August 2005 Feature Car:

Caleb Arone's 1969 COPO Camaro

Caleb and Frank Arones 1969 COPO 427 Bryne Brothers Camaro was right in thier own garage, but they had little intentioin to restore it. Frank had just finished his LeMans blue COPO Camaro and was looking for a project for his son Caleb. Frank had just picked up a Yenko Camaro that need a total restoration. Brian Potter a long time Yenko fan really wanted a Yenko bad, and Hugger orange was his favorite color, just the car Frank had purchased. Brian had a Daytona Yellow Brynes Brother COPO he was thinking about restoring, but held off looking and hoping for a Yenko. When Brian found out about Franks Yenko, a trip to Homer City ended with a deal being struck for the Yenko. The Byrnes Brother COPO was part of the deal. The Brynes Brothers car had been raced from new and had only 3900 miles showing on the car. To be kind, the car looked ragged to the casual observer. Gray primer and mix and match wheels only gave the car a more lack luster look. Frank gave me a call to look at the car and see what I thought of it. I was amazed at the condition of the car. Take away the nasty primer and red spray painted letters on the car, it was a solid project. The car was raced since new, and I thought that it might be cool if it was restored in a true Day 2 fashion using real vintage parts from the era. Frank and Caleb both agreed and the project took on a life of its own. Since Frank had just completed a very correct COPO, a Day 2 style car was a different departure, yet no less easy to complete. Caleb insisted on real speed parts, not your modern day Summit Catalog parts. The search was on for vintage speed parts to complement the car. Parts trickled in from all over the country, but the end result was a car that has the look and feel of a vintage Super Stocker.

The car itself was a style trim COPO with a black top to complement the stunning Daytona Yellow paint. Inside, black standard interior and a console with gauges were ordered. The car had no spoilers and the optional M22 transmission along with the standard COPO items. The car was restored with the intent that it could be put back to show room new if you wanted to. All of the modifications made to the car are for the most part simple bolt on parts. But the car looks way to sinister this way to see it returned to showroom any time soon. One thing was clear from the start, Caleb was involved in every aspect of the car, from the dirty work to the finished polish. Once the paint and body work was finished at Arone Auto Body, the car was brought to Super Car Workshop to be finished. Many evening and weekends were spent working on the car, finishing the car in time for Vette-Fest were Caleb recieved a Gold spinner for his efforts. Frank and Caleb have shown the car at a few other shows, with the Super Car Reunion being the next show. Look Caleb up there, he would be happy to tell you about his car. Maybe someday he will get to drive it, as he is only 13 years old! [Write-up by BKH]