"What brought me to [the COPO] is the fact that you can go in and still special order a car like this the way you want it," Dennis Collins says. "I just love that. It's amazing that you can do now what people were doing in the '60s."

Indeed, the original Chevrolet COPO (Central Office Production Order) program allowed clever dealers to utilize creative engine combinations in a variety of Chevy vehicles. The most well-known and desirable of these are the 69 1969 COPOs powered by the 427 cu.-in. all-aluminum ZL1 engine. 

However, iron-block COPO Camaros, as well as Chevelles, Novas and Corvettes also are part of the COPO story.

Over the years, the Collins family has bought and sold numerous examples of COPO vehicles, along with rare LS6 Chevelles, Corvettes and more.

"We do love to chase the very rare Chevrolet stuff," Dennis says.

The trip to Michigan concluded with Kelsey getting behind the wheel of the latest rare Chevy for the Collins' duo – her name on the door and all. 

At first, she was unsure whether she would make the trip, but her father pushed her to go, noting it was a rare opportunity and there was something special about the car. She didn't know until the cover was pulled off that the car was No. 001.

She was initially taken aback by the car's push-button start, but was enamored with the engine's unique growl and the painstaking attention to detail from every member of the staff.

"The checklists were crazy," Kelsey Collins says. "Every station the car goes to, there's an envelope with a very detailed checklist in it. Everything is just hand-checked by whoever is working on or painting or welding the car at the time with dates and codes. It is pretty cool to see all the love put into it."

Her father notes as well how impressed he is with Chevrolet's ability to build an entire turn-key race car in-house, in a facility that he believes surpasses those where some seven-figure vehicles are assembled.

"All the employees were thrilled about that car being finished," he says. "Which is really neat because they all put their heart and soul into it, too."

Shortly after the Collins' took delivery of the COPO, they hit the track at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, where Kelsey made a pass down the drag strip for the first time in her life.

Clearly, this car is not going to sit in a garage.

"Some people think [racing] makes it less collectible, some people more, but the car's getting used for what it's intended to and pushed to its limit," Kelsey says. "You turn that car on and it's ready to go instantly. The Big-Block's ready to launch."

This year, the purpose-built race car from Chevrolet Performance comes with three engine options: the LSX-based supercharged 350 and naturally aspirated 427, along with the 572 Big-Block. 

The newly available 572 carries on the spirit of the 1969 COPO and utilizes a cast-iron block with four-bolt main caps, aluminum heads, forged steel connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons.

All models feature an ATI Racing Products TH400 three-speed automatic transmission.

The COPO is designed for Stock and Super Stock competition and each one comes equipped with a carbon-fiber hood and wheelie bars. A truck-mounted weight box and parachute are also available. 

"It was incredible how well they built that car for me to be able to just get in it and go with what it's meant for," Kelsey says. "A lot of cars out there are overly complicated and this one just feels like they did it right."

The adrenaline rush was also an experience she's ready for again.

"I'm obsessed," she says. "I've never felt anything like that before."

For 2022, each COPO comes in Black, Summit White, Red Hot and Steel Gray, with the 572 also available in Silver. A painted "572" graphics package is an option on the Big-Block cars as well.

"It was neat to see other drag racers out there that have their heart and soul in the cars they built," Dennis Collins says. "They walk around [the COPO], start to look at it, and they're like, ‘Wow, this car is a work of art.' The build quality of it is insane. I mean it's awesome. People's mouths are just dropping, the longer they looked at the car they just couldn't believe the quality of it."

To hear Dennis and Kelsey Collins speak, it seems this particular COPO is going to be part of their collection for a long time.

"We are truly honored to have it," Dennis says. "We know how special the car is. Hats off to Chevrolet. For anyone that hasn't seen one of these cars in person, they need to go look at one. They're amazing."

There is no production limit on the 2022 COPO Camaro, you can order yours today.