While normally intended for police, taxi, truck and emergency-vehicle fleet orders, Chevrolet’s Central Office Production Order (COPO) system assumed legendary status by the late 1960s when it was used to generate mass dealer orders for specialized high-performance vehicles. Often, order sizes were sufficient to meet production requirements for racing; sometimes, in the case of Yenko Chevrolet, such special cars were the basis for further tuning and upgrades. All immediately assumed legendary status for their electrifying performance and winning ways, keeping Chevrolet foremost in the hearts and minds of enthusiasts despite GM’s self-enforced racing ban. In the care of the same family for 45 years until 2021 with just 3,645 accumulated miles at the time of writing, this 1969 Chevrolet COPO Camaro is believed 1 of less than 1,000 produced in all. Built with the COPO 9561 AA High-Performance Unit option and COPO 9737 Sports Car Conversion Package, it was delivered new to Earl Wagner Chevrolet in Minerva, Ohio. Benefiting from climate-controlled storage, it is powered by a period-correct L72 427/425 HP V-8 engine, the Camaro retains the original Daytona Yellow paint, sheet metal, and interior. High- performance features include a proper Winters aluminum intake mounting a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, dual exhaust, a Muncie M21 4-speed manual transmission, J52 power brakes with front discs and a BE-code 12 bolt rear end with G80 4.10 Positraction. Other highlights include a ZL2 Special Ducted Hood, Hurst shifter and 140 MPH speedometer. A Norwood, Ohio-built car with the correct ‘X44’ code on the original cowl tag, the Camaro’s other correct details are many. Among them are the ZL2 hood’s firewall piercing above the fuse box, measuring 0.750 inches in diameter, the Muncie speedometer cable hole piercing below the wiper motor, original no. 113 and no. 114 engine frame mounts, the original tailpipe adaptor plate on the frame rail, the original no. 9204 brake booster (dated the 110th day of 1969), the original firewall- mounted throttle bell crank and big-block heater core and the original 00-coded Harrison radiator (dated F 1969). Notably, the original hidden VIN at the cowl area remains intact. Rally wheels mounting Goodyear E70-15 Polyglas GT tires provide road contact. Documents include the original window sticker still affixed to the car, the original Protect-O-Plate, IAAA (International Automotive Appraisers Association) certification and a Camaro Hi-Performance certificate.
