1969 COPO Camaros aren’t exactly thick on the ground, with 1,015 examples of the 9561 variant produced during that model year. Therefore, it is a rare privilege to see two of those cars cross our desks at Barn Finds in under a week. This car’s original owner based their order on a Camaro RS finished in one of the most desirable colors available. It presents exceptionally well and is destined to find a new home. The seller has listed the COPO here on eBay in Bee Spring, Kentucky. Bidding sits at $77,125, and recent history suggests there is a long way to go before it meets the reserve.
Much has been written about the COPO Camaro, but in a nutshell, it was a process that allowed General Motors to retain control over the dealer practice of retrofitting engines larger than 400ci into small and medium cars. Several dealers undertook the work, with Pennsylvanian Don Yenko as the chief culprit. The COPO system for the ’69 Camaro offered two versions, with the legendary ZL1 variant being the rarest and most potent. The history of this car is unclear, meaning it is impossible to determine whether it is a restored classic or a genuine survivor. The Hugger Orange paint shines beautifully with no significant flaws. The panels are as straight as an arrow, while the underside shots reveal floors that are clean enough to eat off. Potential buyers can forget about penetrating rust because it seems that even mild surface corrosion isn’t game to show its face here. The trim, including the distinctive grille and headlamp doors, is in good order. The color-coded 14 x 7 wheels and Cowl Induction hood confirm this Camaro is more than a pretty face.
It is no secret that of the two variants available in 1969, COPO 9560 is the rarest and most desirable. It saw Chevrolet shoehorn the legendary all-aluminum ZL1 version of the 427ci V8 under the Camaro’s hood, and only sixty-nine examples rolled off the line. They were produced almost exclusively for drag racing, with the highly-strung nature of the ZL1 ensuring they were impractical on public roads. More popular was COPO 9561. It still featured a 427ci powerplant, but this was the L72 version previously reserved for the Corvette. The big-block churns out 425hp and 460 ft/lbs of torque, transforming a pony car into a genuine muscle car. This Camaro’s original owner teamed the big-block with a four-speed M22 “Rock Crusher” transmission, a 12-bolt 4.10 rear end, and power front disc brakes. The seller provides no information on how this classic runs and drives, which is frustrating when a vehicle has a potential six-figure value. However, the immaculate presentation and lack of apparent fluid leaks or other problems suggest the news should be positive.
I have studied the seller’s images carefully, trying to decide how I would classify the interior condition. I am unwilling to consider it showroom fresh because the photos suggest there might be some minor imperfections in items like the driver’s seat bracket. I also noticed what appears to be an additional gauge to the left of the steering column that I don’t recall seeing in other Camaros of this vintage. However, the Black vinyl trim is in good order, the carpet is clean and wear-free, and there are no apparent issues with the dash or pad. The console houses the sports gauge cluster, and the faux woodgrain looks excellent.
Okay, where do we stand on recent COPO Camaros at Barn Finds? We featured one earlier this week, and its auction is still ongoing. That car was said to be a numbers-matching restoration, and while the bidding has reached $109,200, it still hasn’t broken the reserve. A price above $140,000 is a reasonable expectation for this car, although a higher figure is possible. Do you think it will get there, or will the seller need to compromise?
What a beautiful car ! This will go for big bucks !
Not sure if the bidding will excide 140K or not, one thing I’m sure of though is as us baby boomers drop off so will the price of the muscle cars. We have seen this with the model T and model A cars in the past decade or so. Some of my buddies and I wonder what the kids of today will be wanting 40 years from now?
Kids today have zero interest. They will be driving all E cars based on emission laws to stop more global warming. This Copo Camero will go back to the barn and probably will be a illegal car to drive. Petroleum for motors will be a long forgotten history of polution. Muscle cars memories will be old movies of car chases.
The quote by the Mecum guy, “The camero will always be with us! Truth is not likely. Future generations will have more important issues in life to deal with. jv – smashpalace
Sounds like Carnac on Johnny Carson. What you can be sure of is everything we think today will happen in the future will probably turn out differently. When this Camaro was new no one could predict cellphones or electric vehicles, etc.
All the cars we grew up with today that we might have wanted have been bid out of reach to most of us. They will eventually come down as fewer people want them. Those of us still around and driving might be able to get one or two. :)
I think we are all missing something. Watching this market climb like an IPO will make anyone born pre 1970 get nosebleeds. It seems like some “collectors” do so only because it is currently fashionable to have 20 cars in the barn. On what planet is a Camaro – of any rarity – worth six figures? Even a de-tuned 427 will idle like one plug isn’t firing and strive mightily to get 5 mpg. I guess that only counts if you actually drive it, right?
Wrong.
People have been saying variations of your comment forever. I came across an editorial in an early-60’s hot rodding magazine that mirrored your comments, the youth have no interest, future generations won’t care, something else will come along replacing cars, blah, blah, blah. I also worked with people in the automotive industry, since the early-90’s, that thought the same as you, they are and always will be waiting for their proclamations to come true. Prices for some will drop, others will rise, the one thing you can bet on is that the makes and models that had a strong following and were coveted, becoming part of popular culture will always have value. The cars that will fade away into obscurity with little to no monetary value are those that no one ever wanted as their “dream car”, it’s those where the only appeal is, it will draw attention at a coffee and cars, not on its merit.
