Fred Eichhorst's COPO Camaro

[scuncio]

My wife and I made it to MCACN on Saturday afternoon and really enjoyed the "found as-is" and Survivor displays. Among the restored cars, I have to say Fred's COPO was just stunning. Fred, where did you ever find this car?

[Atuckman]

fred's car is insane. love that beast.

it was fun meeting you. hopefully we'll look at your copo next year in the &quot;as found&quot; section <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[wheelhop]

I had the distinct pleasure of transporting this car to and from the show!

[Xplantdad]

Can we get a feature on this car? Please? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[Plowman]

Fred's COPO was for me a &quot;Hit out of the Park&quot;,love it. The 1969 dated box of PBR box and ect. ...

[Salvatore]

Benny, Mike and I had fun judging Fearless Fred's Day 2 COPO. probably the most photographed car there! Go Freddy Go!

[MosportGreen66]

Can someone *cough* FRED *cough* please post photos of this car... please

[hvychev]

Fred, yeah, please post a story and pics. I didn't even know you had a COPO until very recently. i would love to know about it!

[markjohnson]

Here's a terrible cell phone picture that doesn't do the car justice. When I first heard of this car a couple years back, I actually didn't believe such a color combination exists! http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-1395-1485-image.jpg

[Schonyenko2]

We were happy to have helped Fred finally get his dream car done. We've know him for a long time, and he went through a lot of grief to finally get what he wanted. And while it was a tough search, I think he has a very unique piece of Chevy history.

Story goes that the owner of the dealerships son ordered a few cars and that dad wasn't real pleased when they came in as they were a little wild. I'm thinking in 69 the kid might have been smokin of the noble weed when he ordered this one.

But who am I to say anything about yellow and black. (big smile)

Now comes the fun part. Tryin to keep that black clean.

[Born30YrsLate]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: scuncio</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My wife and I made it to MCACN on Saturday afternoon and really enjoyed the &quot;found as-is&quot; and Survivor displays. Among the restored cars, I have to say Fred's COPO was just stunning. Fred, where did you ever find this car? </div></div>

Hey Tony...thanks for the public props on my COPO! I’ll give the short version here and give more detail in the write-up for a feature car. As far as finding this car I'll have to give that credit to Doug Perry. The car spent its entire life around the Columbus, OH area until I bought it from him not quite three years ago. In fact it was at the first MCACN show in 2009 that I first talked to Doug about this car as I was on the hunt for a Supercar/COPO...the stars aligned and it ended up in Wisconsin. A special thanks to Schoenthaler Restorations (Deuce Heaven) for bringing this unique piece to what it is today as well as to Doug for his continued involvement in the details of restoring this car. I originally intended on restoring this car to “as delivered” specs due to it being so unique, but halfway through the restoration I made the decision to go Day2 and give this unique car a personality as well and built it the way I would have done it if I owned the car back in the day. I had been collecting Day2 parts for the last 12 years or so and had a pretty good inventory in the basement…back in the day they would have called it “throwing the book at it” in this case I “threw the basement at it”. A good number of NOS and Mint Day2 period correct parts ended up on this car…to notice them all you need to look over every inch of the car.
NMW tow tabs (originally yellow) with original pins
Flex-a-Lite Orange Fiberglass fan
Stellings Fly-eye air cleaner
Cyclone Headers (individual port) painted VHT white
Cal Custom finned Aluminum Valve Covers
Holley Spark Plugs
Thrush Glasspack Mufflers
Lakewood Long-tail Slapper Bars (almost installed NOS Yellow NMW ladder bars)
Ansen Sprint Rims, polished, with Aluminum center caps (15x7” front 15x7.5” rear)
Cure Ride Hi-Perf Spiral Shocks at all four corners
Sun Greenline Gauges, 2-5/8”, Water Temp, Oil Pressure, Ammeter
Hurst Black Velvet T-handle
CARS Magazine decal on rear quarter window.
SS550 Spark Plug wire
Tires a reproduction bias-ply (F70 front, L60 rear)
Also have a Mallory ignition set-up ready for install (YC-310hp distributor, Blaster II coil and Orange Mallory 7mm ignition wire) but couldn’t figure out installation of the coil &amp; ballast resistor without drilling new holes in the firewall soon enough before the show. And have a period correct Hurst Competition Plus shifter that could be installed (car currently has the factory Hurst Shifter set-up installed).
And yes, the Pabst case is date-code correct, manufactured in 8/69.

I should be able to post some pics for everyone’s viewing pleasure. I never even thought of taking my own pics of the car at the show, I was just too happy to see the finished product in person! It was great talking with everyone at the show, I wish I could have been there the entire weekend and talked to more people!

