66 COPO chevelle
 

picked this up on camaros.net
Iknow there was a discussion on it here but i can't find it ,so here you go :

My Uncle worked for General Motors at the Hapeville Plant outside of Atlanta in 1964 - 1968 and then again from 1969 until he retired in 1996. He saw every thing from Z-11 Chevelles to LS-6 Convertibles. In 1965 he ordered an 1966 SS that he "walked the line" on meaning that it was an employee car(his) and every body took special care in assembly I.E. more goop here, better 4 speed there, etc. First he went to Thornton Chevrolet outside Atlanta and ordered the car and he got the "You won't get to have it that way" speech. Well of course he did. My Uncle(Not the same one) worked what was called the "COPO Cage" where all of the special ordered parts were kept. His car was a Cortez silver 66 SS 396 badged but had a 427 sent from the Corvette Assembly plant with a Muncie M-22 Crusher and a 4:11 posi. And Boys that was about it. It had heater and radio delete, Knee knocker tach, idiot lights, drums all the way around (a huge mistake according to him for obvious reasons) rubber floor mats, no back seat, no Dum-Dum any where on the car, no spare tire, That cool two prong steering wheel that came on Chevelles of the era. As he put it "It was a tin can with a giant motor and a 4 speed" Loud as all Get out (I rode in it and nearly pi$$ed myself from being so scared-didn't tell him though). He has recently found the paperwork, protecto plate, purchase order and two pictures. One with him in the car goofing off, and the other of my cousin (son of the uncle that worked the "Copo Cage")standing next to it. He sold it to his now wife's Mother back in 1968 before he went to Viet Nam and she sold it to some one else, etc. Now, my question is, how would he go about tracing the car to see if it still exists? Any body dealt with the state of North Carolina? What do you think the cars worth if he finds it intact? I told him a whole lot of money and he can't believe it. I told him with the documentation he has, the Pictures,especially the one with HIM IN IT, the fact that his brother in law worked the "Copo Cage" and ordered the motor for him and is still alive to document it all, it would be worth a small or maybe a medium fortune and would probably make every car magazine printed right now concerning old Muscle Cars and maybe a few others if it could be found. Any Thoughts?

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

Have him contact me via my web site below.

Mike Crown

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

your site did not come up so I sent him your e-mail.

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

Site is working. Please be sure to have your friend IDENTIFY himself to me, both in the body of the e-mail and especially in the SUBJECT LINE...The amt. of e-mail I delete b/c of weird or cutesy subject lines [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

Please keep us posted. I would love to know if this 1 off Chevelle turns up. What would something 'non factory' yet made in the factory be worth?

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

[ QUOTE ]
...The amt. of e-mail I delete b/c of weird or cutesy subject lines [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Well that explains it! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

Will,
What's the engine and rear end code on the protecto plate?

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

let me clear this up .
I don't know this person ,but saw this on the camaro site and thought you guy's might be interested in it.
here is a link to the whole post.

http://www.camaros.net/forum/ultimat...c;f=2;t=006241

sorry for the confusion,I also would like to hear more on this possible car!

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

What is a Z-11 Chevelle?

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

I think thay mean Z-16 Chevelle 396/375

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

I think you mean they..... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

Weren't the Z16s built in Kansas except one in Baltimore?
Dick Harrell had a Z11 engine in a 64 Chevelle that he raced. It is interesting that one of the first Chevelles to hit the drag strip was a 427 Chevelle but a W engine not a Mach IV BB.
I don't think the factory would put a 1963 Z11 engine in a 66 Chevelle.

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

I think you mean "Mark IV" [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img] It's the last working day of the week, and I'm going golfing in a few minutes. I just couldn't help but chime in. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

I thought Cortez Silver was a 69-70 color....?

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

[ QUOTE ]
...drums all the way around (a huge mistake according to him for obvious reasons)...

[/ QUOTE ]

In 66, I think there was no alternative. Perhaps metallic linings were available optionally to provide some help, but I don't believe discs became available until 67 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

The 1966 Chevelle "silver" color was called Chateau Slate. 1967 did not have a silver color for the Chevelle, though I believe the Canadian version did.

Brakes were just drum, with bonded asbestos lining and a single reservoir master cylinder. As was said, a 66 SS could be ordered with the heavy duty brakes and Metallic Lining as option, and Vacuum power assisted brakes were available too. 67 saw major changes to the braking system of the Chevelle. IE., Front disc brakes were now an option, and the split brake system with dual reservoir master cylinder...as side note, if the disc brakes were ordered, you got the Ralley wheels too!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Most 66 SS cars that received a 427, got it as a DEALER INSTALLED item...not a COPO item... This was done at some specific dealers, some did this more than others...b/c it was done prior to customer pick up, many believe "it came from the Factory" like that...esp., the neighbor., the friend, the guy at the gas station...who saw the car the first day the owner took it home...the "STORIES" start like that usually. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] That said, could, or did any 66 SS cars come directly from the factory with the 427? Well, I have spoken to several people over the years who claim this happened with them. High profile people, these were deals made in the back room so to speak, similar to the story above... you would not see paperwork in the form of the USUAL docs we see, showing this...it was supposed to be hush hush...we can't have every Joe Smoe asking for this [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] I am an optimist when it comes to this, even though I have never seen any paperwork showing it....and don't expect to either.... These were glorious times when knowing the right people meant something ( not sure it has changed significantly now ).

SIDE NOTE..M-22 trans. in 66 SS installed in a mere 12 cars., none in 67 SS.

Happy 4th drive safe! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

Mike Crown

Re: 66 COPO chevelle
 

A FRIEND OF MINE HAD A PURPLE CHEVELLE IN A GARAGE IN JERSEY 20 YEARS AGO. THE ORIGINAL COLOR OF THE CAR WAS SILVER. HE TOLD ME THE CAR WAS AN ORIGINAL SS427 CAR THAT HE KNEW SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT SURE LOOKED ORIGINAL! HE PARTED THAT CAR OUT BECAUSE HE COULD NOT GET A TITLE. HE STILL HAS THE FRONT AND REAR EMBLEMS OFF THAT CAR. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]