Bye, Bye American Pie

[69LM1]

My Chevy was loaded by the levee today. Right under a Lambo.

http://www.69lm1.com/pics/70l78/70shipping.jpg

No longer in the L78 Club, but now I have deuling COPO's!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/StefanoBimbi/Tin%20Soldier%20Copo/TinSoldier.jpg


Proud new owner of the Tin Soldier COPO! +/-3400 Original Miles and a Drag Class winner from Day 2, 1/4 mile at a time.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/StefanoBimbi/Tin%20Soldier%20Copo/tinsoldiervsSoulSurvivor.jpg

This one I can drive! TS will sit right next to the 70Z COPO.


RichPern

[Lynn]

Very cool Rich.

[70 copo]

Good going Rich!!

[69LM1]

Yep..... I should start tearing it down and taking that race stuff off and repaint it back to red and put dog dish caps back on it.















Not! :0

J/K

TS is staying just the way it is now. Full Day2 Drag Trim.


Rich Pern

[69LM1]

This article I found online was really cool:

Here's TS with yet another famous Day2 Drag Car, Herbies Hugger
http://www.maxchevy.com/features/2007/ii_8-nickey/Nickey07-014-sfw.jpg

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Those two Camaros seemingly joined at the hip? The “Tin Soldier” is a COPO 9561 L72 4-speed car, purchased at Queen City Chevrolet in Ohio, and converted to a race car status soon after the original owner took delivery. Though many COPO cars have lost their original racing identity because they were restored to factory stock specs, this one embraces every bit of its racing grit. Tin Soldier’s running buddy, “Herbie's Hugger,” was bought by Herbert DeSalve and family of Dubois, PA, to serve in the Super Stock ranks. It was ordered with an ultra-rare L89 396ci aluminum-head motor, one of 311 built in 1969. DeSalve soon traded the L89 to racer/engine builder Dick Arons for a more competitive L72 combination. Driven by Barry DeSalve, it set a record at almost every east coast track in 1969, held the NHRA speed and ET records, and won several national titles. Herbie is considered by many race historians to be one of the most significant and competitive privateer efforts. The slogan across the back of the spoiler says, &quot;Chevy Vs The World.&quot; The DeSalve's Tri-County Speed Shop is still in business today.</div></div>

RichPern

[Xplantdad]

Good for you Rich!

[x77-69z28]

You sold the L-78 rich? I have a friend I was trying to talk into buying it, but I couldn't get him to pull the trigger! Congrats on the sale.
Buddy

[Charley Lillard]

Congrats on the sale and the buy...

[Postsedan]

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Dan

[mockingbird812]

Good news and congrats!!!!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[69LM1]

Thanks guys. Hope to have some fun with ts and be a caretaker as well.

Thinking about that maroonish pinstripe in the old photos, anyone know if it was on back in the day or added later?

Also, the edc cert says th400 and nickeys ad said 4speed as new, anyone know for sure?

RichPern

[69LM1]

I still think the L78 was well bought at the listed price. There are nicer restored ones, but none more original. Which was why i didnt enjoy her much. Too original to drive.

RichPern

[Tracker1]

overseas sale Rich?

[69LM1]

Nope. Chicago, new owner plans on enjoying the L78 as a show car, maybe doing some cleanup i didnt get to.
Should be seen again, hopefully mcacn.

Richpern

[Stefano]

Congrats Rich,

The Tin Soldier is one very cool COPO Camaro.

I had bought the car from Clint Richmond along with a couple of other vintage '69 Camaro race cars. Herbies Hugger and The Vitar COPO. All three were set up with Turbo 400 automatics at that time. I know for certain that the L89 and L72 COPO were factory automatics.

The Tin Soldier I believe had affidavits from the prior owners as well as a letter from the original owner telling the story of how he came to purchase the car and that it was a factory 4 speed?

I believe that the lower portion of the cowl sheet metal had been replaced, so I do not recall if the Muncie speedo cable hole was present. I do believe that the trans tunnel was still original, where the floor shifter was mounted, maybe you can see if there are any remnants of the torched out 4 speed hole present?

Since the car is traced back to the original owner, seek him out and you should get a definative answer.

[NovaMob03]

congrat's on the trade/sale, Rich. Nice to see another COPO comin' down south <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
Tin Soldier, Brent's Dyno Motion, Capt Carl's ZL-1 and my Scuncio were all originally different color's but painted black and raced with similar configurations back in the day. Wonder if the Stones song 'Paint it Black' had anything to do with the trend <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NovaMob03</div><div class="ubbcode-body">congrat's on the trade/sale, Rich. Nice to see another COPO comin' down south <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
Tin Soldier, Brent's Dyno Motion, Capt Carl's ZL-1 and my Scuncio were all originally different color's but painted black and raced with similar configurations back in the day. Wonder if the Stones song 'Paint it Black' had anything to do with the trend <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif </div></div>

I see a red COPO and I want to paint it black.... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[69LM1]

Well TS left Chicago today and is on his way down south...
(To the ZZ top tune, Jesus just left Chicago and his headed to New Orleans)


http://www.69lm1.com/TinSoldier/loadrear.jpg

http://www.69lm1.com/TinSoldier/loadside.jpg

I can't believe that Vic let a lady drive TS! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif

Well, I guess he did'nt, it was winched up.....

Hopefully it will be here in a few days.

RichPern

[Xplantdad]

Pictures when it gets there please <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif

[brent396]

Very cool car more pics for sure <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif

[DW31S]

Very, very cool! Nothing like a vintage piece of drag racing history. I know you're kidding about restoration---right? PLEASE leave it in &quot;race&quot; prep. condition. Far too many of the great race cars are either being restored to original as-new condition or already have been, and the real purpose these cars were built in the first place has gone by the wayside. I'd venture a guess that a percentage of the collector car hobby, the higher end if you will, has NO IDEA why the COPO cars even exist. Remember, I said a percentage---not the players here, but the ones who see the cars we love as an &quot;investment&quot;.
GREAT SCORE!!!!! And Congratulations!!!!!

[Salvatore]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69LM1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I still think the L78 was well bought at the listed price. There are nicer restored ones, but none more original. Which was why i didnt enjoy her much. Too original to drive.

RichPern </div></div>never to nice or to original to drive Rich. Your L78 car was really nice and very original. I would drive it weekly if it were mine.

[Postsedan]

Vic your a class act <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Enjoy your new Bentley.

Dan

[69LM1]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DW31S</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very, very cool! Nothing like a vintage piece of drag racing history. I know you're kidding about restoration---right? PLEASE leave it in &quot;race&quot; prep. condition. Far too many of the great race cars are either being restored to original as-new condition or already have been, and the real purpose these cars were built in the first place has gone by the wayside. I'd venture a guess that a percentage of the collector car hobby, the higher end if you will, has NO IDEA why the COPO cars even exist. Remember, I said a percentage---not the players here, but the ones who see the cars we love as an &quot;investment&quot;.
GREAT SCORE!!!!! And Congratulations!!!!! </div></div>

Yes, that was just a joke. Tin Soldier stays in historic trim. I may re add the red side stripe once I do more research.

Rich Pern

[Mr.Nickey Nova]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69LM1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I still think the L78 was well bought at the listed price. There are nicer restored ones, but none more original. Which was why i didnt enjoy her much. Too original to drive.

RichPern </div></div>never to nice or to original to drive Rich. Your L78 car was really nice and very original. I would drive it weekly if it were mine. </div></div>

I agree 100% Sam!! You had a sweet L78 camaro Rich.