[Xplantdad]

Cool Fred...can't wait for the feature <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[scuncio]

Thanks for the history Fred! What an awesome car.

[Born30YrsLate]

X44 car, 09D build date, rear antenna, deluxe yellow houndstooth interior with standard seatbelts, factory tach and center fuel gage but no center console.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1486-100_4681.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1487-100_4680.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1488-100_4679.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1489-100_4678.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1490-100_4677.jpg

[Born30YrsLate]

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1491-pb170135.jpg

[hvychev]

Cool frickin car, man, is that different! Fred, I really dig the Sun greenlines. They're almost &quot;regional&quot; for where your car now resides since they were made over the border here in Chicago. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif

[kwhizz]

This car is a must to see to appreciate the efforts of all involved in the restoration....It's just as it would have been back in the day.......Fred's attention to detail and using the correct day 2 parts is second to none.....and the assembly and Paint work by Schoney and Joe is out of this world......this is one of the straightest Black cars in the world......Great Job Schoentalter Restorations...........and great vision to Fred and Laurie to see this thru to completion.........Great Job Guy's!!!!!

[bergy]

Great car Fred - thanks for letting us see it at MCACN!

[m22mike]

Fred
I can't believe I missed you at the MCACN, But I sure didn't miss your car. I think you made the correct decision to go day two with it. Like you said, now it has a personality.
Very cool.

Mike

[DarrenX33]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: m22mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Fred
I can't believe I missed you at the MCACN, But I sure didn't miss your car. I think you made the correct decision to go day two with it. Like you said, now it has a personality.
Very cool.

Mike </div></div>

You missed Fred. How the heck did I miss you???

[MosportGreen66]

Fred congrats on a wonderful car!

Could I bug you for engine compartment shots? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif

[NovaMob03]

Your patience really paid off in a big way, Fred. That COPO is stunning...love the day2 with those colors. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif
Great work Ken &amp; Joe

[wheelhop]

Fred's engine compartment

[SS427]

It was stunning to say the least. Thanks to Fred and Ken for allowing MCRD have a part in the restoration albeit it a small part. We are truly grateful we could help.

[Justbad Joe]

This car is awesome!! One of the coolest projects we have been grateful to be a part of. Fred has been a great customer and though he thought it was going to be a cookie cutter, it would have never happened. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif We need to thank Doug Perry with all the help throughout the resto process. He is a wealth of knowledge. Now that the car is gone, I will miss my deliveries of Red Dog. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif Fred keep posting pictures, she's a looker!
Joe

[x77-69z28]

Wow Fred, that is the coolest color combo I have ever seen! The day 2 look is awesome. Now I know why you had all that day 2 stuff in the basement! I am blown away!
Buddy

[elonblock]

The day 2 look really took me back to some great memories. Neat car!

Elon

[COPO CARTEL]

Fred, Ken, and Joe ....it was a true pleasure to play a small part in your Creation of ideas...the outcome is a car with an attitude for an identity.....Kuddos to Dave McGaffee ( My COPO CARTEL partner)......he actually went to school with the family that had this car since approx 1980.....Fred you are the caretaker of a machine that speaks for itself. Ken it's time for you to go deer hunting with the grand kids .

[COPO CARTEL]

Fred ....Joe and I were discussing over (1) beer that it might be time for you to do a Red/ Red. COPO. LOL

[NovaMob03]

Doug...good of you to be a mentor/car locator and pass them along to other members and friends. Not sure I could have given this one up <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[396L35]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NovaMob03</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Doug...good of you to be a mentor/car locator and pass them along to other members and friends. Not sure I could have given this one up <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif </div></div>

X2

[Justbad Joe]

Fred, have you had the chance to break out the chairs and the cold pbr and just sit and stare at the car for hours yet? Lol. You need to change your avatar and include the killer bumblebee. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif I think we sent you a picture with the yellow interior and the neon pbr sign, that would be cool. What other shop would do that for their customer. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif
Joe

[NovaMob03]

suggest moving this to the COPO section of the site...too cool of a car to let it get buried in the lounge

[COPO CARTEL]

Guys it was hard ...but you can't keep them all .....space and priorities....Fred has been so determined during this process....seeing that car being reborn again is a treat....Richard Fresch is the son that ordered the car new at his dads dealership....I asked him what were you thinking ...he said his dad said the same thing .....I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when it was delivered to the dealership . <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[Born30YrsLate]

Many thanks for all the compliments so far!...it was great talking with everyone at the show (Mr. Tuckman it was good to finally meet in person after numerous phone calls/emails/part transactions on Motion stuff) but there were so many more people there that I had hoped to talk with but didn’t get the chance, eg Nelson, Mr M22 Mike and the list goes on, wish I could been able to be there all weekend. There were also a number of other individuals that helped along the way with locating parts, selling NOS parts I just had to have, restoring parts, trailering the car around (Mr. Wheelhop) and etc. Rick Nelson at MCRD did a great job on the factory shifter rebuild as well as riveting the ball joints on the A-arms. When Doug says he played a small part he is being very humble! By the time I got the car he had done lots or research, accumulated a good number of the parts needed for the restoration and always came through when a crisis hit.

