Copo Camaros

[Stephen & Horace Johnson]

Originally Posted by Michael Kilduff

Stephen/Horace,

I don't claim to be a first generation Camaro expert, but I have heard and read that there might have been 900 or more 427/425hp COPO 1969camaros made. The Yenko SC COPOs were probably the most famous, and there were either 198 or 201 of the Yenkos made. There is some debate about that number officially.

Then there were other dealers getting in on the COPO 427/425 thing too...I think Baldwin Motion and Berger were a couple of them.

The 427/425 HP in a Camaro was -I think- option RPO L72 and was definately an iron block. The 427/425HP was also available in '69 chevelles.

The only aluminum block 427 available in the 69 camaro was the ZL-1 which was ordered by Fred Gibb if memory serves correct. There were 69 ZL-1 camaros produced. He had a heck of a time selling them and I think Chevrolet either bought some back or redistributed them to other dealers. I think the ZL-1 was about a $4000 option. This engine was I thin developed for CAN-AM racing back in the late 60's.

I do think there are several 427-425 HP cars in SS. I think but am not sure Brian Oakes runs that combo, and maybe Jack Sepanek and a few others, I think most of the 69 camaros running in SS/C would be the 427-425hp as that combo is a natural D, which was originally a Corvette engine package. The ZL-1 I think is a natural B car.

Like I said, I don't claim to be an expert on the subject, but I have read a fair amount about the COPO Camaros over the years and what I wrote should be kinda sorta close. Might not be exact.

And, I too saw the B-J auction for the COPO 69 camaro.....I have never heard of an RS COPO Camaro.Most if not all of the COPOS I recall were basically base model type cars.

COPO stood for Central Office Production Order...GM had a ban on all cars besides the Corvette getting the real high HP engines. Some dealers found a loophole for lack of a better term with the COPO thing....the real job of the COPO deal was for fleet vehicles. I am thinking Vince Piggins at Chevrolet kinda worked things for some dealers to get Vette engines in non Vette cars.

So was Dick Ogle's old 69 Camaro that he used to run in SS/B a COPO version before he went to the vette? thanks for the info


Stephen Johnson #2162
Horace Johnson #2167
SS/D 427 Ford Fairlane NHRA-IHRA
RecordHolder

[Michael Kilduff]

Stephen/Horace,

Yes, that would have been a COPO. I'm not sure how the combos fit in the class guides back in the old days, so I can't say for sure what combo Olges may have actually ran. But I feel rather sure it would have to have been the ZL-1. I don't think the 427/425 can make it to B. The last time I checked-about a year ago-the 427/425 '69 Camaro is a natural D car. The ZL-1 is a natural B, I think it breaks at 6.56.

Also, I do recall reading in the engine specs at NHRA's site that the ZL-1 as used in SS can be either iron or aluminum block.

[RJ]

Originally Posted by Michael Kilduff

Also, I do recall reading in the engine specs at NHRA's site that the ZL-1 as used in SS can be either iron or aluminum block.

The iron block in the ZL-1 combo is being used in stock also.

[Alan Nyhus]

Steve Koppien's blue Camaro that he won Stock Eliminator at Brainerd with last season is a honest-to-Gawd COPO 9561.

[Troy Henderson]

Originally Posted by Alan Nyhus

Steve Koppien's blue Camaro that he won Stock Eliminator at Brainerd with last season is a honest-to-Gawd COPO 9561.

Something way cool about racing your 6 figure collector car! He's going to put it back to street duty sometime though he said.

[junior barns]

Can you tell by the ser# if a car is a COPO?? Camaro?

If so what #'s do you look for???

[Chuck Norton]

The vin#s of the COPO 9560 cars (69 total cars) that were equipped with aluminum 427 blocks have been widely circulated. Their identities and the locations of most of the survivors is no big secret to the insiders who follow and collect them.

The COPO 9561 cars (no one seems to know the exact number) that were equipped with iron 427 blocks were never documented by anyone other than the Yenko organization and a few collectors who got on the bandwagon early in the game. The Yenko cars are listed. The other 1000 (or so) 9561 cars are not officially cataloged although there are people who have tracked many of them unofficially. An expert can sometimes trace a given car back but if it's been modified and cut up too extensively it will take a keen eye and broad background to be able to state definitively that a car is a 9561 COPO. In the end, there will always be questions about any car that is not accompanied by original paperwork and/or an unimpeachable chain of ownership going back to day-one.

[larry dowty]

chuck one of the copo 9560 car went to allen green chev. in BURIEN washington, the service manger dick totino raced it in the early days of pro stock, it has sold many times in the nw the alum. motor expired at the hands of john mangini one night at the old puyallup drag strip, to my knowledge it is a bracket in seattle?

[Dana Fitzpatrick]

Michael, that is some great info on what to look for on COPO Camaros. A couple of more things; COPOS had front disc brakes, curved upper neck radiators, and heavy duty BE-code 12 bolt rearends. Early Yenkos I believe were X66 and X22 codes. A few were X11 (mine and I believe most of the Bergers) but X44 were the most common.
Some, like Berger ordered them in bunches so there are some consecutive body #'s that can also help in identifying them.

[Paul Ceasrine]

All posted info correct...
But #'s say,,822 of the COPO 9561 L-72 units were built, all 4-speeds.
Then, an additional 193 automatic units were built, for a total of 1015.
Since I was at New York National Speedway on Long Island numerous times, home base for Motion Performance, I did get to see a couple of them. AHRA-based track..Most of them ran 11.80's or so. Would be
NHRA-classed SS/C then SS/D.
First race for a ZL-1,,,AHRA Winternationals, January 69' in Arizona.
PC