1LE 427 LS7 Option, is it still possible?

[Fraxum]

Around the time of the Z/28 reveal I seem to remember someone high up at GM saying "And we're not done yet." or something like that. So what could it be? What's left to do? 1LE, ZL-1, and of course the Z/28.

The first thing that comes to mind is a V6 track pack. This makes a lot of sense and would be popular, but would GM do this only for the last year of the Camaro 5th Gen? Maybe, but something else would be just as easy and make a bigger splash.

How about if they offered the LS7 and ZL1 brakes bundled with the 1LE package and Recaros to create a new tweener level Camaro slotted between the 1LE and the Z/28? It makes so much sense. The LS7 is certified for the Camaro, so no additional emission or crash testing. And GM does not seem like they will be mass producing the Z/28, so I would bet there will be extra LS7 production capacity.

I am sure GM noticed the disappointment with the Camaro obsessed when the Z/28 was to be very expensive with only limited options. There would be demand for for a less expensive 427 with all option access for sure. The number 427 is a magical number. And of course if GM was to do this they would do it after the Z/28 was released. So the 1LE 427 option would be scheduled to add some excitement to the Gen 5s last year. This would also follow the Corvette pattern where you could buy a 427 vert at the end of the C6 design. The 427 could go to the Camaro Vert, but the weight of the Vert would dull the effect.

So what do you think? How much do you think the option would be? Should the package have a new name? Assuming you could get a 1SS with the package for under $50k would you buy it?

In keeping with the 1LE option code idea I would call the new option L72 as a tribute to the original '69 COPO 427 option. Of course the new L72 would be a track animal as well as a respectable drag racer.

1LE + 427 =

[62nalide]

huh? So like a base Z28?

[Msmall143]

The tweener between a 1le and a z/28 would be the zl1

[Stock Boy]

Dude, I'm laughing after reading that...and I don't know why. I imagine you throwing that pitch at a Chevy business meeting. Very excited and animated, followed by your coworker's stunned silence.

[Fraxum]

Originally Posted by Stock Boy

Dude, I'm laughing after reading that...and I don't know why. I imagine you throwing that pitch at a Chevy business meeting. Very excited and animated, followed by your coworker's stunned silence.

Yea, I was bored last night watching the Mecum Auction cheap car prequel. But in reality there is nothing stopping GM from offering the LS7 in something other than the Z/28. And there might be more than a few buyers. The same thing happened with the Corvette. The LS7s last gasp.

[2cnd chance]

I think the Z/28 "is" the last hurrah for the LS7.

[Fraxum]

Originally Posted by 2cnd chance

I think the Z/28 "is" the last hurrah for the LS7.

Sure it could be. But then a few extra ones floating around wouldn't hurt. Do Z/28s go down the same assembly line as the other Camaros? What if there were a modern COPO program? The hard work is already done.

[Msmall143]

Originally Posted by Fraxum

Sure it could be. But then a few extra ones floating around wouldn't hurt. Do Z/28s go down the same assembly line as the other Camaros? What if there were a modern COPO program? The hard work is already done.

There is a modern copo program, they made 69 (69 to pay tribute to the 1969 copo's) in 2013. Started around 90k. I believe they will have the same numbers for 2014

[Camaro_Corvette]

If that were to happen, that would be the first time I would be disappointed with my 1LE purchase. LS7 or something equal, maybe even something new?

[NinoSS]

I would seriously consider trading in my car for a 1LE LS7 if they made it. I'm about to install an ECS Novi (sitting in a box in my office at work), but would love to mod an LS7...

[Blownhotrodder]

There is something limiting them from doing it, its called a bunch of pissed off Z28 owners. There really isnt that much of a leap in hp between the LS3 and the LS7. You could spend a few grand and have that and more naturally aspirated.

[BigBlock69RS]

Be interesting if they offered it as an option even if I was say a 10k one.

[Fraxum]

Originally Posted by Msmall143

There is a modern copo program, they made 69 (69 to pay tribute to the 1969 copo's) in 2013. Started around 90k. I believe they will have the same numbers for 2014

Yea, the name is there and the car is way cool but back in the day COPO stood for Central Office Production Order which was a special program that allowed dealers to order cars that were against GMs cubic inch model restrictions. Only dealers who were focused on performance too advantage of this loophole and some of the cars were used for drag racing. Now that the LS7 is legal for the Camaro a similar type of program could happen today at least in the spirit of the COPO program. More nostalgia.