I'm thinking that we can both agree that allowing this was a good decision made by the NHRA?
My COPO runs the same head, block, and fuel system as the production Camaro that was also built in the tens of thousands. The throttle body is 90mm just like the production throttle body. The exception would be the intake and cam lift. But, as I have stated many times before,
if this were 1969 and the factories had access to these parts, do you really think that they wouldn't use them?
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...that had a VIN and were available ,(with warranty) for the street for anybody who walked into a Ford dealership, and drive one home. Can you say that about your COPO?...
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The boat sailed on the VIN deal a very long time ago. There are plenty of examples of Body-In-White cars dating back to at least the seventies. There was also a time when you could drive your Stocker to the local track, change a few things, and be competitive in class. The rules have changed quite a lot since then. I think that we can agree that a competitive Stocker is now a designated, trailer riding, race car? A better question would be, "Is your Stocker street legal?".
I have been "hand building" stockers since the 1990's. When Woodro called my first Firebird a "street car" I realized how far from stock Stock Eliminator really was. After that reality check, I rebuilt the car with a bunch more aftermarket stuff!
The factories built plenty of "special performance" engine combinations in the sixties that had very limited access. The biggest hurdles that they have to face today are emission and crash test standards that did not exist back then.
The transmissions that we are discussing are aftermarket replacements that meet current SFI standards. Not rebuilt older units. When Chevrolet built the first COPO's they decided that the transmissions had to use all new parts. That's why they all got two-speeds!
In 2011 when I started building a 2010 Camaro Stocker, the NHRA made me put a 12-bolt in it. Some time later, they changed the rules to allow a 9" in any 2008 and up car when replacing the IRS. Since the newer Camaros have an available 9.8" ring gear, I don't see this as a problem. Especially since the rear ends being fabricated do not contain one OEM part.