The Chevrolet Camaro is undoubtedly one of the most robust and enthralling American muscle cars of all generations. Embedded deep into some of the best model years of the Camaro is the awesome COPO Camaro. The COPO Camaro first arrived in the late 1960s, a trivial period in Chevrolet history when General Motors faced severe disadvantages arising from disputes between members of the AMA and mounting antitrust allegations from the federal government.
The aftermath of the 1960s squabbles meant that GM no longer produced cars with the big block engines. However, businessmen Don Yenko and Fred Gibb found ingenious but unorthodox means to deliver some of the first surgically-altered Camaros. Their endeavors opened up a new world of some of the most potent drag-strip warriors known to date. Since the legendary COPO Camaro now boasts over 50 years of success under its belt, here are some interesting facts that make it such a fantastic car.
10 The COPO Camaro Is A Specialty Car
We can all agree that there's plenty of reasons to love the '67-'69 Camaro, but the specialty COPO Camaro arguably has to be the best one. In 1969, Fred Gibb launched the COPO 9560 package, which allowed him to order high-performance Camaro parts and systems using the Central Office Purchase Order system designated for commercial buyers. The COPO system offered Gibb Chevrolet dealerships leeway to circumvent GM's mandate that stipulated the Camaro engine could not exceed 400 cubic inches for passenger vehicles.
The end-run around GM enabled dealerships to build a total of 69 ZL1-powered COPO Camaros, some of the quickest and rarest Camaros of the classic muscle era. After other dealerships caught on, they collectively launched the specialty COPO 9561 package that allowed dealerships to fit a cheaper 427 cubic inch L72 iron block rated at 425hp. The COPO Camaros built from the program are one of a kind, since it's rare for cars to come to the market in the way that they did.
9 Three Generations Of COPO Camaros
So far, Chevrolet has successfully put out six generations of the Camaro. Unfortunately, the COPO Camaro has been available for only three of those generations. The first special-order COPO Camaros came out in 1968, just as the first-generation Camaro started to get a foothold in the market.
After the first generation models, Chevrolet did not make COPO Camaros from 1969 until their revival in 2012. The COPO Camaro got reintroduced with the fifth-generation Camaro and continued over to the current-gen six. Should the speculation about the end of the Camaro come to pass, it would almost be poetic how the COPO Camaro got the three best generations of the Camaro.
8 The COPO Camaro Is Not Street Legal
The old COPO Camaros are more popular than their modern siblings for a few reasons. First, they were plain stealthy, even before that became a thing in the American auto industry. The '69 COPO Camaro also came with a Vehicle Identification Number, meaning it has a warranty, and you can legally drive it on the street.
However, the modern COPO Camaro from 2012 has no VIN and instead uses designated serial numbers. Therefore, they cannot be registered, licensed, or driven on any public streets. And that makes the modern COPO Camaro even more appealing because something about human nature drives us to desire what we cannot have. According to MotorTrend, someone found a way to yet again circumvent regulations and own the very first legally licensed COPO Camaro.
7 Chevrolet Purpose-Built The COPO Camaro For Drag Racing
The '69 COPO Camaro boasted excellent drag strip performance. Thus, the contemporary models revive the mythology that these models built up around themselves. Chevrolet designed the COPO Camaro to compete directly with the fastest racing automobiles in the National Hot Rod Association's Stock Eliminator and Super Stock classes.
The modern design includes lightweight adjustable strut-type front suspension, unassisted rack-and-pinion steering, adjustable coil-overs, stabilizer bar handle, a Panhard bar, unassisted four-wheel disc brakes, racing bucket seats, a solid axle, Chromoly roll cage, extra gauges, a competition shifter, a parachute, and a safety harness. The COPO Camaro also lacks standard power and sound deadening accessories to achieve optimal weight for racing.
6 COPO Camaro Special Editions
Unknown to many, there's some special edition COPO Camaros that Chevrolet introduced for auction at a couple of SEMA Shows. In 2016, Chevrolet released the Gen Six Camaro, and the first COPO received a custom Courtney Force appearance. At the 2019 SEMA Show, Chevrolet unveiled the 2020 COPO Camaro John Force Edition to commemorate the 16-time NHRA champion driver.
