle cars that were faster, not as much of those though.
We had some serious setbacks with travel and the whole COVID thing. We'll be releasing vids as we can, might be a few weeks between them. However, we've got some super cool videos coming soon... .stay tuned! Thanks!
Yeah I never understood why the damn 5 speed was so hard to find back in the day. The Mustang with a 5 speed was easy to find so I've had 17 Mustangs and only 1 camaro over the years. Still have an 80 Mustang coupe with a mild 351w!
@@TheVenom8343The 5.0 offered a stick, but GM didn't have a manual available for the 5.7. The Corvette used a wonky Doug Nash 4+3 speed, and later one from ZF. Next model generation GM got a 6 speed from Borg Warner for the Gen II 5.7, but for some reason they couldn't get one in the 1980s.
My good Sir, while we may not agree with or on politics, the President or an administration, America as a nation and generally the American people are still as magnificent and as great as ever. I know the world and many countries, cultures, mentalities and nations, and I have a very clear view and experience, and I can attest to and assure you of that, American is the premier nation and Number #1 🇺🇸🫡@@jeffbauer3425
my dad bought one of these brand new. they performed really well with a couple mods. and handled/braked better than any 60's or 70's muscle car. gotta get the 5 speed though.
You know, the 3rd gen Camaro aged pretty well. It's a wonderful blend of old-school muscle and high-tech 80's style. Even if it's not the fastest car to come out of Detroit, it certainly LOOKED fast. And that makes it cool!
A good friend of mine picked up a 305 HO car when we were in high school. That summer after graduation in 1991 we rode all over creation in it, cranking good rock and metal tunes. Fun times. When I was a bit younger, say 11-12 years old, my cousin had an '83 T/A--which obviously was essentially the same car with comparable performance capabilities. He followed that with a black 1985 Mustang GT and my brother had a gray T-top '84. Other friends and family had all manner of third gen F-bodies. They really were ubiquitous then.
I remember those commercials, LOL! 🤣👍 I was 16 in 1988, and each year as the new Mustang GT's, Trans Am's, and Camaro Z cars came out, I wanted one SO bad 😜 I enjoyed th etrip down my teenaged memory lane, MCOTW, thank you for this one 😊✌
195 hp V8. ..Sad. How is that possible...The 2.4 liter,4 cylinder GM eco-tech in my Polaris Slingshot has 173 hp stock..and it only has 3 wheels...my dad raised me on Camaro’s and I still love’ em today..2011 SS in the garage now...✌️
I'm not gonna say it was a "bad" car. I don't like these Camaros personally. In the '90s, I had a $3,000 1970 Skylark. I took out the 350 2V, and put the engine from a '73 Rivera in it, a 455 4V. I made block off plates and tossed all the smog crap. The entire Riviera was 300 bucks. The '70 had 2.56:1 highway gears. It had the TH350, which it shouldn't have had with the 455. That Buick 455's torque ate Mustangs and Camaros. As well as motor mounts and transmissions, and eventually the 10 bolt rear. I just sold that car recently. That same engine ended up a 462, 10.25:1, aluminum Stage 1 heads, Chevy 12 bolt, factory GS ram air, high lift, split duration cam, 7/8" primary headers, blah blah blah you know the drill. I had a lot of fun with that ride. It would set off car alarms. Those were the days. Anyway. The '80s cars were pretty neutered. Better to get a Regal or something and put a 350 4V in it, or just find a GN, but the GNs were pricey. Could get a G body with the 6cyl used pretty cheap, and Chevy 350s grew wild.
I remember we did the plugs on my buddy's '84 in my driveway once. Seem to recall us having to work around all the emissions gear. It always felt like a fairly torquey car--it would launch pretty hard and chirp the rear meats whenever he punched it.
I had 2 cream color 84 Z28s swapped out the 305s for 350s also both had a straight exhaust no cats and 235/60/15s really made em handle on curves. Only difference was one had electric windows and other manuel windows
Personally, I would've waited another year for the IROC-Z with the 305 TPI or even another two years to get the 5.7 (350) TPI IROC offering, although only with auto trans with the 5.7...
