Because GM frowned on engines larger than 400 cubic inches in cars like the 1969 Camaro, Chevrolet developed the Central Office Production Order. This system was designed as a means to build non-standard cars with Regular Production Order parts. COPO 9560 and 9561 resulted in 1,066 special Camaros like the seller’s car, which has been restored and looks as nice as the day it was built. It will be available here on Mecum in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 10-12 and who knows how high the bidding could go? Thanks, Larry D, for this coolest of tips!
COPO was intended for fleet orders, such as police cars, meter readers, and taxicabs. So, it enabled Chevrolet and its dealers to compete effectively for large orders of exceptionally boring vehicles. But a few dealers saw the COPO system as a means to a quite different end. The result is that more than a handful of unique products got made and sold, like the Yenko Chevies and the seller’s 1969 Camaro. From COPO 9560 and 9561, it was built at the Norwood manufacturing plant in June 1969.
This is a well-documented vehicle that was finished in Lemans Blue with a dark blue vinyl top and matching interior. With its “poverty” hub caps, it has the appearance of a sleeper of sorts, until the 425 hp, 427 cubic inch V8 comes to life. Naturally, the engine is paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. At one point early in its run, the car campaigned as the Blue Mule in NHRA which was typical of these monster Camaros. Apparently, it has had just four owners in its 53 years.
The restoration work done was meticulous, though it’s not numbers matching. The original L72 engine was replaced by a correct 427 that’s loaded with performance goodies. Out of the 822 cars built with the manual tranny, we don’t know how many could be left. Since these cars were put together to be driven hard, many of them may have met an early demise. As no one was thinking at the time of six-figure collectability in the future.
Oh yeah.
Best looking of the bunch with the best drive train. Beautiful!
Sadly, this will probably be bought as an “investment” and never see a mile on the road.
True that most of these COPO’s saw an early end due to them (at the time) being ordered as a “purpose” car, meaning they racked up miles one-quarter at a time…and as such they didn’t last long. All to say that even though it’s not numbers matching I wouldn’t be surprised to see it hammer at a number that begins with 2
And of course it will be driven…just silly to think that it won’t. It just wouldn’t be a daily driver. And seriously…you wouldn’t daily drive it if it was a $30,000 car so you shouldn’t judge people just because they may have the means to buy in this range
Jeez, I’m not judging anybody. To me it seems there is a greater number of people out there these days who buy and sell interesting cars like this as if they were commodities, they don’t care so much about the “driving experience” or what the car represents in the grand scheme of automotive history. I’d enjoy seeing this out on the street but I’m not holding my breath.
I agree. I had a ’70 Z28 I bought at a small used car lot in Orlando and drove it everywhere. Same Hurst shifter, transmission and differential (4.10). No one gave it a thought back then. I see the red line on mine was higher at 6.5 which I used. This listing brought back memories of 1980 to me. I was thinking how cool this would look when I drive to Publix to go grocery shopping :)
Superb Camaro. Beautiful presentation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful Camaro! Wish I could put in my garage.
Me too….
Wal Mart has plastic 8 X 10 frames for about $4 so I have that going for me. Lol
Could you get the ’69 delux interior without all that woodgrain?
This car is definitely cleaner underneath now than when it was 1st built & delivered! Missing here tho is the dripping grease by the suspension fittings & rubber seals.
I find it crazy on this car to have 2 resonators AND a big heavy restrictive transverse muffler as well. Back in the day, i’m sure 1 or the other or both were heaved. The 2nd gen non cat f-body V8s with dual exhaust only had the transverse muffler & no resonators, except for the sd-455’s, whose 2 resonators looked like skinny glasspacks.
I’m surprised there’s no engine air pump – left off in the restoration, or did COPO’s not get them?
Beautiful color and black vinyl ? roof make this beast pretty much perfection. It must see the road, equipped with that ideal running gear.
Well I can dream at least . This thing will most likely bring 6 or 7 figures . It’s not a cars and coffee kind of vehicle .
427s in 69 had A.I.R. It is missing. For a concours restoration and for what this will sell for, it should be there. In high school, a local builder bought a new 69 RS/SS Canaro with a legit L78 396/375 hp engine. He had the car a month and one weekend he took off the smog tossed in garbage can. Today, you are gonna be about $4,500 lighter getting a correct set up. Oh well. Bill Hodel in Ohio has them but get your money ready.
Sunny Sundays cruising the coast and car shows then cover it back up for the week.
Nice one, Russ! What a sweet and wicked ride. Years ago I lived in Houston, PA and went to church in Canonsburg near Yenko. I seemed to be the only one around who recognized that my church was so near the altar of speed where so many hard-core COPO cars and other monsters came to life. Well done, Larry D, with the hot tip.
Wow,that must’ve been one clean Barn that this beauty was found in…
I seen more on this car. The original motor has been found and restored to factory specs and will be included in the sale at Mechums Las Vegas Nov. 10th-12th. Is the rarest and most sought after COPO made. More options than any other and the vinyl top and color combo make the “Best of them all” according to the article I read. I have to agree. This car is stunning and only wish my Camaro was half this one. Congratulations to whoever wins this one.
In the mid seventies I was working as a pump jockey after school and one of the regulars took me for a thrill ride in his 4spd. 4:10 geared COPO. Seeing how we were near Grand Rapids I assume it was a Berger sold car. Years before I can remember the Berger adds on the radio saying the 427 Camaros were on the lot. Looking back I was very fortunate to experience that rare treat.
You KNOW ( And like G.I. Joe says “knowing is half the battle!” ) the old saying kids “If you have to ask, You can’t afford it” .