Officially, the largest engine you could get in a 1969 Chevy Camaro was a 396 cubic inch V8. But, thanks to the Central Office Production Order (COPO) system, savvy dealers could get around that and create NHRA Stock Eliminator class cars with a 427 engine. That’s how the Yenko Camaro came to be. This ’69 Camaro is a restored COPO clone, with a 454 motor in place of a 427. It looks like an ordinary Camaro until you zero in on the racing-style hood. Located in Miami, Florida, this would-be sleeper is available here on eBay for $69,000 firm (although the Make Offer function has been activated).
COPO was intended to be a way for Chevy dealers to satisfy fleet customers who could order blocks of cars with specific types of equipment or colors. As one example of how this could be used to get something other than taxi cabs, we understand some 69 Camaros were ordered with the ZL1 427 V8. They had lighter aluminum heads and an engine block that were said to produce at least 430 hp (530 for NASCAR). L72 versions were also ordered with iron heads and block, with similar horsepower but more weight.
This may have been a rather ordinary ’69 Camaro with a V8 from the factory. Other than the VIN, nothing else about how this car left the factory is reported. But it has since received a frame-off, nut-and-block restoration with no evidence there was ever any rust that had to be repaired. The white paint (we assume the original color) and tan interior (also assumed to be the factory color) look like new.
A departure from the COPO days is the use of a 454 V8 instead of a 427 (but using the 427-labeled air cleaner). Was no 427 available or did the builder want a tribute car that had more gusto than the car it emulates? A T10 4-speed manual transmission is present along with a 12-bold rear end, front disc brakes, and the requisite cowl induction hood. We’re told the Chevy runs and drives exceptionally well, and we hope to be civilized in the process. Knowing that this Camaro is not the genuine article, would that deter you from adding it to your collection?
Cool car. I’m not too familiar with Camaro’s or Chevy’s for that matter, but everything appears to have been done very nicely. The interior looks like light green to me. Not sure about sleeper, I think the term gets overused to describe any muscle car era vehicle with dog dish caps. I am sure this thing barks plenty loud when rowing thru the gears. The fact that it was not born that way would not bother me in the least. I own my cars to drive them and for my satisfaction not to worry about their investment potential. I like it.
I myself would enjoy driving it and look for race after I put some 456 gears in the rear..
427’s are a lot harder to find then 454’s.4 year only engine.Rev higher shorter stroke.454 externally balanced longer stroke and more cubes.Both awesome engines but I’m partial to 427’s but like em both. Nice car .glwts.
For $70 large you are getting a car that is simply impractical for anything other than car shows and ice cream runs. It’s not set up to drag race and the whine of the engine with non- overdrive 4 speed will drive you nuts on the highway. So that’s a lot of coin just to mostly sit in the garage.
What would make perfect sense is swapping in 6 speed manual Tremec, which has two overdrive gears on top of a regular 4 speed tranny. Add about $6-7K to put that in. So if you like the look of this one, at $60 K it might be more reasonable, factoring in the swap to make it enjoyable to drive.
Most people who buy these aren’t buying them for daily drivers. You might as well complain about how it gets poor mpg. And the “whine” depends on the rear end used and if the driver can tolerate it.
I’m with you. I drive my L78 powered 69 Nova with 3.89 gears running through a 9 inch rear-end for about 15-20 miles at a time around the backroads of Oregon & it’s a fun 20 miles. There’s nothing like feeling the torque of a big block!
Tremecs are great, but this baby strikes me more as a boulevard cruiser, and light to light racer.
A bit taller gear with that 4sp would be just fine.
Gear venders overdrive is the way to go. Handle all the power and you can throw at it.
I would have no problem with the 454. She was done up very well, and would look great at the weekend Car show. She wasn’t built to be a daily driver. And I bet she could do well in the Stoplight to Stoplight runs. Unfortunately I don’t have 70 large.
In my youth, i owned a 69 rs , same style with drag lites and roll bar
For sentimental value , i kept it for 18 years , it was a useless car , ice cream and car shows of wich we grew out of but i did sell it for great money wich i invested in real estate and made real money and retired at 56 y.o.
I am happy to have owned one but happier to have made enough money with it cause you don’t stay young even with a muscle car ..
For 70k this is a plain Jane to me,I would want a better color,nicer interior stripes,and wheels,I’ve seen these at car shows for this much or less,and I have two of these coupe and convertible
For 70K, I’d expect something a LOT more versatile. The reason this will be a short drive and car show queen is because it won’t be fun or comfortable enough for much else.
Some here don’t understand the value of a COPO. This is a great example of one.
“restored COPO clone” Nice one, though.
Except it’s not a COPO. Just a clone and they aren’t worth as much
If it was a good example it wouldn’t have a 454 in it
I guess any old’ X11 or X44 with a big block is a COPO clone now.
One time at a car show outside for the red rooster Labor Day holiday.I was ushering cars in for the car show when this guy brings in a 1969 camaro it was his first time to ever enter one he was nervous i said don’t worry I will take care of you here.I asked him what’s underneath the hood because the way it sounded I knew their was something worth looking at.he shoe horned a 502 Chevy crate engine in it he said he had to do some cutting and such to put it in plus a aluminum radiator a thick one to cool 😎 it down he had to make stuff fit just right plus he put a tremetec six transmission in it too what a monster it was lol!
Nice car but would like to see a 427 under the hood. If it has disc brakes, then why does it have a drum brake master cylinder? I have a 69 SS 396 350 hp with 3:73 and I do admit, 3:31 would be better on the highway but it pulls so nice out of the hole 😂.
A resto-mod/ clone, nicely done, I would add the 5 speed trans for a bit more drivability, and then take to the nearest BJ orgy and see what happens. $70 k for just a stop light brawler is a “bit” high.
I don’t believe GM was using T10 4 speeds in 1969? It probably should be a Muncie M22 Rockcrusher. Maybe the seller doesn’t even know what he has? Any Muncie would be better than a T10.
Is it a T10 or a Super T10?
You are correct on every point.
Good luck building that car for 70g anyone that has restored – 69 Camaro of any kind knows better. I think it would be a good buy at 70g
$69K for a COPO Clone be real. I used to live in Chicago and found out that I lived one block from the legendary Nickey Chevrolet. By then it had became a Nissan Dealer and the last time I was there it to had closed.
That people actually ask for this kind of green for a clone is only over shadowed by the fact that some actually pay it is why normal people scoff at even trying to get in the game.
Put your foot down and and stop succumbing to the greedy…
Here’s what people are missing. Cars like this are basically worthless. It’s like someone taking a matchbox out of the ORIGINAL package, modifying it, putting it in another package and asking a lot of money. You’d say … Sorry but your efforts are in vain. Right?
YES its cool and lots of work \ time involved but bad investment. Just my opinion but it might help get the prices back to proportion with the cars.
Everybody overlooked the big flaw with this car especially at this price point. Did anybody spot it yet look closely. There is no roll cage if that is a high horsepower engine the unibody construction of these cars bend right in half. I know from personal experience have done it to several of them
Beautiful. No rust . Love the color.
Real muscle cars are hard to find.
Worth every penny .
Well 1st thing is …Am I blind or is that a 68’? It has the 68’ tail lights and the 68’ light up by the front bumper..no fender vents like the 69’ has..seems to be a 68’ to me
Check your meds