Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership

[TXSS]

I thought I would share a great story that developed over the past few days.

A few months ago I was talking to a friend about a 69 Camaro he had owned for 31 years and wanted to get it back on the road. He had known the car most of his life and purchased it when he turned 18. There had always been rumors about it being an L78 car and that the original 396 was replaced by the dealer with a 427. Sense he and the car were both from Canada he decided earlier this week to contact GM Canada and see what info if any they had on the car. When he got the fax on Thursday from GM he was shocked to find out it's a COPO. Hugger Orange Rally Sport M22 4speed. No spoiler, dog dish, console gauges. Origanaly delivered to McDonald Chevy Olds Halifax Nova Scotia. It's a very complete original car. The body has all of it's original sheet metal, some needs a little work, floors are perfect, original M22, perfect original interior. The hidden vin is in perfect shape and matches the vin on the dash. No rebodied car here. He knows were the 427 is that was in the car when he was a kid but if the rumors are true it may be a CE block.

Just a great story and goes to show you that they're still out there. I've posted a few pictures below.

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/1.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/2.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/2.5.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/3.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/4.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/5.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/6.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/7.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/8.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/9.jpg

[CDNL-78]

Gotta love that GM of Canada documentation. George is a real decent guy to talk to on the phone. & of course, a real kwool car too. Is the original owner restoring it, or has it been sold to another party. Great find. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[quick-bowtie]

An its an RS car too.. Its turning into the year of finding RS COPO's Very Cool and a great color

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]
An its an RS car too.. Its turning into the year of finding RS COPO's Very Cool and a great color

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed! Great find http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[MosportGreen66]

What a great find! Congrats to all and please post photos of the restoration for us to learn from.

-Dan

[budnate]

I think Joe said it best awhile back, finding a COPO is great but finding one allready in your garage is the best.

72 72 RS '69's are gorgeous combo's... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[bashton]

Wow. RS COPO in Hugger Orange?

What an awesome find!

Bashton
MCACN Managing Member

[Tommy]

Very Cool !


Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[BARRY]

PERFECT 75 copo cars where shipped to canada

[TXSS]

Thanks for the comments. The owner is still on cloud 9 maybe even cloud 99...who wouldn't be. He is not a member here yet but will be and should post some of the history he has on the car. I believe he is the 5th owner. The car was in storage in Canada for the past 20yrs and he almost decided to sell it for 8-10K instead of bringing it to Houston. Glad he hung in there.

[markjohnson]

Man, I tell 'ya, with all the cars being found lately, it seems like Chevrolet must have produced over 20,000 '69 COPO Camaros.

[COPO PETE]

Always glad to here of more real Canadian cars found. Congrats!
Peter

[BJCHEV396]

Right on! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[camaromb]

Wow! another new orange RS Copo in Texas, they grow on trees there! There were quite a few 04C built Copo Camaros shipped to Canada and a fair number of RS copos. My Canadian Copo Camaro is the next body number 287570. Nice find after all these years of ownership!
Mark

[RSFan]

I finally made it to the site. The car is mine and it's been quite a ride. Thanks to everyone who helped out along the way. I am looking forward to driving it again.

[CC Rider]

[ QUOTE ]
.....I am looking forward to driving it again.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sure you are. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[92646]

Timothy welcome to the site. If I were you I would get that car over to Rick and get the restoration started. I have seen his work and I can not think of a better person to help restore it plus he is local to you.

[69L78Post]

A friend of mine has two cars that were sold out of Macdonald Chev-Olds.
Car 1 is a 69 Chevelle 300 deluxe hardtop L78, 4 speed car in Lemans blue.
Car 2 is a 69 Z28 hugger orange with a houndstooth interior.
There was also at least one COPO 69 Chevelle sold at that dealership as well.

[TXSS]

Tim, glad to see you got registered. Great group of very knowledgeable guys here.

Thanks for the comment Mark...checks in the mail.

[RSFan]

No question about Rick's work. We're just waiting for him to pick it up. I've been talking to Bob McDonald who owned the dealership (still alive and sharp) and Ronnie Locke (the salesman). Ronnie was involved in the racing/performance scene in Nova Scotia and still works at O'Regans.

[chads454Ls6]

Do you have the transmission and rear with the car or is that stuff gone?

[RSFan]

I'm having some luck talking to the series of former owners. Known to date: Original (1969)-unknown, Second (1969 to 1973)-deceased, Third (1973 to 1975)-just hung up the phone after talking with him, Fourth (1975 to 1978)-personal friend, Fifth (1978 to present)-Me.
Ronnie Locke from McDonalds Chev-Olds is checking his 69 sales records. Transmission just left with Rick.

[GreenLS6]

cool story,glad to see another one found and saved.
Wish we had that kind of verification here.

[Hylton]

Great story. Congrats!

[Canuck]

I workrd in Halifax in the winter of 73 and used to drop by MacDonald Chev Olds on the Weekends to see what they had. By then a lot of Muscle cars were being traded in. I recall seeing A BM Camaro on the lot one weekend. No recollection what it had.My first 442, a 66 convert came from MacDonalds. I till have the Nova Scotia plate.

