Big-block Camaros are back! GM builds the COPO Camaro at the Oxford, MI plant giving the drag-racing crowd something new and powerful to drive. These incredible new Camaros use a 572-cubic-inch big-block engine, making an insane level of power. For those who want to drive such a machine, there’s only one caveat; this Camaro isn’t street-legal.

How fast is a COPO Camaro in the quarter-mile?

The 2022 COPO Camaro with the 572 cubic-inch engine can finish the quarter-mile sprint in less than nine seconds. That should be fast enough to win some NHRA-sanctioned races in the muscle car class.

Can you drive a COPO Camaro on the street?

No, this amazing drag racing machine isn’t street-legal. Chevy built this Camaro for drag racing, giving it an incredible supercharged big block V8 engine that brings back the size and power of the original 1969 version of this amazing car.

What liter measurement is a 572 big block engine?

The 572 cubic-inch engine measures 9.4 liters. This engine is supercharged and pushes out the instant horsepower required to rocket this drag-racing Camaro as fast as possible in a straight line. This massive engine is the heart of this monstrous car.

Does the COPO Camaro come with anything else?

Yes, according to MotorTrend every model of this special muscle car comes with:

• Wheelie bars
• A two-piece carbon hood
• Several COPO-branded parts
• Hoosier drag tires
• Bogart race wheels
• Smoked taillights
• Clear side markers
• External battery hookup
• Parachute package

Standard colors for this special order Camaro are Summit White, Satin Steel Gray, Red Hot, and black.

Where did the COPO name come from?

The name COPO stands for Central Office Production Order, which isn’t that fancy or awe-inspiring. Chevrolet dealers in the 1960s used it to build high-performance muscle cars. The Chevy Camaro was one of the first cars to receive the COPO treatment, becoming a powerful and sought-after machine.

Chevy reintroduced the COPO Camaro in 2012, giving us another iteration of factory-prepped drag racing machines. The name is once again revived for the 2022 COPO car with the amazing big-block V8 engine under the hood.

Why was drag racing the best place for early COPO muscle cars?

The muscle cars of the 1960s were most often found racing the quarter-mile run in a straight line. This was how many Americans tested their cars for local supremacy. Muscle cars of this era lacked the handling we have today, but they could rocket to the end of a straight line in a hurry, which became the preferred form of racing.

Are there other engines available for the COPO Camaro?

For those that would rather see an LS-based small block V8 under the hood (how ordinary), a 5.7-liter supercharged engine makes 580 horsepower. If a naturally aspirated engine is preferred, a 7.0-liter model produces 470 horsepower for this special drag-racing Chevy.

All versions of the 2022 COPO Camaro use an ATI Racing TH400 three-speed automatic transmission.

How much does the big-block COPO Camaro cost?

The starting price for the drag-racing Camaro with the 572 engine is $105,500. This gives you a factor-prepped car that runs eights in the quarter-mile race, which is really good.

As GM transitions to EVs, this incredible big-block V8 engine under the hood of the COPO Camaro might be a last hurrah for the classic gasoline power for this nameplate.

Next, check out five classic sports cars that should be on your bucket list, or learn more about the 2022 Chevy COPO Camaro in the video below: