1969 Chevrolet Camaro L72/427 Double COPO

Jerry MacNeish certified; Numbers-matching, four-speed, double COPO example
A holy grail Camaro from the golden age of muscle cars
Highly desirable factory L72 big-block 427 V-8 engine and Sports Car Conversion package
1 of just 45 COPO cars sold by Berger Chevrolet

VIN: 124379N648976

In the 1960s a lot was going on and being talked about in the States: the Vietnam War, the space race, student protests, and events like Woodstock, but for the U.S. car enthusiast, the biggest talk of the town was the muscle car wars of the big three auto manufacturers. The American people had a desire for speed and power, and General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler took that to heart and turned out some of the most memorable automobiles of all time. Vehicles such as the Ford Boss 429 Mustang, Dodge Hemi Daytona, Pontiac GTO, and the famous Road Runner ruled the streets, but perhaps one of the baddest and meanest machines of them all was the COPO Camaro from Chevrolet.

For 1969, the biggest engine you could usually get for your Camaro was the 396 big-block, but thanks to the "secretive" COPO (Central Office Production Order) program, you could get a gauntlet of a motor, the L72 427-cubic-inch V-8 engine. The L72 option was packed with performance parts that included rectangular port iron cylinder heads, forged pistons and crank, and a power-making 11:1 compression ratio all topped by an aluminum intake manifold paired with a Holley 780-cfm carb. All this pushed the L72 engine to produce 425 horsepower and 460 lbs-ft of torque.

Now what made it a double COPO? This would be the 9737, Sports Car Conversion Package. Having these two rare options together would create the double COPO name, something that is rarely seen. This package included power front disc brakes, heavy-duty suspension with sway bars, 15x7-inch rally wheels, and a 12-bolt Positraction rear end with 4:10 gears. This gave the COPO Camaro the best of both worlds, with more power and improved handling.

It is reported some 19 dealers in the U.S. and Canada took part in the special ordering process known as COPO or Central Office Production Order. Known as the "big four," Yenko Chevrolet, Fred Gibb Chevrolet, Nickey Chevrolet, and Baldwin Motion were the main buyers, but a handful of other dealerships were able to snag these high horsepower tire melting machines. One of those lucky dealerships was Berger Chevrolet in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who was able to acquire 45 COPO cars in total.

As one of those 45 cars, this legendary double COPO car is the recipient of a comprehensive nut-and-bolt restoration and is finished in Daytona Yellow with a black vinyl roof, and black hockey stick stripes. Sitting on a set of newer Goodyear Wide Tread GT tires, it has the classic look of a factory sleeper but packs a serious high-horsepower L72 big-block punch under the hood. Authenticated by Jerry MacNeish, the stamped numbers on the block match the VIN, indicating it is a numbers-matching example. These COPOs are rare, as many buyers opted for the standard automatic transmissions. However, this Camaro was ordered new with the desirable Muncie M-21 close ratio four-speed manual transmission, further elevating it among its already few peers.

Just like the exterior, the interior cabin is well-detailed throughout and features period-correct black vinyl bucket seats, an AM/FM stereo, wood trim, and tachometer. Accompanying the sale of this double COPO is a file folder that retains invoice records throughout the years.

As a double COPO, this Berger Chevrolet example retains both the 9561 L72 big-block and the 9732 Sports Car Conversion Package, with the even more desirable factory Muncie M-21 close ratio four-speed manual transmission. Considered by many to be a holy grail of first-generation Camaros, and being certified by Jerry MacNeish, it is an investment-grade example that is seldom seen and rarely offered for public sale.