He also built Novas, Corvairs, and even Chevelles. COPO Camaro ZL1 Key Specs Engineġ969 Yenko Chevelle 427 SYC PHOTO: Mecum Auctionsįifth place goes to the 1969 Yenko Chevelle 427 SYC.ĭon Yenko didn’t just build Camaros. In total, 69 were produced, with 50 going to Gibb Chevrolet and 19 going to other dealerships. In order for the ZL1 engine to be produced through the COPO program, 50 had to be made. While more powerful than the 427 COPO engine used in the Yenko Camaros, it didn’t produce a faster ET due to traction issues from being significantly overpowered. In its 8/69 issue, Hi-Performance Cars magazine produced a 13.16-second pass in the quarter-mile, traveling 110 miles per hour. The ZL1 option was available for $4,160 over the base price of the ’69 Camaro and had a 427 big-block aluminum ZL1 engine and heads rated at 430-HP with 450 lb-ft of torque. However, Fred Gibb wanted more power to compete in NHRA drag racing, so he ordered 50 for his dealership, and the COPO 9560 package was born. “COPO” stands for Central Office Production Orders and was a clever way performance-minded Chevrolet dealerships like Yenko, Baldwin Motion, and Dana were able to order factory-built race cars direct from Chevy. Camaro SS 396 L89 Key Specs Engineġ969 Chevrolet COPO Camaro ZL1 PHOTO: Mecum Auctionsįourth place goes to the ’69 Chevrolet COPO Camaro with the 427 ZL1. Of the 34,932 Camaros produced in ’69, only 311 were equipped with the 396 CID V8 375-HP L89 power plant. It ran a 13.0-second quarter-mile pass at 108.6 miles per hour, according to the 1969 Supercar Annual magazine. The L89 included aluminum heads, 11:1 compression, solid lifter cam, forged internals, and 4-barrel Holley sitting on an aluminum intake. Powered by the 396 Chevrolet big block, the 396 Camaro with the Regular Production Option (RPO) L89 was rated at 375-HP with 415 lb-ft of torque. Third place goes to the ’69 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396 L89. Roadrunner 440 Six Pack Key Specs Engineġ969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396 L89 PHOTO: Mecum Auctions Of the hardtops, 422 had manual transmissions, while 375 had automatics. Of the coupes, 388 were manual transmissions, and 227 were automatics. It recorded a 12.91-second quarter-mile pass traveling at 111.8 miles per hour in the 6/69 issue of Super Stock & Drag Illustrated magazine.ġ,412 440 Six Pack Plymouth Roadrunners were produced in ’69, with 615 coupes and 797 hardtops. The 440 Six Pack engine produced 390-HP with 490 lb-ft of torque. For $462.80, you could unlock the A12 with a 440 engine, three 2-barrels, lift-off fiberglass hood, hood pins, and steel wheels with redline tires. Second place goes to the ’69 1/2 Plymouth Roadrunner 440 Six Pack.Ī mid-year option, the “A12” was an immediate success at the drag strip. Yenko Camaro 427 SYC Key Specs Engineġ969 Plymouth Roadrunner 440 Six Pack PHOTO: Mecum Auctions Unfortunately, no official records exist to corroborate these production figures. The 7/69 issue of Super Stock & Drag Illustrated magazine ran a blistering 12.59-second pass in the quarter-mile, traveling 108.2 miles per hour.ĬOPO historians mostly agree that Yenko ordered 201 Chevrolet Camaros in ’69 to be converted into “Super Yenko Camaros” (SYC). Its 427 Chevrolet big block engine produced 425-HP with 460 lb-ft of torque. The fastest muscle car of 1969 was the ’69 Yenko Camaro 427 SYC.ĭon Yenko was an American race car driver and high-performance Chevrolet car dealer who is arguably best known for creating the Yenko Camaro SYC. These powerful, high-performance vehicles were designed to make a statement and dominate the roads and race tracks across the United States and Canada. The year witnessed the launch of several famous models, including the Boss 429 Mustang, the Boss 302 Mustang, the Pontiac Trans Am, the ZL1 COPO Camaro, and the Dodge Charger Daytona. These American muscle cars from 1969 have been considered the epitome of “best muscle cars” ever made, setting the standard high for generations of muscle cars that followed. The year 1969 holds a significant place in the history of American muscle cars, as it marked the release of some of the genre’s most iconic and revered models. Introducing the Fastest Muscle Cars of 1969 Introducing the Fastest Muscle Cars of 1969.
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