Chevrolet also introduced an anniversary-themed 2019 COPO Camaro at the 2018 SEMA Show to celebrate the 50-year milestone of the unique order program. The Camaro paid homage to the original Laguna Blue from 1969 with a special Anniversary Blue Metallic exterior color. In addition, the orange-themed Anniversary Engine Appearance Package also emulated vintage Chevy performance engines.
5 COPO Cars Are Extremely Rare
In 1969, Chevrolet built 69 COPO Camaro units with the high-spec all-aluminum 427 ZL 1 engine. These COPO Camaros are among the rarest muscle cars of all time, and such vehicles will probably never get produced again. The exclusivity and total package in these beauties make them the most sought-after collectible cars of any kind.
The modern COPO Camaro is just as rare as the original '69 model. Chevrolet maintained the limited-production runs of 69 units through a lottery system that makes them rare and valuable, with a high resale value. However, Chevrolet opened its doors to receive unlimited orders for the 2022 COPO Camaro. This unprecedented decision has further fueled speculation surrounding the retirement of the Chevrolet Camaro.
4 The 2022 COPO Camaro Has A Big Block V-8
If indeed there won't be a seventh-generation gas-powered COPO Camaro, then the massive big block under the hood would ensure it goes out with a bang. The 2022 COPO Camaro houses a 9.4-liter V-8 with a cast-iron block, forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods, aluminum cylinder heads, and forged pistons.
This big block is by far the biggest V8 from any American automaker. Surprisingly, the engine is not as powerful as it suggests on paper. The NHRA homologated the unit with just 436 hp, making it the weakest engine option for the 2022 COPO Camaro. But if anyone decides to race it out of class, the big block can deliver much more horsepower.
3 Three Engine Variants For The 2022 COPO Camaro
Chevrolet has always offered the COPO Camaro with three or more engine options since the 2012 revival. For 2022, the COPO Camaro boasts only three engine variations. The big-block V8 powers the COPO Camaro's rear wheels through a three-speed ATI Racing TH400 automatic transmission.
For naturally aspirated engine fans, there is a 6.8-liter option capable of an impressive 470hp. The most powerful engine option for the 2022 COPO Camaro is the supercharged 5.7-liter V8 that produces a whopping 580hp. This small-block engine pair utilizes the same three-speed ATI Racing TH400 automatic transmission as the massive big block.
2 The COPO Is The Faster Camaro
Since 1969, the COPO Camaro has always dominated over the base Camaro in a speed duel. The 1969 Camaro was a track machine capable of around 135mph. But the COPO Camaro at the time managed a top speed of 140mph and clocked 0-60mph in 5.4 seconds.
In 2012, the automatic-equipped ZL1 stock Camaro sprinted the quarter-mile in 11.93 seconds at 116mph. On the other hand, the 2012 COPO drag-strip beast commanded a stunning 8.88 seconds with a trap speed of 142.9mph. The trend remains constant across all model years, making the COPO models faster than the stock Camaros.
1 The eCOPO Concept
Chevrolet pushed the envelope with the original COPO Camaro program, and they are determined to do so again as electrification takes over the future of the high-performance space. To keep the COPO dream alive, Chevrolet unveiled the eCOPO Concept to light the way into the new world of electrified drag racing. Hancock and Lane Racing collaborated with Chevrolet to design an electric motor whose driveshaft, transmission, differential, and axles slip into the COPO cars as perfectly as the combustion engines do.
The eCOPO Concept boasts two electric motors that share a single housing and shaft to deliver 750hp and 600lb-ft of torque. The car has a single assembly that features Chevy's first 800-volt battery pack, two BorgWarner electric motors, and two Rinehart DC to AC inverters. In addition, a thoroughly conventional three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic 400 race-prepped automatic transmission backs up the electric power. As Chevrolet keeps exploring further options, the future of the COPO Camaro looks bright.