1975 Chevrolet Camaro IROC Race Car

CHASSIS #: 1Q87H4N221578

1975 Chevrolet Camaro IROC Race Car (Based on current livery)

VIN/Chassis #: 1Q87H4N221578

Engine: 350 C.I.D.

Transmission: 4-Speed Manual

Drivetrain: RWD

Exterior Color: Orange

Interior Color: Black

Overview

350 C.I.D. Chevrolet
440 HP
Muncie 4-Speed Manual
Third Member 9-Inch Ford
GM 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
Car comes with thorough and original IROC documentation

The International Race of Champions (IROC) series was a unique and prestigious motorsport competition that ran for several decades, aiming to bring together the best drivers from various racing disciplines to compete in identically-prepared cars at some of the world’s most legendary race tracks.

The IROC series was founded in 1973 by Roger Penske, Les Richter, and Mike Phelps. The idea was to create a championship that featured top drivers from different racing disciplines, such as NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1, and sports car racing. The goal was to determine the "champion of champions" by placing competitors in identical race cars.

IROC is remembered as a unique and prestigious series that brought together some of the greatest drivers in motorsport. The concept of identifying the "champion of champions" remains a memorable aspect of racing history.

The idea behind the International Race of Champions series is simple, but not so easy to implement, whether you’re coming up with the top 12 drivers or preparing 12 race cars (along with three spares) with absolute parity in performance.

The IROC series made its debut in 1973 with Roger Penske, the series organizer, and the late Mark Donohue, the project supervisor/development driver. The first cars used in the series were Porsche Carreras. While the series turned out to be a hit, the Porsches proved to be too expensive to build and maintain. Thanks to Penske’s ties with Chevrolet, the next logical choice was the relatively inexpensive 1974 Camaro.

Jay Signore, the project foreman, was given only nine weeks to prepare 15 cars to look and perform like race cars. It meant an all-out thrash by Signore and the crew in Penske’s shop in Reading, PA.

Since time was so short in Signore’s scramble to come up with the cars, the Camaros were ordered in as many different colors as the factory offered to save time painting them. Bodywork done in the name of racing was minimal.

To avoid the costly process of narrowing the rear ends to accommodate large race tires, the fender wells were radiused and custom fender flares were pop-riveted into place. While the rear spoilers were stock, the front air dams were fabricated and bolted to the bumper.

Of course, safety was a primary concern. Custom-made Simpson fuel cells were added, along with roll cages, competition seats, harnesses and window nets. A fire extinguisher was bolted to the driveshaft hump. Windshields were braced to help overcome air pressure created at 150-plus mph. Mirrors, both inside and out, were stock. The doors remained functional, complete with interior trim panels, but were bolted shut for racing. The stock steering wheel also was retained.

The crew put considerable emphasis on the chassis. To the dismay of loyal Chevrolet fans, the IROC Camaros used Ford rear end units with full floating axles for reliability. Power to the FoMoCo rear was transmitted through a Chevy M-22 “rock crusher” four-speed manual transmission. The standard leaf-spring setup in the rear was retained, with leafs being added or subtracted according to track conditions.

Camaro’s standard brakes were shelved in favor of Corvette units pumped up by a master cylinder out of a Mico fork truck using a booster from a Chevy 454 station wagon. The stamped-steel A frames were left in place, but Corvette spindles were used, with the front coil springs frequently swapped to meet racetrack needs.

Eight-inch Minilite mage wheels aided brake cooling and cut weight, a precious commodity since a race-ready IROC Camaro tipped the scales at some 3600 pounds.

This orange #12 actually raced as a silver #9 Camaro during the 1975, 1976 and 1977 IROC seasons. It proved to be a race winner for Bobby Allison at Riverside, CA in 1975. The next season AJ Foyt drove the car in three of the four races to clinch his second straight IROC Championship. Richard Petty, Bobby Unser and Emerson Fittipaldi also piloted this car during its career as an IROC racer.

The car is currently in unrestored condition and eligible at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and other historic race events.

Pricing and additional information available upon request.

Direct all inquiries to info@iroc-racing.com.