Re: COPO Camaro
 

You might want to look at the ZL1 clone for sale here, seems like a very nice car and he did a great job for a fair price. I think it's a better buy.

Re: COPO Camaro
 

[ QUOTE ]
You might want to look at the ZL1 clone for sale here, seems like a very nice car and he did a great job for a fair price. I think it's a better buy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes that is one fine ride. On the brown camaro, looks like (vin) numbers are not on the pad, so he wants to try and see if they are by the oil filter. Looks like more and more the car is not a "deal".

Rich

Re: COPO Camaro
 

here is the text of an email I received after asking some questions:

Here is the info. Motor 512-- I-14-8 Looks like the date on the block-----front pad ----T0923 MN----- Vin numbers in the side by the oil filter-----79n695386---- Trans---tail---3857584----case---3925660 ------#P9E28C---- Carb-----3959164-GE? List 4346---Date---983 or 988? Rear---- BE 09129 Its very hard to read the date on the rear end But you can see the (BE ) code. Her are some pics.

(not sure if I'll get the pic in, but it does have the vin)

Re: COPO Camaro
 

"Vin numbers in the side by the oil filter-----79n695386---- Trans"

Can this be (restamped) faked, like the front pad?

Re: COPO Camaro
 

I would think it could...if someone is good. VIN by the oil filter would be correct for the build date of the car. Big question is whether or not the VIN is stamped on the cowl panel under the wipers. Looks like I will be in New Orleans/Metairie 1st week of Jan. If car is still avail and schedule allows, I'll try to take a look at it.

Re: COPO Camaro
 

[ QUOTE ]
"Vin numbers in the side by the oil filter-----79n695386---- Trans"

Can this be (restamped) faked, like the front pad?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would think it would be easier to stamp down there. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif
There are no machined pads or broach lines to worry about.
The numbers are generally hard to read anyways.

Re: COPO Camaro
 

It has been awhile but one of the bogus cars started as a trim tag off a car in a junkyard. It was a burnished brown with a brown vinyl top trim tag. If you inspect the car you will see it has it's orig. 1/4 panels and they have never had vinyl top trim attached to them. That would give you a clue that the trim tag does not belong to that car. I believe Warren ? knew the details of the whole bogus car being built. It was even featured in a magazine. Somebody besides me has to remember the details better than me.

Re: COPO Camaro
 

I asked for pictures of the Camaro too... this is what he sent me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...66/cars009.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...66/cars002.jpg

Re: COPO Camaro
 

[ QUOTE ]
"Vin numbers in the side by the oil filter-----79n695386---- Trans"

Can this be (restamped) faked, like the front pad?

[/ QUOTE ]The VIN numbers on my former COPO's engine were crisp and clean. stamped into Rough Casting, It would not be an easy chore to pull off. I am not saying it is impossible to fake, but if you remove the paint from the area in question, you should be able to tell if it has been modified or not. in my opinion, the price that guys are charging for Clones these days he may as well call it that and he might get a Buyer! trying to pass off a car as Real when so much is against it does not seem like the "Smart Move"! maybe he cannot admit to himself that he got burnt? Rule no.1 : when you find yourself in a Hole, "Quit Digging"! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: COPO Camaro
 

I think the asking price is one heck of a clue. Who is gonna part with a real COPO for under 90k? I remember the Olympic Gold two tone "COPO" at Mecum recently was sold at a bargin price. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: COPO Camaro
 

Hypothetically(sp) speaking, (and there are to many questions on this car) which would you rather have. (That what I was trying to get at, did the drivetrain in this car come from the same car as the vin and trim tag?):

1. A Real CoPo, documented, but non original drivetrain
or
2. A rebodied CoPo (ttag, Vin etc) documented, with the drivetrain that came with it (the tags that is)?

Is'nt the drivetrain what made these cars special? I had heard that the VIN by the oil filter was very difficult to restamp, and was wondering if that was urban myth or true.

Think I'll stick with the SS396! Way less and no issues!

Rich

Re: COPO Camaro
 

Real car over rebody... any day. Didn't we just hash this all out a week ago? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif

Re: COPO Camaro
 

Real car, hands down!!!

Re: COPO Camaro
 

Hi Rich.
A real car with real body is the only way to go. IMO

I will post my opinion on the ease of restamping the VIN by the filter, hopefully without causing too much of a disturbance.

It is way to easy!!! The difficulty is a myth. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/scholar.gif
They count on the buyers not knowing what to look for.
1)Start with a "CE" block for the best result (no Vin stamp by filter).
2)Deck/rebroach block.
3)Rent gang stamp sets from sellers in Hemmings
4)Restamp block
5)Return stamp set
6)You magically now have a numbers matching block. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/mad.gif

The good news is that "CE" blocks are usually easy to identify.
There are are a few other types of blocks that work better
for "restamping" for certain models of cars, but they have a much higher intial cost for the "donor" block.

Buyers should always know what they are looking at and how to tell if it real before making the purchase.

Sorry for rambling on about an off topic subject. Just tried to answer Rich's question about the ease of block stamping.

Hey Rob, I will send you the checklist for block switches
and what to look for next week.

Later,
Eric

Re: COPO Camaro
 

I would never want a rebody no matter what. The swapped tags are illegal and could lead to big trouble in the future. Who really has the title to the car with that VIN? As for clone vs real with missing original drivetrain, as long as each vehicle is represented for what it is, it would depend on the price as to which vehicle I would want to buy. If you put all the correct Z28 or COPO parts on a 327 car then it would be just as much fun to drive as a real Z28 or COPO so it would come down to price.

Re: COPO Camaro
 

The real body.

Re: COPO Camaro
 

A real car with unoriginal drivetrain would have already sold months ago at the asking price of the car in question IMO. That should tell you something about what's really more important to most people.

Re: COPO Camaro
 

Cool Deal. Thanks for all of the info. I will suggest to him that he "comes clean" when selling the car and he may get a better response from the community, and may be able to actually sell it as a clone.

Rich