This trip down memory lane is strewn with potholes and ruts. The 1990 model year was the last to see the IROC-Z moniker. It was also the year “Dances With Wolves” dominated the Oscars, “The Simpsons” debuted, Saddam invaded and Hubble deployed. Windows 3.0 dropped, GM’s Saturn division was born and at the Grammy’s M.C. Hammer couldn’t be touched and Mariah Carey was awarded best new artist honors. Out on the roads of America the third-generation Chevy Camaro represented with the sporty IROC-Z topping the charts. The car was named after the International Race Of Champions, a series of races that pitted champions from all types of motorsports from around the world in equally prepared cars. The series was founded in 1972 and Camaros were the weapon of choice from ’75 to ’80 and ’84 to ’89. The latter being the glory years of the series when it ran the third-generation Camaro. Each car was painted a different color with the driver’s name emblazoned on the side so fans could better track the progress of their favorite drivers.

The production IROC-Z debuted in ’85 and reached the zenith of its evolution in the ’90 model year. The ’90 version, as offered in FM3, features a L98 350 cubic-inch V8 rated at 245 horsepower, standard LSD and unique IROC-Z badging. FM3 provides fertile ground for third-gen fans as there are numerous tuning schemes that can really zap some life into the L98 and hook up the Camaro’s aged underpinnings.

1990 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z