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1969 COPO Chevelles

 

The Central Office Production Order (COPO) system was used when non-standard items with unique equipment or colors to meet fleet order needs. In the late 60s, several Chevrolet dealers used the COPO process to get cars that otherwise would never have been built.

 

In 1968 Fred Gibb, a Chevrolet dealer in Illinois used the COPO process to order 50 Novas with the L78 engine. Then he came up with the 1969 COPO Camaro with the ZL1 427-cid aluminum engine. Soon the word got out and other high performance Chevrolet dealers jumped in with COPO Camaros, COPO Chevelles, and COPO Novas. These 60s Chevrolets should not be confused with the new COPO Camaros that are strictly race cars and are not really street legal and do not have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). These began with the 2012 Camaro and to keep a bit of nostalgia, only 69 were built each year from 2912 to present.

 

The COPO process should not to be confused with GM's Fleet & Special Order (F&SO) process. The F&SO process could include anything from special paint to 'deleting' Hood & Deck stripes from 1970-1972 Chevelles with the ZL2 Special Ducted Hood Air System, to a different from the 'recommended' interior/exterior interior. COPO Chevrolets, specifically Chevelles, Camaros, and Novas, were processed through the COPO process where non-standard options were being used.

 

The COPO process should not be confused with high performance dealers doing their own engine swaps and other high performance options from dealers such as Dana Chevrolet, Baldwin Chevrolet along with Motion Performance, Dick Harrel Chevrolet, Fred Gibb Chevrolet, Don Yenko Chevrolet, and others offering high performance Chevrolets.

 

All 1969 COPO Chevelle build sheets show the L78 engine and probably why 323 L78 engines are 'missing' as these were replaced with the L72 427-cid engine. No convertibles or sedan pickups were built under this particular COPO process.

 

Ninety-nine COPO Chevelles were ordered by Don Yenko. Where many of the other COPO Chevelles were dressed in standard paint, the Yenko COPOs yelled "Super Car" with Yenko's added graphics.
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1969 Yenko with aftermarket 5-spoke 'mag' wheels.

 

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© ChevelleWorld

1969 Yenko with COPO option 9737LD sports car conversion with 15-inch rally wheels.

 

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All 1969 COPO Chevelles were Malibu sport coupes but got the same 300 Deluxe front fenders and front trim as the SS 396-optioned Malibus but no SS 396 emblems. The grille assembly is the 300 Deluxe/Malibu with the blue bowtie but blacked-out like the SS 396. The front park/turn signal lenses got the SS 396 bright trim as well. Building a COPO on the assembly line must have kept the workers on their toes; a standard Malibu sport coupe but with SS 396/300 Deluxe front sheet metal sans the SS 396 emblems.

 

Along with any 1969 Chevelle paint color, several COPO Chevelles were also done in Hugger Orange and Daytona Yellow. It's reported that at least 14 were done in Hugger Orange and 12 in Daytona Yellow.
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L72 Engine Identification
COPO Number Assembly part Number Code (Qty built)
COPO 9562 3964268 MP - Automatic (93)
COPO 9562 3964269 MQ - Manual (265)

 

Note Group Description
1 AA Model 13637 with 4-speed manual transmission and Positraction rear axle assembly.
1 BA Model 13637 with 3-speed automatic transmission and Positraction rear axle assembly.
  CD Model 13637 with 4-speed manual transmission and Positraction rear axle assembly. Contour bucket seats, COPO tires, and special order springs.
  CE Same as above but without bucket seats.
  DD Model 13637 with 3-speed automatic transmission and Positraction rear axle assembly. Contour bucket seats, COPO tires, and special order springs.
  DE Same as above but without bucket seats.
2 EA Model 13637 with 4-speed manual transmission, Positraction rear axle assembly,  RPO J52 disc brakes, and RPO L78 tires.
3 FA Same as above but with 3-speed automatic transmission in lieu of the 4-speed manual.
  NOTES  
1   Used as a combination with COPO option 9694 front disc brakes
2   Service stock list applicable to COPO option 9566 AA is the same as option 9562 EA with exception of the tires.
3   Service stock list applicable to COPO option 9566 BA is the same as option 9562 FA with exception of the tires.

All normal service parts are found in regular catalog listings. The supplemental information is furnished for greater detail, assembly and components peculiar or special to the vehicle involved.

PARTS LIST - CHEVELLE 13637 SERIES VEHICLE - COPO OPTION 9562
UPC 4                    
PARTS NO. NAME GROUP NO. AA BA CD CE DD DE EA FA
(3) 3963988 * Axle Asm. -Rear-H.D. 4.10 Ratio (new) 5.386 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
3917971 Hypoid Drive Gear & Pinion Unit
(4.10 to 1.00 ratio) (service only)		 5.529 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
3916234 Differential and Case Assembly 5.510 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
                     
UPC 6                    
(1) 3964269 * Engine Asm-As Shipped 0.000 1 - 1 1 - - 1 -
(2) 3964268 * Engine Asm-As Shipped 0.000 - 1 - - 1 1 - 1
3958657 Pan Unit-Oil 1.426 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
3899621 Housing-Clutch 0.683 1 - 1 1 - - 1 -
3892632 Fork Assembly-Clutch 0.795 1 - 1 1 - - 1 -
3975921 * Manifold-Exhaust-L.H. 3.601 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

(1) Identical with 3933143 product released on 15400-600-16400 series with RPO L72 except as noted.
(2) Identical with 3933143 product released on 15400-600-16400 series with RPO M20 except as noted.
(3) Identical with 3954445 product released on 13200-400-600 and 800 series (1968) and 13427-437-637-667 series (1969) vehicles with RPO G60 except as noted.
* Obtained from Central Office

All COPO cars carry at least one of the COPO option codes below:
9562AA: 4-speed transmission and Positraction.
9562BA: M40 TH400 transmission and Positraction.
9562CD: 4-speed manual, special contour bucket seats, COPO tires and special-order springs.
9562CE: Same as above, excludes bucket seats.
9562DD: M40 automatic, bucket seats, COPO tires and special springs.
9562DE: Same as above, minus bucket seats.
9562EA: Four-speed manual transmission, Positraction, J52 disc brakes and L78 tires.
9562FA: Same as above, except M40 automatic replaced four-speed.
9566AA: Same as 9562EA with the exception of tires (used RPO PL5 14s).
9566BA: Same as 9562FA with the exception of tires (used RPO PL5 14s).
9694CA: 4-speed together with 9562, 9737 and RPO J50 vacuum power brakes. (This option modified RPO J52 power brakes.)
9694CB: Three-speed automatic transmission together with 9562DD, 9737LD and RPO J50 vacuum power brakes. (This option modified RPO J52 power disc brakes.)
9737LD Sports car Conversion/Yenko. This option was 15-inch tires and Rally wheels

 

It appears that only the 9566 options would have been used on non-Yenko orders. Yenko orders would have carried 9562, 9694 and 9737 codes. Of the 323 reportedly built, Don Yenko got 99, 17 went to Canada, and the remainder to any Chevrolet dealer that wanted to order them.


No matter what package you ordered, all of these cars included a special heavy-duty rear axle with special heat-treated 4.10:1 gears.

 

Records differ on just how many 4-speed and TH400 units were built. Some show GM built 96 COPO Chevelles with TH400 (Code MP) and 277 with a 4-speed (Code MQ) while others show 93 with TH400 and 265 with 4-speed. Accepted production run is COPO 323 units with the remaining engines used for service.

 

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1964-1972 Chevelle Facts & SS Guide Shop Manuals & Parts Catalog
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