69 Impala 427 - Could it be a CoPo?

[69LM1]

Question. I just picked up a 69 2 door impala 427/390, 3rd owner. It is all numbers matching, down to the rims, although unrestored. It has always lived in that area. It was not sold as anything special, but the owner stated that when he bought the car from the 2nd owner, that owner claimed that he bought it from a local government auction and that it was originally ordered for a local police offical, along with a batch of 4 door police cars. As Florida does not keep any paperwork past 12 years, it is hard to prove and thus only a story at this point. The claim is that the rear end, a 12 bolt with 3:31 posi from the factory (along with the 427) could only be ordered via the CoPo system. Does anyone know if this is true or not, and if there are any other ways to tell?
Thanks,
Rich

[GTO_DON]

Rich I dont believe the 331's make it a copo or police car but look for a 140 speedometer or a certified speedometer. What color is it? and do you know the engine code?? Trim tag info? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[69LM1]

Good Idea on the speedo. It was not sold to me as a CoPo or Police car, it was only mentioned after I agreed to buy the car. It is Green/Green. I am going to Florida this weekend to pick it up, I will post the trim tag etc then.
Rich

[ANDY M]

All police, municiple, fleet (taxi) cars are COPO cars.
That was the whole purpose, to build non-RPO cars.
The vast majority of COPO cars built were nothing special.
The cops just liked big-block cars, Chevy, Ford or Mopar.
If the axle is stamped "DE", it's a heavy duty chasis application.
With those gears, high-speed persuit sounds like a reasonable application. Code 3! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif
Andy

[Mr70]

Also see if any holes were drilled underdash for possible police radio installation,and an exterior antenna hole on the front fender or rear deck/fender area.
Is it a factory radio delete?
Check the trunk for signs of patching of this hole,and anyother holes.Remember the post on a trunk mounted anti-rollover device on the trunk floor?.
If it's original paint,look at the roof for any signs of exterior mounted emergency lights.Relay the Engine-Trans.-rearend suffix numbers.In this case all would speak for themselves as to it's true heritage.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/120416-PoliceCar.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v370/darren_costello/car_19722.jpg

[Verne_Frantz]

Andy,
They weren't all COPOs. A lot were F&SO (Fleet & Special Order). Generally, the police body and chassis options were known as LPOs (Limited Production Options), as opposed to RPOs. It took "special orders" to get those.

Rich, If this car is really unrestored, there's a good chance you might find a build sheet, which will give you your answers. As to the speedo, most police speedos have 2 mph increments, rather than the standard 5 mph divisions. If it has some telltale signs, try to find a '69 police brochure, which will outline in detail all of the special body and chassis features.

Verne

[Belair62]

The town next to me had 427 Belairs and 426 Polaras for their expressway cars...

[budnate]

Pimp My Ride.........

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/120460-69Impresized.jpg

[69LM1]

All good info!
I will be getting her on thursday night. I will check the rearend. Supposedly it has heavy duty suspension and he also mentioned that it has the "heavy duty interior" option that came in police cars, whatever that means. It is also just a 2 door car. Green on Green. Supposedly for a police offical (rank?) in Marion County Florida.

Where were the build sheets placed on these cars? Also, I notice that there are different grill setups in different pictures? This one (coincidentally -sp) has the same grill as the one above in the police car.

[camarojoe]

The second one pictured (B&W photo) is a 68.

[budnate]

the one Rick posted is a "67 I believe..the first one "cop car" and the last one I posted is the standard grill for "69.....if you need any stuff let me know the blue car is falling apart....

[Belair62]

Ricks pic was a 68...and thank goodness the wheels on the blue car you have will finally make it to the junkyard soon ! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif

[budnate]

[ QUOTE ]
and thank goodness the wheels on the blue car you have will finally make it to the junkyard soon !


[/ QUOTE ]

Les Schawb must have had them on sale years ago... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif..they are the same goofy wheel as on the white wonder you have outside....
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/BelairSucks.gif

[Belair62]

You have to be kidding !!! They sold 2 sets of those things !!

[budnate]

This set is much more rare.... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif they are the 15" models

[DarrenX33]

You guys are dorks. Now if you had them in gold.... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[budnate]

I want a set of the red ones.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

hey you get them heads off yet????

[DarrenX33]

1 off. Man their on there good. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Taking a rest now. Zzzzzzz.

[Belair62]

Try taking the head bolts out first.

[DarrenX33]

It's way to hard to spin the engine stand and hold the socket wrench. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[Mr. T]

[ QUOTE ]
Try taking the head bolts out first.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[69LM1]

OK.
Passed on the impala. Guy could not come up with the supposed engine rebuild docs. A "bit of rust" wound up being a rocker, trunk pan, both quarters and drivers floor pan. Guy wants 2,500.00 and is going to list it on ebay. Passenger side of the car was pretty trashed. Motor may or may not be worth 2k as it is a 69 dated 427.
Rich

[69LM1]

And it's now listed on ebay.
At least there are some shots of the exterior rust.

69 427 Ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39405&item=4525264 689&rd=1)

[scuncio]

I think LE is the 427/335hp code, not the 390hp as stated. Rusty rusty car!

[budnate]

I might be losing it but that front pass corner pic looks really familiar...I think that car was for sale about 1.5 yrs ago on the net but it had a crappy description and only a couple front pics in front of that bld it is backed up to...anyone else recall that ??? cut up the blue bomb I have and save it...did the motor have the vin on it???

[SnThetcOil]

Hi Rich. The 1969 Impala could be ordered with the 390 horse 427. In fact, all the 1969 Imapala SS cars came with that engine. Might want to check and see if this car is actually an SS model. If it is, there aren't many left and you have a rare one. Keep her original.

Steve

[SS427]

Steve,
Oddly enough, not all actually did. I located a '69 SS427 green/green auto in Andover Auto Parts (the same place I located a Z-16) in MN in 1979. I still have the POP for the car and a friend now owns the engine. This car had the 335 hp 427 AND Drum brakes????? It is the ONLY one I have ever found this way. Odd situation. There was no way to verify if it was a real Z-24 but the car was bone stock and still wearing original paint and had ALL the SS emblems on the car including the steering wheel. I still have the emblems off the car as well and they did not appear to be added on. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif