69 Big block camaro

[Leonard]

Anyone know if they made a 69 Camaro SS big block car that was automatic on the column ? Did any SS big block cars have a trim tag code X44? May be a COPO, not sure. Got rid of this car 16 years ago. Just bought it back Monday, Rough, May need a rebody.Is there anyone i can email to verify the VIN if this is possible to do.

[Jeff H]

It wouldn't be an SS with the X44. Did it have the cowl hood, BE 12 bolt rear, PDB, curved neck radiator? I can't help you with the VIN, but give us some more details about the car like what options it has.

[Stefano]

Column Shift was standard equipment for Auto trans Camaros, Including Big Blocks and COPOs.

Does your Camaro have the original trans. as well as the other items mentioned?

[Leonard]

Hello Jeff, Sad thing about the car is its pick over pretty well over the years. I first purchaced the car in 1984.(rusted up then)After about 10 months sitting behind the garage,the gas tank fell out of it.I had another 69 that i was working on. I started to parts from it. There was no Motor or trans in the car when i purchaced it. No cowl hood either but i did remove the trottle arm . It was the type for the cowl switch to be mounted. I used that along with the big block heater box, Big block frame mounts, front disc brake assy on my other project camaro.At this time, i was not aware of COPOs . My intentions for this car was parts only. ( i needed the disc brake set-up)The car had a 12 bolt in it which i did not take out(gone now) Multi-leaf springs, no rear spoiler but a cool mural painted on the trunk lid, Black rear panel w/ bowtie emblem, black rocker panels w/ rocker crome, Car is garnet red w/ simulated vinyl top(black wrinkle finnish)w/ odd 67 camaro vinyl top crome.400 turbo cross member which was in the trunk . It had standard black interior, AM radio, Dash gauge cluster has speedo, standard fuel gauge, gear selector which shows 3 speed auto.PRND21. (Still have that part)Of course it was auto on the column.The paint seemed to be original. Serious lacqer cracks back in 84. No engine size emblems on front fenders.(were not filled in) could have been replaced.Silver front grill. There are no bumpers on the car now but i do recall the rear bumper had a very faded decal right in the center.Could not make it out but shaped like a bow tie emblem. The trim tag is long gone but i do remember it was an X44 car, the paint code was correct as well as the 711 interior code. There was no radiator. I did notice at that time the big block heater box and core seem to be original. Thank you for responding to my Question. There are so many things to this car that make wonder. Like i said before, Its just a rough shell(to bad) now. not much good except (maybe) a rebody if it could be verified as a COPO

[Leonard]

Hello Stefano, I may have answered your question in my reply to jeff. Sad thing is that all the important items to help verify the car like: motor, trans, rear, radiator are long gone. I had a little hope that maybe, just maybe, the VIN could help verify that it is(WAS) a COPO. Just the thought of possibly owning one of these Ultimate Camaros would make my year and would probally cry after that knowing what it has become. Maybe its better that i didn;t know. Im a Camaro lover. I have owned 9 69 camaros, 2 68 camaros. I currently have a 69 Yenko replica (not clone)Its not that close to the real thing. Thanks for yor reply to my question. By the way, my first name is Leonard . I want you all to know who you are conversing with.

[68l30]

Possible Evans car? I know they used a bowtie shape dealer tag/sticker with Evans in the middle.I know it's a long shot,but it came to mind first.I do know they sold and raced a few COPO Camaros.Where did this car spend most of it's life?

Steve

[Stefano]

Sounds like it had all of the right stuff. Trim tag would have been nice to have. Do you know what happened to it and do you have the title to the Camaro?

Any other cowl induction,dual exhaust or fuel line clues?

The upper passenger side rear seat cross brace may have an X -code still visible. X4 would verify the X44 trim status.

[Leonard]

Stefano, The only clue i have that it had a cowl induction hood was the throttle arm that i removed back in 1984. I dealt it off about a year later. As for the fuel line, i will have to check and see if it is the large type for the Holley carb.There is no exhaust on this car. Is there something else to look for to tell what type of exhaust would have been on this car. Would really like to know the fisher body sequence # and build date are. That would really help. If i only knew then what i know now!

[Leonard]

68I30 Steve, The car spent most of its life in the rust belt of Ohio. I have gone back as far as 1982. I bought it in 1984. It sat about a year and a half before i purchaced it.This would bring it to 1982. I bought it for a parts car.There was no motor, transmission, hood, radiator or drive shaft with the car when i bought it.400 turbo crossmember was in the trunk. I wanted it for the front disc brakes to put on my other 69 camaro project. ( Z28 replica) Did not need the 12 bolt that was still in it at the time. Already had one installed. The guy who bought the car bought it for the rear end. This was about the time the whole trunk pan and fuel tank dropped out (loaded with junk did not help) i knew it was weak.This would have been in 1985. I found the car again in 1991 at a small little salvage yard about 18 miles from my home town. It was picked clean. I talked to the owner about the car. He said he had it for about 3 or 4 years. We became friends over the years and i decided to buy it a couple of weeks ago. Why? It kept buggin me about what it could be. He agreed to sell it to me. Total price, $70.00 . That tells me that the car has not see the road since 1982.I do not think that someone would want to make a COPO clone before 1982. And buy the looks of some of the parts (big block heater box, throttle arm, Greasy big block frame mounts)They seemed to have been on the car quite a while. The condition of the car was sad.

[Stefano]

Yes there are a few Cowl induction clues to look for:
A)Wire loom
B)Three specific holes apply to cowl induction on the firewall.
C)The toe board under dash insulation was pierced in two places with one hole specific to cowl induction.

Dual exhaust Camaros had a specific plate welded to the drivers side frame rail and the original hangers could still be there which could be NC8 ,Chambered exhaust specific.

[68l30]

Interesting car and history to say the least.Check for the items noted by Stefano,sounds like it maybe a COPO.Alot can happen from 69 to 82.I've seen pictures of 69 cars with 70 plates with new front clips,drivelines,and three coats of different paint in as many years.People beat the snot out of these cars,they were ment to be driven.Check for some of these things(last post) that were not ment to be changed over time. Sounds like it may to far gone to restore,but you may get some piece of mind anyway.......Good luck!

Steve

[69rsss350]

Sadly /ubbthreads/images/icons/frown.gif , COPO or not this car has no future but to know its history would be fun.

[Leonard]

You are right Steve, These cars were abused. 1969 to 1982, Alot can happen. Motor and trans were gone and it had quite a bit of rust back then.I will do a search from top to bottom on this car. Like you said, Its about peace-of-mind. Thanks everyone for all your help . What a GREAAAT site!!

[Leonard]

69rsss350, Your right, Its to far gone. I still would like to know if it was a copo. Maybe if i search hard enough, I may find a neat history and possibly original parts?

[68l30]

As a fabricator I realize ANYTHING can be put back together.Only time and money can make that decision though.Without certain components it may not be worth it.....never say never......

Steve

[Leonard]

Restoration is to begin on this car.It does have the dual exhaust plate,the studs are missing from it.(frame rail area around exhaust plate weak and thin).It has the cowl induction hole pierced in the firewall (top right of bulk head connector(wire harness). X4 marking on rear seat back body panel still visable.This appears to be light blue in color. Most i have seen were off white or yellow in color. Did the production line use different colored markings or could this just be a change in color from being exposed to the elements?(No rear seat and sitting outside for years) Wish me luck on this project. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif