True Sleeper – Dennis Albaugh’s 1969 COPO Camaro
If a Muscle Car Dictionary exists, the listing for sleeper would include a photo of Dennis Albaugh’s 1969 COPO Camaro: no stripes, no spoilers, no SS/RS/Z28 badging, no engine emblems.
The cowl-induction hood might be the only hint of what lurks under the Honduras Maroon paint. The dual exhaust tips and the Hurst shifter resting in the console might imply that this isn’t a six-cylinder grocery getter.
Open the hood, though, and the secret’s out. This subtle Camaro is a beast. The 425-horsepower 427c.i. big block is home to a rare 4346 Holley 780-CFM four-barrel carburetor and a cowl induction air cleaner that reside on a dual-plane, high-rise aluminum intake. An M22 four-speed “rock crusher” transmission connected to a relatively rare option – a 4.56 Positraction rear gear – confirms that what you see on the outside is not what you get.
This Camaro was initially special ordered through Leighton Chevrolet in York, Maine. It spent many of its early years racing on the streets (don’t do this at home, kids) and was known as “King Rat.” Various owners cared for the car during the ensuing years before Dennis acquired the car a couple of years ago.
The COPO designation stands for Central Office Production Order, which was the way in-the-know gearheads and dealers could order the 427c.i. big block in their Camaros, even though it was not technically an option. About 1,000 1969 COPO Camaros were built, all at the Norwood, Ohio plant. Four-speed transmissions accounted for 822 COPOs while 193 received automatic transmissions. One distinguishing feature on ’69 COPO Camaros is a silver grille with a large blue Bow-Tie emblem.
This particular COPO Camaro has been treated to a methodical restoration performed by the crew at Supercar Workshop in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The car still has all its original sheet metal, except one quarter panel that was replaced with NOS sheet metal. Dennis’ car was ordered with power front disc brakes, a center console, push-button radio, and Rally wheels wrapped in F70x14 Goodyear Polyglas whitewall tires. The sticker price? $4,037.
The interior follows the sleeper theme. Basic black vinyl with basic black carpet. The steering wheel is the base unit, not one of three-spoke optional wheels. Roll-up windows, too.
How fast were these COPO Camaros? Old road tests are hard to find, but mid- to low-13-second quarter-mile times are probably fair estimates, depending on rear-axle ratios and tire choice. A hard launch on the stock tires of the era would probably produce lower times because of the lack of traction. However, on slicks low 13s could have been common.
Regardless, Dennis’ sleeper COPO Camaro is not your average ’69 Camaro.
Photos by John Jackson
