1969 COPO Camaro - Jerry MacNeish certified
This 1969 427, 4 speed, COPO Camaro was sold brand new, in 1969, to Mrs Arnold as a present to her son David, who's entire plan for the car was to go drag racing. It was purchased through Hayes Chevrolet-Buick in New Milford, CT on the 16th of Sept. 1969.
Since then, the car has racked up just over 800 miles, nearly all of them at the long defunct Dover Drag in Wingsdale, NY, just over the border from his home.
The story doesn't end there though. Seems as though the 17 year old Mr. Arnold ran in a bunch of races and won each one... Then, he lost one... The car needed to be better, so the original iron block 427 was sold and replaced with an all aluminum, 427, tunnel rammed, dual quad race engine, the entire steel front clip was removed and replaced with fiberglass fenders & hood . He also flared out the rear wheel wells so he could fit slicks and then painted the car in the typical 70's era metallic paint banners, with eagles and American flags, and he went back racing.
Reports are he did this for just a couple more years and then sold the aluminum 427 and parked the car. It sat for a couple years when a neighbor bought the car so he could get the steel front clip that came with the car, the car was then sold on to another person in CT. The third owner didn't keep it very long before he sold it the 4th owner, who tucked it away and that is where it sat for over 30 years when the current owner bought her.
The current owner was looking to build a big block 69 Camaro, 4 speed car so he could cruise around and go to local shows, cars and coffees, etc.
The original blue interior was still with the car and in near mint condition, so he used that but had to install new carpets, steering wheel and gauge console. The rear quarters were repaired to get back to stock and new sheetmetal fenders and hood were sourced. The original inner fenders were still with the car as well so those were cleaned up and used. The car was repainted in the original Dusk Blue Metallic, with the white hood/trunk stripes, a running 396 was dropped in and he started cruising around.
He posted several before and after photos up on the internet and several locals who knew the Arnolds and the car said, "Hey, I think that is a COPO car."
The current owner started to do some research and he found he was correct after checking the VIN against the various sources and finding it there. This is a 9561 car and is verified with it's VIN listing on the Yenko Supercar Registry.
He phoned up COPO and Camaro specialist, Jerry MacNeish and he recently came out and did his certification. See photos showing Jerry's comments that this is a very clean, COPO Camaro, with many original parts and some not, due to the race history.
Not wanting to the car down and repaint it without the stripes, he did know of a date correct , 512 coded iron block 427, which he purchased, rebuilt and installed.
What is on offer is a 1969, 427, 4 speed , real, deal COPO Camaro, with less than 900 miles on the odometer.
More particulars about the car: From the firewall back is the original metal (aside from minor quarter panel repair), the interior is original, all the glass is original, the bumpers and trim are original, the dash is original (it still has the cut out in the speaker screen where the cable drive tach was installed), the rear bumper is in great condition and has some push truck marks in it and the push button starter and cut off switch holes are still in the lower left dash panel. The radiator is original (when he dropped the race engine in Mr. Arnold had the radiator neck changed for better flow) and rad. support is also original along with "frame rails", front A arms, and calipers; The 113 and 114 motor mounts are also original. New springs, front and rear, were installed. The original rear springs come with the car but had been modified for racing. The original trunk lid and the spoiler that the kid ran (still wearing it's metal flake American flag paint) come with the car too.
Having just finished the rebuild this car is in near perfect condition. There is no rust nor was there ever, she spent most of her life in garages. She starts, runs and drives beautifully.
The 427 iron block is attached to an M20 close ratio 4 speed and out to a date correct 12 bolt rear now running 3:73 gears and a limited slip, the original BE 12 bolt was twisted up beyond repair (the current owner did track down the original rear end and tried to buy it but for whatever reason the person wouldn't sell it to him). The tires are BFG Radial T/A's (2021 date code) in 235/70/R15 wrapped around rally wheels sprayed in the same Dusk Blue with just the center cap.
The car has power brakes as the only real amenity.
Everything works, lights, horn, wipers, heat, blinkers.
Any questions, for several hundred more photos & video, to schedule a time to inspect her, or to make an offer, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for the interest!