69 Impala 427 - Could it be a CoPo?

69LM1 · #1 02-01-2005, 03:15 AM

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 · #2 02-01-2005, 04:03 AM

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?

69LM1 · #3 02-01-2005, 05:24 AM

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** · #4 02-01-2005, 05:44 AM

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!

Andy

**Mr70** · #5 02-01-2005, 08:44 PM

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.

**Mr70** · #6 02-01-2005, 09:21 PM

Verne_Frantz · #7 02-02-2005, 12:42 AM

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 · #8 02-02-2005, 02:02 AM

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

budnate · #9 02-02-2005, 02:48 AM

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

69LM1 · #10 02-02-2005, 03:33 AM

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.