This past weekend I met a guy who has an original 69 427 with a MQ suffix code on the front vin pad along with a vin number. We got to talking about the motor, which he bought from a close firend who originally puchased the 69 chevelle new. The car was so rusted he had it scapped (I know I know) but still has all the pictures and documentation from the car.

My question is would it be worth it to build a clone (not to sell) of the original car since the original vin and cowl tags are long gone with the original motor? I would want to do a nut and bolt restoration but think it may be somewhat difficult to find a 69 malibu with the "special order paint" it had.

Also, we have not discussed the cost of the motor so I am not really sure what a short block is worth with the MQ suffix and vin on the pad?

Open for opinions.......

Re-bodied COPO Chevelles have gone for decent money. A car built around this engine would probably draw more money than the average car. We had a '72 Chevelle with one of the 1968 L78 MQ code engines added. People don't seem to realize that the code got used on two different engines in different years.

Sent you a PM.

Responded to PM

was it Baltimore built car?
Can you post any pictures or other info on the car?

Would be interesting to see the documentation

This past weekend I met a guy who has an original 69 427 with a MQ suffix code on the front vin pad along with a vin number. We got to talking about the motor, which he bought from a close firend who originally puchased the 69 chevelle new. The car was so rusted he had it scapped (I know I know) but still has all the pictures and documentation from the car.

My question is would it be worth it to build a clone (not to sell) of the original car since the original vin and cowl tags are long gone with the original motor? I would want to do a nut and bolt restoration but think it may be somewhat difficult to find a 69 malibu with the "special order paint" it had.

Also, we have not discussed the cost of the motor so I am not really sure what a short block is worth with the MQ suffix and vin on the pad?

Open for opinions.......


Don't feel bad about scrapping the car. In 1987 I cut the center wing off my buddies running 440 Daytona so I could get my motorcycle in the back of my pickup. Claire Voyance is not a trait either of us posess.

Our engine is T0402MQ. Pretty close build dates.

Interesting! My machinist is doing one of the real deal 69 ZL1 blocks as we speak and the stamp is T0412ML. I wonder if most of the COPO motors that were installed from the factory were assembled around the same time frame.