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1986 Camaro

The last Berlinetta

The oddball luxury Berlinetta bows out after 1986.

Edited by Bill Pierce. Reviewed October 2026.

Silver 1986 Camaro Z28 IROC-Z with louvered hood, front three-quarter, plate blurred for privacy
1986 Camaro Z28 IROC-Z Photo: Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; license plate pixelated

The Berlinetta, the digital-dash luxury Camaro, made its last appearance for 1986; an LT trim took its place for 1987. A center high-mounted stop lamp also appeared on the hatch to meet a new federal requirement.

Sport Coupe (99,608 built), Berlinetta (4,479) and Z28 (88,132) made up the range. With the four-cylinder cancelled early in the year, the 135 hp V6 became the base engine. The 305 V8 came with a four-barrel, as the 190 hp L69, or with Tuned Port Injection. Production was 192,219. Chevrolet's option tallies for the year appear in the options table below.

White 1986 Camaro Sport Coupe, base trim, side profile in a parking lot
1986 Camaro Sport Coupe (base trim) Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Original photograph License

Did you know

  • Chevrolet's own tally shows only 74 Camaros with the 190-hp 5.0-liter H.O. in 1986, that engine's last year. Reportedly 63 of them were built for Canada's Player's/GM Challenge race series and only 11 for public sale.
  • Canada had its own factory-built Camaro race series from 1986: GM Canada's Player's/GM Challenge, a one-make series of identically prepared cars built by GM for racing. Over 1986-1992 GM built 388 Camaros and 109 Firebird Trans Ams for it, using special option codes such as A4Q for the first season.
  • The 1987 factory convertible had a dress rehearsal in 1986: American Specialty Cars converted a small run of IROC-Z coupes at its Livonia, Michigan plant as an aftermarket project for a Chevrolet dealer consortium, reportedly 82 cars. Motor Trend was already touting the IROC-Z convertible that November.
  • Mustang took the sales lead back in 1986: Ford built 224,410 Mustangs to Chevrolet's 192,219 Camaros, ending a four-year run in which Camaro had outbuilt Mustang every year from 1982 to 1985.
  • Chevrolet's 1986 brochure opened with the headline 'Camaro. Lightning strikes thrice,' meaning Z28, Berlinetta and Sport Coupe, and then tucked the IROC-Z in as 'one more nifty Camaro.' It described the IROC-Z as a street version of the modified cars that test twelve of the world's best drivers.
Black 1986 Camaro coupe
Black 1986 Camaro coupe, front right three-quarter view, in a parking lot against a block wall Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; licence plates blurred Original photograph License

Production

The table lists four production figures for 1986. It opens with Total production, 192,219, followed by Sport Coupe (99,608), Berlinetta (4,479) and Z28 (88,132).

Record Count Note
Total production 192,219 77,478 V6 and 114,741 V8
Sport Coupe 99,608
Berlinetta 4,479 Discontinued early in the model year
Z28 88,132 Includes 49,585 with the IROC-Z package
Black 1986 Camaro coupe
Black 1986 Camaro coupe, front left three-quarter view, parked in a driveway Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Original photograph License
Red 1986 Camaro IROC-Z coupe with T-tops
Red 1986 Camaro IROC-Z coupe with T-tops, front left three-quarter view partly blocked by an auction display board, at an outdoor auction Photo: Pokemonprime, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Original photograph License

Engines

The 1986 table lists five engines, from the 151 cu in inline-4 (LQ9) to the 305 cu in V8 (LB9) Tuned Port Injection. The highest power rating shown is 190 hp, for the 305 cu in V8 (L69).

Code Engine Power Torque Note
2 151 cu in inline-4 (LQ9) 88 hp at 4,400 rpm 130 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm Listed in September 1985 MVMA sheet; later cancelled, with buyers taking the LB8 V6
S 173 cu in V6 (LB8) 135 hp at 5,100 rpm 160 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm Standard Berlinetta; optional Sport Coupe
H 305 cu in V8 (LG4) 155 hp at 4,200 rpm; 165 hp at 4,400 rpm 245 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm; 250 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm MVMA: single-exhaust automatic configuration; dual-exhaust Z28 base manual configuration, respectively. White Book summary lists 155 hp without this split.
G 305 cu in V8 (L69) 190 hp at 4,800 rpm 240 lb-ft at 3,200 rpm Z28/IROC, manual only; White Book summary counts 74 built
F 305 cu in V8 (LB9) Tuned Port Injection 190 hp at 4,000 rpm 285 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm Z28 and IROC-Z, automatic only

Options, packages and special editions

The 1986 list has 64 options, packages and special editions. Every entry shows a price and how many were built.

