Camaro 1969 COPO sur Ebay...

The COPO Camaro is one of the more remarkable stories in muscle car lore—imagine when that first order came through the back channels for a 427-powered Camaro, completely stripped of anything that didn’t help it go faster, and was unleashed on an unsuspecting public. What resulted is arguably the fastest, nastiest, and most treasured muscle car of them all. So if you’re not quite able to reach for a fully documented specimen, perhaps this expertly built example will satisfy. Every bit as fast, nasty, and beautiful, but without the exhaustive documentation, you really can have your cake and eat it, too. Hugger Orange is this car’s original color, and it has been restored to the standards that would make a half-million dollar COPO blush. Gaps are exact, the paint is about a mile deep, and the sheetmetal lines up so well that you can watch the light move from panel to panel without distortion. Modern paints give traditional Hugger Orange a depth and vividness that it never had in 1969, and the plain-Jane COPO look works especially well with the sizzling hue. No SS badges, no RS headlights, just a base Camaro coupe bereft of any details, save for standard Camaro script on the fenders. Of course, there’s a functional cowl hood to feed the beast within, and while I’m sure it was possible to get a COPO without a rear spoiler, they all had one. And every bit of it has been restored to an exceptionally high level. The interior is the same story: only the hardware you need to go fast. Bucket seats are the standard black base chairs that have been given fresh foam and new seat covers, and come complete with the federally-mandated headrests. There’s no center console, just an industrial 4-speed shifter sticking out of the transmission tunnel. Heck, there’s not even a tach in the original instrument panel, nor a radio in the center of the dash. It’s all finished to an extremely high level, of course, and this is just how they came from the factory, so if you’re hoping for a high-end audio system, perhaps a COPO isn’t your cup of tea. The COPO’s calling card was the thundering L72 427/425 under the hood. The intervening years have proven conclusively that the horsepower rating was a joke and these were legitimate 11-second cars in the right hands. This one’s drag strip days are probably over forever, but the engine is willing, fully rebuilt and detailed for show. The Chevy Orange paint is as good as most cars’ bodywork, the markings and stampings are exact, and little stuff like hose clamps and hardware are correct. The original smog equipment is in place, as are things like the large diameter alternator pulley and heavy-duty cooling system. It’s backed by a Muncie 4-speed and a bulletproof 12-bolt rear, all part of a monster driveline that took no prisoners. The underside is as clean and detailed as the engine bay, complete with chambered exhaust and correct decals. Color-matched wheels with dog dish hubcaps wear correct F70-14 Goodyear Polyglass GT tires for the perfect finishing touch.