Ohio COPO Dealers

[Stefano]

There is no doubt in my mind that Ohio reigns supreme ,as the muscle car state.

Especially with the info. provided within this thread. It is simply amazing!

Nickey Chevrolet carried the torch until the 1969 model year when Jack Douglass became part of the Yenko Dealer network for the Chicago Market and Fencil Tufo was added in 1970 as a Yenko Dealer.

A couple of other Chicago dealers have claimed to have sold a few COPO Super Cars, but I have yet to see one.(Does anyone know of any others?)

That was it for the Chicago-metro market as far as Chevys are concerned.

While a few dealers did some "COPO" advertising, such as the ones mentioned and others like Jack Head in Alehambra, CA. I do not recall having seen any Ohio dealers advertising "COPOs".

Only a few of the Ohio dealers sold any substantial volume of COPOs. Most only sold two or three total and some just one.

Does anyone have any vintage Ohio News papers with Dealer COPO advertisements?

I didn't refer to Fred Gibb as he was not marketing to the Chicago-Metro, in my opinion, at least not directly.

[whitetop]

Hey Z28DZ
I grew up reading about the Dayton area "Rat Pack" car group in Hot Rod and Car Craft back in the '70's. Loved those cars. All the cars were no nonsense street warriors that ran slicks, tunnel rams and of course big blocks. Saw Pat Crafton at a show last year selling videos and all I yelled out was "Rat Pack". Should of seen him look around. Told me he had not heard that term in years. The Dayton area also brought us car painter extrodinaire Scott Sullivan. Who cannot remember his blue /blown L-88 '67 Pro Street Nova that blew everyone away at the '78 and '79 Street Machine Nationals? Car set the standard for the Pro Street Trend.
I really miss those days.
Dave

[68l30]

Stefano,I'll look into my books to find the news articals.If I remember correctly most of the ones I have are just a two to three line add for the "new 427 Camaros and Chevelles $4995".These ran in the daily papers in Cleveland in July 1969.Some of the smaller city papers ran some larger adds,sorry I can't remember which.

Peter D,I didn't want to take anything away from So.Cal.There were/are a lot of great names and history to come from that area.I feel the huge amount of diversity in the Ohio area as well as the manufacturing/blue coller money ,in the day, set the stage for what we had/have today.Does anyone remember a backyard racer named Mr.Gasket?

Steve

[Stefano]

Steve,
Too cool, I can't wait to see what you dig up.

While we are on the subject of digging... does any one remember a Dayton/Lebonon Resident drag racer who campaigned an Emerald Green 1955 Chevy up to at least 1971. He would have raced it at Tri-County South of Dayton and probably Edgewater.

He also had a steet Racer/Driver,which was also occasionally run at the tracks. A very stock Silver Black vinyl top X-11 trimmed 1969 COPO Camaro. It was still running factory NC8 exhaust when he windowed the original L72.

[Tenney]

I also recall the Rat Pack, whitetop. Serious cars with some loud paint. Can picture a candy red '70 Chevelle, in particular, with "Rat Pack" on the front fenders at the '78 CC Nats. Remember the Blue Nova, too. It did help launch the Pro Street thing. Gary Kolofski's '55 probably had a hand this, too. And Steve Lisk's Lenco'd Hemi Challenger meant business, as well. That is, before the whole deal sorta went full-Dobbertin and fairground racers were everywhere. Think Scott may have gone on to build a couple of cool shoeboxes ('55 and '57)?

Was a little young to remember a ton from the Yenko years, but did grow up playing hockey with a couple of Tufo's sons (One whose nickname was Fencil, BTW).

BTW - If I recall correctly, Bill Porterfield (of the ZL-1 Porterfields) was running around in a blown, mid-engined '78 Olds 442 at the Nats back then.

[Mr Yenko]

The orig. owner of my COPO Camaro said that they called these cars SS427's. And mine was purchased from Byrne Brothers. Just my .02 cents. Mayor of Fishkill

[whitetop]

Hello Tenney
I remember the '55 and the Challenger as well. I can still remember the look on Lisk's face in a pic in Pop Hot Rod as he sat in the car. Meanest look on somebody's face I've ever seen even to today. There was a small burb in a mag 4-5 years ago that '55 is alive and well in the new owners garage and is still the same as originally featured. Porterfield had a ZL-1 in a Kelmark GT before he did the mid engine Olds. He was in a mid engine kick for a while. I went to the '77-79 Street Machine Nat's in Indy. Wish I took a camera. Definetely a less serious time. I agree with you, Dobbertin was the one that set the stage for seriousness and perfection with his Nova and later his J2 Pontiac.
Dave

[Stefano]

Does any one have any info on Frost Chevrolet in Mechanicsburg, Ohio? They were to have sold five COPO Camaros, to include the Rally Green one featured in the 'Muscle Cars of the '60s' magazine dated January 13th 1969.

[Z28DZ]

Hmmm, shuffle, shuffle. I recently bought a black RS COPO (needs restored) that was sold by Frost Chevrolet. It originally belonged to the brother of the original owner of said Rally green car. I don't know a lot about the dealer, though they dabbled in hipo Chevy's. From what I understand, the green and (my) black car, plus 2 others, were the first batch (Late May - early June 69?) and another unit arrived later (Sept 69?). I may not have my info correct as I am still putting the history together. If anyone has more info, please chime in.

[Stefano]

Sounds like an awesome combo. What other options and trim does the COPO have?