For many Chevy Camaro fans, few other versions of Chevy’s pony car are as intriguing as a first-generation COPO Camaro. COPO stands for Central Office Production Order. A COPO car was usually something that had to be specially ordered for an intended use, such as police cruisers, taxi cabs, or some other specially equipped vehicle ordered with non-standard options. In 1969, GM had an internal rule stating F-body cars (Chevy Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds) could not be equipped with engines exceeding 400 cubic inches.
A COPO Camaro with the COPO 9561 package got you the burly L72 427 cubic-inch iron Mark IV Big Block with 11.0:1 compression, a Holley 800CFM four-barrel carb, high-rise intake, rectangular port heads, forged steel crank, forged aluminum pistons, and a radical solid-lifter cam, all combined to produce 425 horsepower. The package added $489.75 to the sticker, and included the Cowl Induction Hood, Heavy Duty Springs, twelve-bolt Positraction rear end with 4.11 gears, and a Heavy Duty radiator. It is generally thought around 1,000 COPO 9561 Camaros were made. Of those, around 58 were equipped with RPO Z22, the Rally Sport Package.
The Chevy Camaro Rally Sport package was a true option list bargain. For just $131.65, the Rally Sport package got you a blacked-out grille, hidden headlights, headlight washers, fender stripes, simulated fender louvers, wheel arch moldings, black body sills, RS emblem in the grille, on the steering wheel, and rear panel, bright trim around the taillights, on the roof drip moldings, and back-up lights mounted beneath the back bumper.
1969 would be the final year for Chevy COPO Camaro production for quite some time. The exclusivity and performance of COPO Camaros have driven prices far beyond that of their more common brethren. An example like our feature COPO Camaro RS may well see a sale price near the top of the COPO genre.
Our feature 1969 Chevy COPO Camaro has been the subject of an extensive rotisserie restoration. It was sold new at Berger Chevrolet in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Berger was second only to Yenko Chevrolet in COPO Camaro sales.) The Camaro is finished in Fathom Green with a green vinyl roof over a green vinyl interior. It is a rare double COPO car with both the 9561 package, and the 9737 Sports Car Conversion Package that included E70-15 wide tread tires, 15-inch Rally wheels, a beefier sway bar, and a 140 MPH speedo. This COPO Camaro is one of only 58 believed to be equipped with the Rally Sport package. It is equipped with a Turbo 400 Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission, power front disc brakes, the aforementioned 12-bolt Posi rear end, chambered exhaust, a pushbutton AM-FM radio, and raised white-letter Goodyear Polyglas bias-ply tires.
This beautifully restored and supremely rare COPO Camaro will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Dallas, Texas event taking place September 20th through the 23rd.
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Comments
Didn’t know they made an RS COPO.
You say I’ve already asked about This RS COPO. What is your answer? Jim E.
Anyone know the significance of the red and green letters on the firewall?
Inspection marks.Paint,Trim,Body quality inspection I think.
Sad it was built with a Turbo 400 transmission, the pure muscle cars’ in this time period were 4 speed Muncie (for GM), hope it had a RockCrusher but not! With that Rock Crusher manual transmission you would get a few more Dollars. Just saying..
FreddieB
Most COPO’s were ordered to be race cars. Probably why most had turbo 400’s
Everyone has a Opinion & Support Yours! I drove NHRA Stock cars B/S, C/S, D/S & E/S in that era. Automatics were not what they are today! Automatic TH400, TH350 and Power Glades–Converters & updated Transmission Parts were not available until the Mid 1970’s to the common Shade Tree Racer! Great Time to Live & Race!!! Long Life Englishtown in our Memories!!! NED ! will survive… 🙂
Very cool, very rare car.
Bring back the COPO program. If GM puts it in something, one shpuld be able to order it for your vehicle. It’s that simple. But the bean counters, want you to buy what they want you to buy. If we could order any thing for our new vehicle, there would be a lot more sales. Having to settle for the “Cookie Cutter” variations, sucks. I remember when I ordered my ’69 SS Chevelle. I wanted the 375 HP Big block. Salesman, didn’t have a clue. If I had known there was the COPO program as a 17 year old, I would have jumped on it in a minute. Still have my Chevelle tho. Going to my son when I’m gone. BRING BACK COPO!!!!!
Mary doesn’t know what that means.
GOD FORBID!!!BRING BACK THE COPO AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL PROBABLY MAKE A MONOPOLY OUT OF WHO GETS ONE..ITS BAD ENOUGH THEY TACK ON AN ADDITIONAL $35K ON THE TOP OF THE STICKER PRICE ON THE WHORVETTE And he’ll look at mustang now rear motor and looks like a Porsche!!! Thank God the real true muscle car that’s staying true to what it’s about is the charger and challenger
Gary, I “heard” that Chrysler Corp. is ending the gasoline powered Challenger and replacing it with an Electric version! Not surprising since the elected officials in Washington, D.C. are pushing Electric cars so hard!
In 2012 Chevy did bring back the COPO Camaro, but was limited to 69 being produced and it was not street legal. it was a factory race car and is still being made for 2023 with 3 different engine options, and automatic transmissions.
Yes they did bring back “The Program”. But, it was not the same as the ’60’s version.The new ones were , like you say. ae not street legal. Just a factory race car. Unless soneone is going racing, it makes little sense to plop down the cash. The original COPO, was designed to offer a very unique way of ordering a Super Car. Those days are long gone. Still would like to see a version come back. Oh well!
How do you get one?
Great car. Not a fan of vinyl roofs but that was stylish back then. I’d also prefer a 4 speed manual gearbox but the TH400 was built to handle the big block power. No mention of the D80 spoilers. Possibly they were dealer added. I looked at the photos on the auction site and there are no close ups of the cowl tag to verify factory installation. Notice that the rear spoiler is a ’68 version which was used on the early ’69 Camaro. It’s shorter and doesn’t reach to the edge of the quarter panel like the ’69 version. Check out the back cover of an original ’69 Camaro literature and it pictures a Hugger Orange Z/28 with a ’68 spoiler.
I know of a car that is very similar, it has all the desired copo options, same color, features, but no vinyl top and has a 4sp with only 27k miles
It was a race car that original copo engine was removed and stored, eventually it was restored back to original condition.
It also has a super rare liquid tire chain factory option.
Incredible car the owner valued around $300k
What did this 69 sell for? I’m always amazed that my 1969 302 4-speed was beautiful. I only wish I’d kept it.
How come no mention of the Endura front bumper?