2012 COPO Camaro: GM's Baddest Factory Camaro Ever! - HOT ROD Unlimited Episode 6

It's the baddest factory Camaro ever! The 2012 COPO Camaro is a pure drag racing car built to compete in NHRA Stock Eliminator and Super Stock classes, and in this episode of HOT ROD Unlimited, we go behind the scenes within General Motors to learn about the car, watch some radical burnouts, meet some of the people behind the COPO, see one of the engines on the dyno, and visit the Performance Build Center where the engines are assembled. At the time of our visit, the only COPO was the very first one, known as the Proof of Concept car, serial number 001. GM was not ready to release engine power numbers, drag times, or vehicle weights, as class details are still being worked out with the National Hot Rod Association.
COPO stands for Central Office Production Order, a process that was used in the '60s for fleet managers to order unusual combinations of options. Dealer Fred Gibb figured out how to use the system to get GM to assemble cars that were never intended for production. He ordered 1969 Camaros that used a derivative of GM's 427ci, all-aluminum ZL1 race engine, and bought enough of them to make them legal to compete as production cars in NHRA and AHRA drag racing. There were 69 ZL1 Camaros built in 1969, and Chevrolet is building the same number for 2012.
The new COPO is a pure race car, not able to be licensed for the street, and is available with three different engines: a 427 that's naturally aspirated, a 327 with a 2.9L Whipple blower, and a 327 with a 4.0L Whipple blower. Buyers have the option to own all three engines, all stamped with the serial number of their car. The COPO is gutted of all the street equipment, has a rollcage, and the original independent rear suspension has been replaced with a Strange 9-inch rearend with 4.29 gears and a spool. Other aftermarket parts include Strange struts and brakes, and ATI Powerglide transmission, an Aeromotive fuel system, Bogart wheels with COPO engraving, and Hoosier 30x9.00-15 radial slicks and skinny front drag tires.
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[@AE86ofMtAkina]

6:52 That's the slowest reaction time I've ever seen!

[@tammyforbes2101]

What a beast makes a mustang look like a Tonka toy.

[@nusterrab9286]

See the Cobra jet youll cry beat the Copa

[@jonathanerickson1543]

^

[@marcojordan1368]

Cobra jet ain't never beat a copo camaro

[@DavidPerez-ez1mw]

Yes it has. The cobra jet is built way faster.

[@joes.7536]

I've been in that right lane at Milan dragway in a 6th gen Camaro and ran a 12.9 at the pure speed drag racing experience in summer '18. This just gave me flashback goosebumps.

[@RRC1982]

Best episode ever... Congratulations on doing such a great job!

[@6SHIFTER1]

Big thumbs up for that burnout!!!!!!!!

[@MotorTrendWatch]

The Motor Trend staff tests many modern cars. This is a HOT ROD video, and that magazine covers fewer late-model cars-essentially just the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger.

[@RAIDwarDEN]

Haven't heard of this Camaro before :O PRETTY DAMN SWEET!

[@Callediceman]

nice burnout !!

[@OneManArmy4Life]

Great vid!

[@nasterangel]

Love the video. I can't wait to see this Camaro on the strip.

[@JakeM624]

that tour is pretty cool

[@AJW12251]

That's what I was thinking, thanks.

[@irokster]

Nice video, MT. That is one badass Camaro.

[@godzillasballs]

wow - huge power

[@sickfated2]

Damn that was a nice burnout.

[@heetseeker99]

Well i stand(technically sit) corrected, and i'm glad that they are actually making it to the track i'd love to be there in person to see these bad boys run

[@bowmaster24]

"Thats badass,,, yea!" Amazing car. Chevy has done it again!

[@AerodynAndTechnFan]

nice burnout

[@ReggyRay289]

Even a Mustang guy can appreciate this episode! This show is awesome!

[@MotorTrendWatch]

To those questioning the purpose of a drag-only car produced in limited numbers, here's the deal. NHRA requires there to be a minimum of 50 factory-built models of a car in order for it to be legal in Stock and Super Stock competition. The COPO was built for just that reason, same as the Mustang Cobra Jet and Challenger Drag Pack. Also the same as many legendary muscle cars of the ’60s, such as the ’68 Hurst Hemi Darts and Barracudas.

[@MotorTrendWatch]

The 69 COPO cars are already sold. Chevrolet dealers collected a list of about 2,000 people who wanted to buy one.

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Actually, COPO stood for Central Office Production Order. And Fred Gibb used it for performance use before the other dealers you mention.

[@MrBigred29]

I love vids like this really cool the copo is even cooler

[@MotorTrendWatch]

The full interior and lights are required by NHRA for Stock Eliminator competition.

[@christiancontreras5349]

amazing . i would still drive this in the street lol.

[@StopGettingFiesty]

He said "Killer ZL1" I lol'd

[@TheNumber2Pencil546]

damn thats a badass car, love my gt but that camaro is sick

[@cburn67]

i want one now!!

