Manoli Katakis 
COVID-19 continues to upend the automotive industry, and the Chevrolet COPO Camaro is just the latest example. Limited to just 69 orders each year since it was re-introduced in 2012, the NHRA-sanctioned dragster was offered to a pool of willing customers via a lottery system. The same rings true for the 2020 COPO Camaro, but the turbulence of the year had customers thinking twice about discretionary spending (it’s not like one could drive the COPO on the road as it’s not a street legal muscle car), and that’s left a lot of unfilled orders. That’s led to Chevy dropping the lottery system. So, if you want one, go find a participating dealer.
Chevrolet showed off the 2020 COPO Camaro at the 2019 SEMA Show, highlighted by the one-of-one “John Force Edition.” The brand also simplified the engine options of the COPO from previous years. Dropped is the 302-cubic inch (5.0L) V8 from the 2019 model year, and in its place is a larger LSX-based, naturally aspirated 427 cubic-inch V8 (7.0L). The other motor is the LSX-based 350 engine with the 2.65L Magnuson supercharger found in the John Force Edition COPO Camaro. The revised engine also features all-new LSX-SC cylinder heads.
Via Dragzine:
“Now is the time to become a member of an elite club – the COPO Camaro family. This is your chance to own a piece of drag racing history. With fewer than 650 in existence, the track‑use‑only COPO Camaro is a work of art handcrafted for you by GM engineers, making it the perfect addition to your collection or racing team. Stand out in your 2020 COPO Camaro with more color options than ever before: two John Force‑inspired options, four base colors, and seven historic paint schemes honoring the original 1969 COPO Camaro. It’s time to be the center of attention.”
The publication also received word from Todd Gallant, Chevrolet Performance COPO and Promotions Manager, that claims there are “a couple of handfuls” of 2020 COPO Camaro drag cars left, but stopped short of saying how many. But while this news may be positive for some collectors and hobbyists, there’s also some bad news.
Gallant also told Dragzine that the future of the COPO program is in flux beyond 2020, which probably has everything to do with GM’s “All Electric Future™” ploy. This also adds credence to our original report from 2019 that the Chevrolet Camaro nameplate is expected to go dormant as the automaker emphasizes electric vehicles. Could the Camaro come back as an EV? Perhaps. But given the minimal appetite for one, it would appear unlikely at the moment.
The deadline for order submissions is November 30, 2020. And “when they’re gone, they’re gone for good.”
