Seeking Info About This Gorries-Golden Mile COPO

[JJR69COPO]

I am seeking information about this COPO Camaro purchased from Gorries-Golden Mile by Tom Hurst of Ontario on September 29, 1969.

Hurst raced the car at Dragway Park in Ontario in 1973. Hurst sold the car to Peter Janda of Ontario in October 1985. Janda imported the car to Florida in August of 1993. Janda passed around 2010 or 2011, after which the car was sold at auction to the third owner who stored it in a warehouse in Palm Springs for over 10 years.

I purchased the car in 2022 and have been doing a ground up, nut and bolt concourse restoration. I plan to show it at MCACN in November.

If you have any information about this car, including old Polaroids, drag strip time slips, contact information for the relatives of prior owners, etc., I would very much appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks,

Jim
925-984-0671

[scuncio]

Nice car! My L78 spent a lot of time in Dragway Park, and was sold new in Ottawa.

[1967 4K]

Great color! My favorite. 👍👍👍

[R68GTO]

Looks like my old COPO except for spoilers. What was the build date on the car? Mine was a late September build

[BARRY]

HI I new Tom Hurst he lived in Milton Ontario Canada that car hit a guard rail in the 70s i did some paint repair on that copo When i showed up with my copo Camaro he found it hard to believe two where at the same show .

[JJR69COPO]

Thanks to all for responding!

It's an 06A D80 car with a shipping date of June 30th, 1969.

BARRY, based on the nature of the damage to the passenger quarter and outer wheelhouse, and the uncashed winnings check from Dragway Park I found under the dash pad when I disassembled the interior and dash wiring, we had speculated that a guardrail was the culprit. Do you know if the wreck happened at the track? Street race? (Either would make for a better story!) Do you still have any photos of both cars at any shows?

Thanks again, all.

[JJR69COPO]

Thanks for the call today, Barry.

[JJR69COPO]

1crossram, thanks for the PM with the info about Peter Janda.

[JJR69COPO]

A special thanks and shout-out to mrays for taking the time to locate the photos he took of the car in 2011 when it sold at auction in Indiana. He also recalled seeing the car in a Letter to the Editor in the February 1985 issue of Super Chevy Magazine and very kindly located and sent me photos of the pages. The Letter to the Editor was written by the original owner, Tom Hurst, and included a photo of the car in 1985 and some very helpful history about the car not being registered since 1973, for about 12 years, and only having 21,000 miles on the odometer. This helps validate the current odometer reading of just over 21,600 miles, and explains the original drivetrain, and why the body is rust free and the interior is nearly perfect but for the dash pad. Hurst also stated he took delivery of the car on September 29, 1969, which matches the POP, Warranty Booklet, and Gorries-Golden Mile Dealer Folder.

If anyone has any additional information about this Canadian COPO, I'd very much appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks again to all that helped me.

Jim
925-984-0671

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

A special thanks and shout-out to mrays for taking the time to locate the photos he took of the car in 2011 when it sold at auction in Indiana. He also recalled seeing the car in a Letter to the Editor in the February 1985 issue of Super Chevy Magazine and very kindly located and sent me photos of the pages. The Letter to the Editor was written by the original owner, Tom Hurst, and included a photo of the car in 1985 and some very helpful history about the car not being registered since 1973, for about 12 years, and only having 21,000 miles on the odometer. This helps validate the current odometer reading of just over 21,600 miles, and explains the original drivetrain, and why the body is rust free and the interior is nearly perfect but for the dash pad. Hurst also stated he took delivery of the car on September 29, 1969, which matches the POP, Warranty Booklet, and Gorries-Golden Mile Dealer Folder.

If anyone has any additional information about this Canadian COPO, I'd very much appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks again to all that helped me.

Jim
925-984-0671

Colesy’s Place is a wealth of knowledge!!!

Reach out to Bill, he will have info for sure!!

PS: Do you have the NCRS docs? VVS Vintage Vehicle Services GM Of Canada? UVIP Used Vehicle Information Package?

Ryan W31

[LT1vette]

Who was driving the GM Camaro drag car? Rick Eaton?

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Who was driving the GM Camaro drag car? Rick Eaton?

Looks like you’re right. (Or midyr :-)

Ryan W31

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

The same Lance Hill that drove the Belmont Chevy Camaro?

Yes of course.

Ryan W31

[LT1vette]

Says. Dick Aarons racing engines on back quarters...

Also.. Didn't Eaton have his own car and Lance drove the Golden car?

[427strato]

Great to see a Canadian COPO. I often wonder what became of the yellow COPO camaro that I looked at in the summer of 1969 in Hamilton, Ontario at Maurice Carter Chev. Olds. It was already sold when I saw it and was in their compound across the street from the dealership. Has that car ever been accounted for or is it lost?

[JJR69COPO]

The third owner gave me this pic. He believes it was taken in the 90s with Peter Janda next to the car. Can anyone confirm if the person in the photo is in fact Janda? Tom Hurst, the original owner?

Thanks again to everyone who contacted me.

Jim

[turbo69bird]

Very cool
Car thanks for sharing it with us. Very cool