It's back. The quickest Camaro ever built by Chevrolet. Born to dominate in a straight line, this beast is specially engineered to punish the strip, not to mention the competition.

COPO is a true racing machine. It is specifically offered for off-highway, competitive NHRA use only. It cannot be registered, titled, licensed, or driven on public roads or highways. The COPO Camaro is designed to NHRA racing specifications, including a solid axle and a full chrome-moly roll cage. Inside, most of the standard sound-deadening and power accessories have been deleted in order to optimize weight for NHRA racing. Also included: a pair of racing bucket seats (no rear seat), a safety harness for the driver, a competition floor shifter, and Chevrolet Performance gauges.

Background

When the COPO concept was first shown at the 2011 SEMA Show, the overwhelming response inspired the decision for a limited, special-edition production run. To ensure fair access, an independent third party was used to identify the individuals who would be offered the opportunity to buy one of the new COPO Camaros. Those selected received confirmation early in 2012, with instructions on how to fulfill the purchase contract, choose the engine option for their intended racing class, and take delivery. Engines were assembled in Wixom, Mich., at the Performance Build Center, where the buyer could opt to participate in the engine assembly.

Honoring the COPO Legacy

A 69-car production was selected to commemorate the original number of ZL-1 COPO Camaros made in 1969. COPO - which stands for Central Office Production Order - was Chevrolet's special-order system, notoriously used by dealers in the 1960s to build high-performance models that couldn't be found anywhere else. The second-coming of the COPO name is an extension of the legacy started in 1969, when the first purpose-built Camaro drag-racing specialty car was designed to compete with the quickest in NHRA's Stock Eliminator and Super Stock classes. National records for quarter-mile times in these contests are in the 9-second range.

The three engines offered in the COPO Camaro program were developed to align with the top classes in NHRA's various Stock Eliminator and Super Stock ranks:

A special collector's package includes the purchase of all three engines with the COPO -

including one installed in the car at delivery. All three engines are serial-number matched to the car.

2012 COPO Specs & Stats P/N 20129562

FEATURES
  • All Engines
  • 327/4.0L Supercharged
  • 327/2.9L Supercharged
  • 427 Naturally Aspirated

NHRA HORSEPOWER RATINGS
  • 550|
  • 500|
  • 425

RECOMMENDED MAX ENGINE RPM

7500

SPECS FOR 3-SPEED AUTO AND MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS SUBMITTED TO NHRA FOR USE IN STOCK AND SUPER STOCK CLASSES

NHRA SHIPPING WEIGHTS
  • 3,175 lbs|
  • 3,250 lbs|
  • 3,195 lbs

CHASSIS

Chrome-moly cage – NHRA certified to 8.50 ET

Subframes tied together

Front engine cradle modified to accept additional oil pan clearance

Rear subframe modified to accept unique COPO NHRA Stock Eliminator suspension

REAR SUSPENSION

4-bar with adjustable top links

Adjustable Panhard link

Double-adjustable Strange Engineering coil over shocks

Anti-roll bar

FRONT SUSPENSION

Adjustable Strange Engineering coil over struts

Sway bar removed

STEERING

Production steering gear modified for manual (non-assist) operation

BRAKES

Lightweight vented rotors

Billet 4-piston lightweight calipers

Lightweight tandem master cylinder

OEM pedal modified to mount master cylinder

All components provided by Strange Engineering

WHEELS

Bogart Racing lightweight with unique COPO logo

Forged outer ring

Billet center

15" x 10" rear - 5/8" studs

15" x 3.5" front - 1/2" studs

3.875" Back Spacing

4 3/4" bolt circle pattern

TIRES

Rear: 9.0/30.0R - 15 94.0" Radial

Front: 4.5/28.0 - 15 Drag only

GEARS & AXLES

Strange Engineering 9" aluminum center section

Lightweight steel spool

Strange Engineering 9310 alloy 4.29 ring & pinion set

Strange Engineering 35-spline axles

Strange Engineering Chrome-moly yoke

DRIVE SHAFT

4" OD x .125" wall 6061-T6 aluminum tube

Chromoly end caps

Forged chrome-moly slip yoke

Heavy-duty 1350 universal joints

TRANSMISSION

SFI-approved ATI Super Case

1.80 ratio 9310 straight-cut gear set

Precision balanced carrier with 4340 tool steel output shaft

Turbo spline input shaft

300M material

Seven clutch high gear pack

Billet clutch hub

High flow front pump with heat-treated pinned stator tube

Deep aluminum pan

Hard Chrome Rings

Fluid overflow catch can

TORQUE CONVERTER
  • 9" diameter housing|
  • 8" diameter housing|
  • 8" diameter housing

