Chevrolet developed the Central Office Production Order system to meet the need for a procedure to build non-standard cars with Regular Production Order parts. It was intended for fleet orders: fleets of police cars; fleets of low-powered strippers for meter readers; fleets of taxicabs. It enabled Chevrolet and its dealers to compete effectively for large orders of exceptionally boring vehicles. A few intrepid dealers saw in the COPO system a means to a very different end.

That was to build vehicles more powerful, more purposeful and more specialized than anything Chevrolet could justify offering through the Regular Production Option system. The most common of these was COPO 9561 which put the 427 cubic inch, 425 horsepower Mark IV big block V-8 into the Camaro where the biggest RPO engine was the L89 396/375hp aluminum head big block. COPO 9561 was sparingly used. It is believed that only 822 were built with 4-speeds plus another 193 with automatic transmissions.

In addition to the 427/425hp V-8 COPO 9561 included the ZL2 cowl induction hood, L78 cowl induction air cleaner, heavy duty springs, 12-bolt Positraction rear axle with 4.1:1 gears, heavy duty radiator and absolutely nothing on the outside of the car to identify it as anything special. It was a serious racer’s car that made its statements with performance, not posturing.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro 427 COPO 9561 Images

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In Detail

type	Series Production Car
built at	Norwood, Ohio, USA
production	822
engine	Mark IV L72 Cast Iron V8
position	Front Longitudinal
aspiration	Natural
block material	Cast Iron
valvetrain	Pushrod OHV, 2 Valves per Cyl
fuel feed	Single 4-Barrel Carburetor
displacement	6997 cc / 427 in³
power	324.4 kw / 435 bhp
specific output	62.17 bhp per litre
body / frame	Unitary Steel Monocoque
driven wheels	RWD
front tires	F70x14
rear tires	F70x14
front brakes	Discs
rear brakes	Kelsey-Hayes
front wheels	F 35.6 x 17.8 cm / 14 x 7 in
rear wheels	R 35.6 x 17.8 cm / 14 x 7 in
f suspension	Independant
r suspension	Live Axle w/Leaf Springs
transmission	3-Speed Manual
final drive	4.1:1

124379N657861-1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO 9561. Olympic Gold with a dark green interior. Originally delivered to Mr. Willard Clements of Toronto, Canada. Ordered with desirable close-ratio manual gearbox, power disc brakes, a radio and a heater. Thoroughly documented example. Temporarily fitted with a 427 crate engine in 1982. Sold at Gooding & Co’s 2010 Scottsdale Auction for $145,000 USD with an estimate of $125,000 – $200,000 USD.

1969 Chevrolet COPO Camaro 9561 – did not sell for $130,000 Certified by the COPO Connection in March 2003, this Hugger Orange 1969 Camaro COPO 9561 was purchased new from Dutch Miller Chevrolet in Huntington, West Virginia. The car’s COPO-spec L72 427/425 HP big block engine is complete with the correct smog equipment and cowl induction and backed with a heavy-duty 4-speed and Positraction. F41 suspension and power front discs add maximum handling and stopping power. This typically unadorned factory s… read more
Auction Source: 2011 Monterey Daytime Auction by Mecum

1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO Coupe 427/425 HP, 4-Speed – did not sell for $125,000 of approximately 80 COPO 9561 L72 Camaro’s exported into Canada. Extensive frame off nut and bolt restoration. GM of Canada paperwork. Certified by Nickey Chicago. Correct CE 427/425 HP replacement engine. M21 4-speed transmission. 4.10 rear end. Power disc brakes. Exstensive use of original and NOS parts. Also has original XT wheels and Tiger Paw tires. Feature car at the Super Car Registry. Owner history. Ultra Rare and desirable Rally Green… read more
Auction Source: 2011 Mecum Indy Spring Classic