Copo Camaros - Page 9

Dana Fitzpatrick · 02-14-2010, 04:20 PM

Here is a couple of photos of my Berger 9561 COPO Camaro. The first one was taken when the original owner was racing it at Martin 131 Dragway, the other one was taken last year, also at Martin. The car was also ordered with COPO 9737 Sports Car package. I can't seem to get both pics on one post, may have to do two posts.

Dana Fitzpatrick · 02-14-2010, 04:23 PM

Here is the photo from last year.

Paul Ceasrine · 02-15-2010, 05:08 AM

Dana,
Nice ground clearance

Was that front color-keyed bumper part of the 9737 option?
and 69 non-SS,
The Rhode Island dealer was Norwood Chevrolet, Post Road, Warwick, Rhode Island,,,dealer zone-code 32-555,,They sponsored some Funny Cars,,,and I think Ralph Ridgeways 69' C /MP & D/MP Camaro...as well as a host of Chevelles, Camaro's and Nova's.
Big hitters at Connecticut Dragstrip and New England Dragway.
PC

copo69 · 02-15-2010, 02:31 PM

here's Mike Keener's car before it became a racecar.

Bobby Zlatkin · 02-15-2010, 04:34 PM

I special ordered a Nova in '69 from Anthony Abraham Chev. in Miami. Really wanted a Camaro but too cheap to spring the extra bucks (dumb ***). My car came in mid May. I went back to the dealer about a week later as they called 'my license was in'. Saw a white (what looked like a 6 cyl.) Camaro parked where the new cars came in. What caught my attention was that it had the cowl induction hood but looked like a car that shouldn't have that hood. Went over and looked at the window sticker and saw: L72, 427/425. Also remember that it had an M22. Don't remember anything else on sticker but the bottom line $3,600 something. Had all the SS stuff (power discs multi-leaf, 12 bolt), but no SS badging. Looked around and there was also a dark green one there.
Also a 4-speed. Same options, same price. I knew they were something special but I didn't know what. Never had heard of a COPO then.

So I know that Abraham Chev., Miami, FL had a least 2 of them. Just unaffordable to me at that time. I used to go to Miami-Hollywood Speedway every Sat. night, but never saw either car there or ever again.

Dana Fitzpatrick · 02-15-2010, 10:39 PM

Paul, endura front bumpers were not included in the COPO 9737 package. They were a seperate option, but must have been common on the Berger COPO's. I think that every one I know of came with one.

Chevy454 · 02-16-2010, 11:11 AM

Dana: nice to see you here! I love watching your car run! For those that haven't seen it in person, Dana's car is so silky smoooooth, yet so quick! Wish we could get together more often @ the track...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Casey,
Lots of Long Island-based big-block Camaro's visited Dover Drag Strip
69' thru 74'. Several from Baldwin Chevrolet,,as well as Smithtown,
Mineola and Hicksville..Even a damn COPO car from Shoreham..
No rear-spoilers for the COPO cars, unless added-on..
That dark-green (Fathom Green) color, seemed to be a popular choice..
PC

You could order the spoilers (D80) on any of the COPO Camaros...matter of fact, all of the COPO Camaros sold through Yenko Chevrolet in '69 had spoilers. Ours (pictured below) is one of 5 Daytona Yellow automatics sold through Yenko in '69...here it is on it's way to a 12.0 @ 117 pass on the F70-15 Polyglass:

Someone mentioned Byrne Bros. as selling some COPO Camaros...they sold *lots* of hi-po stuff. Here is a picture from last year's "Supercar Reunion" of an original Byrne COPO Camaro racing our original "Red Alert" Chevelle, which was also sold out of Byrne:

Mike Keener: we've had 3 or 4 different guys the past few years visit us at Yenko.net looking for your old car...!

Chevy454 · 02-16-2010, 11:32 AM

More eye canding from the "Supercar Reunion"...

A gentleman I've been lucky to get to know over the past several years, Mr. Ken Barnhart, racing out of Elgin, IL...he bought a '69 ZL-1 Camaro brand new, from Fred Gibb Chevrolet, ran it in SS/B for years, and stil owns the car, and it still sees action at the track! Ken and this very Camaro won SS/B @ Indy in '70, and was runner up in '71, I believe...

Dana Fitzpatrick · 02-16-2010, 08:07 PM

Hi Rob! It's been too long since I've seen that Yenko run! Maybe this year at Martin, I'll put a pair of E70's on my car and we can line 'em up. I'm sure I will get a good long look at the backside of that Yenko, LOL!
Guys, this is the man to ask when it comes to COPO's, especially Yenkos.
Before I go, is that you getting ready to make a pass in Ken's ZL-1?

