Hollywood is full of celebrities with fancy car collections, but very few can honestly call themselves “car people.” Tim Allen, on the contrary, belongs to that rare class of people and is the sort of person you’d call a genuine petrolhead.

Allen has been into cars his whole life and is incredibly knowledgeable about them. He has a stunning car collection to his name and is in possession of several icons. Some of the notable standouts include a one-of-a-kind Cadillac DeVille DTSi, a 1986 Ford RS200, a 1966 Mustang GT350H, a 1968 COPO Camaro 427, and many more. Our discussion, however, focuses on the COPO Camaro, in particular.

This top-tier Chevrolet muscle car is a special commission by Tim Allen with help from Bodie Stroud, Classic Industries, and Detroit Speed and Engineering. What we can confidently say about Tim’s Camaro is that it’s the perfect combination of old-school American muscle with modern precision technology.

On top of that, his 1968 COPO Camaro is a well-presented automobile. Sensors and wire harnesses are tucked away so that everything looks simple and neat under the hood. Tim's Camaro 427 celebrates simplicity with clean lines, a new LS7 engine, and all forms of modern chassis technology. Let’s take a closer look at this burnout monster.

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Let’s Dive Into The 1968 COPO Camaro’s Specifics

Tim Allen Jay Leno 1968 Chevy Camaro COPO
Via: Jay Leno's garage

Before we get started, we ought to mention that Tim’s Camaro isn’t actually a factory COPO build. If you didn’t know, COPO stands for Central Office Production Order, which in the ‘60s, was used by people with connections at the top to special order Camaros with a larger displacement engine. Chevrolet’s top executives at the time didn’t want to upset Corvette sales, as supplying a Camaro with a big-block V8 would make the Corvette less attractive. Factory COPO Camaros carry a pretty premium in today’s market and are extremely sought-after automobiles.

Tim Allen's COPO on the road
Via: Jay Leno's garage

The COPO Camaro started after Don Yenko’s performance shop had trouble keeping up with all of the special requests for Camaro upgrades. Yenko used the COPO process to get Camaros to roll off the line with the L-72 427 motor already installed. Allen had the COPO nameplate put on his ‘68 Camaro out of admiration. Early COPOs inspired his build, and the spirit of these great automobiles left a lasting impression on the stand-up comedian turned movie actor and Home Improvement lead.

Tim Allen COPO under the hood
Via: Jay Leno's garage

As for the build, Allen worked with the legendary Bodie Stroud of Bodie Stroud Industries to customize his ‘68 Camaro. The chassis and suspension were taken care of by Detroit Speed and Engineering, while most of the other parts of the vehicle were provided by Classic Industries. In terms of engine, Allen and his team selected a 505-horsepower 427 LS7 engine for this first-generation F-body Camaro. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission.

Tim Allen COPO dash
Via: Jay Leno's garage

Inside, it’s a well-organized affair. There is no console, per se, and the dash is neatly designed with digital gauges that perfectly replicate the original units. This 1968 Chevy Camaro COPO took seven months to build, and you can see the time that went into it in all the little details. Tim wanted a car that was a combination of a 1968 Camaro that a friend of his had in his youth. At the same time, he took inspiration from Smokey Yunick’s Trans-Am racer and the 427 COPO Camaros of yesteryears.

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Jay Leno Drives Allen’s Impressive COPO “Burnout Monster"

The video goes into detail about some of the car’s chassis specifics. Tim goes on to explain how the brakes are special items from Brembo, with custom 17-inch rally wheels so as to provide a cozy fit. He also explains how the bodywork is sculpted and custom-made to his specifications. The hood is more raked, and the fenders are flared to add that bit of style and uniqueness.

The 427 moniker is nicely integrated into the front fender, and the rest of the car is basically kept “stock.” Of course, if you put an OG COPO next to Tim Allen’s car, you will find differences. But as far as standalone items go, this 1968 Camaro 427 is as good as it gets, which Jay Leno points out without hesitation.

When it comes to driving, the Camaro—according to Mr. Leno—felt incredibly stable and planted. He further goes on to compliment Allen for building a car that handled how it would have had Chevy made it today, which ties in perfectly with how Allen wanted the car to feel. The Sitcom star wanted his ‘68 Camaro to resonate the feelings of a new car that you could buy off the lot today. The video ends as Tim Allen lays elevens in a smokey burnout session near Jay’s garage. Allen’s facial expression—as he performs the burnout—is a testament to how incredibly capable his ‘68 COPO Camaro is.

Sources: Jay Leno's Garage