Another COPO Camaro Found

**Mr70** · #1 11-01-2003, 12:42 AM

In the November 2003 issue of Chevy Rumble Magazine,on the newsatnds now,is a small picture and article on page 9.
It briefly talks about how the 1969 Wally Booth/Dick Arons/Gordy Foust Red COPO Camaro 9561 was recently found in full Darg Race trim in a collection in Florida,along with other Hi-po parts.
It also states that Matt Murphy owns this car today.
They have a nice picture of Gordy standing next to it in all it's Glory..
The article is to short,can anyone give more details?

**bkhpah** · #2 11-01-2003, 02:39 AM

The car is not a COPO. It was a SS 396 car that was converted to a 427. They had a COPO ordered, but it did not show up in time. The car is a 01B. Once again we have a Chevy Fumble...BKH

T Billigen · #3 11-01-2003, 02:46 AM

Man that is some real detective work! You can't sneak anything by on this site! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/

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Unreal · #4 11-01-2003, 11:04 AM

Next month, Chevy Rumble is doing a spread on my Yenko clone. They determined that my car was originally an air conditioned double COPO. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif[/img]

matt murphy · #5 11-04-2003, 01:08 AM

Hey that blurb was printed by Chevy Rumble, and I had no idea that they were doing that. They got the info wrong on most of that little article. It was not a COPO . . . it was not affiliated with Wally Booth either. Gordy Foust had this picture and gave it to the writer at Chevy Rumble and they got their info mixed up.

The car was a 396/375hp, garnet red, 4-speed, radio delete, 4:10 gear, Berger Camaro that was used since Dicks COPO car did not get built in time. Berger Chevy gave it to Dick Arons in return for primary sponsorship, and Gordy Foust went to pick it up in Feb. 1969. Gordy and Rich Maskins ripped the car apart at Dicks shop in Detroit and set it up as a SS/E Drag Car. Dick took the original engine out and added a 427 short block to the original heads and intake, and those parts are still with the car today. Something else that was neat on this car was the Motion Performance stickers on the windows. Dick said that he was sponsored by Joel as well. Funny thing about these guys is that they all want to see this car restored and none of them are asking for money to restore it that way. It kind of makes me think that Dick Harrell would probably want to see his old cars restored that way. I am not putting words into his mouth, but I was disappointed to see how the '68 Kirby Funny Car turned out on this site.

Brian (Supercar Restorations) and I are talking about doing a restoration on this car this winter. Dick Arons wants to build the original engine back to 1969 specs for the car as well. Gordy Foust and Dick Arons, and maybe a few others I hope will get a chance to run it at certain events next year. It will be at the Chevy Vette Fest in a few weeks for people to see before we take it back to 1969 specs. Mainly we are going to get rid of the tubed rear end, repaint the car, etc. The paint and some of the painted on decals are original right now. It has 209 miles on the odometer. It is a cool car and I am looking forward to showing it next year. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/

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**Mr70** · #6 11-04-2003, 01:25 AM

Brian & Matt
Thanks for clearing this up.I am not very Camaro COPO Literate,but felt something was not right in that article.I am glad you filled in the blanks.
I look forward to seeing this Awesome Camaro at Chicago VetteFest Nov. 21-22-23.Got my Applicaton confirmed today. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
Rick

**bkhpah** · #7 11-04-2003, 02:35 AM

I got to drive the Arons Camaro at York US 30 show. There is something special about all the cars we get to work on, but the old drag race cars are very neat. There was a lot of history made with cars like those. I also was able to get some seat time in the Harrell Funny Car. Sitting in that seat with zoomies and a blower in front of you is amazing. The late 60's cars had to be a hand full. Scary cars to be sure...BKH [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif[/img]

CWilliams · #8 11-04-2003, 05:14 AM

Matt- Post us up some pictures if possible.

NEW · #9 11-04-2003, 07:10 AM

There is a little picture of it in the December issue of Super Chevy, in the feature covering Camaro Superfest, this summer!

NEW

NEAT CAR!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

**Stefano** · #10 11-04-2003, 03:54 PM

I believe there is a vintage picture of Matt's car in the book 'Drag Racing The Family Sedan'.

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