Code Description Price Built Note
1FP87 Camaro Sport Coupe, 4-cylinder $9,349 99,608 Base price
1FS87 Camaro Berlinetta Coupe, 6-cylinder $12,316 4,479 Base price; discontinued early in the year
1FP87 Z28 Camaro Z28 Sport Coupe, 8-cylinder $12,316 88,132 Base price
B4Z IROC Sport Equipment Package $659 49,585 Z28 only
AG9 Power seat, driver side $225 32,045
AM9 Seat back, split folding rear $50 25,975
AU3 Power door locks $130 85,154
A01 Tinted glass, all windows $115 182,560
A31 Power windows $195 110,155
A90 Power hatch release $40 109,616
BS1 Quiet Sound Group $82 10,758 Included with Custom Interior; standard Berlinetta
B4K Radio, stereo with seek/scan and clock $232 31,991 $197.00 with Z28
B4N Radio, stereo with seek/scan $193 8,130
B34 Floor mats, carpet insert, front $20 126,236
B35 Floor mats, carpet insert, rear $15 121,340
B48 Luggage compartment trim $164 29,738 No cost with Berlinetta; $84.00 with Z28
B84 Moldings, body side $55 145,607
B91 Moldings, door edge (black) $15 24,402
CC1 Roof panels, removable glass $846 91,089
CD4 Windshield wipers, intermittent $50 108,442 Standard Berlinetta
C25 Rear window wiper, with washer $125 1,566
C49 Defogger, rear window $145 136,537
C60 Air conditioning $750 167,602 Not available with Berlinetta
C67 Air conditioning, electronic $750 4,374 Berlinetta only
DD8 Mirror, inside rearview automatic $80 12,793
DE1 Louvers, rear window $210.00 6,058
DG7 Mirrors, electric twin remote $91.00 37,686
DK6 Console, roof $50.00 28,917 Included with Berlinetta
D27 Cover, locking rear storage $80.00 5,966 Standard Berlinetta; not available with IROC-Z
D42 Cover, rear compartment cargo area $69.00 80,706
D80 Spoiler, rear $69.00 76,457 Included with Z28
G80 Rear axle, limited slip $100.00 29,207
G92 Rear axle, performance ratio $21.00 4,703 Z28 only
J65 Brakes, power front disc and rear disc $179.00 26,684 Required limited-slip axle
K05 Heater, engine block $20.00 6,945
K34 Speed control, with resume $175.00 106,431 $185.00 with Berlinetta
LB8 Engine, 173 cu in, 135 hp V6 $350.00 77,478 Standard Berlinetta
LB9 Engine, 305 cu in, 190 hp V8, Tuned Port Injection $695.00 46,374 Z28 only; required automatic
LG4 Engine, 305 cu in, 155 hp V8 $750.00 68,293 Standard Z28; $400.00 with Berlinetta
L69 Engine, 305 cu in, 190 hp V8 $695.00 74 Z28 only
MX0 Transmission, automatic with overdrive $465.00 160,639
N33 Tilt steering column $115.00 150,251
PB4 Locks, wheel $16.00 6,298 For RPO PE1
PE1 Wheels, aluminum $225.00 6,596 Berlinetta only
QAC Tires, P235/60R15 blackwall $85.00 4 Z28 only
QDX Tires, P195/70R14 Eagle GT $80.00 2,826 Berlinetta only
QHX Tires, P205/70R14 blackwall No charge 1,195 Berlinetta only
QHY Tires, P205/70R14 white stripe $66.00 2,496 Berlinetta only
QYH Tires, P215/65R15 white letter $92.00 67,821 No cost with Z28
QYZ Tires, P215/65R15 blackwall No charge 66,567 $92 credit with Z28
TR9 Lighting, auxiliary $72.00 85,679 $37.00 with Berlinetta, $48.00 with Sport Coupe with roof console
TT4 Headlamps, halogen (4) $25.00 71,476
T96 Fog lamps, halogen $60.00 22,089 Included with IROC-Z
UA1 Battery, heavy-duty $26.00 64,877
UL5 Radio, delete −$56.00 13,121 $95 credit with Z28, $256 with Berlinetta
UL6 Radio, AM with clock $39.00 813 No cost with Z28
UT4 Radio, stereo, tape, clock, seek/scan, equalizer $242.00 4,095 Berlinetta only
U05 Horns, dual $12.00 24,638 Standard Berlinetta
U21 Gage Package $149.00 50,627 Included with Z28; not available with Berlinetta
U75 Antenna, power $65.00 29,833
V08 Cooling, heavy-duty $70.00 2,919 $40.00 with air conditioning
YE2 Radio, stereo, cassette, clock, seek/scan, equalizer $504.00 50,090 $469.00 with Z28
YE3 Radio, stereo, cassette, clock, seek/scan $354.00 75,988 $319.00 with Z28
YF5 Emission equipment, California $99.00 19,805

Exterior colors

This table has 12 exterior colors for 1986, each with its paint code. They include Silver, Bright Blue and Dark Blue.

