The third-generation GM F-body is currently in a strange stage of its life. No longer considered to be a modern muscle car, though too old to be categorized with the ’60s and ’70s muscle cars, the ’82-92 Camaro and Firebird are what some consider and “middle-classic” performance car. Their values seem to be all over the place too; with pristine, all-original or completely restored examples bringing as much as thirty grand or more, while rough projects can still be found for pocket change.
In what can only be described as one of the raddest third-gen F-bodies ever built, our friends over at Hawks Motorsports have pulled out all of the stops on this one.Ā This isn’t some bolt-on TPI Camaro built on a budget; this is a professionally built piece of art — that functions!
Project Moe Dirt, as it’s called, is a third-gen ’85 Camaro IROC-Z that’s built with some of the latest and greatest hardware available for these cars. Under the hood, you’ll find a Magnuson-blown Thompson Motorsports 388 cubic-inch LSX stroker, emitting spent gases through a custom Hooker Blackheart long-tube header and exhaust system. Wizard Cooling helps keep the operating temperatures down.
Forgeline helped out with those massive, one-off 18×10.5 inch rollers, designed to mimic the throwback 17-inch Ronal R15s from back in the day.
Underneath, is a complete UMI Performance suspension kit, paired with Viking coil-over shocks and struts, with Baer brakes at all four corners. Inside, Dakota Digital gauges, Corbeau seats and a Holley ECU help bring the car into the modern era. As of this writing, it isn’t quite finished yet, but it is set to debut this weekend at the UMI Performance track day. We’ll continue to keep you posted on this project, and a full feature form us is certainly guaranteed!
Rick Seitz is the owner and founder of GMEFI Magazine, and has a true love and passion for all vehicles. When he isnāt tuning, testing, or competing with the brandās current crop of project vehicles, heās busy tinkering and planning the next modifications for his own cars.