Great video, thanks! The late 1960's and early 1970's was really the golden era of muscle cars but..... That's starting to become a long time ago now..... So I think these 2nd gen Muscle cars from the 80's and 90's are going get a lot more popular very soon!
Just for reference, I put a 405hp/406ft/lb 350 ZZ6 Crate motor in my 91' Z28 (3rd gen) and a T56 supermagnum with the original 3:42 posi. 4.4 seconds to 60.
That commercial was crazy LOL I love this car since childhood, had that rc toy going straight and backwards only turning left.. That was the first Camaro that I was familiar with.
I stuck a torquey Fireball camshaft in mine. Lost a little top end but it was better between stop lights. I still can smell burning Firestones. Fun times.
I took delivery of a new 83 Z-28 with the 305 HO and the 5 speed manual. The handling was go-cart like and the mill was fairly stout. I recall an article wherein a Chevy engineer stated that the L69 actually made 200 hp when premium unleaded was used. However the 5 speed was not the equal of Ford's "world class" version of the T-5 and I blew the trans twice. Also the rear end was starting to go. It too was disposable. Chevy needed to relearn how to build a performance car...no more M-21's or 12 bolt diffs. The durability of my 85 LB9 IROC-Z was no better. GM was circling the toilet bowl back in the 80's and was using the public do it's product testing. They made a Ford man out of me.
I bought a new '84 Z with the carbed 5.0 HO and 5 speed. It was a stripper but still a fun car. It vapor locked constantly. The dealer refused to do anything about it (no lemon laws) so after 3 months I traded it for a new '84 Toyota 4x4 pickup. My buddy with a new Blazer also had vapor lock problems and later said the dealer finally installed an in-line electric fuel pump that cured the problem.
@@MuscleCarOfTheWeek haha. Very true. Excitement! Pontiac always had the best concept cars though they never translated directly. Amazing how they predicted so many market trends but GM wouldn't let them execute as they wanted.
I had an 88 IROC-Z with a 305 TPI and damn that car was slow, 195 horsepower don't get you anywhere fast but the car did look good mine was black with maroon interior.
Not a fan of the plastic interior but I love the 84s' exterior body shape design and its colour scheme! Oh and Welcome Back Guys!! Long Overdue Indeed!!!
HA.....NEVER in my life did I think an 84 Camaro would ever bring happy thoughts but life has a way of changing. I learned to drive a manual on an 86 iroc z with the handing package. I've belched more power than it had but man could that thing perform around the corners. Plus I was a kid and it meant freedom.
This was my first car. It had good torque down low and was the only pony car contender against the mustang and not too far off the corvette for that year. The 5.0 H.O. was a huge improvement from the anemic V8's that debuted in the 82 F bodies with some engine parts taken off the corvette parts bin. This car started the beginning of the performance rise of the 80's after and is significant.
I have one of these with the 5 speed manual. My friends dad owned a salvage yard and back in 98 when I bought mine he told me not to rip put the transmission because they were hard to find and that was in 98. Sure would like to know how many are left. They only made 12,000 with the L69 option with a 5 speed manual in 84. I still have it. Im planning on a full restoration.
Yeah I have to agree with everyone else on here where have you been we have been feening for our once a week muscle car of the week? And on top of that where is the restoration car of the week or month? You was on vacation wasn't you lol
Have an 84z28 as my entry to muscle car World…Love it…But for some odd reason my Camaro has a rear hatch viper. Haven’t seen any 3rd gen Camaros with a rear hatch viper.
I recognized the flat boring corn fields of Illinois right away. Wonder where this was filmed. Looked like an old episode of Motor Week with that Camaro zooming around the backroads. Where’s Pat Goss?!
Just to clarify, the torcarm did not run from the rear end to the trans crossmember, it ran to a bracket on the tail shaft of the transmission. This posed a problem in latter years when horsepower was upgraded and the torcarm was breaking off tail shafts. An aftermarket crossmember did accommodate the torcarm to alleviate this problem.