Paul Ceasrine · 02-17-2010, 03:24 AM

DANA,
I see on the 'endura' bumper. Just had to check my old 69' Camaro
brochure..Code Option #VE3,,,$42.15 list price...'special body color front bumper',,,,highly recommended for 'Daytona Yellow' and 'Hugger Orange'..Can see why,,looks great on your car!!...Not available with
the front bumper guard option

...
....Chevy454,,,are you the famous 'Bob Hamilton' of "Red Alert" fame.
I lived 20 minutes north of 'Byrne Brothers', Virginia Road, White Plains,,,
right off the Bronx River Parkway.....Saw lots of nice machines on that lot..they also sponsored the 'Lagana Brothers' white 68' B/MP Camaro..
They also had quite a few 69 non-SS 350/255HP basic cars for the
J/S and K/S,,,junior stock racers,,which was the hot combination back then..
Paul

02-14-2010, 04:20 PM	#81
Dana Fitzpatrick Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 148 Likes: 4 Liked 10 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Copo Camaros Here is a couple of photos of my Berger 9561 COPO Camaro. The first one was taken when the original owner was racing it at Martin 131 Dragway, the other one was taken last year, also at Martin. The car was also ordered with COPO 9737 Sports Car package. I can't seem to get both pics on one post, may have to do two posts.

02-14-2010, 04:23 PM	#82
Dana Fitzpatrick Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 148 Likes: 4 Liked 10 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Copo Camaros Here is the photo from last year.

02-15-2010, 05:08 AM	#83
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Copo Camaros Dana, Nice ground clearance Was that front color-keyed bumper part of the 9737 option? and 69 non-SS, The Rhode Island dealer was Norwood Chevrolet, Post Road, Warwick, Rhode Island,,,dealer zone-code 32-555,,They sponsored some Funny Cars,,,and I think Ralph Ridgeways 69' C /MP & D/MP Camaro...as well as a host of Chevelles, Camaro's and Nova's. Big hitters at Connecticut Dragstrip and New England Dragway. PC Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 02-15-2010 at 06:32 AM. Reason: addition

02-15-2010, 02:31 PM	#84
copo69 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: WV Posts: 21 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Copo Camaros here's Mike Keener's car before it became a racecar. Attached Thumbnails

02-15-2010, 04:34 PM	#85
Bobby Zlatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mills River, NC Posts: 417 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Copo Camaros I special ordered a Nova in '69 from Anthony Abraham Chev. in Miami. Really wanted a Camaro but too cheap to spring the extra bucks (dumb ***). My car came in mid May. I went back to the dealer about a week later as they called 'my license was in'. Saw a white (what looked like a 6 cyl.) Camaro parked where the new cars came in. What caught my attention was that it had the cowl induction hood but looked like a car that shouldn't have that hood. Went over and looked at the window sticker and saw: L72, 427/425. Also remember that it had an M22. Don't remember anything else on sticker but the bottom line $3,600 something. Had all the SS stuff (power discs multi-leaf, 12 bolt), but no SS badging. Looked around and there was also a dark green one there. Also a 4-speed. Same options, same price. I knew they were something special but I didn't know what. Never had heard of a COPO then. So I know that Abraham Chev., Miami, FL had a least 2 of them. Just unaffordable to me at that time. I used to go to Miami-Hollywood Speedway every Sat. night, but never saw either car there or ever again. __________________ Bobby & Norene Zlatkin L/SA

02-15-2010, 10:39 PM	#86
Dana Fitzpatrick Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 148 Likes: 4 Liked 10 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Copo Camaros Paul, endura front bumpers were not included in the COPO 9737 package. They were a seperate option, but must have been common on the Berger COPO's. I think that every one I know of came with one.

02-16-2010, 11:32 AM	#88
Chevy454 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Alton, Missouri Posts: 84 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Copo Camaros More eye canding from the "Supercar Reunion"... A gentleman I've been lucky to get to know over the past several years, Mr. Ken Barnhart, racing out of Elgin, IL...he bought a '69 ZL-1 Camaro brand new, from Fred Gibb Chevrolet, ran it in SS/B for years, and stil owns the car, and it still sees action at the track! Ken and this very Camaro won SS/B @ Indy in '70, and was runner up in '71, I believe... __________________ 69 Pure/Stock Yenko Camaro 11.73 @ 118

02-16-2010, 08:07 PM	#89
Dana Fitzpatrick Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 148 Likes: 4 Liked 10 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Copo Camaros Hi Rob! It's been too long since I've seen that Yenko run! Maybe this year at Martin, I'll put a pair of E70's on my car and we can line 'em up. I'm sure I will get a good long look at the backside of that Yenko, LOL! Guys, this is the man to ask when it comes to COPO's, especially Yenkos. Before I go, is that you getting ready to make a pass in Ken's ZL-1?

02-17-2010, 03:24 AM	#90
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Copo Camaros DANA, I see on the 'endura' bumper. Just had to check my old 69' Camaro brochure..Code Option #VE3,,,$42.15 list price...'special body color front bumper',,,,highly recommended for 'Daytona Yellow' and 'Hugger Orange'..Can see why,,looks great on your car!!...Not available with the front bumper guard option... ....Chevy454,,,are you the famous 'Bob Hamilton' of "Red Alert" fame. I lived 20 minutes north of 'Byrne Brothers', Virginia Road, White Plains,,, right off the Bronx River Parkway.....Saw lots of nice machines on that lot..they also sponsored the 'Lagana Brothers' white 68' B/MP Camaro.. They also had quite a few 69 non-SS 350/255HP basic cars for the J/S and K/S,,,junior stock racers,,which was the hot combination back then.. Paul