When we first laid eyes on the first 2015 COPO Camaro at SEMA 2014, we instantly fell in love. Not only were we happy and enthusiastic about the drag-only, race-prepped quarter-mile missile that’s handcrafted in the Detroit area suburbs returning for another year of production, but it was, quite frankly, a stunner. This wasn’t the first COPO to capture our hearts and more than likely, it won’t be our last.
In typical Chevrolet fashion, COPO Number One will be auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson, Palm Beach, Florida during the weekend of April 17-19. While many are already speculating that this is gong to be the the latest addition to the Rick Hedrick collection, we’re hoping for a plot twist.
If we had the cash, that’s a BIG if, by the way, we would be all over this thing. Under the hood is a 350 ci. LSX-based, Whipple-blown mill producing an NHRA-rated (and more than likely conservative) 555 hp. Solidifying the driveline is a TH400 gearbox and a Strange Engineering solid rear axle.
DETROIT – Chevrolet is selling the first 2015 COPO Camaro race car to raise money for Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans, which helps wounded veterans participate in marathons and share their success within a supportive community including their families.
The hand-built car carries serial number 2015COPO001. It will be sold on Saturday, April 18, at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction, with 100 percent of the winning bid going to Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans, a non-profit organization that helps disabled athletes, including veterans, gain access to races, equipment, and training dedicated to improve their physical abilities.
“This sale gives the highest bidder the opportunity to buy the first of only 69 factory-assembled 2015 COPO Camaro race cars, the final year of the fifth-generation Camaro,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Chevrolet is excited to offer this milestone Camaro to help a very worthy organization.”
Chevrolet introduced 2015 COPO Camaro No. 001 last fall at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and it has been featured in Chevrolet Performance advertising and other marketing initiatives. Its distinctive look includes an Abalone White exterior with matte gray and orange accents, and bold “15” graphics. Power comes from a 350-cubic-inch LSX-based racing engine topped with a Whipple 2.9L supercharger, which is NHRA-rated at 555 horsepower. The engine is backed by a three-speed automatic racing transmission – a powertrain combination good for reaching a quarter mile in the mid-eight seconds.
Each COPO Camaro is built by hand starting with production hardware, including the same body in white used for production models. They’re designed to dominate NHRA Stock Eliminator drag racing. The COPO Camaro takes its name and production quota from Central Office Production Order, a process used in the 1960s for fleet managers to order unusual combinations of options.
The COPO Camaro race car is fitted with an NHRA-approved roll cage and other safety equipment, along with racing chassis and suspension components – including a unique solid rear axle system in place of a regular-production Camaro’s independent rear axle.
COPO serial number 001, lot number 3003, will go across the block at approximately 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 19, 2015. Watch live coverage on Velocity Channel.
Rick Seitz is the owner and founder of GMEFI Magazine, and has a true love and passion for all vehicles. When he isn’t tuning, testing, or competing with the brand’s current crop of project vehicles, he’s busy tinkering and planning the next modifications for his own cars.
