Vehicle Description
Very clean Camaro built for combat. 502 GM crate motor, TH400
automatic. Beautiful Lemans Blue paint with recent blue vinyl
interior. Power disc brakes. Solid undercarriage, no issues. Cool
COPO lookalike with serious firepower under the hood.If there's a
single year of Camaro that stands above all the rest, it's the
1969. Everything came together just right with improved styling,
even more engine options, and the looming changes in 1970 and
beyond all seemed to conspire to create what many consider the
ultimate F-body. We'll say up front that this Camaro is not a car
for purists?there are no numbers on this car that are worth
mentioning. But someone did build a rather appealing brute of a
Camaro that is wholly in line with the legendary COPO hot rods of
the period. Big firepower, no frills, and a back-to-basics vibe
that's insanely appealing. In that regard, this Lemans Blue Camaro
gets a lot of things right. The clean Camaro sheetmetal really
needs no adornment beyond a few factory-style upgrades like the
cowl-induction hood, chin spoiler, and ducktail out back, all of
which were available on the original COPOs. No stripes or other
distractions, because these cars were built to go fast not look
pretty, and with some nice bodywork underneath it shows rather
well. The crease that runs from the front fender all the way back
to the tail panel lines up well, the doors close solidly and
without the usual rattles, and the body gaps line up well. Is it
perfect? No, of course not. But it's far better than the usual
cruise night stuff and other cars on the street will eye this one
warily. It looks downright nasty.Exterior notes: Older repaint in
very good condition. Might have replacement quarter panels but if
so, they were professionally installed. Steel cowl hood. Nice
emblems, chrome, and glass.The code 715 Dark Blue vinyl interior is
a nice complement to the Lemans Blue paint, and it looks like a
combination of reproduction and original parts. Door panels might
be original and in very good condition, while the seat covers and
carpets are nice reproduction pieces in great shape. The blue
steering wheel and dash surround are likewise in great shape and
the GM horseshoe shifter is still one of the coolest designs of the
period. The factory gauges cover only the basics, so someone added
a trio of auxiliary gauges under the dash and it even appears that
the seat belts were re-webbed at some point, so they're still
supple and flexible. There's an aftermarket Alpine AM/FM/cassette
stereo in the dash that's fairly unobtrusive, and it powers
speakers in the door panels and on the rear package shelf.
Overhead, the headliner fits nicely and this car does have the
original shoulder belts, which were suddenly everywhere in 1969
thanks to new legislation. The trunk is outfitted with what appears
to be the original mat and a newer spare tire cover, and underneath
there's a full-sized spare with jack assembly.Interior notes:
Reproduction seat covers in good condition. Nice carpets with
matching mats. Gauges original and a little faded. '80s stereo
system. Steering wheel showing some age but no cracking or
damage.The reason the COPOs were special is because a few
enterprising dealers found a way to game the Central Office
Production Order (COPO) system and get 427s stuffed into Camaros,
which was 'technically' against the GM corporate rules in the late
1960s. Today, this car sports one of the biggest of big blocks, a
mountainous 502 cubic inch beast complements of GM Performance
Parts. Rated at 502 horsepower and 580 lb-ft. of torque, this big
block is far more than even Don Yenko could have dreamed of in
1969. Sporting aluminum heads, a big Holley double-pumper carb on
an aluminum intake, and all forged internals, it's built for combat
and makes the lightweight Camaro something of a projectile on the
road. Around the crate motor, the supporting cast includes an MSD
electronic ignition system, a big radiator, and a modern serpentine
belt drive for the accessories. Long-tube headers feed a rumbling
Flowmaster dual exhaust system that sounds epic, and the tub has
been reinforced with weld-in subframe connectors that do make a
seat-of-the-pants difference in how this car feels. A durable TH400
3-speed automatic shuffles the gears, and just in case you were
worried about breaking stuff, there's a custom driveshaft and
bulletproof Ford 9-inch rear end out back full of 4.10 gears, so
you know this sucker is punchy. The floors are quite clean aside
form some minor signs of use, and with power disc brakes it feels
confident on the road. A newer gas tank hangs out back and it sits
on 15-inch steel wheels with 'dog dish' hubcaps for the perfect
COPO look. Newer BFGoodrich T/A radials are fitted, with 215/70/15s
up front and fat 225/70/15s out back, giving it a nice
rake.Mechanical notes: Big block runs very well. 4.10 gears are
very good for acceleration but highway cruising is busy. Some signs
of use but no evidence of rot or accident damage underneath.
Traction bars mean business. Air cleaner must be rotated just right
to fit under cowl induction hood.If you're in love with the 1969
Camaro (and who isn't?), this is a great alternative to the
pedigree cars that need so much attention. Instead, it's a faithful
tribute to the nastiest Camaros of all and definitely lives up to
the legend. This is a seriously fast car, so it needs an attentive
driver, but between the industrial-strength look and robust
hardware, it delivers for the guy who's up to the task. An apex
predator, ready to hit the streets. Call today!Harwood Motors
always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections
of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
