That the annual SEMA show continues to be held, and that it still matters to car fans, can be attributed to one thing: After two decades of détente, Ford, GM, and Chrysler entered Muscle Car War III. SEMA looked nothing short of jejune by the late 2000s, when the Asian-sport-compact trend went cold and the world’s supply of B16 and JZ engines had been exhausted. Good ol’ rear-wheel drive and V-8s came to the rescue when Ford, Chevy, and Dodge all launched modern muscle cars in a two-year span. And if any automakers can lay claim to a legacy of tuning, it’s the Big Three. For every Mugen Civic, the 1960s saw five Yenko and COPO and secret-RPO Camaros. Fittingly, then, Chevy has dispatched a squadron of Camaros for this year’s SEMA.
COPO Camaro
With the Camaro face-lifted earlier this year, the track-only COPO model seen above has updated styling for 2014. Drag racers have new engine choices, including a new supercharged 5.7-liter V-8. Only a small number of the race-prepped COPOs will be available, and prices should start well north of $80,000.
Camaro Z/28
It’s extraordinarily rare that an automaker’s press release needs no reality check. Of the Z/28, Chevy offers the following: “There was no need to modify the all-new 2014 Camaro Z/28 for the SEMA Show.” No kidding. It has a 7.0-liter V-8 with a 7000-rpm redline under the hood.
Camaro Spring Special Edition
How about a paint-and-tape special edition? Dress a new 2LT or 2SS Camaro convertible with white paint, blue tape, a blue roof, a white-and-blue interior, a body kit, and 21-inch ri-yuuums. Sales start this spring, embarrassment for overpaying lasts forever.
Chevrolet Performance Garage Camaro
The styling mods come from Chevrolet Accessories—doesn’t sound as cool as Mopar, does it?—while the short-throw shifter and higher-performance brakes are ZL1-spec and are dealer-installable options. The suspension, differential, and exhaust are all borrowed from the Z/28, and Chevy says it’s considering adding these to its aftermarket catalog.
First Ride: 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Coupe
Comparison Test: 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible vs. 2012 BMW M6 Convertible
First Drive: 2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE
Chevrolet Performance Camaro V-8 and V-6 Concepts
Both have been mercilessly tarted up with Official® Chevrolet® Performance® parts and Official® Chevrolet® Accessories®, er, accessories. Why are these any less garage-y than the Performance Garage Camaro?