What really mattered was it's brother Pontiac Trans Am,st looking even better and being a rare view as an American car quickly taking tight corners in Knight Rider from time to time. Unfortunately GM never let Pontiac to make 3rd gen what it could have been, halting the 4.9 Turbo V8, and when got a green light to put Buick V6 Turbo into Anniversary T/A, it was detuned from 300 to 250HP, and put together with automatic transmission. Otherwise it would have been faster than Corvette, and a respectable design all around the world. But the best thing, is that this body shape makes up to over 400kph, as proven by Polly Trans Am.
3:40 As hi-tech & useless as the mecanic reminder / counter on my Brita pot . This is one of the best looking exterior of Camaro's generation & it's has lower drag-coeficient than the present one .However , re-building one I would try to squeeze in the dashboard of the previous gen .
84 option with the L69 did the quarter in 15 seconds with a 5 speed. 0-60 mph 7 seconds. Dang hot for the day and even 5 years after that. Not mid 16's like you said. I owned one and was a great car. However I love your videos and keep them coming.
These HO cars paired with a 5spd and 3.73 gears would run neck to neck with the 87-92 auto 350 cars. Mid 14 sec time passes. If you got one with the auto you may clip a high 14 but even that wasnt bad for the time.
I bought an 83 5.o ho with real ram air in the hood, t-tops of course. That was have to have on a z28. But I wrecked it scerwing around a sharp curve on a dirt road. But it fixed only had to have a body shop to paint it for me. Wish I still had it. Lots of fun. I did not come from a family with $ got a keep a job to pay for it and the high insurance 😒
So does that mean he's bullshittin about the 373 gear? In 1984 you could get the 373 gear with the automatic with the g92 performance axle option but I thought this option always mandated rear discs...
My sister got a pearl white '84 Camaro for xmas near her 16th Bday. I remember being in awe of it. She got out of control during the winter and had lunch with a tree. So sad. So so sad.
I had an '82, and it was great. The 'kur-chunk' of the doors, the louvers, the t-tops, the quadrajet that would go 'bbuuuuuuuuhhhhh' as you slammed it to the floor....getting in it was like putting on an old pair of comfy jeans. These F-bodies had loads of character. Oh, and did this one have the cowl hood flaps that would open when you nailed it? Looks like it does.
My uncle bought 1 of these when they released. He was able to get his with the (relatively unheard of at the time) Australian Pontiac rear end. He was told there were only about 2 other Zs with that rear in the U.S. at the time.
I love my 5 speed H.O. 1984 Trans Am with 3.73 gears. Performance tests of the time put these cars in the 14.7 range in the 1/4 mile (Source: Motorweek). I’m lucky to say I own my dream car!
Good-looking was the only good thing about this generation z28, roughest ride i ever owned, I owned two 87 z28's drove one across Canada in 2003, my back was shot after 200 km, the seats are right on the floor, by comparison I drove a 77 chrysler cordoba with a 360 across Canada in 2001 and it was unbelievable the comfort level and it would eat both z28 305 h/o 's for lunch looks/style were the only thing the z28 had going for it,junk right from the factory but in fairness you couldn't buy a decent car from the big 3 in those times. Also those 305 could never get passed 4400 rpm at least from the factory, they had no top end, maybe 100mph, when the 350 HO arrived in 87-88 things changed a little for the better, in those days the Mustang 5.0 was king hands down for performance, but the Camero had better looks.
I had a white 1991 Firebird Formula with a wheezy TBI injected 305 boat anchor. It was actually a nice car despite being slow. It was extremely reliable. It got devoured by every 5.0 Mustang in town but still.
God in '84 I was only 12 years old and wanted one of these, one of my older friends who was able to drive got one a year later and it was i-rock z car, and '84 was the first year that Hasbro released the transformers toy line and wanted a Camaro toy LoL
Being in high school in the late 80s-early 90s I remember these car being like a$$holes. Everybody had one. ;) They looked cool but sure seemed to fall apart fast. Also the harsh midwest winters with the cold and deep snow were not easy on the plastics.
