1969 Chevrolet COPO Chevelle With Ultra-Rare Feature Could Become World's Most Expensive

That's mainly because 1. it was the company's bread-and-butter automobiles for over a decade, and 2. it spawned a few cool (and rare) muscle cars.

Developed to compete with the downsized Ford Fairlane that debuted in 1962, the Chevelle joined the muscle car as soon as it arrived in showrooms. The SS version debuted almost immediately, while 1965 saw the introduction of the Z-16. Powered by a 375-horsepower V8 engine and produced in only 200 units, the Chevelle Z-16 is one of the most exciting rigs of the golden era.

The Chevelle was also one of only a few midsize cars that produced more oomph than Chrysler's Hemi intermediates. It happened in 1970 when the mighty 454-cubic-inch (7.4-liter) LS6 found its way into the Chevy. The engine was rated at 450 horsepower, making the Chevelle the most powerful vehicle of the golden muscle car era.

Then there's the COPO Chevelle. While the COPO badge is usually associated with the Camaro, the program was also used to order Chevelles, Corvettes, and Novas. The COPO Chevelle was born in 1969 when Yenko used the Central Office Production Order system to pair the midsize with a 427-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8. At the time, GM forbade its division to drop engines larger than 400 cubic inches (6.6 liters) in intermediate vehicles.

Rated at 425 horsepower, as much as the iconic Hemi, the L72 V8 engine (usually available in the Impala and Corvette) found its way into 323 Chevelles. The COPO is the second-rarest high-performance Chevelle and a vehicle we rarely see on the auction block. Well, one's about to go under the hammer at Mecum's Indy 2025, and it flaunts an even rarer feature.

Specifically, this Chevelle is one of only three black-painted COPO cars known to exist. Moreover, records show it's the only one built at the Fremont plant. And not only does it have paperwork to back these claims, but it's also one of those classics that has been restored to Concours-ready condition. The restoration happened over 20 years ago, but the Chevelle still looks stunning inside and out.

Is it also a numbers-matching car? Well, the ad lists "CE" next to the 427/425 HP engine, which means the original mill is no longer under the hood. However, "CE" means this Chevelle got a warranty replacement or a mill that was purchased from the parts department. While it doesn't have a numbers-matching status to brag about, this L72 is the next best thing. However, the automatic transmission and the rear end are original.

Despite not having a numbers-matching L72, this Chevelle could become the world's most expensive 1969 Chevelle when it crosses the block. Mecum doesn't provide an estimate, but bidding will most likely exceed the $200,000 mark. To become the world's most expensive, it will have to sell for over $275,000.

Two vehicles share the current record. One is an SS396 Convertible previously owned by Bruce Springsteen, while the other is a fully-fledged COPO ordered by Yenko Chevrolet. This one-of-three Tuxedo Black gems will go under the hammer on May 17, and I will be back to report the results.