Rare COPOs, Z16s, and one-off race cars make an appearance at Corvette Expo and Chevys in the Smokies.
An incredible fleet of rare and historic Chevrolet muscle cars emerged from private garages and long-term hibernation for the annual Corvette Expo and Chevys in the Smokies show in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Hosted each spring, the event has quickly become a can’t-miss gathering for muscle car purists, barn find hunters, and high-performance Chevy fans.
Among the standout cars featured in a recent walkaround video by automotive historian Tommy Lee Byrd were some nearly mythical machines. Leading the list was a COPO 427 Camaro drag car and not one—but two—1965 Chevelle Z16s, an already rare high-performance model of which only 201 were built. Adding to the excitement was a one-of-one COPO 1965 Chevelle 300, fitted with a 396/425 horsepower big block and factory 4.88 gears—a true street-and-strip monster that few have seen in person.
Also turning heads was a Yenko Dana Stinger Corvair, one of the rarest products of the Yenko/Corvair performance movement of the 1960s, and a 1968 Camaro test car that was supposed to be destroyed post-evaluation but miraculously survived. Byrd highlighted the vehicle’s backstory as a remarkable piece of GM development history that escaped the crusher.
Enthusiasts were treated to a mix of concours restorations, unrestored survivor cars, and “Day 2” muscle machines outfitted with vintage aftermarket performance parts. Race cars with original paint, lettering, and provenance lined the floor alongside Corvettes and other big-block icons, offering a rare glimpse into Chevrolet’s most hardcore performance history.
“This event brings out the stuff that never leaves the garage,” Byrd noted in the video. “These cars have stories. They’ve survived time, and now they’re here for everyone to enjoy.”
With its growing reputation as a destination for the rarest of the rare, Corvette Expo and Chevys in the Smokies continues to prove that some of the greatest legends in American muscle are still very much alive—and occasionally, on display in the Smoky Mountains.
