GM Revives COPO Camaro as NHRA Stock Eliminator Dragster - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

heavyt100 · 10-31-2011, 03:45 PM

Featured on Camaro5 HOMEPAGE.

LAS VEGAS – The COPO Camaro is back at Chevrolet, as a concept designed to the specifications for NHRA Stock Eliminator drag racing competition.

“The COPO Camaro is a proof of concept for what a Chevrolet Stock Eliminator entry could look like,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “And it is a clear indication that Chevrolet intends to homologate the Camaro for sportsman drag racing.”

The COPO concept vehicle is designed to accommodate more than one engine option, including a naturally aspirated 427 engine (7.0L) – the same displacement as the original COPO Camaros from 1969 – and a supercharged 327 (5.3L) engine. Among the many racing-specific features and equipment is a conversion from the Camaro’s standard independent rear axle to a solid axle, as well as a full chrome moly roll cage.

The basic content for the COPO Camaro Concept includes:

* Provisions for two engine configurations (see below for details)
* Provisions for a Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission, a three-speed automatic or a five-speed manual
* High-rise cowl-induction hood
* Custom Aeromotive fuel system, with a fuel cell and integral high-pressure fuel pump
* Full, chrome moly roll cage
* Coil-over front suspension with Strange Engineering adjustable struts
* Custom rear suspension, based on NHRA requirements, with Strange Engineering shocks, Panhard bar and stabilizer bar
* Strange Engineering S-9 solid rear axle with aluminum third member, 35-spline spool, 35-spline axles and 4.10 gear set
* Lightweight, COPO-specific racing wheels
* 29x9-inch rear radial racing slicks and 4.5x28x15-inch front tires
* Manual steering system
* Strange Engineering lightweight racing brakes system with standard line lock.

The interior is all business, with most sound deadening and power accessories deleted. Instead, there is pair of racing bucket seats (and no rear seat), a safety harness for the driver, a competition floor shifter and Chevrolet Performance gauges by Auto Meter.

The engines

Intended for NHRA’s various Stock Eliminator classes, the COPO Camaro concept has provisions for two distinct engine packages – each built to conform to class guidelines. The details below outline the core specifications of each engine and their intended classes.

427 327/2.9
Suggested class A Stock AA Stock
Cubic inches 427(7.0L) 327 (5.3L)
Block LS7 LS9
Block material aluminum aluminum
Crank forged steel forged steel
Rods H-beam H-beam
Pistons forged dome forged dome
Compression ratio TBD 10.2:1
Heads LS7 LS7
Rocker arms LS7 1.8-ratio LS7 1.8-ratio
Induction natural aspiration boosted
Intake Holley supercharger
Camshaft type hydraulic roller hydraulic roller
Cam duration (deg.) 233/276 @ .50-in. 244/255 @ .50-in.
Cam lift (inch) .595 .650

The concept vehicle is powered by a prototype version of the supercharged 327 engine, featuring an LSX cylinder block.

The COPO legacy

Since 1955, NHRA Stock Eliminator has been a straight-line proving ground for the quickest cars to come out of Detroit. Within Stock Eliminator, there are many classes, all defined by the ratio of vehicle shipping weight and the assigned horsepower factor. Because of this tightly monitored set of rules and historically brutal competition, Stock Eliminator is the ultimate test for factory muscle cars.

From the “Fuelie” ’57 Bel Air to the ’62 409 Impala and countless muscle cars that came later, Chevrolet has enjoyed a long, dominant position in this sportsman drag racing category. None of the cars, however, have dominated both the track and muscle car folklore like the legendary COPO Camaros produced in 1969.

In the Sixties, COPO was the acronym for Central Office Production Order, within Chevrolet’s vehicle special-order program. Although normally used for fleet orders of trucks and company-owned cars, it was manipulated by a few performance-minded dealers to order vehicles with larger engines than were available in regular-production models – mostly with the intent of getting them to Stock Eliminator racers.

By pushing Chevrolet’s Central Office Production Order special-order program to its limit, a number of dealers were able to get 427-cubic-inch big-block engines installed in a handful of Camaros, when the largest official engine available was a 396. Two versions of the 427 engine were wrangled out of the factory: COPO 9561 was the Corvette-based L-72 edition with an iron cylinder block and COPO 9560 was the racing-designed ZL1 engine with a lighter aluminum cylinder block.

The COPO Camaros opened up the NHRA rulebook to some exciting combinations for Camaro, helping keep Chevrolet at the top of the ultra-competitive form of motorsports. In fact, they were not only competitive in NHRA Stock Eliminator when new, but still hold the national ET and MPH records in several classes.

