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1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Fetches $500,000 At Auction

The L88 7.0L V8 racing engine found under the hood of the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was never intended to be installed on a road going vehicle. Chevrolet developed the engine for drag racing and other track use, so how did it end up in a production car?

The Central Office Production Order, known famously as COPO, was a process that allowed specialty vehicles to be ordered directly from the factory. When it was conceived, it was intended to be used for taxis, trucks, and other commercial vehicles, but it remains known for allowing dealers to order some of the most special muscle cars to ever leave Detroit factories.

Chevrolet drag racer Dick Harell approached Fred Gibb, owner of Gibb Chevrolet, about ordering a COPO Camaro with the 430 horsepower, 7.0 liter ZL1 engine under the hood. Gibb contacted GM, who eventually agreed to produce the Camaro with the ZL1 racing engine, but only if he ordered a minimum of 50 vehicles. Gibb obliged, and one of the fastest Camaro’s ever built was set for production.

Only 69 1969 Camaro ZL1’s were built, which may explain the $500,000 that this Dusk Blue Camaro ZL1 fetched at the Mecum Chicago Auction this past weekend. This example is #23 of 69 and has been restored to original factory specifications. Even though its been sold, you can still view the ad and full photo album on Mecum’s website here.

Just last month, a Corvette equipped with the mighty L88 sold for a staggering $3.2 million.

Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. Sam, do a little better homework next time before posting comments like this. The L88 and ZL1 are different engines. They are closely related in that both are 427 big blocks, but the ZL1 had an aluminum cylinder block, the L88 cast iron. There are several other details like slightly hotter cam in the ZL1, etc.., but the main point of the ZL1 at the time was weight savings. The aluminum block saved about 150lbs. which is significant especially for drag racers.

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  2. Also keep in mind the aluminum block owes more to Can Am racing than anything else. McLaren worked with Chevy as well as Chaparral to develop the engines for their series before anyone even considered putting one in a Camaro.

    If anyone is interested in Chevy racing in the 60’s get the book Chevy-Racing? 1957-1970 by Paul Van Valkenburgh It is available in reprints from the SAE International. The original copies can go for over $100 today so get the reprint.

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