2016 Chevrolet COPO Camaro Unveiled At SEMA
The most recent iteration of the Chevrolet Camaro might not be on sale right now, but that doesn’t stop General Motors from working on some of its most high-powered versions. The new 2016 COPO Camaro has been unveiled at SEMA.
In case you don’t know the history of the COPO Camaro, here is a quick lesson. In 1969, Chevrolet wanted to gain an edge over its competitors in NHRA drag racing. To do this, someone had the bright idea of stuffing the Corvette’s 427 cubic-inch V8 into a lightened Camaro.
- Also: 2015 Chevrolet COPO Camaro Unveiled at the SEMA Show
- Also: The First 2015 Chevrolet COPO Camaro Will Be Auctioned
There was a problem, however: only stock production models were allowed to compete in the particular series Chevrolet was after. So, the manufacturer decided to offer its car through their dealership network. But you couldn’t simply walk up to a salesman and order one, you had to order a very specific set of options via the Central Office Production Order (which is where the COPO Camaro got its name, by the way).
Today’s COPO is very different from the standard Camaro. It sports a solid rear axle (instead of the independent suspension road-going versions are fitted with), a spool-type diff and 40-spline axle shafts. The car is also equipped with better brakes, a fuel-cell, Weld wheels and Goodyear tires. To make sure the car can actually stop at the end of the track, it also comes standard with a parachute.
A variety of engines will be offered (depending on the class the car will compete in), ranging from a supercharged 5.7-litre to a carbureted 7-litre.
There will only be 69 2016 COPO Camaros built, and if you want one, be aware that it will only be useable on a track (it’s not street-legal). As far as the car shown in the above pictures, it will be sold at the Barret-Jackson auction after being shown at the SEMA Show.
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