Vehicle Description
2002 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Supercar
Arguably the most desirable Camaro of all time is the 1969 COPO
9560 ZL-1, 69 of which were built. A groundswell effort developed
in the early 2000's to convince Chevrolet to build a new generation
ZL-1, but it soon became clear the company had no interest in doing
so. In stepped GMMG, Inc., builders of the Dale Earnhardt
"Intimidator" SS and other specialty performance Camaros. They
built a prototype using a slightly modified 400 horsepower LS6
Corvette engine and Z06 clutch assembly and replacing the brakes
also using Z06 components. Suspension modifications included Penske
adjustable coilovers, Eibach lowering springs, larger sway bars and
modified link geometry. The finished prototype impressed those who
saw and drove it, including several owners of original ZL-1
Camaros, whom GMMG had consulted on the project. he car was
packaged in three "Phases" in keeping with sixties nomenclature,
the main criteria being the choice of engine specification. Phases
I and II featured 400- and 475-HP versions of the 350CI LS6 V-8;
the Phase III version incorporated a 427CI LS6 powerhouse built to
deliver 600hp. Fully thirty-one of the GMMG-built ZR-1 Camaros were
Phase III cars. Twelve Chevrolet dealerships signed on to accept
the run of 69 cars announced by GMMG, and the first cars were
unveiled during a special gathering attended by, among other ZL-1
luminaries, Helen Gibb, who received car # 3. -Thx to
Amercianmusclecarmuseum.com
In the late 60's & early 70's General Motors shipped a few 'special
edition' cars out the side door of GM because management didn't
want these cars on the street. They were called COPO cars.
Typically they were '427' stripped down, 'go-fast' cars. Companies
like Berger; Nickey & Yenko were in the middle & increased the
performance on a very limited number of Camaro's, Chevelle's &
Nova's. Then the malaise years fell upon the US auto manufacturers,
with rising insurance rates, federal mandates and the EPA choking
the life out of muscle cars, most everyone felt the end had come.
Not so fast there sparky, fast forward to 2002 and while the boys
at GM were turning out some righteous modern muscle of their own,
the real super cars were done behind closed doors. Enter GMMG who
took it upon themselves to concoct a true throwback to the famous
Camaro's from 1969. Presented to you for consignment, 1 of the 69
GMMG Camaros from the semi-final year for the long lived Camaro.
This car is #53 and this alone should have you drooling and
clearing space in your garage, but we can break this car down
further...how about 1 of 31 wearing the Phase III package equipped
cars. Add in all of the factory and GMMG paperwork and a mere 3,704
actual miles and this IS a true collectable Camaro that is capable
of kicking ass on the strip or standing out from the crowd in the
show field. Read on muscle lovers....and here's a napkin and
dribble bib, you have a bit of drool hanging from your chin.
Exterior
This car screams performance sitting still and is clad with Phase
III decal options with it all bathed in Arctic White. The front
grille is slightly modified with billet horizontal bars and a
bright blue bowtie dead center to let the world know you've
arrived. A single wide black accent stripe starts at the front of
the hood and slowly grows as it moves back over the SS style hood
before stopping short at the base of the heavily raked windshield.
A well hidden call out of "600hp" resides near the front of the
scoop ready to scare off most challengers. All ZL1 cars were B4C
coupes, that means no T-tops on the roof, just a fully fixed roof
where the accent stripe picks back up and races rearward to the
sloping rear deck. On the sides straight steel with well minded
gaps creates the front and rear quarters badged with ZL1 Supercar
badges on the front quarters and a throwback hockey stick stripe in
black starting at the front of the fenders and holding a 427 call
out front and center. The wide stripe continues on the rear deck
where there is a aerodynamic spoiler that is very low profile. A
blacked out filler panel rests between the tail lights and holds
correct chrome lettering spelling out CAMARO as well as a GMMG
badge and a tribute to Fred Gibb and Vince Piggins above. 18x9.5
inch chrome Cragar wheels are on all 4 corners and are wrapped in
newer blackwall rubber. Large dual exhaust tips peek out from under
the body matching neoprene bumper. All paint is at the deep end of
the pool and looks nearly perfect throughout.
Interior
If you thought the exterior was something to crow about, take a
look at this retro interior. A swing of the sexy doors and we get
loads of Ebony molded smooth vinyl, integrated door pulls with a
matching ebony actuator and plenty of power toggles to play with.
Inside a 6 point rollbar, (GMMG installed), protects the passengers
while they enjoy the Ebony leather bolsters and white houndstooth
cloth inserts in the front body hugging bucket seats. A center
console undulates by these buckets and houses the short throw
shifter with its Hurst topper ball. Shoehorned in back are two more
molded in leather and houndstooth buckets with not a lot of
legroom, but they are there. The center of the dash rises to the
occasion with a Monsoon premium sound system including an AM/FM/CD
stereo, climate controls, and a specifications plaque. A
beautifully and gracefully arched dash top in front of the driver
has all the essential gauges and warnings should something go awry
during your performance drive. These are silver faced, providing
nice contrast and wear the ZL1 Supercar logo. Like new Ebony
carpeting floods the floors and is protected by color matching
carpeted mats, meanwhile up top is a clean black felted headliner.
Of note, the "top" switch on front of the console does not control
a top at all. Rather it controls the GMMG electric exhaust cutout,
perfect for racing or to make your entrance know....from 3 miles
away.
Drivetrain
Still not sitting in a puddle of your own spittle? This is where
things get serious in a big way, 427 cubes of them actually. A 7.0
LS6 V8 sits between the fenders and is looking as good as the day
it was installed. This C5R race case been treated to the best of
the best with a Callies 4340 forged steel crank with a 4.0" stroke,
Callies billet forged steel rods with ARP fasteners, JE pistons
with ultra-precision machining and certification, a custom
hydraulic roller camshaft for the Phase III engine, and an ATI
crank damper. Cometic head gaskets seal the CNC ported LS6 cylinder
heads with 2.055" and 1.600" valves which are actuated by Comp 4130
steel pushrods. Up top a Holley aluminum intake manifold which has
been modified by Wilson Manifolds is fed copious amounts of fuel
and air through a ported throttle body and high flow airbox. We
note the engraving atop the intake to ensure that the right parts
went into the right car. Connecting this special mill to the Tremec
T56 6-speed manual transmission is a lightweight flywheel and out
back is a 10 bolt Positraction rear axle weighing in with a 4.10
ratio. Pick your jaw off the floor, that's where your right foot
belongs.
Undercarriage
This hits just keep coming with a beautifully preserved
undercarriage with some black coating on the trunk floor behind the
rear axle. All else is rust free finished in a grayish white hue
and remaining like new and completely rust free save for the
surface rust on the untreated suspension and driveline components.
Phase III 1-7/8" headers rain down from the engine to meet a dual
to single to dual exha...for more information please contact the
seller.
