For Chevy Camaro fans and faithful, there are few things so exciting as a true COPO Camaro. For the uninitiated, COPO stands for Central Office Production Order, or a way of ordering a car that would come equipped with non-standard options. COPO orders were generally used for special-use vehicles like police cruisers, cabs, or other fleet vehicles. But there were some COPO cars that were spectacular performers, as they could be configured with non-traditional engines and high-performance goodies. At a time when GM F-body cars (Camaros and Firebirds) could not be had with engines displacing more than 400 cubic inches, a COPO order could get you the 427 cubic-inch, 425-horsepower performance monster of your dreams.
Our feature 1969 Chevy Camaro, once known as The Blue Mule, was campaigned in period by NHRA Pro Stock driver Tom Martino. This final-year COPO Camaro was originally sold by Malcolm Konner Chevrolet in Paramus, New Jersey, it is equipped with the 427 cubic-inch, 425-horsepower L72 V8 topped by a Holley 4150 Series 780cfm carb and a Winters aluminum high-rise intake manifold. The L72 is backed by the numbers-matching Muncie M22 ‘Rock Crusher’ four-speed manual transmission and a twelve-bolt rear differential with Positraction and 4.10 gears.
This highly optioned COPO Camaro has been restored to showroom condition. Finished in handsome LeMans Blue with a black vinyl top and blue interior, it is unusually well equipped for a COPO car. Options include Z21 Style Trim Group, Z23 Special Interior Group, D55 Center Console, U17 Special Instruments, A01 Soft Ray Tinted Glass, and J52 Power Front Disc Brakes. The Camaro rolls on painted steel wheels shod in bias-ply raised white-letter Goodyear F70x14 tires.
Included in the sale of this 1969 Chevy COPO Camaro are notarized ownership statements and written stories about the car from all four owners.
This striking and rare COPO Camaro will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Las Vegas, Nevada event taking place November 10th through the 12th.
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Comments
Beautiful car. Love the old school hub caps and tires.
That’s one nice machine 69 camaro looking all stock but a monster under the hood and if you pulled beside it you never no until u tried racing the Camaro and get the whoop lashing of your life.
GM KNEW HOW TO MAKE CAMAROS BACK IN 1969 REAL CLASS STYLE, PLASTIC WAS NOT IN THEIR VOCABULARY!!!
I was a young teen in the muscle car years with an insurance agent father who wouldn’t let me have a big block. I have subscribed to a leading muscle car magazine since issue #1. Seems like writers always go ga-ga over the painted steel wheels & dog dish hubcaps, I saw three reason for choosing these back in the day:
1. Buyers ordered them because they couldn’t afford expensive OEM mag-style or sport wheels.
2. They were planning to go Day 2 & put on Cragar or Keystone type mags.
3. The dealer didn’t know how to order a muscle car.
Example Chevy Dealer in my small NE MS town orders a beautiful 1969 Camaro SS 350, green with a light colored vinyl top, black and white hound’s tooth interior, bucket seats. Now the bad, no console, automatic on column with the green steel wheel and poverty/dog dish hubcaps. Sat out in the weather on his lot for over a year until my friend’s dad finally bought it for him.
Those were the days. Now a rare car as equipped or just a mistake?
In 1869 when I returned from Vietnam I went to Baldwin Motion Chevrolet in Baldwin Long Island and right after getting married we bought a brand new Camaro z28 ,Glacier Blue with console ,gages 10 bolt 411 position and m22 z21 trim and tinted glass.As my family grew we had regrettably to sell it and buy a Station wagon with drop down inside tail gate.SThe Camaro is long gone but always in my heart.