[@Slip.Angull]

Awesome

[@RCRecon]

I think this is great!!! Finally 1LE vs. BOSS, ZR1 vs. GT500, Camaro RS vs. Mustang, Camaro SS vs. Mustang GT, COPO Camaro vs. Super Cobra Jet Mustang. Someone should REALLY make an episode of ALL these cars and do like a tally of which wins for each category!

[@TheMikeros]

ZL 1 so beautiful !!

[@sebastienh78]

Right on my friend

[@charged418]

This is fucking awesome. I want to see the COPO, drag pack challenger, and cobra jet line up all together and run em! MERICA!

[@i2ak]

That thing sounds mean! Beast

[@dynodon100]

I have 2 1LE's a 1990 1Le IROC-Z one of 28 and a 1992 1LE-B4C one of 250. Both are great the 90 has 6.3 miles , the other I do drive and is now supercharged.

[@offroad03able]

The challenger is exactly that, a challenger, the winner wears a bowtie, lmao.

[@silverbullet1979]

can't wait to see its actual performance...

[@JerseyTom]

3:40 damn right that's badass finnegan

[@donhunt72000]

Cool!!!

[@karokarchyan9215]

wow so sick me want one

[@johnkoski1652]

one of my favorite issues

[@cornuttz]

Mustang fan boy here im subscribed to motortrend i just watch all their vids cause i love cars.

[@KLAYCO47]

wow chevy is steppin it up.

[@jomalteseleone]

Way to go GM... Fantastic Job!!!

[@brhaacke]

Love it so much. I want one. Very sad that we can't register it for street use

[@Godscountry2732]

love Dave,he got all the right stuff

[@alloyrat]

The 327 in this car has a rod ratio of 2 to 1. NICE!!!

[@manofthehour114]

I love the new-generation American horsepower war. We've seen some amazing cars that I thought would never get built. I thought the days of showroom drag cars were long gone. The year 2012 is like 1970 with fuel injection. It's nice. Very nice.

[@beercheer999]

สุดยอดเลย

[@suffolkmike1]

My bad.....you're talking about the new crate motors. Buddy of mine bought one two years ago and dropped it in a '71 fastback. Nice motor.

[@WolverineNerd]

Now that's true Chevrolet racing heritage!!!!!!!

[@michaelschwartz8922]

nice!

[@shawnlattieri8696]

A lot of these cars are already showing up at tracks preparing for Indy next week. A ton of the SCJ's run NHRA, ADRL,IHRA and NMCA.

[@ynb3a9y4life]

after seeing this clip , is it ok for me to cry ??

[@oilricher]

so bad ass. its about time camaro steps up to the plate for their customers. congrats! GM

[@wheeldemon74]

Keep up the good work guys, any seat time in a COPO yet?

[@MrFroens]

Sounds bad ass

[@goodinsrt8]

Well said sir.

[@Guy_de_Loimbard]

Oooh, the stunningly original and devastatingly clever "I know you are but what am I?" comeback! I bet it makes women swoon.

[@coolguyponus]

I'm all mustangs, but these camaros are just plain sick... Nice job Chevy

[@STARSHIPTROOP]

for a moment there, I thought it was Tanner behind the wheel...lol

[@Frank289100]

The lower block of the LS is a copy of the 4.6 Modular with thicker webbing. The oil pump and galleys are the same as well as the cooling passages. What Chevy actually did is take modular 4.6 and put a cam into it. The LS heads are Windsor heads with with its angle plugs and raised ports from a Ford 427 high riser along with the sodium filled valves. The firing order is Ford and also the centered thrust bearing. The beehive valve spring are Ford Cosworth. THE LS IS 100% FORD.

[@FrostyBowman]

Badoom Kish !

[@jomalteseleone]

Proud to say my son helped with the engine... Watch at 3.23!!!

[@some_vibedoc]

Chevy just discovered launch control!!!!! hahahaha! Grat vid guys! like the ZL1 a lot!

[@djmay9859]

nice picture

[@Redrocknomad10]

If you look at the Vid @ 1:33~1:37 you will see a 9 inch axle under the new COPO Camaro. The ford 9 inch is not a truck axle, it was used in trucks, yes, but not only in them. Live axles handle fine, as the 2013 gt500 shows... it keeps right up with the IRS that Chevrolet uses.

[@sirjammer]

I used to be into that whole Dodge vs ford vs Chevy thing...but then I grew up and now I just love cars!

[@TranceDanceMasters23]

I love camaro best

[@josephtalbot125]

Hey! Its funny to hear local stuff online. Fred Gibb Chevrolet was only 40 minutes from where i live. Im hoping to see a ZL1 at the Fred Gibb Memorial Car Show this year.

