Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

I thought I would share a great story that developed over the past few days.

A few months ago I was talking to a friend about a 69 Camaro he had owned for 31 years and wanted to get it back on the road. He had known the car most of his life and purchased it when he turned 18. There had always been rumors about it being an L78 car and that the original 396 was replaced by the dealer with a 427. Sense he and the car were both from Canada he decided earlier this week to contact GM Canada and see what info if any they had on the car. When he got the fax on Thursday from GM he was shocked to find out it's a COPO. Hugger Orange Rally Sport M22 4speed. No spoiler, dog dish, console gauges. Origanaly delivered to McDonald Chevy Olds Halifax Nova Scotia. It's a very complete original car. The body has all of it's original sheet metal, some needs a little work, floors are perfect, original M22, perfect original interior. The hidden vin is in perfect shape and matches the vin on the dash. No rebodied car here. He knows were the 427 is that was in the car when he was a kid but if the rumors are true it may be a CE block.

Just a great story and goes to show you that they're still out there. I've posted a few pictures below.

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/1.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/2.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/2.5.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/3.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/4.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/5.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/6.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/7.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/8.jpg

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/9.jpg

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

Gotta love that GM of Canada documentation. George is a real decent guy to talk to on the phone. & of course, a real kwool car too. Is the original owner restoring it, or has it been sold to another party. Great find. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

An its an RS car too.. Its turning into the year of finding RS COPO's Very Cool and a great color

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

[ QUOTE ]
An its an RS car too.. Its turning into the year of finding RS COPO's Very Cool and a great color

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed! Great find https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

What a great find! Congrats to all and please post photos of the restoration for us to learn from.

-Dan

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

I think Joe said it best awhile back, finding a COPO is great but finding one allready in your garage is the best.

72 72 RS '69's are gorgeous combo's... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

Wow. RS COPO in Hugger Orange?

What an awesome find!

Bashton
MCACN Managing Member

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

Very Cool !


Tommy https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

PERFECT 75 copo cars where shipped to canada

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

Thanks for the comments. The owner is still on cloud 9 maybe even cloud 99...who wouldn't be. He is not a member here yet but will be and should post some of the history he has on the car. I believe he is the 5th owner. The car was in storage in Canada for the past 20yrs and he almost decided to sell it for 8-10K instead of bringing it to Houston. Glad he hung in there.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

Man, I tell 'ya, with all the cars being found lately, it seems like Chevrolet must have produced over 20,000 '69 COPO Camaros.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

Always glad to here of more real Canadian cars found. Congrats!
Peter

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownership
 

Right on! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Wow! another new orange RS Copo in Texas, they grow on trees there! There were quite a few 04C built Copo Camaros shipped to Canada and a fair number of RS copos. My Canadian Copo Camaro is the next body number 287570. Nice find after all these years of ownership!
Mark

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

I finally made it to the site. The car is mine and it's been quite a ride. Thanks to everyone who helped out along the way. I am looking forward to driving it again.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

[ QUOTE ]
.....I am looking forward to driving it again.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sure you are. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Timothy welcome to the site. If I were you I would get that car over to Rick and get the restoration started. I have seen his work and I can not think of a better person to help restore it plus he is local to you.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

A friend of mine has two cars that were sold out of Macdonald Chev-Olds.
Car 1 is a 69 Chevelle 300 deluxe hardtop L78, 4 speed car in Lemans blue.
Car 2 is a 69 Z28 hugger orange with a houndstooth interior.
There was also at least one COPO 69 Chevelle sold at that dealership as well.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Tim, glad to see you got registered. Great group of very knowledgeable guys here.

Thanks for the comment Mark...checks in the mail.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

No question about Rick's work. We're just waiting for him to pick it up. I've been talking to Bob McDonald who owned the dealership (still alive and sharp) and Ronnie Locke (the salesman). Ronnie was involved in the racing/performance scene in Nova Scotia and still works at O'Regans.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Do you have the transmission and rear with the car or is that stuff gone?

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

I'm having some luck talking to the series of former owners. Known to date: Original (1969)-unknown, Second (1969 to 1973)-deceased, Third (1973 to 1975)-just hung up the phone after talking with him, Fourth (1975 to 1978)-personal friend, Fifth (1978 to present)-Me.
Ronnie Locke from McDonalds Chev-Olds is checking his 69 sales records. Transmission just left with Rick.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

cool story,glad to see another one found and saved.
Wish we had that kind of verification here.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Great story. Congrats!

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

I workrd in Halifax in the winter of 73 and used to drop by MacDonald Chev Olds on the Weekends to see what they had. By then a lot of Muscle cars were being traded in. I recall seeing A BM Camaro on the lot one weekend. No recollection what it had.My first 442, a 66 convert came from MacDonalds. I till have the Nova Scotia plate.

Paul

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

The restoration continues. More importantly I now have the full history. The second owner sent me a photo of the car in 71 sitting in front of his house.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Just great congrats. Let us in on some of the history will ya!!
PJ

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Car was brought in by McDonald Chev/Olds Halifax, Nova Scotia but was sold by Hebb Motors in Bridgewater. The car was purchased new by Gregg Kehoe (deceased). Gregg raced the car on and off the track. Original L72 was blown and replaced underwarranty. Warranty 427 was blown and replaced (all by 1971). Keith Dagley bought the car from Gregg in June 1971 (he has been a tremendous help and sent a photo of the car from 71). Keith traded the car at Rossignol Sales in Liverpool for an SS Nova in February 1973. The car was purchased by Peter Cotter (deceased)in Lockeport (my home town) in 73 so I've known the car since then. It passed to Wayne Williams (Lockeport) who changed the 427 (CE block)to a 350. Wayne sold it to Dale Cotter (Lockeport). I bought the car in 1980 and restored it with a small block. I moved to Singapore in 1988 and stored the car where it remained until August when I towed it to Houston. I had heard what I considered to be local folklore about it being a COPO but dismissed it. In September I sent the Vin to GM Canada. When I received the fax from George I had to sit down. I seak often with the existing owners and while pictures are scarce, stories are not.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Wow great story. Congrats and keep us posted on your progess! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

What a great story. There it is hidding in plain sight

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Love the happy ending

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Wow, is that Christmas a month late - or 11 months early ???
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Picture from Keith, the second owner.

http://katyclassiccars.com/69copo/1969rscopo.jpg

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

This is AMAZING !! CONGRATS !!!

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

any progress? how about some pics!

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Lots of progress. Rick has hundreds of pics. We'll get something together asap.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Quick question for the experts. What would you estimate production to be? Hugger Orange, RS, M-22 and console gauges.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Officially...not too many.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Thanks Stefano. I sent an e-mail some time back thanking you for the tour of your facility and the time that you spent with my son and I. Appreciating how busy you are, it meant alot to us. My son still talks about it. It really is an impressive facility. Add the number and quality of cars and it's over the moon. Thanks again and much appreciated.

Re: Canadian COPO found after 31 years of ownershi
 

Another question for the experts. We are ready for paint. The painter has been instructed to paint the car as original i.e. overspray on the firewall, paint bolts etc. He has come back and asked how I want the body painted. A modern, totally slick finish or as the original would have been with some orange peel? Your comments, as always, are greatly appreciated.