    • Furnace brazed impeller and turbine fins

    Precision pump drive tube

    Heavy duty needle bearings

    Investment cast cover

    SHIFTER

    Hurst "Quarterstick" — 2-spd. automatic

    Forward pattern

    Built-in neutral safety switch

    ENGINE

    Chevrolet Performance LSX cast-iron block with steel main caps

    4.065" bore x 3.150" stroke

    Static compression ratio — 10:1 nominal

    Callies 4340 crankshaft — double-keyed snout

    Callies 4340 H-beam Ultra rods

    • 6.350" length

    • .928" pin bore diameter

    Clevite H-Series heat-treated tri-metal rod and main bearings

    Mahle 2618 alloy forged domed pistons

    • Graphal coating

    • Hard-anodized top ring groove

    • Friction-coated skirts

    Mahle .043" x .043" x 3mm piston rings

    • Ductile iron top with radius molybdenum face

    • Plain cast-iron tapered 2nd

    • Chrome-plated oil rails with low-tension expander

    COMP Cams steel billet hydraulic roller camshaft

    • Duration — 246° IN/254° EX @ .050" lift

    • Theoretical valve lift — .630" /.630"

    • Lobe centers — 117°

    Chevrolet Performance LSX cast-iron block with steel main caps

    4.065" bore x 3.150" stroke

    Static compression ratio - 10:1 nominal

    Callies 4340 crankshaft - double-keyed snout

    Callies 4340 H-beam Ultra rods

    • 6.350" length

    • .928" pin bore diameter

    Clevite H-Series heat-treated tri-metal rod and main bearings

    Mahle 2618 alloy forged domed pistons

    • Graphal coating

    • Hard-anodized top ring groove

    • Friction-coated skirts

    Mahle .043" x .043" x 3mm piston rings

    • Ductile iron top with radius molybdenum face

    • Plain cast-iron tapered 2nd

    • Chrome-plated oil rails with low-tension expander

    COMP Cams steel billet hydraulic roller camshaft

    • Duration — 246°/254° @ .050" lift

    • Theoretical valve lift — .630"/.630"

    • Lobe centers — 117°

    Chevrolet Performance LS7 aluminum block

    4.125" bore x 4.00" stroke

    Static compression ratio - 13:1 nominal

    Callies 5140 crankshaft

    Callies 4340 H-beam rods

    • 6.100" C-C length

    • .928" pin bore diameter

    Clevite H-Series heat-treated tri-metal rod and main bearings

    Mahle 2618 alloy forged domed pistons

    • Graphal coating

    • Hard-anodized top ring groove

    • Friction-coated skirts

    Mahle .043" x .043" x 3mm piston rings

    • Ductile iron top with radius molybdenum face

    • Plain cast iron tapered 2nd

    • Chrome-plated oil rails with low-tension expander

    Chevrolet Performance steel billet hydraulic roller camshaft

    • Duration — 233°/276° @ .050" lift

    • Theoretical valve lift — .630"/.630"

    • Lobe centers — 107°

    VALVETRAIN

    Chevrolet Performance "Ceramic Ball" high-rpm hydraulic roller tappets

    3/8" diameter LS7 pushrods

    1.8:1 ratio LS7 rocker arms with roller trunions

    PSI "Max Life" beehive valve springs

    Hardened steel spring seats

    Lightweight steel retainers

    Fully CNC'ed aluminum cylinder heads — based on LS7

    275 cc nominal intake port volume

    89 cc nominal exhaust port volume

    70 cc nominal combustion chamber volume

    Del West titanium intake valves — 2.205" head diameter x 7mm stem

    Lightweight sodium-filled exhaust valves — 1.615" head diameter x 7mm stem

    Fel-Pro Performance multi-layer steel head gaskets with raised cylinder sealing bead