Steve R
JE I was just reading where our electric demand could go higher than the grid could keep up. (Grid Strategies’ analysis ) so I’m not so sure where they are going to get the electricity? maybe back to coal fired plants?
“Future generations will have more important things to deal with.” Ya, like what to do with the old batteries from their self driving electric pods that all look alike. Or what to do when they get home (that is owned by someone else that they rent from)from their cubical at some cookie cutter building that is fun and relaxing to do. I genuinely feel sad for them.
There is no “e” in Camaro.
The Fast and Furious franchise, which collectively has the 7th highest grossing box office of all time is pointed right at young people and features a number of classic musclecars…so there must be some interest.
Melton Mooney, in Fast n furrous notice they switched over to racing against all those little 4 bangers they come from the factory set up for high reving as normal. Then they put blowers, superchargers n nitrous on them. Unset is angst the younger generation is looking at, not big body, big cubes.
There is no more overrated muscle car than the ones dealerships modified. Why COPO has become what it is? Because of curcus atmosphere auto auctions raving about these cars. COPO is not exacrly Shelby. Its a dealership slapping on high performance parts for your stock car. So inflate the price of a vintage camero by half? Outrageous.. if you study COPO it was all about a sales gimmick. To get your teenage son into a deathtrap for 1000.00 more bucks. They took regular Cameros and souped them up for quick sales. All for inflated prices just like a dealership would do today. 75k, I don’t see it and Hugger Orange with poverty caps is the worst.
jv- smashpalace
Copo cars were more than jamming a larger engine in a smaller car they were done for people who wanted something a little more to drag race or road race they were about beefed up suspensions and larger rear end gearing for the thrill of racing I’m sorry they don’t appeal to you but you don’t have to bash it for the other guys
Dude it’s CAMARO not Camero
His credibility took a dive with that misspelling. Consider the source.
“They took regular Cameros (sic) and souped them up for quick sales. ”
Wrong, they came this way from the factory, and the average Joe or Jill couldn’t walk into a dealership to order one.
COPO.
Central.
Office.
Production.
Order.
You had to have a very friendly dealership to go through the extra paperwork to fill a COPO build order sheet, and not just ticking the boxes on a regular order sheet.
These are different from the dealer builds like Yenko, etc, that yanked the 396 out and shoved in a 427 crate engine in a regular production Camaro.
When I ordered my TA GTA in 1987 with the 350 in it the dealers couldn’t order them ! It had to be customer order. I know this Nevada the Dalai I ordered from was trying to get one. When I walked in he said order it and leave it in show room for a month and I’ll cut you one hell of a deal ! That he did ! $7000 of a new car was unheard of and still is. I was sorry I sold it 5 years later, but family called for something with more room. Dealer order specials are simular. I would love to have my first car back 69 XR7 or any of one of these old muscle cars. Someday when the fields are full of wind gens that don’t last and need lots of repairs and they (government) limit your miles of travel, someone will break these old muscle cars out and give the law a run for their money once again ! And it may just be me.
To JE Vizzusi: I bet you’re a lot of fun at parties.
Camero..Camaro Hater
Boy, are you wrong! These COPO vehicles were FACTORY built. Dealers like Yenko and Motion put engines in cars that the factory would not. The COPO stands for Central Office Production Order. These vehicles were not in the standard production sequences. But if dealers special ordered a group of options on a vehicle, the factory would build it as long as it was an option available.
All 3 of mine say CAMARO on them. And I want a Model A but I am still waiting apparently for everybody that also wants one to die. Prices are not coming down on those?
I have a son in his late 40s and we have talked about interest groups dieing off and we agree that the premium examples of various types of vehicles will remain in demand. As far as EV’s go in harsh environments like Canada they are best suited to in town use and net zero will take some time to achieve.
Once in a lifetime Camaro
It’s a must have for any serious collector.
The Holy Grail.
What is the yellow lettering above the heater box and brake booster?
TPB in yellow above the heater box are inspection marks. They stand for trim, paint, and body. I have seen them in blue and green colors also.
Thanks Mark. I don’t remember seeing them on any other make or model. Inspection marks can be random.
The under forty guys and gals have completely different tastes in cars than we boomers. Hit a few cars and coffee meets and you’ll see more tuners than muscle cars. There are still enough of us more “seasoned” folks who can appreciate this Camaro. After all, this was a very big deal back in the day. I couldn’t afford one then and I still can’t. My prediction is that in twenty years or so the cars we’ve venerated since we were pups will be nothing but old unwanted lumps of metal and plastic that our children and grandchildren don’t know what to do with. I can just imagine it: “What’s that thing over in the corner of the garage? That’s grandpa’s old car. Wish we could get rid of it but nobody wants it. We can’t even get fuel to run it anymore.” All I can say is bang gears while you can. For a lot of us this is the last hurrah. I’m rambling a bit here but HoA’s reference to Wally Cleaver’s ‘53 Chevy convertible caught my eye when the episode was first aired. So did Lumpy Rutherford’s ‘40 Ford. Remember the episode where Wally and Eddie Haskell connected a chain to the rear axle of Lumpy’s car and he drove off and left the whole thing in the driveway? What a hoot. Of course the guys put it back together again. Stuff like that ain’t gonna happen today to junior’s Toyota.