Paul

[RSFan]

The restoration continues. More importantly I now have the full history. The second owner sent me a photo of the car in 71 sitting in front of his house.

[P.J.]

Just great congrats. Let us in on some of the history will ya!!
PJ

[RSFan]

Car was brought in by McDonald Chev/Olds Halifax, Nova Scotia but was sold by Hebb Motors in Bridgewater. The car was purchased new by Gregg Kehoe (deceased). Gregg raced the car on and off the track. Original L72 was blown and replaced underwarranty. Warranty 427 was blown and replaced (all by 1971). Keith Dagley bought the car from Gregg in June 1971 (he has been a tremendous help and sent a photo of the car from 71). Keith traded the car at Rossignol Sales in Liverpool for an SS Nova in February 1973. The car was purchased by Peter Cotter (deceased)in Lockeport (my home town) in 73 so I've known the car since then. It passed to Wayne Williams (Lockeport) who changed the 427 (CE block)to a 350. Wayne sold it to Dale Cotter (Lockeport). I bought the car in 1980 and restored it with a small block. I moved to Singapore in 1988 and stored the car where it remained until August when I towed it to Houston. I had heard what I considered to be local folklore about it being a COPO but dismissed it. In September I sent the Vin to GM Canada. When I received the fax from George I had to sit down. I seak often with the existing owners and while pictures are scarce, stories are not.

[mockingbird812]

Wow great story. Congrats and keep us posted on your progess! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Deuce 122]

What a great story. There it is hidding in plain sight

[Mopar471]

Love the happy ending

[Donutblue]

Wow, is that Christmas a month late - or 11 months early ???
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[TXSS]

Picture from Keith, the second owner.

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/1969rscopo.jpg

[chevelleheart]

This is AMAZING !! CONGRATS !!!

[x77-69z28]

any progress? how about some pics!

[RSFan]

Lots of progress. Rick has hundreds of pics. We'll get something together asap.

[RSFan]

Quick question for the experts. What would you estimate production to be? Hugger Orange, RS, M-22 and console gauges.

[Stefano]

Officially...not too many.

[RSFan]

Thanks Stefano. I sent an e-mail some time back thanking you for the tour of your facility and the time that you spent with my son and I. Appreciating how busy you are, it meant alot to us. My son still talks about it. It really is an impressive facility. Add the number and quality of cars and it's over the moon. Thanks again and much appreciated.

[RSFan]

Another question for the experts. We are ready for paint. The painter has been instructed to paint the car as original i.e. overspray on the firewall, paint bolts etc. He has come back and asked how I want the body painted. A modern, totally slick finish or as the original would have been with some orange peel? Your comments, as always, are greatly appreciated.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Go with the orange peel, that's how it came. If you don't like the look, you can always take it down later. Most guys go through the anal-yzing effort of o/spray, % of gloss, drips, runs, errors, etc... and then make the clear coat look like a mirror. Each has his preference, but mine is to make it look like the original paint finish.

[69Tom]

x2.

Although I've been told that modern single stage paint doesn't shine as well as the original lacquer paint did. Seeing as I have not been able to compare both up close, I'm not sure if this is true or not. Perhaps someone can chime in.

[x77-69z28]

X3

[Carleen]

X4

[markinnaples]

Eh, I like the paint to look a little better than new, but that's just me.

[TXSS]

Tim ask me to post this, thought some might enjoy the story and the picture. The image is a pdf file so it may not display unless you have Acrobat

I had dinner with the second owner, Keith Dagley, on Tuesday night. Great experience and interesting stories. In his time the car lost 1 street race. He lost traction and let a 1972 340 Duster beat him. He never knew what he had (COPO) but knew it was fast. He gave me the attached picture. 1972, him (21 years old) and his girlfriend. They were married shortly after the photo and are still married today. Awesome evening and he had fresh lobster on the stove.

COPO's 2nd Owner (http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/timpicture.pdf)

[Xplantdad]

Here you go...cool pic!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/xplantdad/test/tn_untitled.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Very nice. LOVE the history. Good job tracking it down! Its always nice meeting new folks that can fill you in on your car's history. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[TXSS]

Thanks Bruce. I wasn't sure how to get the pdf file to display correctly.

My understanding is that the car was in &quot;like new&quot; condition when this picture was taken. Would love to have seen it.

[Xplantdad]

Rick I just converted it to a .jpeg... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif


Let me know if you need anymore of the pics hosted....and keep us updated!

[TXSS]

Tim found these pictures he had taken about a year ago when he brought the COPO home.

The first one is of the COPO loaded in Nova Scoita ready for it's trip to Texas. Before it was loaded it literaly had not seen the light of day for 21 years. Not bad shape at all for speading 21 winters in a barn in Nova Scoita. The second picture is of the COPO crossing the Texas boarder and headed home.

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/halifax11.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/halifax352.jpg

[x Baldwin Motion]

Great story and vintage pics. How's the resto coming along, any pics of progress ?