Racing enthusiasts who are interested in more information can go to www.gmperformanceparts.com to sign up for COPO Camaro concept updates.

Photos posted by slick rick

Ir0nM4n · 10-31-2011, 04:00 PM

Nice Pictures

RLHMARINES · 10-31-2011, 04:10 PM

It was already posted with the link in this thread:http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179592

slick rick · 10-31-2011, 04:15 PM

pictures

2cnd chance · 10-31-2011, 04:36 PM

Tooooooooooo Coooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Runin11z · 10-31-2011, 04:42 PM

This puts a big smile on my face

CamaroSkooter · 10-31-2011, 04:57 PM

2010-11 Steering Wheel?

toesuf94 · 10-31-2011, 05:04 PM

WHY DO I WANT THIS???

slick rick · 10-31-2011, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroSkooter

2010-11 Steering Wheel?

old CTF car?

kmcd · 10-31-2011, 05:34 PM

I'll take one to go.

Kwik · 10-31-2011, 06:20 PM

I want one!

LOWDOWN · 10-31-2011, 06:33 PM

From GMPP...on a Bill of Sale only...

*KILLER74Z28* · 10-31-2011, 06:34 PM

WOW!

Put this on my list of "Things I want"...

ECCamaro · 10-31-2011, 06:47 PM

Put me on the list for one!

10-31-2011, 03:45 PM	#1
heavyt100 Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Outta' here Posts: 231 View My Garage	GM Revives COPO Camaro as NHRA Stock Eliminator Dragster Featured on Camaro5 HOMEPAGE. LAS VEGAS – The COPO Camaro is back at Chevrolet, as a concept designed to the specifications for NHRA Stock Eliminator drag racing competition. “The COPO Camaro is a proof of concept for what a Chevrolet Stock Eliminator entry could look like,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “And it is a clear indication that Chevrolet intends to homologate the Camaro for sportsman drag racing.” The COPO concept vehicle is designed to accommodate more than one engine option, including a naturally aspirated 427 engine (7.0L) – the same displacement as the original COPO Camaros from 1969 – and a supercharged 327 (5.3L) engine. Among the many racing-specific features and equipment is a conversion from the Camaro’s standard independent rear axle to a solid axle, as well as a full chrome moly roll cage. The basic content for the COPO Camaro Concept includes: * Provisions for two engine configurations (see below for details) * Provisions for a Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission, a three-speed automatic or a five-speed manual * High-rise cowl-induction hood * Custom Aeromotive fuel system, with a fuel cell and integral high-pressure fuel pump * Full, chrome moly roll cage * Coil-over front suspension with Strange Engineering adjustable struts * Custom rear suspension, based on NHRA requirements, with Strange Engineering shocks, Panhard bar and stabilizer bar * Strange Engineering S-9 solid rear axle with aluminum third member, 35-spline spool, 35-spline axles and 4.10 gear set * Lightweight, COPO-specific racing wheels * 29x9-inch rear radial racing slicks and 4.5x28x15-inch front tires * Manual steering system * Strange Engineering lightweight racing brakes system with standard line lock. The interior is all business, with most sound deadening and power accessories deleted. Instead, there is pair of racing bucket seats (and no rear seat), a safety harness for the driver, a competition floor shifter and Chevrolet Performance gauges by Auto Meter. The engines Intended for NHRA’s various Stock Eliminator classes, the COPO Camaro concept has provisions for two distinct engine packages – each built to conform to class guidelines. The details below outline the core specifications of each engine and their intended classes. 427 327/2.9 Suggested class A Stock AA Stock Cubic inches 427(7.0L) 327 (5.3L) Block LS7 LS9 Block material aluminum aluminum Crank forged steel forged steel Rods H-beam H-beam Pistons forged dome forged dome Compression ratio TBD 10.2:1 Heads LS7 LS7 Rocker arms LS7 1.8-ratio LS7 1.8-ratio Induction natural aspiration boosted Intake Holley supercharger Camshaft type hydraulic roller hydraulic roller Cam duration (deg.) 233/276 @ .50-in. 244/255 @ .50-in. Cam lift (inch) .595 .650 The concept vehicle is powered by a prototype version of the supercharged 327 engine, featuring an LSX cylinder block. The COPO legacy Since 1955, NHRA Stock Eliminator has been a straight-line proving ground for the quickest cars to come out of Detroit. Within Stock Eliminator, there are many classes, all defined by the ratio of vehicle shipping weight and the assigned horsepower factor. Because of this tightly monitored set of rules and historically brutal competition, Stock Eliminator is the ultimate test for factory muscle cars. From the “Fuelie” ’57 Bel Air to the ’62 409 Impala and countless muscle cars that came later, Chevrolet has enjoyed a long, dominant position in this sportsman drag racing category. None of the cars, however, have dominated both the track and muscle car folklore like the legendary COPO Camaros produced in 1969. In the Sixties, COPO was the acronym for Central Office Production Order, within Chevrolet’s vehicle special-order program. Although normally used for fleet orders of trucks and company-owned cars, it was manipulated by a few performance-minded dealers to order vehicles with larger engines than were available in regular-production models – mostly with the intent of getting them to Stock Eliminator racers. By pushing Chevrolet’s Central Office Production Order special-order program to its limit, a number of dealers were able to get 427-cubic-inch big-block engines installed in a handful of Camaros, when the largest official engine available was a 396. Two versions of the 427 engine were wrangled out of the factory: COPO 9561 was the Corvette-based L-72 edition with an iron cylinder block and COPO 9560 was the racing-designed ZL1 engine with a lighter aluminum cylinder block. The COPO Camaros opened up the NHRA rulebook to some exciting combinations for Camaro, helping keep Chevrolet at the top of the ultra-competitive form of motorsports. In fact, they were not only competitive in NHRA Stock Eliminator when new, but still hold the national ET and MPH records in several classes. Racing enthusiasts who are interested in more information can go to www.gmperformanceparts.com to sign up for COPO Camaro concept updates. Photos posted by slick rick