Code Color Note
13 Silver 11,750 built
23 Bright Blue 19,254 built; Sport Coupe and Z28
28 Dark Blue 9,926 built
40 White 27,067 built
41 Black 35,579 built
51 Yellow 3,915 built
60 Light Brown 4 built; deleted before production
66 Copper 2 built; deleted before production
68 Dark Brown 3,071 built
74 Dark Red 17,227 built
81 Bright Red 46,542 built
84 Medium Gray 17,886 built
White 1986 Camaro Sport Coupe with T-tops
White 1986 Camaro Sport Coupe with T-tops, front left three-quarter view, in a parking lot Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Original photograph License

Interior trim

This table has five interior trims for 1986, each with its trim code.

The five grouped numeric/suffix interior-code rows retain the secondary reference-book list for 1986, reprinted in the GM archive; the book is not treated as factory-authored. Its Black Conteur note that 19D/19E use Gray cloth seats remains explicit. No correspondence to another ordering-code system is inferred. Chevrolet product information, printed p. 14 (PDF p. 24), lists standard reclining vinyl front buckets with fold-down rear seat for Sport Coupe and the combined Z28/IROC-Z column, with ordinary cloth at extra cost; those ordinary rows are unavailable on Berlinetta. Custom Interior/custom cloth is standard on Berlinetta and extra cost for the other columns. The factory summary marks the adjustable Conteur driver-side seat extra cost in all three model columns, while the secondary book describes Custom Interior with L/S Conteur as Z28-only and briefly available (184 sold). The two sources disagree on which models offered it, and neither gives a change date or production cutoff. The factory options page, printed p. 12 (PDF p. 22), separately lists AM9 split-folding rear seat back with Custom Interior required; it is not a standard feature of every seat row. The factory summary directs readers to the dealer order guide for latest availability. Its exact publication date and later ordering changes are not established here. The retained color/material references do not prove every paint/package combination, an individual car's original equipment, a VIN rule or a neighboring-year application.

Code Trim Note
19B / 19C / 19D / 19E / 19N / 19R Black — standard cloth / custom cloth / conteur custom cloth / conteur standard cloth / custom vinyl / standard vinyl 19D and 19E use gray cloth seats Numeric/suffix code and material references are retained from the 1986 secondary book list, not established as factory ordering codes or a physical-stamping crosswalk by the equipment summary.
62B / 62C / 62D / 62E / 62N / 62R Saddle — standard cloth / custom cloth / conteur custom cloth / conteur standard cloth / custom vinyl / standard vinyl Numeric/suffix code and material references are retained from the 1986 secondary book list, not established as factory ordering codes or a physical-stamping crosswalk by the equipment summary.
68B / 68C / 68N Copper — standard cloth / custom cloth / custom vinyl Numeric/suffix code and material references are retained from the 1986 secondary book list, not established as factory ordering codes or a physical-stamping crosswalk by the equipment summary.
72B / 72C / 72D / 72E / 72N / 72R Red — standard cloth / custom cloth / conteur custom cloth / conteur standard cloth / custom vinyl / standard vinyl Numeric/suffix code and material references are retained from the 1986 secondary book list, not established as factory ordering codes or a physical-stamping crosswalk by the equipment summary.
82B / 82C / 82N / 82R Gray — standard cloth / custom cloth / custom vinyl / standard vinyl Numeric/suffix code and material references are retained from the 1986 secondary book list, not established as factory ordering codes or a physical-stamping crosswalk by the equipment summary.

Specifications

This table gives five specifications for 1986, among them wheelbase (101.0 in) and overall length (187.8 in).

Item Value Note
Wheelbase 101.0 in
Overall length 187.8 in
Overall width 72.0 in
Overall height 49.8 in
Sport Coupe tires P215/65R15 raised black-letter on styled wheels Standard from 1986
White 1986 Camaro Sport Coupe with T-tops
White 1986 Camaro Sport Coupe with T-tops, rear left three-quarter view, in a parking lot Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Original photograph License

Identification

What to check on a 1986 Camaro: VIN and year cues.

