The baddest muscle car ever built? The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 can certainly make a case for that title! Drawing a bead on NHRA Super Stock drag classes, Chevy performance guru Vince Piggins authorized the factory to fit a batch of ‘69 Camaros with a version of the 427-cid V-8 used by the all-conquering Can-Am Chaparral. This actually was another of Piggins’ Central Office Production Order projects, and like the COPO Chevelles and Camaros being built for ‘69, the ZL1 was technically a Camaro option package. The cars began as 396-cid/375-bhp Super Sports with the F4l suspension. Engine and SS trim were deleted, and the cars were equipped essentially as other 427 COPO Camaros, with cowl-induction hood, front disc brakes, a choice of heavy-duty four-speeds or Turbo Hydra-matic, and a 4:10.1 Posi in the strongest axle Chevy could muster. But instead of the iron-block and head L72 427, these Camaros got a 427 called the ZL1. It was similar in design to the most-potent iteration of the aluminum-head L88, but it was the first production Chevy engine to also have an aluminum block. It shared the L88’s 430-bhp factory rating, but actually had over 500 bhp — making it likely the most powerful engine Chevy ever offered to the public. And it weighed just 500 pounds — about the same as Chevy’s 327-cid V-8. The entire car carried the full 5-year/50,000-mile warranty and was fully street-legal. With the factory’s stock dual exhausts and tires, it turned low 13s; headers, slicks, and tuning got it into the 11.6s at 122 mph. Chevy never built a quicker production car. All this came at a price: $4,160 for the ZL1 engine alone, pushing the car’s sticker to a stratospheric $7,200. Chevy needed to build 50 to satisfy the NHRA, and actually built 69. About 20 ZL1s went into organized drag racing, turning low 10s to set several Super Stock records. Well-heeled individuals bought others, but the high price took a toll: At least 12 engines were removed and sold separately, and about 30 unsold cars were returned to Chevy. It took until the early ’70s to sell them off.

If you want a real ZL1 today, be prepared to pay … and pay big! These cars have brought more than 1 million dollars at public sales, and few change hands. So what’s a guy that wants the baddest muscle car ever built to do? Well, if you’re Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and Chevrolet muscle car and expert Reggie Jackson, you build one! As evidenced by the title history, Reggie Jackson’s So Cal Collectibles purchased this two owner Texas car, and commissioned a no-expenses, every nut and bolt restoration of the Camaro, and built an incredible 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 tribute car, using a real-deal, 1 of 200 all aluminum 427 ZL-1 crate engine from GM! Manufactured using some of the same tooling as the original ZL-1 engine, the engine in this Camaro is #83 and, like the original ZL-1, has a conservative HP rating of 500, with a torque rating of 460.

Other features on this authentic ZL1 clone include: 4 speed transmission; 12 bolt posi-traction axle with 4.10 gear ratio, and; front disc brakes.

Finished in Cortez Silver, the body and paint on this ZL1 tribute are absolutely stunning. Panel gaps are better than factory, and there are no blemishes to be found in the paint. This is a SHOW CAR. All stainless steel trim, chrome, and bright work is new or reconditioned. All glass in the car is brand new replacement tinted glass, with proper date codes. The trunk has been refinished, with a correct trunk mat, steel wheel spare, and jack/hardware.

The undercarriage of this Camaro has been expertly restored, with a painted underside and powder-coated suspension components. The entire suspension, front and back, is brand new, as is the front disc brake hardware, and rear drum hardware. All new stainless steel fuel lines and brake lines, and brand new flexible brake lines are present as well. Also new are the fuel tank and sending unit. The ZL1 rolls on 14" painted steel wheels (just like the original), mated to four brand new Goodyear Polyglas F70x14 tires. We are sure these tires would last about 5 minutes in the right hands, but they are correct!

The black vinyl interior in this ZL1 is perfectly restored, with new seats, carpeting, headliner, kick panels, sill plates, door handles, window cranks, dash pad, instrument cluster, radio, head rests, and Rosewood steering wheel. Last, but definitely not least, is the Hurst 4 speed shifter, which engages the rebuilt Muncie M22. The engine compartment is the heart of this ZL1. The aluminum block stares right at you as open the hood, and asks the question … wouldn’t you rather be driving me right now? Topped by GM Performance Parts aluminum heads and a Holley 850 Double-Pumper, this engine is brand new, and ready to rock. The intake casting # is 3933163, which is correct for a 1969 427 engine with rectangular ports. The exhaust manifold castings are 3916178 RH & 390879 HL, which are, again, correct for a 1969 427 engine. These are real deal parts! The transmission case casting is number is: 3925661, and the talhousing number is: 3857584. The transmission is a completely rebuilt Muncie M22. The axle is a completely rebuilt 12 bolt main, with a 4.10 gear ratio.

Fire this ZL1 up and you unleash an incredible sound … the kind of sound that makes you want to go down to the drag-strip and fry the tires. If you don’t have 1 Million dollars laying around to purchase a ZL1, or, even if you have one, and don’t drive it due to the value, this exceptional 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 tribute has all of the right stuff … the right drivetrain, the right look, and the right history. Dare to own the best and drive this car the way it was intended!