Brand new 1990 Camaro IROC Z 1LE hidden in basement, seats 35

Of all six generations of the Chevrolet Camaro, the third generation is like the middle child in the family, often overlooked and undervalued. Critics have long complained about its meager strength and dismissed its more powerful siblings. But this 1990 example is worth a second look.

Why? Because it represents the absolute pinnacle of the third-generation Camaro—and it’s almost frozen in time. if only six miles The odometer shows that this IROC-Z is being prepared for auction, giving it a pristine feel that goes back to the early 1990s.

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Think of this car less as a vehicle and more as a museum piece. Even better, a time machine takes us back to 1990, when mullets were cool (again) and cassette tapes ruled, and this Camaro IROC-Z 1LE rolled off the assembly line. It’s loaded onto a transport truck, shipped to a dealer, sold to an attentive buyer, and then…nothing.

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According to Mecum, who is in charge of the auction, the original owner inexplicably stored the car in a “basement” for more than 30 years without ever having it registered or driven. Why? No one really knows, but the result is a time capsule.

A rare breed of IROC-Z

This isn’t just any regular IROC-Z Camaro, either. Of course, the IROC-Z trim was already the top of the line in 1990, but this one takes it a step further with the coveted 1LE package. This essentially integrates more high-performance equipment into the vehicle, including Corvette’s front disc brakes, heavy-duty shock absorbers, aluminum driveshaft and engine oil cooler.

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To get all of this, the original buyer had to remove air conditioning from the order and then add the “Performance Axle Package.” Not surprisingly, records show that Chevrolet built only 62 Camaros with the 1LE in 1990, making this car a rare gem.

Six Mile Mystery

Clearly they knew what they wanted and got it in the end. Why they never used the car is unclear, but with just 6 miles on the odometer, this may be the lowest-mileage IROC-Z 1LE in existence. The next owner will have to decide whether to add more miles or keep it as a showpiece.

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It will be equipped with the original 350 cubic inch 245 hp (182 kW) V8 engine, four-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. They’ll also get a wealth of original documentation, including correspondence from the original owner and dealer, as well as the original build sheet.

Ready to bid?

If you’re eager to own this third-generation unicorn, you’ll want to check out Mecum’s 2025 Kissimmee Auction herestarting January 18th. No pricing guidance has been provided, but don’t expect it to be cheap.

Photo credit: Mecum