Item What to look for Note
VIN 1G1 … position 8 engine code, position 10 = G, position 11 plant Plants: N Norwood (to 1987), L Van Nuys
Year cues Center high-mounted stop lamp First year; may be altered by hatch or spoiler replacement

Decode a specific car with the VIN decoder and the engine and drivetrain stamp decoder.

Why it matters

The Berlinetta's exit ended Chevrolet's luxury experiment. The year also brought the first high-mounted stop lamp; the V6's multi-port injection, new in 1985, carried over.

Blue 1986 Camaro Z28 coupe with hood louvres and silver lower-body striping
Blue 1986 Camaro Z28 coupe with hood louvres and silver lower-body striping, front three-quarter and side view, at an outdoor car show on grass Photo: Kieran White, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; licence plates and faces blurred Original photograph License

A sportier Sport Coupe

The entry Camaro was the most changed model for 1986. Every Sport Coupe now came with a sport suspension and styled steel wheels with trim rings on P215/65R15 raised-black-letter tires. It also had a retuned exhaust with dual tailpipes, black sport mirrors, a blacked-out rocker area and front fascia, special stripes and a lower body painted in an accent color. A black band across the taillamps and "Chevrolet" lettering on the rear fascia, in place of the Camaro name, identify it from behind. Because the sport suspension was now standard, it was no longer sold as a separate option.

The price schedule still listed an 88-hp four-cylinder Sport Coupe at $9,149 in April 1986. That engine was in short supply early in the year and then cancelled, so Sport Coupe buyers were moved up to the 135-hp 2.8-liter V6.

Black 1986 Camaro IROC-Z coupe with gold decals and T-tops
Black 1986 Camaro IROC-Z coupe with gold decals and T-tops, front left three-quarter view, on a wet cobbled street Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Original photograph License

Changes for every Camaro

The four-speed manual was dropped, and a five-speed became the no-cost standard transmission on every model. The four-speed automatic cost extra, and it was required with the Tuned Port Injection 305. All twelve paint colors now used a base coat/clear coat process, and eight were new. Two more colors were deleted from the order guides almost immediately. Only four cars were painted Light Brown and two Copper.

A center high-mounted stop lamp, now required by federal rules, sat at the forward edge of the hatch glass. The hatch gained an automatic pull-down closure, and wet-arm wipers became standard. The IROC-Z's halogen fog lamps were offered on every model. Chevrolet also sold rear-window louvers from the factory for the first time, along with an inside mirror that dimmed automatically in the glare of headlamps behind.

Silver 1986 Camaro Sport Coupe
Silver 1986 Camaro Sport Coupe, rear right three-quarter view, at an outdoor car show Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; licence plates and faces blurred Original photograph License

The end of the Berlinetta

The Berlinetta began the year in production and was then discontinued after only 4,479 cars. Chevrolet had invested heavily in it. The 1984 digital instrument cluster and pod-mounted radio were meant to build a luxury Camaro buyer to match the performance buyers drawn by the Z28. But the motoring press and the public never warmed to digital gauges and complicated automated controls, and performance was coming back into fashion. Buyers wanted a Camaro that was fast, or at least looked it. In its final spring the Berlinetta listed at $12,188, the same as a Z28. A Type LT name returned for 1987 to fill its place, without the controversial instrument panel.

Z28 and IROC-Z

The September 1985 MVMA sheet distinguishes two four-barrel 305 configurations: 155 hp at 4,200 rpm and 245 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm with single exhaust and an automatic, or 165 hp at 4,400 rpm and 250 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm for the dual-exhaust Z28 base manual configuration. The Camaro White Book summary reprinted later in the kit lists 155 hp without that split. Buyers could step up to the 190-hp Tuned Port Injection 305, which required the automatic, or to the carbureted 190-hp H.O. in its final, near-invisible year.

The IROC Sport Equipment package cost $659 and went on 49,585 Z28s. It brought 16-inch aluminum wheels on P245/50VR16 Goodyear Eagle GTs, a front frame reinforcement, specific steering valving, special front struts, springs and jounce bumpers, and a larger front stabilizer bar. It also had gas-filled Delco/Bilstein shocks, body-color ground-effect panels, grille-mounted fog lamps, and IROC door decals and lower-body stripes. In all, 114,741 of the year's Camaros had a V8.

Sources