COPO Hunt for ZL1 #33, #52, #58 ,#64

[lineman]

Hi, I am in search of COPO ZL1 cars #33, #52 from Jim Rathman Chevrolet, Melbourne Fla. and #58,#64 from Indian River Chevrolet in Cocoa,Fla. my hometown..looking for pics of these cars,I was on the lots back then as a 9 year old boy, and have friends in the area who may have info on these cars when they were new in 69.

[Jeff Murphy]

Both 33 and 52 were bought by Bob Jane, a racer and tire mart empresario from Melbourne, Australia. Bob knew of Rathman through racing circles and was aware of the ZL-1 through his close friendship with Bruce McLaren. Both cars were turned into race cars. 33 is a Hugger Orange 4-speed that became the only ZL-1 road racing car, which is a shame because it was a very potent package, winning the Australian Touring Car Championships for '71 and '72. It beat up on some factory Ford Mustangs pretty badly before being banned for '73. The car was sold, but repurchased by Jane in about 2000. Miles Johnson, a former team member from the early 70s, restored the car back to its former glory. 52 was a Dusk Blue auto that was a drag racing car. It was eventually written off and crushed, but not before the engine was retrieved. The engine from 52 now sits happily in 33.

I was lucky enough to visit with Miles and 33 in 2005.

Try these links:

http://www.carpoint.com.au/Tig/Minis...au&id=7274

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/show.../page/1#165079

[camarojoe]

If you have any posters of that car, I can sell 'em for ya.

[Jeff Murphy]

I might have something up my sleeve...

[COPO_Anders]

There is no one better than you Joe !

[lineman]

Thanks Jeff, you made a 48 year old man's day.........even though I still think I am 9 at Indian River Chevrolet(Cocoa) and Jim Rathman Chevrolet(Melbourne) in Fla. as a kid.so many impressive memories........you have made my day...THANK YOU again....Alan

[Steve Drueck]

Hi Alan I emailed to you before, through this email [email protected] and you only answered back once. You said you had info about the cars at Indian River, what color were the cars? If you saw them, you would maybe know about #58. You never answered me back. I don't understand why you are asking about ZL-1 #64 as I already was in touch with you, and everyone in the world knows that I have owned it for almost 20 years. Hugger Orange TH400 Orig Motor, p-o-p window sticker 911 documented miles. Endura AM Tinted Glass Rally Wheels Rosewood . Bought from Bill Turner the orig owner. Pics already posted elsewhere on this site. Thanks Steve Drueck

[Stefano]

I was just looking over Docs the other day which confirm a 9561 L72 Copo Camaro was ordered and delivered to Indian River and then dealer traded to Rathmans, who sold it locally.

[supercomp 8.90]

20 copo camaros went to indian river here is a few 649xxx frost green car code 59, 649xxx cortez silver code 69, 634xxx hugger orange code 72, and 647xxx burnished brown code 61, by the way #58 was m-22 blk int code 52 garnet red, also i know some of the guys who raced with bill turner zl1 # 64, i think i was told that the doors of the car had aluminum rat painted on them when it was raced years ago pretty cool!!

[Steve Drueck]

Yes I posted a vintage pic of the lettering on the doors. I also was excited to meet Paul Webber who helped wrench the ZL-1 with Bill and he gave me more pics of the car day 1 and day 2. Also a pic of the engine disassembled on the garage floor after it went to Bob Tucker for a blueprint a few weeks after the car was bought new. (Tucker's work surely saved the motor from the usual blowups in these cars!) Bill Turner also bought the Cortez Silver 4sp COPO from Indian River 9N6498xx and I was fortunate enough to land that car about 8 years ago, many thanks to Ron Ellis for helping me and getting Sonny to part with it. Bill still had the original invoice from Indian River Chevrolet, so this one was not traded to Rathman. I don't want to post the paperwork here (for obvious reasons) but you are welcome to come see it if you are ever in town.