Original COPO Chevelle owner reunited after 45 yrs

[Woj]

Lady luck has smiled upon me a few times over the last few years. Starting with the acquisition of an unrestored 69 COPO Chevelle in 2013; culminating today with the original owner seeing/driving the car for the first time in 45 years. The car had the protectoplate and with that, the original owner's name. With some people searching on the internet, I made a call last week and luckily made contact with the original owner on the first attempt (he lives less than an hour away). Needless to say, we were both thrilled. We waited for a break in my schedule and some decent weather and met today for the first time.

Jim W. is the original owner. He is now a retired college math and science teacher. In June of 1969, he got news that Lyle Chevrolet (Cuyahoga Falls, Oh) had several 69 427 Chevelles on the lot and he made a dash for the dealership the next day. He left the dealership driving a brand new Monaco Orange 1969 COPO Chevelle. He said there were 4 COPO Chevelles there that day, two black and two orange. Two automatic cars and two manual shift cars. Man, how you like to go back to that day.

He bought the car, immediately day-two'd it, street raced it and a year later sold it with 1400 miles after the birth of his son. Life and work kept him busy for the next 40 + years. He never forgot about the COPO. He now has a few collectable cars, but has always wondered about the COPO's fate. Out of the blue, I called him last week. Just as he was about to submit an article and some pictures to Hemmings Muscle Car magazine regarding his long lost COPO.

That is the Reader's digest version of this story. Much more to follow in time. What a thrill this was today.

Here are two pictures he sent me last week. One with the car in "tow-mode" behind a new 69 el Camino (elky has the copo tires and wheels, and vice versa). The other with the car day two'd in a photo dated a year after purchase.

The last photos are of today. What a great time.

Enjoy.

Phil Woj.






Today:

[Xplantdad]

That's sooo cool! Can't wait to hear the rest of the story! Make it a Member's Ride [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

[68l30]

Great story Phil, I couldn't be happier for you! I'm sure you made his year by putting him back behind the wheel... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img]


BIG

[Steve Shauger]

Phil, congrats to both of you. Just amazing and I can't wait to hear the rest of the story. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

[Woj]

Sounds good Bruce. I'll get back with you on that one.

Phil W.

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Woj</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sounds good Bruce. I'll get back with you on that one.

Phil W. </div></div>


Awesome [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Great news, that is so cool to go for a drive with the original owner!!!

Great stuff Phil!!

Ryan

[XXXGoldL34M20]

Great car and meeting the original owner even better [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
Great story

[Charley Lillard]

That is why this site is still around, so that kind of thing can happen and be talked about. Great stuff.

[442w30]

While working on my book, I mentioned to some T/A Javelin experts that the paperwork for my car has a T/A Jav in a ledger below - owner traded it in for a Rebel Machine. One of the AMC guys took the lead and did a search for the name. A few hours later he emailed me back and said that he found the original owner. I did call the owner and asked him for his email so I could show him the invoice from the dealership, but since I didn't speak with him first, I missed the thrill of finally tracking someone down - I've had that thrill before upon establishing the identity and it's an unbelievable feeling - congrats to you!