Whats a 69 COPO Camaro.....with Super low miles...worth?

[TC]

I don't think he bought it from Berger,he mentioned the guys name he went through to get it,but the name really didn't ring a bell....and the assumption I got,was it was ordered for some one else,but was sold to him instead.

I guess I got kind of excited,and wanted to get as much information as possible....but failed to listen,or question any thing I didn't understand and should have asked more about some things......a car like this,will do that to a guy...hehehe

One of the guys mentioned...was Wally Booth,not sure what he had to do with it...though.


[Edited by TC (01-05-2002 at 02:27 PM).]

[Jeff H]

I wouldn't give up completely. See if you can get more information like if the BE rear is still there. Then maybe you can convince him it's not worth as much as he thinks and possibly get the price to a reasonable range.

[Tenney]

The fact that the car is still with its original owner who is also a friend would maintain my interest, too. Some excellent notes have been provided re: value and making car correct. May be time to negotiate a reasonable price?

[TC]

I'll see if I can get a hold of him,and confirm some of things I'm not sure about.

He made it pretty clear,that was the price tag,and he didn't care to sell it for any less...obviously,if he's had it this long...it's not a big concern if he sells it right a way...so,looks like it would have to be something,some one just has to have(regardless of the price),to get what he wants for it.

I was really more interested,if I could make a couple bucks on it any how.Don't get me wrong,I would love to have it in my own personal collection,but I would rather have several cars of lesser value,that I could drive,and run the snot out of...with out a big fear,of what might happen to them.

The BE rear end...I presume thats COPO only equipment?
I have a factory camaro 12 bolt,that I'm not sure what it originally came in...where would I look to see if it's a BE?

[SuperCars]

What is his price tag? The problem with some car owners asking price, is that they hear what a frame-off restored or complete un-touched, original survivor sells for and they believe that's what their car is worth? They gloss over some of their car's problems like this car has. Race modified, motor exploded, crazy stripe paint, plus who knows what else is missing, or if wheel openings are modified or tubbed; and it doesn't stop there. Just to restore a complete original running, intact car that has never been molested or touched, and only needs restoration because it's condition has deteriorated; still runs in the tens of thousands of dollars.

But like you say, in this case the owner probably just doesn't want to sell, and therefore has a high price tag. Best of luck to you though, if you pursue it further.

[TC]

The price Tag is(hope your sitting down...hehehe)pretty close to a 100k.
I'm sure the wheel wells aren't modified...but,it could be tubbed,cause it ran Super Stock....and NHRA might have allowed it for that class...back then?

I really need to just go look at the car...to see what it really is...and what it would really take to make it right.

Also,I agree 100% with ya SuperCars,about what ya said about thinking it's worth what a #1 untouched car is worth.Like I said earlier,he checked it out with"A Camaro Expert",but maybe the guy wasn't an expert,or took the car to be something it's not.......or maybe I'm not aware of something,that would completely change the senario,of what the car really is.



[Edited by TC (01-06-2002 at 03:54 PM).]

[Jeff H]

Good thing I was sitting down and my beer was empty! Kevin nailed it when he said people hear what a specific vehicle in mint restored or perfect unrestored condition sells for and think their car is worth the same. I could see your friend thinking the low mileage would add value, but it really doesn't add much due to the original block being gone. If you go look at the car, check the VIN. The only COPO that needs work that might be worth that money would be a ZL1 and all those VIN's are known so it can be verified.

[TC]

Okay,I went over and looked at the car...and think I have my facts strait now.
Not sure if any one really cares,but thought I'd post it any way.

The Car was ordered for Dick Aron,but took so long to be delivered,he just took a L78 off the lot.My friend called Jr,at Berger and made arraignments too buy the cheapest L72 Camaro they had,....and this was the car they showed him.He said,it had Dick Arons Race car written on it when he arrived at Berger.He was also offered a ZL-1,and wishes he would have taken it now...but it was over twice as much as this car...so it's understandable why he chose this one.

The stripes were applied over the original paint,and the rear end is the original...with the exception of the gear set,and possibly has HD axle shafts installed(he couldn't remember).He pulled the original motor,and installed an L72,built by Wally Booth,that was later pulled...and go's with the car.The heads are 840's(@#$%! I forgot to look at what they were dated).The block was Decked,so nothing to see on the pad,and it was 4 bolt main...but I couldn't read the date code.He also has a factory intake(not the cars original)and the cars original Carb.There's also two or three of the original 14x7 steel rims,and the dog dish caps that go with it.the original exhaust,exhaust manifolds,distributor and other engine accessories are present too.

I'm not a professional at restoration's,but I'm experienced and pretty fair at body work and anything else involved in restoring a car...And in my honest opinion,the car does not need any where near a full restoration.I found one small blister of surface rust around the rear window,where it was probably chipped when the molding was installed.Other than that,I think it would only need painted,because of the stripes.The underside looked real nice,the sub frame/front suspension,rear end and springs would need some paint work,and the interior looked like brand new,other than it needs a good cleaning,a new cluster besel where the tach's mounted...and a factory shifter.
The motor would most likely only need checked over,bores honed,a rebuild kit and factory camshaft.He said it doesn't have many runs on it,and wasn't hurt when it was pulled.

The car has more miles than I though,less than 500 he thinks,but not what the speedo says.One other thing,is the rear wheel wells were altered just a small amount,I could not see it,but he said they were so the slicks would fit,and the the upper wheel lip is folded in,for clearance too....that really sucks,but I think it could be fixed fairly easily.

Though it still sounds like a fair amount of work,I wouldn't be scared to tackle it...but it still wouldn't be 100%,and wouldn't be worth the price tag......if I had more money than I knew what too do with....I would buy it any way,just cause I like the car...but thats not the case....and probably why,I don't have more money than I know what too do with.

Here's some pic's of the car
http://bigblockshop.topcities.com/copo1.html

[Charley Lillard]

What a Cool car.....I wouldn't paint it. I would just clean it up and have fun with it.Bring it to the Reunion and School a few People at the Drags maybe. And it is a Berger....And it has paperwork...Cool car..Thanks for posting the pics.

[TC]

Yeah,I thought that too Charley.....I usually don't care for paint jobs like that,but the paint looks like new,and it kinda take's a guy back to the Good Ol'Days of SuperStock.

He said he had problems with the clutch,and had to granny shift the car....and still ran 11.50,he never did get the car tuned in,be for he went back to racing his old car...so I bet it wouldn't take much, too School quite a few People at the Drags