I’d be more than happy to do the Red/Red COPO…all Doug has to do is sign the title over and I’ll be right down to pick it up – HA! I tell you what, the most tempting part of the red/red car is the 7-14-69 ship date, same month and day as my birthday, albeit 9 years earlier. Oh man I can already picture the Day2 look to give this car, not as wild as the “Bumblee COPO” though.

I overheard many positive comments at the show, but also did here some along the lines of “why would he put that interior in that car?”...HA!

And yes Joe – I actually have a designated drinking chair in the garage. The car got delivered Monday afternoon so that night I got’r settled in on the vintage orange shag carpet. I tell you what, what an assault on the senses between looking at the car, the taste of PBR, listening to 45s playing classic rock on the jukebox, and the smell of race gas exhaust…

Some more pics includin details you won’t see unless you crawl around the car soon to follow (CureRides, Thrush mufflers)…

[Hawkeye]

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-5526-1519-mcacn_2012_183.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-5526-1520-mcacn_2012_185.jpg

Very cool car. Love all aspects of it. Can't wait to see some more detail photos.

Marty

[al8apex]

gotta love the black ... the yellow really pops

the day 2 yellow pieces accent the colors nicely

awesome that you made it your way with your collection of cool parts, kudos!

an observation from the picture angles - it appears that the driver's side headrest is the early style (straight) while the passenger headrest is the more common later style ... pictures can be deceiving sometimes <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[Justbad Joe]

Fred we need more pictures!!! How about one with the 2 camaros together? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif
Joe

[Born30YrsLate]

The CureRide Spirals...you really can't see otherwise

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1597-100_4404.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1598-100_4402.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1599-100_4412.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1600-100_4415.jpg

[Born30YrsLate]

Some more engine shots...Dan Banks, did you miss the engine shot I posted in your POR15 post?

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1601-100_4638.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1602-100_4639.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1603-100_4641.jpg

[Born30YrsLate]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Justbad Joe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Fred, have you had the chance to break out the chairs and the cold pbr and just sit and stare at the car for hours yet? Lol. You need to change your avatar and include the killer bumblebee. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif I think we sent you a picture with the yellow interior and the neon pbr sign, that would be cool. What other shop would do that for their customer. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif
Joe </div></div>

Here is the &quot;special touch&quot; PBR sign pic Joe mentioned...http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1604-picture1003122024951.jpg

[Born30YrsLate]

Quarter glass decals...had to sacrifice an original CARS Magazine Decal (since the color was perfect) and also added the dragsgtrip by Columbus, OH since the car spent all of it's previous life in the Columbus area (the decal just happened to be a good color too).


http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1606-100_4646.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-445-1607-100_4676.jpg

[Salvatore]

The &quot;correct&quot; decals make the car. Use em if you got em. What else are you going to do with them? Everything can't be in scrap books or a lawn ornament! Go Freddy Go!

[COPO_Anders]

All the stuff added to that car, really makes it one of one. Great work ! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif

[ANDY M]

Fred, I'm really sorry that I could not attend this year, I would have loved to have seen that car. Last time I saw it was in Doug's warehouse, in a million pieces. Looks like your dream came true!
Best of luck with the care and feeding.
Andy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[Brettallen59]

Fred, I know this is an old thread, but I can't tell from all of the pics what type of hood you have. Usually, the Fly Eye is paired with the Stinger hood. Do you have any pics of the car with the hood closed?
Thanks,

Brett.....

[southernfriedcj]

Fred, I know this is an old thread, but I can't tell from all of the pics what type of hood you have. Usually, the Fly Eye is paired with the Stinger hood. Do you have any pics of the car with the hood closed?
Thanks,

Brett.....

In post #9 it looks like a cowl induction hood.

[wheelhop]

Neat seeing this old post again! Tough year for your beloved Packers Fred!

[KingKoser06]

Man what a killer combo! Black is the perfect color to have yellow houndstooth interior.