The Story behind my IROC is fairly clear. It was first bought in 1986 by a female in Champaign, IL after coming back from Choo Choo Customs for a dealer conversion from T-top coupe to convertible. The parts used for this conversion were the same as those used by ASC, whom also did dealer conversions in 1986. It was ASC that from 1987 was GM's contractor for doing "Factory" thirdgen Camaro ragtop conversions.

The second owner was an older gentleman from Westville, IL. It is not quite clear to me at what point he took over the car from the first owner, but it is a fact that he owned it for quite a few years.

In July 1998 he decided to part with it as he was working on another project and needed the floor space and probably the extra cash. It was also in July 1998 that I moved from Norway to Charleston, IL to attend Eastern Illinois University. I was already set on getting a car, but had not decided what to look for. However, I had already developed a weak spot in my heart for Chevys after first restoring a 1975 Camaro, and later on having a 1989 Silverado Sportside pick-up truck.

So, one late July evening 1998 I was reading the local edition of Thirfty Nickel when I came across the add for a 1986 Camaro IROC-Z Convertible for sale about an hour away from Charleston. I called the gentleman and set up a time to go check it out a few days later.

When I pulled off the main street in Westville, IL and saw the bright red convertible sitting there freshly washed in the guy's driveway - I was sold!

When I first talked to the guy on the phone, he was asking $5700 for it, but when I was there and he realized I was really interested - he said it was mine for $5200 if I decided within the week. He also said that he would sell it to the first person bringing the money unless I put down a $200 deposit.

So, off to the ATM I went and got my $200, 'cause I was not about to let this one slip away.
After doing some research on the thirdgen convertibles, I found that the price wasn't bad and that this particular car was pretty rare, although not a "factory" convertible. So needless to say, I shortly decided on getting the car, and went up to finish the deal the following weekend.

The feeling in my stomach when I took off down the country roads back to Charleston with my first ragtop and my first car in the US - was incredible.
To my big disappointment I had to let the car sit for the first couple of weeks, as it was required that I had an Illinois drivers licence before I could get insurance on it. Needless to say, I hit the books asap and took the drivers exam shortly afterwards.

When I first got the car, the rear plastic window was all yellow and it was split in two. Although I duck-taped it to keep the rain out, I immediatly started looking for a place to have the window replaced.
It turned out to be a place in Champaign, IL that specialized in convertible tops and that supposedly had been in the business for 25 years. So off to Champaign I went!

I placed the car in custody of this old dude that was the owner of the shop, and agreed to come back a couple of hours later.
When I returned I guess I was blinded by the fact that the window now was all clear, and overlooked the terrible job that the dude had done!
When I say terrible, I mean BAD! The original window was not properly removed, but rather hacked out with a pair of dull pliers or something. The perimeter of the old window was still there, and the jagged edge was sticking out all around the window. The new one was then simply sown over it from the inside. The new window was also way to thick/stiff - so it didn't take many times of folding the top up/down before it started ripping in the seams and leaking in the corners.
So, to make a long aggrevating story a bit shorter - I ended up replacing the entire top about a year or so later, but this time at a different shop!

After this, I have enjoyed the car fully and have added appearance and engine mods to make it what it is today. You can read more about the different mods from the links in the menu to the left.
But, in a quick summary I will list the following: ASCD "SS" hood, Boze Stinger rims in 18"x8" and 18"x10" with 245/40x18 and 285/35x18 Toyo Proxies respectively. (previously: American Racing Torque Trust II rims in 17"x9.5" and with 275/40x17 GoodYear Eagle F1 tires all around). In addition it is lowered 1.5" with Jamex lowering springs, stiffened with a BMR strut tower brace and Edelbrock rear trailing arms and KYB shocks/struts. Engine mods include heads, cam, runners, AFPR, K&N's, airfoil, headers and cat-back. Interior has '97 TransAm seats and custom carpets & painting.