    Internal wet sump oil pump

    Deep-sump cast aluminum oil pan — 6-quart capacity

    ATI Performance Products SFI-approved damper — 10-rib shell

    4.0L Whipple twin-screw supercharger

    Whipple billet throttle body

    327/550 — 172mm oval blade

    Chevrolet Performance "Ceramic Ball" high-rpm hydraulic roller tappets

    3/8" diameter LS7 pushrods

    1.8:1 ratio LS7 rocker arms with roller trunions

    PSI "Max Life" beehive valve springs

    Hardened steel spring seats

    Lightweight steel retainers

    Fully CNC'ed aluminum cylinder heads — based on LS7

    275 cc nominal intake port volume

    89 cc nominal exhaust port volume

    70 cc nominal combustion chamber volume

    Del West titanium intake valves — 2.200" head diameter x 7mm stem

    Lightweight sodium-filled exhaust valves — 1.615" head diameter x 7mm stem

    Fel-Pro Performance multi-layer steel head gaskets with raised cylinder sealing bead

    Internal wet sump oil pump

    Deep-sump cast aluminum oil pan — 6-quart capacity

    ATI Performance Products SFI-approved damper — 10-rib shell

    2.9L Whipple twin-screw supercharger

    Whipple billet throttle body

    327/500 — 109mm round blade

    Chevrolet Performance "Ceramic Ball" high-rpm hydraulic roller tappets

    3/8" diameter LS7 pushrods

    1.8:1 ratio LS7 rocker arms with roller trunions

    PSI "Max Life" beehive valve springs

    Hardened steel spring seats

    Lightweight steel retainers

    Fully CNC'ed aluminum cylinder heads — based on LS7

    275 cc nominal intake port volume

    89 cc nominal exhaust port volume

    70 cc nominal combustion chamber volume

    Del West titanium intake valves — 2.205" head diameter x 7mm stem

    Lightweight sodium-filled exhaust valves — 1.615" head diameter x 7mm stem

    Fel-Pro Performance multi-layer steel head gaskets with raised cylinder sealing bead

    Internal wet sump oil pump

    Deep-sump cast aluminum oil pan — 6-quart capacity

    SFI-approved damper

    Billet electric water pump

    Chevrolet Performance/Holley "Hi Ram" intake manifold

    Whipple billet throttle body — 102mm blade

    HEADERS

    2" x 30" primary with 30" merge collectors

    304 stainless steel

    2" x 30" primary with 30" merge collectors

    304 stainless steel

    2" x 30" primary with 30" merge collectors

    304 stainless steel

    FUEL SYSTEM

    Aeromotive "Eliminator" fuel pump — free flow rating = 800 lb/hr

    Aeromotive A1000 pressure regulator with manifold pressure compensation capability

    Aeromotive 10-micron high-flow filter

    Lightweight black nylon braided -8 AN hoses

    Black anodized aluminum -8 AN hose ends and fittings

    High-impedance fuel injectors

    Fuel Pressure: 70 psi base (1 to 1 boost compensation used for supercharged engines)

    • 105 lb/hr @ 43.5 psi with EV1 connector

    • 80 lb/hr @ 43.5 psi with EV1 connector 80 lb/hr @ 43.5 psi with EV1 connector

    • 42 lb/hr @ 58 psi with EV6/USCAR connector

    ENGINE CONTROLS & IGNITION

    Delco MEFI 5A electronic fuel-injection processor

    • Speed density operation

    • Interfacing software & hardware available in the aftermarket

    Cable-actuated throttle

    Production LS7 ignition coils

    Production LS7 secondary wires

    GM sensors

    ELECTRICAL

    Dash-installed control switches:

    • Starter

    • Ignition

    • Fuel pump

    • Cooling fan

    Intercooler pump/water pump (varies by engine package)

    GAUGES

    Autometer with gold Bowtie logo on dials

    5" 10K RPM tach with shift light

    Electronic water temp with 2.0625" face and 100°-260°F range

    Electronic trans temp with 2.0625" face and 100°-260°F range

    Electronic oil pressure with 2.0625" face and 0-100 psi range

    Electronic fuel pressure with 2.0625" face and 0-100 psi range

    Voltmeter with 2.0625" face and 8-18v range

    SAFETY

    RJS Safety Equipment 3" driver restraints

    RJS Safety Equipment window net