69 COPO Camaro

[JoeC]

I went to see his cars also. The LS6 convert was unrestored not same car as restored one that was on here and ebay.

[JoeC]

I have been looking for a DEB drag car in old magazines and did not find the 427 COPO Camaro but found a 69 Z/28 drag car sponsored by DEB and RidgeRunner which was also in CT.

[mc25t190]

i didn't think it was. thanks for the info. that LS6 conv't would be a nice one to own.

[Eli]

Eli here-

Don't post often, but visit every day!! No, have never purchased a copo but still looking. When this car was originally up on eBAy I was the successful bidder at a bid price of between 30K and 31K. I sent a 5K deposit to the seller and asked to speak with the original owner (as was promised in the original auction). The seller, though very nice, was never able to arrange for a meeting. Also, at the time the seller was unwilling to allow me to pay for copo documentation (the seller had committed to me that he would allow this during the auction). About 1 week after I sent in the 5K deposit the seller returned the deposit to me saying he was going to keep the car and restore it. I want to stress that the seller was very respectful, and kept most promises. My only frustration was his unwillingness to allow me to pay for proper documentation in support of a sale. Glad he has it now. Car needs tons of work, however it is (in my opinion) not being misrepresented.

A couple of other things.....

I will bid on this car again as my original price of $30,400ish (I can't remember the exact final bid price), plus the cost of documentation totals about $32K (current bid price). When the original auction was ongoing there was much discussion about the 'fair market value' of this car. In the end I seem to remember that all agreed that fair market value was in the eye of the beholder. Again...car needs tons of work but has a really neat history including mysterious owners, murder, etc.

Also...my heart and soul longs for an original black copo project more than anything else. Any help from members here?

Thanks again for a great resource.

Eli

[whitetop]

I know what you mean. Old race cars have led a hard life. A guy in my hometown has a '69 B/B Camaro convertible race car that was raced since '71 or so. Car has about 30k miles but looks more like 300k. Top of fenders have a million dents from dropped cylinder heads, intakes and tools. Just about every dash part has a hole cut into it for gauges or buttons of some sort. No front end wiring, car is stripped, rear wheelwells trimmed etc. The only redeeming value is the car is rust free and never wrecked. When you picture a beat up, crusty old drag car this is it.
Dave

[hvychev]

[ QUOTE ]
Again...car needs tons of work but has a really neat history including mysterious owners, murder, etc.


[/ QUOTE ]

Very interesting........could you elaborate?

[Eli]

The seller tells it much better (and more accurate as this is from memory and we all know that is the second thing to go). Seems as if the car has only had about 4 owners...one of them murdered his girlfriend after a night of partying and driving around in the car (supposedly still in prison) and another of the owners did not want his spouse to know that he had purchased the car (he had). Kept it from her for a long time.

And on the quote that the car needs a ton of work....the previous post about this car covers most of that. The roof is a real mess as well as the other stated concerns.

[Mr70]

Sorry to ask,but was the Gilfriend killed in this actual Camaro?

[MotownMadman]

I looked at this car yesterday, the name of the original owner and racer, I am not sure if I remembered this correctly but I believe it was Delbert Delaage? Ring any bells with you east coast guys? I didnt hear the murder thing, my understanding was it was bought new, raced, then put in storage 25 years before changing hands. Definetly a saveable car though. Very solid body, will need some straightning, seats not correct, engine sevice replacement lower end, new GM hood, correct rear, nice glass. To justify this car financially at the current price the restoration work would have to be done by the owner. Put $50,000 in the resto and what we be the point with a non original engine? For that investment a finshed car would be the way to go.
Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[JoeG]

I used the bid estimate option on that COPO site----
$ 500-$600 per 72---not bad---- the only real problem I can see , is that they want these payments per month not per year. I could definately swing the 72 yr. payment plan. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]-------Did this car have any particular name, that it raced under?? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]