GM’s corporate policy limiting engines to 400 cubic inches in all but its full-sized cars was countered in 1969 by dealers working with Chevrolet product mastermind Vince Piggins. Piggins shepherded a special car, the COPO 9561 Camaro, through the corporate maze. A simple combination of lightweight baseline SS 396 Camaro and the powerful L72 427/425 HP big block, at least 201 COPO 9561 Camaros were built for the dealers’ “special” customers who wanted the extra tenths a 427 version would shave off their elapsed times in Stock and Super Stock. One such customer was Kris Mahen of New Castle, Indiana, who transformed his new 1969 COPO Camaro into “Hoosier Hell”, a Dover White 4-speed that eventually held the IHRA World Record in B/Stock. Still sporting its original Red interior, the car has been skillfully returned to the plain-wrapper state it was in when delivered new from Queen City Chevrolet in Cincinnati, Ohio, but with one very significant difference: today the speedometer shows just over 900 actual miles, 67 of them added to the car in quarter-mile increments. This car like all COPO cars, it is equipped with the L72 427/425 motor, F41 suspension, heavy duty Muncie 4-speed and a 12-bolt Positraction rear end. Along with the cowl induction hood, all its original body panels have been retained as chronicled in an extensive photographic account of the restoration. The “Hoosier Hell” Camaro also comes with the Owner Protection Plan document and original Protect-O-Plate.
