1969 Chevrolet COPO Chevelle

COPO was short for Central Office Production Order. It was a program Chevrolet ran that enabled custom vehicles to be special ordered direct from the factory. It was originally intended to address the needs of taxi companies, rental cars, and police that required unique liveries and heavy-duty components. To a select few in the know it meant ordering a seriously potent muscle car.

The car that the COPO evolved from was the second generation of the popular mid-sized Chevelle, released in 1967 as a ’68 model. The COPO Chevelle was built on the base Malibu coupe platform, rather than the SS version. Brainchild Don Yenko ordered 99 of the COPO Chevelles, which he then modified with his own unique touches, including custom gauges. The non descript car packed a monster 427 ci L72 big-block engine and heavy-duty drivetrain. The L72 featured a four-bolt-main, forged steel crank with hardened journals and forged steel rods that motivated 4.25 x 3.76-inch domed aluminum pistons. With an 11:1 compression ratio, Chevy rated the L72’s output at 425 hp at 5,600 rpm, and 460 lb-ft of twist at 4,000 rpm. True output was well in excess of 450 hp.

Inside, the COPO Chevelle sported a stock Malibu interior equipped with bench seats, and, oddly for a high-performance, drag-oriented car, a push-button AM radio. Outside, the car carried absolutely no special badging or engine callouts whatever. Base price for a 9562 was $3,547, and for this not unreasonable price one received a car that was among the top dogs of American muscle at the time. 60 mph in a COPO Chevelle came in five seconds flat, and the quarter mile was 13.36 seconds at 108.4 mph

Production run in 1969 was 323 in total. Its said 66 remain. This is 1 of 3 black on black 1969 COPO Chevelles known to have been built. A 1969 Chevrolet COPO Chevelle in 'good' condition will run around $135k, while an uber top end example approaches $175k+. This car may be yours if the price is right at Mecum Indy 2025.