Still hoping for history...

**ANDY M** · #1 02-20-2005, 10:31 PM

Slow Sunday afternoon, so here is the story of how I got my car, and a plea for information on the prior owner history.
Truth is, my stepson won this car in a contest. Blind drawing. He had no idea what a COPO Camaro was. Barely knew what a Camaro was as far as cars go.

The previous owner of this car was Kevin Eastman, the creator of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". After making a bazillion dollars when the craze hit, he decided to do something creative, starting a new series of comic books. It wasn't going as well as he would've liked, so he came up with the idea of giving away one of his many cars in a contest to promote the new comic book. So one day I get a call from my stepson, "Hey Andy, I won a Camaro"! He was 24 at the time. Bear in mind that I know as much about comic books as he does about cars. After 6 months of helping him negotiate how to get the car from MA to OH (it was untitled for at least 6 years, and OH has a different point of view about car titles), the kid flew out to western MA to arrange for the car to be shipped to Columbus. Kevin Eastman's father is a car restorer in Portland, Maine, so the car got titled in Maine before shipping.
The whole point of the contest was that Kevin removed the hood from the car, shipped it to England where his artist is from, had him paint the main character on the hood, and shipped it back. The artist, Simon Bisley, is world famous for his comic book art, which sells on ebay regularly.
The car was bought at a swap meet in New Hampshire, with a 302 motor in it and no title. Kevin's dad said they bought 3 '69 Camaros in hopes of putting together a Z/28. When they figured out that it was a COPO, and the cost of restoration was more than the value of the car at that time, they put the 512CE motor in it and gave it away.

Kid wins the contest, and my fantasy comes true.

Attached is a pic of the original hood, which is on the kid's living room wall. To him, the hood is more valuable than the car.

The picture does not do justice to the artwork. The air brushing is incredable.
Now that I know that the car was sold by Berger, maybe that last one ordered, if anybody could help fill in the gap between 1969 and 1988, I would be forever in your debt.
Andy

camarojoe · #2 02-20-2005, 10:41 PM

Amazing story!

JoeG · #3 02-20-2005, 10:50 PM

Can't help you on the info,but that story deserves a beer

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Belair62 · #4 02-20-2005, 10:51 PM

Wild airbrushing....how did you get the Berger info ?did you take the car apart ?

Supercar_Kid · #5 02-21-2005, 12:38 AM

Incredible story...talk about dumb luck. [ QUOTE ]
When they figured out that it was a COPO, and the cost of restoration was more than the value of the car at that time, they put the 512CE motor in it and gave it away.

[/ QUOTE ] So Eastman knew it was a COPO car, and decided it made more sense to give it away than either of the other 2 presumably plain jane Camaros he also had at the time? Seems like someone wasn't thinking straight that day. Got any pics of the car as it looked when your step son took delivery from Eastman? How about any info from the actual contest, a comic ad page showing the car or anything like that? The odds of finding a COPO Camaro, even when you're looking for one are slim to none, but getting a call out of the blue telling that a family member has won one...that's just insane. I hope someone here can help you find out more about your car's history. Have you spoken to Eastman about the car more recently, to see if any new information has come to light? He's probably still kicking himself over that one.

**ANDY M** · #6 02-21-2005, 03:15 AM

I'm not sure of the real reason that he gave it away, but his dad and I have spoken a couple of times, and he's really more into vintage racing cars. That is what his dad restores mostly. He had never restored a Chevy, and COPO cars without documentation were harder to sell then.
Also, since this was a comic book promotion, he must have figured that some youngster would win and not be able to take possesion of the car, and he could have worked out a prize without giving up the car.
There is what is called a "Trade Publication" of all 4 books in the series of "Melting Pot", the name of the comic book in question. The back inside cover has a story about the contest. I will try to post it when I get my scanner working.
BTW, Kevin Eastman is the owner, publisher and editor of Heavy Metal magazine, and has his own website.
Andy

Belair62 · #7 02-21-2005, 04:15 AM

Andy...where did the Berger connection come from ?

**ANDY M** · #8 02-21-2005, 06:23 AM

The NICB report that I got last year. See the Berger forum.
The car looks the same today as when we got it. Left the factory as 71 71 LeMans blue, was painted black sometime in the 80's(?). They used real good paint. Emron maybe.
The car was wrecked, rebuilt with GM sheetmetal, and is missing just about all of the X11 trim. Still looks good for a beater.

Andy

Belair62 · #9 02-21-2005, 06:30 AM

**ANDY M** · #10 02-21-2005, 06:51 AM

Here is the clip from Wizard Magizine. Think of them as the Hemmings of comic books. They sponsored the contest.
Issue #39, Nov. '94.
God bless them.

Andy

Dedicated to the Promotion and Preservation of American Muscle Cars, Dealer built Supercars and COPO cars.