2013 Chevy COPO Camaro announced with two new engines and manual option

[MummyChunk]

From AB

























Chevrolet Identifies Customers for New COPO Camaros
Two new engines, manual transmission enhance options for Chevy's
factory race car

DETROIT ￜ Chevrolet today announced that customers for the limited run
of 2013 COPO Camaro factory drag-racing cars will be identified
starting Monday, March 11. Only 69 of the cars will be constructed
this year.

Racers must make their purchase intentions known by signing up on the
COPO Camaro Mailing List at chevroletperformance.com by Thursday,
March 7.

The starting price for the COPO Camaro is $86,000.

"The COPO Camaro program is growing into its second year to
support our customers, who have continually expressed their interest
for these specialized race cars," said Jim Campbell, General
Motors U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports.
"The 2013 production run builds on the success of our inaugural
year with new powertrain choices and enhancements that will make the
cars even more competitive."

More than 3,000 hand raisers indicated a purchase interest in the 2012
COPO Camaros, when only 69 were built.

COPO stands for Central Office Production Order and was originally
used by dealers in the 1960s to generate special orders, mostly for
fleet vehicles. Some racing-minded dealers used the system to create
higher-performance models that weren't otherwise available, including
the legendary 1969 Camaro ZL1, which featured an all-aluminum
427-cubic-inch engine developed for racing. Sixty-nine ZL1s were built
and they've since become valuable collector cars.

New powertrains

The 2013 production run will be offered with two all-new engines, as
well as a new manual transmission, to make the COPO Camaro eligible
for a broader range of NHRA Stock Eliminator classes. The engine range
includes three naturally aspirated choices:

350-cubic-inch engine rated at 325 horsepower
396-cubic-inch engine rated at 375 horsepower
427-cubic-inch engine rated at 425 horsepower.

A high-feature fuel-injection system is standard on all COPO Camaros,
with engine management directed by an all-new Holley HP EFI electronic
control unit that features self-tuning fuel table strategies and data
logging. The injection system is used in conjunction with a Holley
Hi-Ram intake manifold.

Driven by customer demand, the new manual transmission joins the
Powerglide automatic for the COPO Camaro's transmission choices. Rear
axle gearing is optimized for each vehicle, depending on the engine
and transmission.

All of the LS-family engines are built at Chevrolet's Performance
Build Center, in Wixom, Mich., and the buyer can opt to participate in
the engine assembly, similar to Chevrolet's Corvette Engine Build
Experience and the Chevrolet Performance Build Your Own Crate Engine
programs. Customers can also select the Engine Collector's Package,
which includes all three COPO racing engines serial-number-matched to
the car, with one installed at the time of delivery. Serialized
engines can also be ordered separately, (i.e. only one additional
engine), but will be still number-matched to the car.

Additional new and revised production features for 2013 include:

-A "heritage" grille and standard-production (non-HID)
headlamps
-New exterior graphics choices with engine-size call-outs
-Revised interior package with custom carpet and new switch panel
-Dedicated racing wiring harness
-Revised front springs that enhance performance
-Transmission cooler integrated with radiator.

Five exterior colors are offered for 2013: Black, Summit White,
Victory Red, Silver Ice Metallic and Ashen Gray Metallic.

All COPO Camaros are assembled by hand starting with hardware from the
Oshawa assembly plant that manufactures regular-production Camaros.
Each is fitted with an NHRA-approved roll cage and other safety
equipment, along with racing chassis and suspension components ￜ
including a unique solid rear axle system in place of a
regular-production Camaro's independent rear axle. Production
equipment also includes lightweight Bogart racing wheels and Hoosier
racing tires.

The purchase process

The pool of potential customers identified via the COPO Camaro Mailing
List is randomized by a third-party organization and a Chevrolet
representative will contact them from the Central Office, starting
March 11.

The Central Office representative confirms the purchase intent and
works with the customer to specify the powertrain, exterior color and
graphics and other options. The customer will also indicate a
preferred Chevrolet dealership to complete the sale. After that, a
COPO purchase certificate is sent to the customer, who will take it to
his or her preferred dealer to officially place the order for the
car.

Production is scheduled to begin in April, with deliveries starting in
early summer. Customers must take delivery of the car in the Detroit
area, where the COPO Camaros are built.

Each COPO Camaro features a sequenced build serial number matched to
the engine, but is sold without a Vehicle Identification Number and
cannot be registered for highway use.

Parts and assembly guide

Many of the fundamental components used to assemble the COPO Camaros ￜ
including all of the hand-assembled racing engines ￜ are available
from Chevrolet Performance. They are outlined in a special COPO
section of the 2013 Chevrolet Performance catalog, which is available
from Chevrolet dealers or by ordering online at
chevroletperformance.com.

The COPO parts must be ordered and delivered through Chevrolet
detailers and other authorized retailers. Additionally, customers can
participate in Chevrolet Performance's Build Your Own COPO Engine
program when purchasing one of the COPO racing engines (at an extra
cost), allowing them to visit Chevy's Performance Build Center to help
assemble the engine they purchased.

Also available from Chevrolet Performance is the "COPO Build
Book," part number 88958767, which provides an overview of the
cars' assembly process for those that want to build their own
Chevrolet Stock Eliminator or Super Stock race car.