Where COPO's Go To Die

[x33rs]

This thread caught my interest. Being from Cincinnati originally I was (still am) friends with several that own COPO's in the area. Mike being one of them, we were very familiar with a car just like this, sitting exactly in this condition for many years in the Williamsburg area off 132 in the guys front yard.

As the story goes, Mike was friends with this fella back in the 70's. Mike bought his COPO in the early 70's (still has it) and used to cruise around town with his friend that had a COPO. At some point the engine was pulled, sold to a guy a few doors down for a boat (matches Whitetops story), and a small block was put in place. Shortly after, the car was parked in the yard where it sat throughout the 80's and 90's and sunk into the ground. I tried to buy the car numerous times in the late 80's and early 90's but the owner wouldn't sell. Last time I looked at the car in the early 90's, it was so far gone I got disinterested, had small trees growing up through the floor boards, trunk was gone, even the heater box was rusted through. The car however at that time was largely intact albeit with a SBC under the ZL2 hood last time I saw it.

When I saw the pictures in this thread I was floored. By the 1990's this COPO was sunk into the ground just like this and rotting away and I thought for a minute it might be the same car. But since these pics are recent and the car is still there, I figure it must be a different one because the one I'm familiar with was finally sold and pulled out of the yard sometime in the late 90's. Friend of mine rumored to have bought the car, and attempted to buy the original engine down the street. Not sure if the engine purchase came through or not. Last I knew he was going to attempt a restoration. Lost touch with that friend and the car, don't know what happened to it.

Surreal how this COPO sounds so similar and appears to be in nearly identical condition, and in Ohio to boot. I was talking to Mike the other day about this car, and he said the one we were familiar with that I referred to never resurfaced again, wasn't sure what happened to it. I have no contact for our mutual friend that was rumored to buy it so I can't confirm. Would be a small world if this was in fact the same car, and it just so happens it didn't sell. But I see the SBC is no longer under the hood.

[GotGrunt]

Originally Posted by GM_427_Racer

I am no expert, I do know what my car looked like and this is not my car and more importantly, actually based on the VIN, this is not my car. Is it a 427 car? Maybe it could have been, but I was not going to get a jack to see if it is a BE 12 bolt. Looking at the car objectively, maybe the rear end is the only thing that is worth anything and that might be a crapshoot. If the engine is down the street, then I guess the car would be worth more, if the engine could be purchased but this project would take a whole pile of cash, I mean piles and piles of dead presidents (Ben Franklins).

The VIN as I read it on the dash is 124379N664592. So, if there are some experts (and I know there are quite a lot on this site), maybe they have some lists that are better than mine and they can verify something based on this VIN. I was going to pull the cowl panel, to look at the hidden VIN, but once I confirmed it was not my car, did not see the point of it.

GM

Just curious, how is the owner of the car? Most guys I’ve met with cars like this on their property don’t want to be bothered with anyone.

[ZiggyL78]

No offence to anyone but how many times have you heard of a BB Camaro and the guy blows it up and puts a SB in it and it ends up in his yard back yard rotting away?Just saying.

[GM_427_Racer]

Evidently, TWO, that are confirmed..... LOL

[Unreal]

Originally Posted by ZiggyL78

No offence to anyone but how many times have you heard of a BB Camaro and the guy blows it up and puts a SB in it and it ends up in his yard back yard rotting away?Just saying.

Ya gotta kiss a lotta frogs if you hope to find your Prince Charming! Just saying.

[Ambrola]

After reading this story I am always brought back to a time many years ago when I kept driving by a old trailer home with a 66 SS gold chevelle sitting in the front yard. After a couple of weeks I noticed that the grass wasn't being mowed and was just growing all around the car. Well I finally pulled in looked at the car and knocked on the door and a old woman answered the door. I asked very politely if the car was for sale. She said no and just slammed the door. I thought many times how she wouldn't even talk about it when I would have given her more than her home was worth. You never know what or why people do these things.

[x33rs]

Originally Posted by Ambrola

After reading this story I am always brought back to a time many years ago when I kept driving by a old trailer home with a 66 SS gold chevelle sitting in the front yard. After a couple of weeks I noticed that the grass wasn't being mowed and was just growing all around the car. Well I finally pulled in looked at the car and knocked on the door and a old woman answered the door. I asked very politely if the car was for sale. She said no and just slammed the door. I thought many times how she wouldn't even talk about it when I would have given her more than her home was worth. You never know what or why people do these things.

I've never really been able to wrap my head around the thought process. I think some people just like to be able to say they own something, even if it's rotting away in the back yard. Others maybe a sentimental attachment. Sadly most cases end up for sale after the owner passes, by then it's a pile of rust and the family is left to deal with it.

[southernfriedcj]

Originally Posted by x33rs

I've never really been able to wrap my head around the thought process. I think some people just like to be able to say they own something, even if it's rotting away in the back yard. Others maybe a sentimental attachment. Sadly most cases end up for sale after the owner passes, by then it's a pile of rust and the family is left to deal with it.

I was looking at some land "out in the country ish" for development into mini farms and the old guy that lives in the middle of the property has a bad reputation so we steered clear of him. Other family members were trying to sell the land and kick him out. Ended up that a family member in New York bought the land and is planning to sit on it.

A couple of months later my business partner and I were out looking at some other land and we decided to drop in on the old dude just to introduce ourselves and hopefully take a look at all his stuff(maybe 50"+ cars/truck/boats/junk).

I drove back into the middle of the 100 acres +/- property and pulled up to the guys house.
I approached the house and he popped up from behind a tree and scared the crap out of me.

I introduced myself and told him that I had been out there a while back when the land was for sale and just wanted to shoot the breeze. After a few minutes talking about this and that I asked about all his stuff. He started telling me about it and I asked him if it was cool if we took a look see at his stuff. He said no problem and we all three walked around and talked about all his stuff.

There was an awesome old Allis road grader that I wanted but he said he may need it sometime(the dude is in his 80's). There was an early 70's COE Freightliner with integral sleeper that he wouldn't turns loose of. A '68 Firebird that was his wife's car. It was about to be laying frame on the ground. There was a '68 Camaro that was his. It had some speed equipment on it and he stated he was a street racer back in the 60's/70's. He was going to hold onto that car.

After a couple hours and a lot of cool stories and good junk we hit the road. Next time I go back I'm gonna ask to take some pictures and see if he wants to let go of anything.

[whitetop]

2 Copos were for sale at Bob's. The lemans blue one in the photo and a burnished brown Copo.

J.A. the owner of the copo above actually wanted the burnished brown car but on the day of purchase it would not start so he purchased the blue car instead. A local gent's brother worked for Bob's at the time and has been supplying the info.

[GM_427_Racer]

No offence to anyone but how many times have you heard of a BB Camaro and the guy blows it up and puts a SB in it and it ends up in his yard back yard rotting away?Just saying.

Evidently, TWO, that are confirmed.... LOL

GM