Meresq
Feb 14th, 07, 3:01 PM
Hi everyone.
My name is Mike and I live in the Akron,OH area. This seems to be a great site, with quite knowledgeable folks commenting in the forums.
I purchased a 1969 Chevelle SS 396 back in 1974 when I was 15--my first car--for $1,200! Great car! Of course, it was matching numbers but back then that meant little or nothing. Like many folks on this site I am sure, I could kick myself for selling that car!
In any event, I am just getting back into the muscle car arena. I began looking for a 1969 Chevelle about 6 months ago--boy did I have sticker shock initially! I finally found a 69 Chevelle here in Ohio--very nice. Just under 32,000 miles on it!
I have talked with buddies and relatives of the original owner (his mom bought the car for him in 1969 when he was 18 and he passed away at age 35). I have also talked with the all subsequent owners.
This Chevelle sat on the showroom at Earl Evan's Chevrolet dealership (no longer in business) and everyone I have spoken with has told me, with no uncertainty, that the car had a factory 427. (The orignal owner it seems had a "problem" with 3rd gear and sucked a valve). The second owner purchased the car with the blown 427. He sold the 427 and put in a small block.
The car originally had the bench seat, 4 speed with no console, rear antenna, marker lights with no ci indication, and all Mailbu emblems in the interior and bowtie in the grill, 3/8 gas line, front disc brakes, rear sway bar, but no power steering--it is a high ratio manual and very easy to handle. The car came from the Baltimore plant. The sequence number seems to be in the range when COPO's were being produced. Of course, no build sheet has been found yet. The only place that has not been checked is under the headliner.
My question to all the Chevelle enthusiasts is this: how many people have found, or know people who have found, build sheets in the roof under the headliner? Short of the dealer installing the big block, it seems from all accounts that this is a COPO.
I certainly would appreciate any and all feedback (and any hints for determining the COPO status).
Thanks.
Mike
My name is Mike and I live in the Akron,OH area. This seems to be a great site, with quite knowledgeable folks commenting in the forums.
I purchased a 1969 Chevelle SS 396 back in 1974 when I was 15--my first car--for $1,200! Great car! Of course, it was matching numbers but back then that meant little or nothing. Like many folks on this site I am sure, I could kick myself for selling that car!
In any event, I am just getting back into the muscle car arena. I began looking for a 1969 Chevelle about 6 months ago--boy did I have sticker shock initially! I finally found a 69 Chevelle here in Ohio--very nice. Just under 32,000 miles on it!
I have talked with buddies and relatives of the original owner (his mom bought the car for him in 1969 when he was 18 and he passed away at age 35). I have also talked with the all subsequent owners.
This Chevelle sat on the showroom at Earl Evan's Chevrolet dealership (no longer in business) and everyone I have spoken with has told me, with no uncertainty, that the car had a factory 427. (The orignal owner it seems had a "problem" with 3rd gear and sucked a valve). The second owner purchased the car with the blown 427. He sold the 427 and put in a small block.
The car originally had the bench seat, 4 speed with no console, rear antenna, marker lights with no ci indication, and all Mailbu emblems in the interior and bowtie in the grill, 3/8 gas line, front disc brakes, rear sway bar, but no power steering--it is a high ratio manual and very easy to handle. The car came from the Baltimore plant. The sequence number seems to be in the range when COPO's were being produced. Of course, no build sheet has been found yet. The only place that has not been checked is under the headliner.
My question to all the Chevelle enthusiasts is this: how many people have found, or know people who have found, build sheets in the roof under the headliner? Short of the dealer installing the big block, it seems from all accounts that this is a COPO.
I certainly would appreciate any and all feedback (and any hints for determining the COPO status).
Thanks.
Mike