Higher value 69 Chevelle COPO 427 or L-78/L89?

[A69COPO2]

So what is a COPO Chevelle worth apart, with a ton of NOS for restoration? I just might let mine go, LOL.........COPO is most definently the choise......8-)

[Mr70]

I would guess you are talking about the year 1969 of course with both fully documented.
With 400 L-89's made, to 224 COPO's made (Non-Yenko).Give me the L-89 because it is in Super Sport dressing as opposed to plain Jane Malibu dressing.
I like the trim and options better on a Super Sport model.They just look better.
Now if the L-89 was in a 1970 Super Sport Chevelle (18 made),then I jump over 10 COPO's to get to that car as well! I am biased to the 70 here.
Don't get me wrong,I wouldn't throw a COPO away,but if I had to choose between these two,that is what I would pick.
As stated before,rarity does NOT determine desirability.

[mhassett]

I have a '69 L-89 Chevelle and a '69 Yenko Camaro and in my opinion when you open the hoods of both cars the L-89 Engine looks More Impressive. Looking at my sticker a 396/375 Engine ($252.80) plus L-89 Aluminum Cylinder Heads (394.95) adds to $747.75 how much was the COPO Option, if anyone might know? I do AGREE that the COPO is a step ABOVE the L-89 and is Worth MORE Money. Mark

[SuperCars]

I agree with sixtiesmuscle Mike. A COPO is worth at least 50% more. The question asked was on value or worth. Desirability of one versus the other, fall's under one's own personal preference; to which no one could say that person is right or wrong when it comes to wanting to own one. I personally, would consider the COPO to be more desirable to most.


[Edited by SuperCars (01-06-2002 at 08:54 AM).]

[Edited by SuperCars (01-06-2002 at 09:05 AM).]

[JoeC]

I don't understand why people say the COPO and Yenko Chevelle had Malibu trim. There is no Malibu trim on the outside of a COPO or Yenko Chevelle except for the bowtie on the grill. The COPO has blacked out SS grill, SS eyebrow trim, SS hood, SS tail panel trim, SS parking lights, SS side lights, and the other SS pieces. The COPO even used the SS wheels. It does not have the Malibu lower trim or side lights, and no Malibu emblem on the quarter panel. The COPO was not an SS or a Malibu. It was a specially built car using mostly SS parts but used a special code engine, rear end, and trans (if automatic). In my opinion, Chevy did not want to build the high performance COPO cars and sell them to the public but they had to do it to get them on the race track. Chevy probably lost money on the COPO car sales but used them to get free publicity from drag racing and this helped to sell more cars overall. This is one reason the for the high value of COPO cars.

[copo9566aa]

The COPO Chevelle

[70 copo]

COPO seems to be the clear winner! The only difference seems to reside in the area of personal taste. The alum. heads add extra "car show" touch to the 396 car, but it appears that having the "COPO" is the option that pure investment grade collectors desire. Thanks again.

[Keith Tedford]

We paid $649 CDN for our COPO option on the Chevelle. When people speak of the Malibu trim, I think they are referring to the interior. The only SS piece in there was, in some cases, the steering wheel emblem. Ours had the blue bow tie. The outside was all SS less the SS396 emblems. The blue bow tie filled the holes in the grill. The COPO cars were 13637 models which translates into Malibu hardtops. The extra cost of building a COPO car over that of the L78 cars would probably have been minimal. Everything was a direct bolt in replacement and GM was already building the L72 motor for the big cars. The only special piece that I have seen on the car was the KQ rearend. The automatic cars got a special transmission. I'd think that GM made a buck on these cars as well.
I've seen Don Lightfoots L78/L89 Chevelle and the engine compartment certainly draws attention.

[Belair62]

SS 396 emblems may look fancier.....but it looks backward in the rearview mirror ! which is where an L89 would be if it pulled up to a light with a COPO !!! Meet you on Rte.83 Mr.70....bring your pink !!!

[mhassett]

I've been waiting to hear this comment. The L-78 has the same cam as the '66 427-425HP Corvette. The 375HP is Under-Rated, plus the L-89 is lighter. I think it would be a close race. Mark