GM Revives COPO Camaro as NHRA Stock Eliminator Dragster

[shank0668]

Originally Posted by PQ

I'll take my safety equipment AND power thank you.

I guess I like to be safe. When I say responsibly, I'm talking safety of everyone. Everyone on a track has accepted the risk. On the street people want to be safe. MUCH more hazards on the street than a track. To me, a COPO is made for the track for a reason and not the street. Nobody on the street wants to have an unsafe track car weaving through traffic. Traction control and stabilitrac and air bags and all of that stuff is a law now. If not it soon will be. For a reason.

I'll be in the minority on this, but it's just the way I feel.

Like I said, all these are requirements, and that is why I said it probably couldn't be made street legal. (It could but it would be heavy) Another reason it definitely couldn't is emissions. So this car could not be on the street and be any more "dangerous" than a car like yours. (aside from the dumb a##es that could make a 200hp car dangerous.)

[PQ]

Originally Posted by shank0668

Like I said, all these are requirements, and that is why I said it probably couldn't be made street legal. (It could but it would be heavy) Another reason it definitely couldn't is emissions. So this car could not be on the street and be any more "dangerous" than a car like yours. (aside from the dumb a##es that could make a 200hp car dangerous.)

True, but my car has Stabilitrac and TC. I use it too.

My point, I guess, is if you're going to drive crazy then keep it on a track. If you plan on driving crazy on the street then you're an idiot. Having none of those safetynets on a COPO makes it unsafe to drive on the street. And that puts other drivers at risk. My car is powered up so I can have fun on the track and comforted with equipment to be safe on the street.

Can a COPO be driven safely on the street? I suppose so.

Will it be? Probably not.

But there are things that a regular SS/ZL1 has that make it safer. And a COPO is attractive because of weight mainly.

Only real reason I can see to want it street legal is to drive it to the track so you don't have to trailer it. But someone that serious about their racing isn't worried about that. They'd rather keep it light and fast. You buy a COPO to race.

And that's why I asked. Why would you want this car street legal?

[shank0668]

Originally Posted by PQ

True, but my car has Stabilitrac and TC. I use it too.

My point, I guess, is if you're going to drive crazy then keep it on a track. If you plan on driving crazy on the street than you're an idiot. Having none of those safetynets on a COPO makes it unsafe to drive on the street. And that puts other drivers at risk.

Can a COPO be driven safely on the street? I suppose so.

Will it be? Probably not.

But there are things that a regular SS/ZL1 has that make it safer. And a COPO is attractive because of weight mainly.

Only real reason I can see to want it street legal is to drive it to the track so you don't have to trailer it. But someone that serious about their racing isn't worried about that. They'd rather keep it light and fast. You buy a COPO to race.

And that's why I asked. Why would you want this car street legal?

What about the original copos? Nothing holding that power back. Or my friends 1970 Chevelle SS with a 502? The thing is though is that the stupid people would turn them off anyway.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by shank0668

What about the original copos? Nothing holding that power back. Or my friends 1970 Chevelle SS with a 502? The thing is though is that the stupid people would turn them off anyway.

Why do they turn them off? To drive recklessly. That's the ony reason to.

As far as the old COPOs, NOBODY had most of our safety systems back then. It was a different deal. Back then it was a matter of comfort. Air conditioning, padding, appearance etc.............

Today it's a safety thing. Hell, they didn't even have shoulder straps on the seatbelts.

To me I can take my car and put it on the track and thrash on it. I have the power to have more fun, and I can still get on the street and drive sensibly and be safe should the power catch me off gaurd.

Thing is, there are times when my gas peddal can EASILY get me in trouble with the rear wheels. Especially in the rain. But it doesn't take a wet condition for the rear of my car to want to come around even when I don't expect it to. I have the safety net of my equipment.

A COPO won't have ANY of that.

Sure, I suppose you might be just fine driving it on the street, for a while if you want. I don't see why anyone would want to though.

[flyby]

All I can say is "if the price is reasonable...I want one NOW!!!!!

[O2BQIK]

Originally Posted by shank0668

Problem is to make it street legal, it is going to need to have all the safety equipment. The Cobra Jet weighed 3300 pounds. There is no way we could keep the weight down and still be legal. They MAY be able to get it to like 3800 pounds with all the safety stuff. Also the car has to pass all the emissions, which I do not see happening.

Bingo. It could be street legal, in which case it would not be very competitive at the drag strip due to exactly what you said (weight and emissions controls). Or it can be competitive at the drag strip, and not be street legal. You really can't be both. GM will need to decide where the market is for this car. I for one hope they decide to make it not street legal, should they find that there are enough buyers to make it profitable. They can always make the parts available separately for all those saying they like the hood, or want the solid rear axle, etc. I certainly have met a lot of guys in my time who would have bought a factory drag racer!

[BoomBoomKid]

If you're a guy under 35 years old you might want one, if you're a guy over 35 years old you would give your left nut to have one.

[Caliman93230]

Originally Posted by BoomBoomKid

If you're a guy under 35 years old you might want one, if you're a guy over 35 years old you would give your left nut to have one.

[JusticePete]

At the GM Preview the night before SEMA and at the GM SEMA Unveil and Announcements the speakers mentioned there was a 427 in 'development' That was an interesting detail they left sort of hanging out there. 427 in development for the COPO. Hmmm

[garcmol]

Originally Posted by JusticePete

At the GM Preview the night before SEMA and at the GM SEMA Unveil and Announcements the speakers mentioned there was a 427 in 'development' That was an interesting detail they left sort of hanging out there. 427 in development for the COPO. Hmmm

Yep! From GMPP site

The specifications on each combination are as follows:
427 Naturally Aspirated ~or~ 327/2.9 BoostedBlock
Cubic Inches:427 (7 liters) 327 (5.3 liters)
HP Rating: TBD TBD

[FTI-EDC]

I feel "really" old now - remembering the days when I saw the first COPO in the showroom of Scungio Chevrolet. Pale yellow with dog dish hub caps and redline tires.

Deja Vu all over again.

[nhra stocker]

The race ready Cobra Jet Mustang runs between $91,000 - 103,000. The Drag pak Challenger is around $86,000. So id say not to many people will be owning one of these! Plus its still just a concept so who knows?

[nhra stocker]

The biggest issue with the COPO will be the horsepower rating GM gives NHRA on the different combinations. The Mustang came in WAY underrated from Ford which has allowed it to thrive in Stock class. Its all about the weight to horsepower ratio! The 2008 Cobra jet started out at 425hp weighing 3200lbs its now up to 491hp due to it running too fast according to the class index. NHRA then adds horsepower to the combination which in turn makes you have to add additional weight to run in certain classes in order to slow you down. Its to try and even out the playing field amongst older and newer cars. The 2010 stock Cobra Jet wont even be allowed to run in stock class anymore its ran too fast for AA/SA and can no longer add weight due to the only being able to have 500lbs of ballast in a car.

[nhra stocker]

The way NHRA determines ones class is the horsepower given by the manufacturer in the NHRA classification guide divided by the cars shipping weight. The classes are based on half pound weight increments. The fastest being AA/S or AA/SA which is 7.5-7.99lbs then A/S or A/SA 8.0-8.49lbs and so on. So for the COPO to fit in AA with a 427 (505hp if thats what GM claims) its minimum weight would be 3790LBs plus the 170lbs allowed for the driver which comes in at an enormous 3960lbs race weight!!!!