Concepts rarely go up for sale, and whenever some of
them pop up, typically older models. That’s certainly not the case
with the Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro concept which was unveiled only last year and
will be auctioned off by Russo and Steele in Monterey, California on August
16th.
The auctioneers listing doesn’t say much about the
car, but we do know that it was introduced at SEMA to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the original COPO Camaro and demonstrate an “electrified vision
for drag racing.”
Based on the 2019 COPO Camaro and built in
partnership with Hancock and Lane Racing, the eCOPO was first GM vehicle to use
an 800-volt battery back. It consists of four different 200-volt modules, each
weighing approximately 79.4 kg, and they have been strategically
placed throughout the car to optimize weight distribution.
The battery pack powers an electric motor that
produces more than 700 HP and 813 Nm of torque
and is connected to a race-prepped Turbo 400 automatic transmission that sends
power to the rear wheels. This setup enables the cocnept to do wheelies and run
the quarter mile in 9.51 seconds at more than 225 km/h.
One of the more interesting features about the car
is that the electric motor has the same bell house mounting pattern and
crankshaft flange as GM’s family of LS engines. At the time, GM said the
concept “points to a future that could include electric crate motors for
racing, or even your street rod.” While the car will likely go to a
collector, Russo and Steele noted it doesn’t have to be to a trailer queen, as
they can arrange support and training for servicing and running it.