10-31-2011, 04:00 PM	#2
Ir0nM4n Love me some Tacos Drives: 14 1LE Join Date: May 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 2,728 View My Garage	Nice Pictures __________________ Last edited by Ir0nM4n; 11-01-2011 at 10:08 AM.

10-31-2011, 04:10 PM	#3
RLHMARINES 1st Civ. Div. Drives: Camaroless for now...RIP "Big SexZ" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 2,726	It was already posted with the link in this thread:http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179592 __________________ Swift....Silent....Deadly

10-31-2011, 04:15 PM	#4
slick rick SoCal Mayhem Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS/RS Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Foothill Ranch, CA Posts: 5,488 View My Garage	pictures Attached Images __________________

10-31-2011, 04:42 PM	#6
Runin11z Drives: 11 CGM 2RS-SS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: California Posts: 267	This puts a big smile on my face __________________ 2000 Camaro SS M6 onyx modded 2003 Silverado SS AB stock 2006 TBSS Black modded 2011 Camaro Ls3 CGM stock

10-31-2011, 04:36 PM	#5
2cnd chance Too Many Great Choices Drives: Grand Sport/Z07 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: A Mountain Road Posts: 7,454	Tooooooooooo Coooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10-31-2011, 04:57 PM	#7
CamaroSkooter Retarded One-Legged Owl Drives: 2010 Black Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 9,745	2010-11 Steering Wheel? __________________ My VIN = 2G1FK1EJ9A9105017 Build Date: 04-23-2009 according to: http://www.compnine.com/vid.php

10-31-2011, 05:04 PM	#8
toesuf94 Drives: THR #11 E-force supercharged Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Posts: 4,746	WHY DO I WANT THIS??? __________________ Cars and women are both going to give you problems...but you can pay somebody else to fix your car!

10-31-2011, 05:34 PM	#10
kmcd 1,425 hp / supercharged Drives: (2010 2SS/L99) (1999 Corvette) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,104	I'll take one to go. __________________ "If it's too loud...well, you know the rest."

10-31-2011, 06:20 PM	#11
Kwik Drives: car Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: USA Posts: 801	I want one! __________________ Upgrades to suspension, brakes, motor and appearance. 482.7 RWHP- 434.2 RWT - All motor.

10-31-2011, 06:33 PM	#12
LOWDOWN Downright Upright Drives: Daily Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cruisin'... Posts: 4,145	From GMPP...on a Bill of Sale only...

10-31-2011, 06:34 PM	#13
KILLER74Z28 MOD SQUAD Drives: 2G1FT1EW9A9100666 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: West Michigan Posts: 5,782 View My Garage	WOW! Put this on my list of "Things I want"... __________________ Who cares about the Blue Oval crowd and their little Ponys? We're getting our Camaro back-and it'll be Supercharged!-MDAII Team LS3

10-31-2011, 06:47 PM	#14
ECCamaro High Desert Camaro Man Drives: White Convertible-Tan Top 2SS V8 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Bernadino County, California Posts: 386	Put me on the list for one!

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