Carbob I think being a teen in the 60ES was the very best time to grow up, the muscle car era. PLUS people knew if they were a boy or a girl so no surprises at the drive in movie LOL
That car just sold at Mecum a few weeks ago,new owner must be flipping it. It was here in Spokane Wa for years owned by George Lawrence.
And at Mecum it sold for how much? Not that I’m bidding on it, just curious.
$209,000
@Mountainwoodie….I can see one thing wrong with your plan. Not many nursing homes have garages.
Always thought the 69s came with 15 inch rims not fourteen.
John, all 69 Camaros came with 14 inch wheels unless it was a Z-28, one of the 602 Camaros ordered with 4-wheel disc brakes, or a Camaro ordered with COPO 9737 the Sports Car Conversion Package that included the 15 inch wheels , a bigger 13/16 inch front sway bar and a 140 mph speedometer. There was a dealer in New York that would add speed equipment to Camaros and Corvettes. What ever the buyer wanted such as headers, triple carbs and intake, blow proof bell housing, L-88 engines, electronic ignition, ect. What ever a speed shop sold. They were Baldwin – Motion. I remember seeing their adds in magazines. They had different levels for the Camaro, Corvette and Chevelle called Phase I, Phase II and Phase III. I would look at their adds and dream.
I recall seeing these in the early 80s at shows like Detroit Autorama thinking, wow, what a car. Of course, it wasn’t practical when new, or then or now. What it is was the baddest Camaro you could get your hands on. Sure the ZL-1 was rearer and L-88s are in the mix but this car shares a unique place in Chevy history. The aluminum block cars are more austue (except for the black and gold press car) being all business. Iron block cars could be found like this RS with features like console and other options. They’re a lot more drivable in traffic, too. Notice that being a non SS car got you a body color rear tail panel instead of black on a big block car.
If I’m wrong correct me (and I’m sure someone will:) I don’t see modern day youths (40 and under) having the same appreciation for things as us old school adults. A few decades ago I bought a 69 mustang GT fastback from a guy who bought it for his nerdy son as a father/son project. In all actuality it was the fathers dream car not his sons. The father had the car covered in his garage to surprise him with for a graduation present. It didn’t turn out as dad expected.
When the car was unveiled all that kid did was gripe and complain. Too noisy no a/c burns too much gas etc. Father asked him what HE wanted. He said a plain basic honda civic with a/c. The take away is this know their taste and wants an cater to that.
Keep car, put son up for adoption. Easy fix.
bt
John, all 69 Camaros came with 14 inch wheels unless it was a Z-28, one of the 206 Camaros ordered with 4-wheel disc brakes, or a Camaro ordered with COPO 9737 the Sports Car Conversion Package that included the 15 inch wheels , a bigger 13/16 inch front sway bar and a 140 mph speedometer. JL-8, 4 wheel disc brakes was a option on any Camaro. There was a dealer in New York that would add speed equipment to Camaros and Corvettes. What ever the buyer wanted such as headers, triple carbs and intake, blow proof bell housing, L-88 engines, electronic ignition, ect. What ever a speed shop sold. They were Baldwin – Motion. I remember seeing their adds in magazines. They had different levels for the Camaro, Corvette and Chevelle called Phase I, Phase II and Phase III. I would look at their adds and dream.
Thanks for the reply ,my all original 67 SS/RS 396 has 14 inch rims on it . I thought they went to 15s in 1968 but that was only on the Z 28 .I also have an L78 Camaro that was sold new at Baldwin Motors I have no other documentation but it is a 396 /375 no power steering no power brakes and no engine. Thank you
Kinda redundant and superfluous what it had vs what it’s got?
I can’t see how they expect everyone to be driving electric cars, people living in apartments, houses on streets with no drive ways, where are they going to put all these chargers??? My son who is 42, my son inlaw and my 3 grandsons all LOVE the Muscle cars of the 60s and early 70s. They all want my 70 AMX when I leave this earth. Sure the numbers of Muscle car lovers will be fewer, but there will always be those who just aren’t happy unless they have the combustion engine to build and put in Muscle cars and take to the drag strip for some straight line fun. Nothing else sounds, feels and smells like it.
You are 100% on Ronald not to mention its surprising OPEC hasn’t chimed in on EVs muscling in on their territory. Electricity has to be generated from some external sources for the charge stations. The charging time exceeds the run time. I have not seen any crash test results on EVs nor safety tests. I could ramble on for hours. Musk is a mad man.