What were the GMMG Camaro programs?
GMMG's Camaro programs focused on 2000 through 2002 model year Camaros. They included the:
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Berger SS
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Tom Henry SS
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Hot Rod Edition
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Intimidator SS
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ZL1 Supercar
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Performance Edition
They were commissioned by various Chevrolet dealerships including Berger Chevrolet, Tom Henry Chevrolet, and Earnhardt Chevrolet.
GMMG served as the 3rd-party tuner with the partner dealers selling the modified inventory.
What is a GMMG Camaro?
A GMMG Camaro is a fourth-generation Camaro modified by the performance shop, GMMG, Inc. Their facility was located in Marietta, Georgia with the company being formed in 1998 by enthusiast Matt Murphy. It closed in 2011.
Their efforts were launched through a partnership with the Berger Chevrolet in Grand Rapids, Michigan. GMMG was tasked with creating a limited edition run of 2000 model-year Camaros to celebrate the historic dealership's 75th anniversary.
From there, GMMG would create several other small batches of special Camaros for Berger along with other Chevrolet dealerships including Tom Henry Chevrolet and Earnhardt Chevrolet.
The GMMG shop also created several performance-oriented limited editions of Pontiac Firebird Trans Ams for Carl Black Pontiac, located in Kennesaw, Georgia. They also created a run of bright orange Chevrolet Silverado pick-up trucks in conjunction with major home improvement retailer Home Depot.
GMMG Camaros are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts due to their rarity and high performance. Only a limited number of GMMG Camaros were produced, and each car was custom built to the buyer's specifications.
Murphy signed the engine bays of completed Camaros.
How many GMMG Camaros were made?
The GMMG shop modified around 378 4th-generation Camaros from the 2000 through 2002 model years.
These were part of various programs GMMG undertook with partner dealerships like Berger Chevrolet and Earnhardt Chevrolet.
*Estimate
How to identify a GMMG Camaro?
There are several ways of identifying a fourth-generation Camaro modified by GMMG. One way is inspecting the driver's door jam for a numbered brass tag. These were installed by GMMG technicians and recorded in an official registry.
Another indicator is exterior badging. Many times GMMG installed a red, white, and blue Yenko-inspired crest badge on the rear taillight panel, on the driver's side. The cars also received numeral graphics on the rearview mirror and on the base of the windshield.
A third way is through original documentation which could include GMMG's second and third selling stickers. The second selling sticker will detail the package contents with the third selling sticker detailing above and beyond options installed. Both will contain data that correlates to the individual vehicle.
Riveted door tags indicate vehicles modified through the GMMG shop.
Are GMMG Camaros COPOs?
No, the 4th-generation Camaros that were part of the GMMG program were not 'COPOs' like the classic Camaros from the 1960s.
The COPO program from that era indicated a vehicle had been processed through General Motors' Central Office, receiving a 'Central Office Production Order' for variations on the vehicle's factory RPOs (Regular Production Options).
Its first use on the Camaro platform shows up in 1968 with a request from Don Yenko. It was used on Camaros through the early 1970s and eventually phased out.
The car community often incorrectly assumes any special later model Camaro is a 'COPO' but while the Camaros that were sent to GMMG were special, they were not COPOs. Chevrolet resurrected the COPO moniker in 2012 for a special run of racecars but their creation was not similar to the COPO Camaros of the 1960s.
Where was GMMG located?
The GMMG shop was located in Marietta, Georiga, in a steel warehouse in an industrial park off Industrial Drive.
Matt Murphy started his operation in 1998 and eventually closed the GMMG doors in 2010. The back lot was frequently used for vehicle overflow and storage.
The structure is still there but now operates under a lawncare maintenance company.
'The Rise & Fall of GMMG'
During the 2022 Bloomington Gold Corvette and Camaro Show and it's 'Gold School' educational classes, author Matt Avery debuted an hour-long seminar, entitled 'The Rise & Fall of GMMG'.
The comprehensive presentation details the story arc of the intrepid Matt Murphy and his GMMG shop, along with detailing the specifics and overview of the 4th-generation Camaros they modified.
It is an excellent overview of the operations of the performance shop and the legacy left behind.