This 1969 Chevrolet Camaro coupe was delivered new to Ray Bryant Chevrolet Company of Dayton, Ohio, and is one of what is thought to be fewer than 1,000 examples ordered with the COPO 427ci L72 V8 for the model year. The car was campaigned in NHRA Super Stock SS/D competition in the 1970s as “Rat’s Nest.” A rotisserie refurbishment that was started in 2018 and completed in time for the car to be shown at the 2021 Camaro Nationals in July of that year involved a repaint in LeMans Blue, and the interior is trimmed in black vinyl. The replacement #512-block 427ci V8 is backed by a replacement Muncie M22 four-speed transmission that is linked to a 12-bolt rear axle with a Positraction differential. Additional equipment includes a Hurst shifter, power front disc brakes, 14″ XT steel wheels, a Gardner dual exhaust system, a Holley carburetor, a Winters high-rise intake manifold, and a ducted hood. The vehicle was acquired by the selling dealer in April 2024, and subsequent service consisted of resealing the transmission front shaft, flushing the coolant, tuning the carburetor, adjusting the valves, and replacing the pushrods, rocker arms, rocker studs, and poly locks as well as the spark plugs and wires and the thermostat. This COPO Camaro is now offered in Massachusetts with two Jerry MacNeish reports and Certificates of Authenticity, an NCRS shipping data report, previous-owner history and interview notes, an owner’s manual, touch-up paint, uninstalled chrome bumpers, show results and awards, a hardcover book chronicling the refurbishment, copies of magazines in which the car appeared, and a clean Ohio title.
The car was raced in a blue, white, and red livery under the name “Rat’s Nest” from the early to mid-1970s, and photos in the gallery below show the vehicle in that iteration. The front fenders and trunk lid are said to have been replaced during the late 1970s, and the windshield also has been replaced.
The coupe features a ZL2 cowl-induction hood and was refinished in LeMans Blue (71) during the aforementioned refurbishment, a process that involved replicating assembly markings and overspray on the inner panels, firewall, and subframe. Additional details include chrome bumpers, bright rocker-panel trim, and a driver-side mirror.
Body-color 14″ XT-code steel wheels wearing branded chrome hubcaps are mounted with Goodyear Wide Tread F70-14 white-letter tires; a reproduction spare is found in the trunk. Factory equipment included power-assisted front disc brakes and rear drums.
The cabin features standard black vinyl upholstery with front bucket and rear bench seats, and the MacNeish report indicates that a matching replacement headliner and carpeting have been installed. The car is equipped with a rebuilt floor-mounted Hurst shifter, and further interior appointments include a push-button Delco AM radio, a heater/defroster, and lap belts.
The two-spoke steering wheel fronts a 120-mph speedometer and a fuel-level gauge. The five-digit odometer shows 16k miles.
The rebuilt 427ci L72 V8 was factory rated at 425 horsepower and could be ordered for the 1969 Camaro only through the Central Office Production Order (COPO) program. It is equipped with a high-lift camshaft, solid valve lifters, a Holley four-barrel carburetor, a Winters aluminum high-rise intake manifold, and a Gardner reproduction dual exhaust system. The MacNeish report states that the #512 engine block is a correctly dated replacement.
The Muncie M22 four-speed manual transmission is linked to a BE-coded 12-bolt rear axle with a Positraction differential and a 4.10:1 final gear ratio. The MacNeish report notes that the transmission is a replacement unit.
Pre- and post-refurbishment Certificates of Authenticity from Jerry MacNeish of Camaro Hi-Performance LLC will accompany the car along with MacNeish reports outlining build information, factory options, and component assessment. The first page from the later of the two reports, dated May 2024, is shown above.
A Shutterfly-printed hardcover book that records the car’s history and refurbishment in photos and text is included in the sale along with copies of Hemmings Muscle Machines and All Chevy Performance magazines in which the car appeared. Also included are an owner’s manual, touch-up paint, uninstalled front and rear bumpers, a National Corvette Restorers Society shipping data report, and a Day 2 Concours Gold Certificate and trophy from the 2021 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals.
