Dick Harrell - 1969 427 Camaro at Auction

[enio45]

I believe this is owned by a guy here in Gilbert or Chandler AZ.

I have heard about it - never seen it. Looks pretty nice!

[Ngtflyr]

The car resides in Mesa near Falcon Field, I've seen it and its a beauty. From what I was told the reserve is very reasonable, I will be shocked if it doesn't go north of the reserve.

[Kim_Howie]

The was never order by Fred Gibb or dick Harrell. Fred gibb was the father of the COPO, not Dick Harrell.
Dick never was a new car dealer. So he didn't order the car.
Since he was never a dealer he can't be the father of the COPO.
I think the car was order thru Allen Chevy.
I have never seen the car personaly but I hear it's a very nice non-converted car.

[al8apex]

[Fast67VelleN2O]

Seriously.... that air cleaner is so bad it kills the engine compartment for me. Couldn't he have bought a fly eye for this car?

[PxTx]

Although those tiny air cleaners don't breath enough, they were popular back then. You would be pretty foolish to even run an air cleaner when drag racing back then. It just seemed that the filter technology isn't what it is today.

As for the looks department, that probably is correct for what was delivered. Seems like the cookie cutter thing to do is white headers, fly eye air cleaner, stinger hood, M/T or Ansen valve covers, Sun gauges, ET finned rear cover, traction bars and Torque Thrust style wheels. It dosen't bother me this has a differnt air cleaner.

[Stefano]

Since the is "The" Super Car site, at least we can help get some of the History correct.

DH worked with Nickey Chevrolet before he ever became aquainted with Don Yenko and/or Fred Gibb.

DH's meeting with Fred Gibb is a wonderfull story, which has been shared with many, first hand, by Herb Fox.

DH meeting Don Yenko.......is a bit more folk lore, but several Nickey employees recall Dick and Don meeting at the dealership in 1966.

[Nancy Gibb]

THANKS Kim for setting the record straight! Many people do not know or understand that Dick Harrell was NEVER A CHEVROLET DEALER, therefore he could not have ordered COPO's or ZL1's. He did NOT have any connections at CHEVROLET, but my Dad was good friends with VINCE PIGGINS and ED COLE. Not trying to be disrespectful in any way, but when people are trying to sell cars, the people buying them should know the REAL story. THANKS again KIM. n.g.

[firstgenaddict]

"If so then it seems a little low for a true Dick Harrell converted car as I don't think it could be restored for that amount could it?"

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kim_Howie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
<span style="font-weight: bold"> I have never seen the car personally but I hear it's a very nice non-converted car.</span> </div></div>

[sYc]

I do not think people give Fred Gibb and Don Yenko enough credit for what they did.

While most dealers and other performance shops were doing conversions in house, one or two at a time, to improve the process, and make it more profitable, to get the COPO ball rolling, Fred and Don had to agree to buy 50 like cars, basically risking their business’ in a belief that hi-performance cars could be sold in volume.

At a time when GM was “out of racing”, the COPO cars allowed racers, such as Grumpy, DH, Hedrick, The Rat Pack, who were loyal to GM, to field a competitive car.

Just think how different the musclecar hobby would be today if they had not talked GM into allowing them to use the COPO system for hi-performance, and then, willing to take the risk.

Fred-Don…. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img]