[@Bby_2JZ]

Respect

[@1970gtosd]

Was 84 Vette the first year to have transverse leafspring setup lowers center of gravity, acts as a swaybar and what i hear they never wear out. Then in the 90's they had the LT5 dohc 5.7 liter That was pretty cool dont remember the model it came in though.

[@dlasti]

What's good is that Ford came out with their Cobra Jet Drag Racer. Not sure if it's street legal but it is cool having the big 3 with drag cars. Dodge with their Mopar 512 V10 Challenger, Chevy with their COPO Camaro, and Ford with the Cobra Jet Mustang. American Muscle is alive well.

[@camlumpy]

this 2012 Camaro is really growing on me... I own a ZL1 427 ci 1969 Camaro clone and a 69 SS/RS Camaro but would really like the COPO in my stable...

[@lcameeno1]

Super cobra jet ftw :)

[@robertnelson298]

1975 SS Nova? How cool. I had to get away from hotrods after I built a street legal nitrous small block 355 that pushed a back-halved 1962 Chevy II into the high 9 second zone. I wanted to go 8 seconds, but my car was built for $9000. It would take an additional $15,000+ to legally run 8 seconds at the track.

[@Redrocknomad10]

Very true, and I have to give them credit, GM always did introduce the more refined 'bow tie' element that many other brands did not. I have to say though, the f series was damn good through those years, however (with the exception of the 6.0 powerstroke).

[@dinkle41]

Milan Dragway FTW!!!

[@qwicxs]

I own a New 5.0 but love Chevys also.. Very cool.... If it goes fast I love it!!!

[@TheBestWayOne]

Keep making cars and trucks in USA. A original American Co. Home grown right here in America. Helping American families.

[@kunoichi325]

FEEEEEL THE POWERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

[@JoeHemey]

One of these will be on display @ our grand opening of our Napa retail store in Hunt Valley MD on August 9-10th.. As well as Ron Capps funny car and Micheal Waltrip will be signing autographs from 1-3pm on August 10th.

[@ivantnt26]

thanks

[@atlridder]

i agree with you on all fronts but the maro is the reason we have the retros ford was goin in a totally different direction before it got mailed the blue prints of the concept camaro. i remember reading that in the new your post a few years back

[@theworldisnotenough]

2014 is coming the 50 year anniversary is out there waiting, watching, stalking...

[@pentech123]

awesome factory..... wicked engines LOL

[@shawnlattieri8696]

The N/A cars made 2 COPO's to the final CC/SA class at Indy with the Cagnazzi COPO set to go against Jegs Mopar in Stock Eliminator.

[@THEFALLOFSONY]

Why would anyone want a Mustang when you got these bad ass Camaros.

[@ProdriveGT]

"Copo Camaro" like it how it sounds :)

[@SiConverted]

"witch by the way" LOL ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[@thomaslewis7883]

A good tip when working on your car ,get some paint markers,machine supply shops.Anything critical on torque and safety,mark with paint marker after tightening.I have forgotten drain plugs,yes it can happen,mark it.

[@chevvcarlo1938]

SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING....................

[@nusterrab9286]

Simile face the yellow ball on the front end from Walmart

[@JohnDoe-qd5wr]

nuster rab u need to have knowledge about cars

[@nusterrab9286]

I had the early Camaro 69 302 ran great also 1958 Corvette 283 nice car im 70 i also had 426 Hemi GTX 69 a 1967 Buick Boat tail 455 i bought my first Ford SHO 2014 runs good my idea of the new Vette and Camaro i don't like the front ends looks Asian design not Euro

[@Redrocknomad10]

Good point, I misunderstood your earlier posting. You still have to find humor in the fact that the two biggest competitors in the muscle car world use each others parts. But as far as I know, ford uses a different axle than the 9 inch under their new live axle cars however.

[@jediturbodoc]

Looks good. When will we see Z28 on a Camaro again? That 1LE with the handling package sure fits the bill of the original Z28 idea.

[@kcirreb94]

damn how many camaro's we need : V6 coupe, v6 convertible, v8 coupe, v8 convertible, synergy edition , transformers edition, 45th anniversary, ZL1, now a COPO

[@Khalidsvt101]

cobra jet FTW !!

[@azkakim95]

damn if i won the lottery id deff get this!

[@rgnx1987]

WOW!

[@grossesTennis]

yeah drag racing really is the way to go when it comes to build cars for the future.....

[@67ShelbyMustang500]

64 GTO is one of my all time favorite cars and yes it did start the muscle car era. Other ppl will argue and say the 1963 Dodge Polara with the Dual Quad Max wedge engine or the all might ramcharger 426 hemi was the car that started it all. I personaly agree with you and say the GTO started it. The GTO lead ot the creation of the roadrunner, charger, chevelle, cornett, superbee, gtx, and I'm sure I'm missing alot of the other ones. There is a video between the Boss302 and the ZL1 on here