[lwkitt427]

GOING TO BE A TOP SHELF RIDE THAT ANYBODY WOULD GIVE THERE RIGHT N_T TO HAVE. GREAT STORY AND LOVE TO SEE THE CAR WHEN IT IS COMPLETTE AND BACK ON THE STREETS.

[TXSS]

Thought I would post some pictures taken of the COPO early in the process. On it's way to the blaster, primed and on the jig for a closer inspection. I obscured the last 3 on the hidden vin.

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/1a.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/2a.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/3a.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/4a.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/5a.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/6a.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/7a.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Very nice. Keep us updated. What a beauty she'll be!!

[Tracker1]

TXSS you have a PM

[TXSS]

Tim ask me to post some updated pictures of the COPO.

A few things need to be correct but with the frame and the BE under it, it's back to the body shop.

I've also re-posted some previous pictures that were lost.

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/hostedpics/copo1.JPG

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/hostedpics/copo2.JPG

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/hostedpics/copo3.JPG

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/hostedpics/copo4.JPG

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/hostedpics/DSCF7789.JPG

Here are some of the previously posted pictures that were lost.

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/hostedpics/1.JPG
Fresh out of 20+ years in a barn.

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/hostedpics/2.5.JPG

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/hostedpics/7.JPG



http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/hostedpics/5.JPG

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/hostedpics/6.JPG

[Xplantdad]

Nice!

[x Baldwin Motion]

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif


<span style="font-size: 17pt"><span style="font-weight: bold"> <span style="color: #FF6600"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'">PIPE DREAM</span></span>
</span></span>



http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/hostedpics/1.JPG

[scuncio]

Yeah, fitting name!

[Unreal]

Is that an X11 or X22?

[396L35]

Looks like X11...

[CanCOPO]

X11. When I bought the car my uncle (of some local street racing fame) called it nothing more than a Pipe Dream. I had Pipe Dream painted on it and took him for a gut wrenching ride. Needless to say he has followed this story with interest.

[TXSS]

Tim ask me to post some pictures of the COPO after it came out of the paint &amp; body shop. Getting closer.

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/Copo/1c.JPG

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/Copo/2c.JPG

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/Copo/3a.JPG

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/Copo/4c.JPG

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/Copo/5a.JPG

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/Copo/6a.JPG

[Xplantdad]

Very nice! Are you going to take it to MCACN?

[CanCOPO]

Time will tell. Our goal is to bring it to a major event such as MCACN or Super Car Reunion and have it judged. If not this year, next for sure. It will also be good to meet all the folks from this site who have provided valuable feedback/input (and parts). While I would never go down the 1 of ? road I would still like to get a better understanding of how many Hugger Orange RS COPOs exist (with my options M22, console, trim package, etc.). All I have is Stephano's - &quot;Officially, not very many&quot; LOL. First step is to fly the second owner down from Nova Scotia so he can drive it again.

[mockingbird812]

Tim/Rick..........Hubba Hubba!!!! She is looking fine. I love a HO COPO '69. Looking good. Keep us posted with lotsa pix. Anxious to see Rick's final product! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CanCOPO</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Time will tell. Our goal is to bring it to a major event such as MCACN or Super Car Reunion and have it judged. If not this year, next for sure. It will also be good to meet all the folks from this site who have provided valuable feedback/input (and parts). While I would never go down the 1 of ? road I would still like to get a better understanding of how many Hugger Orange RS COPOs exist (with my options M22, console, trim package, etc.). All I have is Stephano's - &quot;Officially, not very many&quot; LOL. First step is to fly the second owner down from Nova Scotia so he can drive it again. </div></div>


Tim,sounds good. She's gonna be a beauty. MCACN would be a great place to take it...along with the SuperCar Reunion!

[COPO PETE]

Car looks amazing. Nice combo to have. I think I have a couple of other COPO RS hugger cars listed that were Canadian sold. I'll have to check.
Peter

[CanCOPO]

That would be fantastic. Thanks and much appreciated. Any records of other COPO cars (Chevelle or Camaro) that made it East?

[Unreal]

I'd say Stephano's comment is about as quantitative as you will ever get.

[little bastered]

I have not done any lookng about these COPO cars before ,I am pleased to see that there was COPO cars in Canada .For 27 years I have Showed friends my Z28 COPO car sitting between my 59 Cadillac convertable and my sons 69 GS Buick stage1 .Mine was bought in Hudson Quebec as a x44 and built in to a Z28 with the D MU22 and BE 410 rearend .Like you, I know all thee owners but don't know who built the car up I think they wanted the small block to get around insurance amd race under 5 liters I can send you some numbers if you em me .Mine only has 40,000 miles and only needs painting Fathom Green and 711 inside .

[the427king]

Any records of other COPO cars (Chevelle or Camaro) that made it East?..........have alot of info on 4-5 canadian copos on the east coast and also 3-4 copo chevelles. Pm if you need any info.

[CanCOPO]

The Canadian Ponch site as alot of info on COPO cars that went East. Lots in Ontario.
http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com
You will have to search as I lost the exact link. It's a fairly extensive registry with links to pics and details. Approx. 70-80 COPO Camaros went to Canada. I forget the number of Chevelles