Manoli Katakis 
Earlier this week, Chevrolet Performance teased that “something big” would be revealed on Friday, July 30. We first speculated that Chevy would debut a new performance crate engine, possibly based on the 6.6L L8T V8. But it’s become clear with today’s teaser that what’s coming tomorrow is indeed bigger than that. With the simple COPO letters displayed, and the chopping sounds of a lobed camshaft, we’re likely about to see the next installment of the Chevrolet COPO Camaro series. Or, will it be a new variant of a COPO drag car?
Chevrolet COPO Camaro: Back To Normal?
During the 2019 SEMA Show, Chevrolet Performance debuted the 2020 COPO Camaro, highlighted by the one-off John Force Edition. As with years prior, only 69 COPO Camaro drag cars would be built through 2020, with would-be customers earning their spot in line via a lottery system. Then COVID happened. As a result, customers withdrew their orders, and Chevrolet actually dropped the lottery system in favor of a standard build-to-order process, where customers just had to request one through participating dealers, fill out the build sheet, and pony up the $117,500+ needed for the right to own one, before options. A 2021 COPO Camaro was not announced during SEMA360.
With the Chevrolet Camaro muscle car expected to sunset by the 2024 model year, possibly replaced by an electric performance sedan to compete with the upcoming 2024 Dodge Charger EV, it’s encouraging to see Chevy Performance sticking with the COPO Camaro program, which will likely be on display in person at the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the moment, the show is still scheduled to take place between November 2-5.
Traditionally, Chevrolet Performance debuted each new COPO Camaro at the SEMA Show since 2012. This earlier reveal could perhaps mean a short-lived 2021 model year build, with 2022 COPO builds coming next year. But it’s unclear at this time.
Possible New COPO Variant
All that being said, Chevrolet could still throw us a curve ball. While the COPO name has long been synonymous with the Chevrolet Camaro, GM’s intent to encrypt the ECUs of future products, starting with the C8 Corvette, along with the Cadillac CT4 and CT5, means that there’s little hope at the moment for customers to have a tunable, reliable build that isn’t constantly breaking all the time between YouTube videos. What we’re saying is that there could be an opportunity for Chevrolet Performance to meet the needs of tuning and racing enthusiasts in the middle, and offer up a turn-key solution in the form of a COPO Corvette, or COPO Silverado, on top of a COPO Camaro.
Stay tuned tomorrow to find out all the details of Chevy’s latest COPO drag racing product.
