The COPO name is one of the most revered in Chevrolet history. It stands for Central Office Production Order, and used to signify a back-door ordering process that allowed enterprising dealers and customers to put high-performance engines into cars Chevy didn’t normally offer them in. The original COPO Camaros were highlights of the 1960s muscle-car era, and today they’re highly prized collectibles. Chevy revived the COPO name in 2012 for its Camaro drag racers, and has built a handful of the cars every year since.
Using the sixth-generation Camaro as a foundation, the 2016 COPO Camaro is lighter, stronger, and equipped with racing suspension. There are three engine options, including supercharged 350 (5.7-liter) and naturally aspirated 427 (7.0-liter) LS-series small block V8s, and an LT-based 6.2-liter V8. A race-prepped Turbo
400 three-speed automatic is the sole transmission offered.
The show car in the SEMA Chevrolet stand was designed with the help of professional NHRA racer Courtney Force, who currently drives the Traxxas Chevy Camaro SS Funny Car for John Force Racing. The hot red exterior is adorned with Courtney Force signature graphics and red accented grille. Under the carbon fiber hood is a supercharged 350 small block. Weld lightweight racing wheels, wheelie bar and parachute finish off the exterior look.
Inside the COPO Camaro show car are lightweight racing bucket seats personalized with the COPO logo and Courtney Force’s signature, five point racing harness, and minimal instrumentation. Safety equipment includes an NHRA chrome-moly roll cage and racing fuel cell.
Racers interested in purchasing one of the 69 2016 COPO Camaro race cars, designated for NHRA Stock and Super Stock Eliminator classes, must register at chevrolet.com/performance/copo-camaro. An independent third-party will randomly select purchasers from the pool of interested customers.
Enthusiasts can also follow updates on the 2016 COPO Camaro program at theBlock.com.
The 2015 Chevy SEMA Custom Cars & Trucks rolled onto the Las Vegas stage and TFL was there to check out the custom Camaros, Corvettes, and even Kid Rock’s HD dually truck.
