If you attach the acronym “COPO” to just about any kind of Camaro, you know it’s going to sell for big bucks at Barrett-Jackson. This isn’t just limited to the first-gen, big-block monsters of the ’60s, either.
Nope, thanks to the relaunch of the new Central Office Production Order Camaro, you can now have a 21st century example of a Camaro solely built for the dragstrip. Launched for the 2012 model year, only 69 examples were built – just like in 1969.
But unlike 1969, there were two convertibles made, and Number 69 is the singular one in Inferno Orange. It’s packing not a 427 cubic inch powerplant under the hood like those from the original musclecar era, but a 5.3L LS mill with a 4.0L Roots-type supercharger strapped on top – fully hand-built by Jim Campbell, Vice President of Chevrolet Performance.
But instead of Chevrolet selling it off like it was just another car, or keeping it for themselves in their collection at the GM Heritage Center, it was auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale on January 20, 2013.
The best part? The proceeds from the sale were going directly to the American Heart Association. That’s right, GM, the company that need financial aid from the government five years ago, has donated the entire $400,000 check received from the car’s new owner to a very worthy cause.
Of course in typical GM style, they couldn’t sell all of the COPO’s off without keeping one for themselves, so COPO Number 68 sits quietly, safe and sound at the Heritage Center, away from any dragstrips.