For Sale: 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle in Ft Worth, Texas

When a car is right, you can tell just by looking at it. Given the predatory stance on this Garnet Red 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS COPO Tribute, there's no question the guys who built it did their homework. Sure, you might be a bit puzzled as to why a COPO tribute is wearing SS Rallye wheels, but don't fret, that was just a recent aesthetic choice and the other COPO-style wheels and tires to match the spare in the trunk do come with the sale. Furthermore, a period-correct 427 V8 monster lives under the hood, and it's been mated to a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission and F-41 suspension, among other COPO-related accoutrement that make up this gorgeous street brawler. If it's a real COPO 427 Chevelle that you're after, then you'll need about a quarter million dollars and a whole lot of luck tracking down one of the original 323 units. But if you want all that's great about a COPO wrapped in a classic car that you can actually drive and enjoy, then take a closer look at this dialed-in '69 Chevelle.

Originally Code 59 Frost Green, the builders at Fat Lip Restorations in Detroit Lakes, MN elected to switch things up a bit in their quest to build an incredibly special car, electing to paint it Garnet Red instead. Those pros did the job right back in 2011, taking the car completely apart, adding new sheetmetal where it was needed, and then coating it with layer after gorgeous layer of that luscious, dark red finish. At the time, the car was considered to be practically 'over-restored' by the professional appraiser that gave it a #1 Excellent rating, and in the approximate 2K miles and 10+ years since the work was competed it's held up very well. Obviously, it's mostly just been shown and enjoyed on bright, sunny days, as there are no major imperfections or signs of use to speak of on the body today, other than a couple very minor nitpicks. Sure, a detailed buff-and-wax would make it look practically new again, but if you're looking for a top-end driver that's going to win pretty much every trophy at your local car show, this is it. The body is laser straight and the gaps are exact, with doors that shut flush and a hood and deck lid that line up better than they did when this Chevelle was new. Like the original COPOs, there are no stripes on the exterior, which is perfect for us because the Garnet Red paint gets to do all the talking, and the dual-scoop hood is just aggressive enough to preview the organized violence underneath without giving away all the car's secrets. The gentle arc of the '69 Chevelle sheetmetal and swooping roofline have always been fan favorites, add in that slightly aggressive rake and this Chevelle certainly looks the part of an apex predator. All the brightwork and chrome was either replaced or restored at the time of the restoration, including those bright bumpers fore and aft, adding just enough bling to really make that red paint pop in person. Man, this is a great looking car!

The black bucket seat interior was restored from headliner to carpet using correct materials, and the clean seat covers, door panels, and dash are all in fantastic shape today. The black carpets are plush and provide plenty of insulation inside the cabin, as does the taut headliner above, and that's a good thing when you have cackling 427 under the hood. An SS-style dash filled with crisp and clear round gauges ahead of the driver that look great and keep a close eye on that upgraded big block, and we love that no extra auxiliary units were added to muddy up things in the cockpit. The center console proudly houses the star of the show - a tall, bright chrome Hurst shifter that drives the Muncie M21 4-speed manual underneath, and the steering wheel is a handsome three-spoke unit that adds a touch of sportiness inside, mounted atop a tilt column that gives the driver a tad bit more room inside. In the center of the dash, the original radio has been replaced with a later retro-style AM/FM/Cassette unit, and the heater/defrost unit is working just like it should. Out back, the spacious trunk was neatly finished with black spatter paint and houses the aforementioned COPO-spec spare wrapped in a correct Firestone Wide Oval bias-ply that matches the four others available with the sale.

Ample horsepower (435 horsepower, to be exact) comes compliments of a period-correct, 3512 2-bolt main 427 V8 that was comprehensively rebuilt around 2,000 miles ago to correct COPO specifications. Properly dressed in bright Chevy Orange paint and situated between satin black fender wells, it looks like a million bucks, especially with dress-up items like the chrome valve covers, matching air cleaner with correct 427 decals, and performance intake manifold. Even a correct Holley 4-barrel carburetor was sourced and sent to Holley for a full rebuild, and all the correct mounting hardware and accessories were used in the build. A close-ratio Muncie M21 4-speed manages the gears, twisting a virtually bulletproof 12-bolt posi-trac out back with very agreeable 3.55 gears inside. It runs extremely well today, with loads of big block torque available at any speed and in any gear, delivering the punch that you expect from a big Chevelle like this. Power front disc brakes provide sure, confident stops, correct quick-ratio power steering ensure an easy drive, and the Magnaflow dual exhaust system dumps out through correct oval chrome tips right under the rear bumper. The F-41 suspension includes thick sway bars fore and aft and sits just right atop 15-inch Rallyes wrapped in BFGoodrich T/A white-letter radials.

Nicely restored and ready to take some pink slips, this turn-key COPO clone is the head-turner your Momma told you to be worried about. Call now!