Live from Oxford , MI - the Camaro COPO story - Part 3

Jack Matyas · 12-02-2012, 07:37 PM

Talk about hard - when asked to write this my first response was ---- " no way " because writing about yourself is tough to do without sounding like you're bragging but after a little prodding here we go .As many of you know this coming Friday - December 7 ( Pearl Harbor Day ) I'll become one of those " new car guys " when I take delivery of a Victory Red Camaro COPO - # 62 to be exact .

My delivery will take place at the Chevrolet Performance Build Center in Oxford , MI - about an hour north of the Motor City - Detroit , where it all started .

When I was last at the build center in August I got to witness the first COPO to roll out of the building - and it was my friends - Jim Boburkas' # 007 COPO and was thrilled - and even more when I watched him make it faster and faster -- and then to go on to Class wins . Would I have liked to have mine on the same day ? You bet but someone must be first and someone has to be at the end .......Still ---Well , you get it .Even though I'm pretty much at the end of this run I'm still going to be the owner of one of the first batch - whatever that is worth .And to someone like myself who was around to see the original sixty-nine 1969 Camaro COPO's its important .Today is a bit different as they are sold out - in 1969 Chevy dealers weren't so lucky - my hometown dealer had two and it took him more than 2 years to sell them - why you ask - they were $ 7,500 each - big money back then - twice the price of a loaded Z-28 .

My peeps on this almost 600 mile trip that we'll be leaving for early Thursday morning - Jeff Jewell ( son of Division One SuperStock legend Larry Jewell ) , Keith Lehman - lifelong friend ( and a devout Camaro Z-28 guy ) and Joe Burns - a Chevrolet Service Manager ( and former drag racer ) from the Philadelphia area .

Friday will be a long one for sure as besides me taking delivery 9 others will be also - a record for sure as this has never happened before . I'll be smiling all day - not only will I be getting my car finally but I'll be covering the others for ClassRacer.com .Thanks Ken for the opportunity .

Stay tuned as I promise to bring it all ...............

Mackie Family Racing · 12-02-2012, 07:52 PM

Captain Jack -- I will be delivering a set of WELD wheels to Turn Key in Oxford tomorrow morning... not for your car (yet...) but I may throw a few Weld Racing stickers on your car for good luck! Travel safe, and if you're still around on Saturday after picking up your new sled, give me a call.

Scott

Hemi Moose · 12-02-2012, 07:59 PM

Have all the guys at the shop sign it under the hood or inside the trunk lid or some place else on the car...and good luck with your new ride.

Rat Raceway · 12-02-2012, 08:07 PM

Congrats!

It's a unreal feeling seeing your car for the first time. Enjoy every second, it's over in a flash! Something I will never forget.

Do a big old burnout before you leave!

Jerry Terry · 12-03-2012, 12:16 AM

Congradulations Jack, thats a trip alot of us would like to take, cant wait to hear from you.
Jerry

Paul Hellenberg · 12-03-2012, 08:20 AM

Congrats Jack

It looks like a fun project.

Pistol Pete · 12-03-2012, 10:01 AM

Good Luck Jack & Have A Safe Trip.
Thanks for all of the updates.
I didn't win the powerball, so i guess i'll have to wait to get mine. lol

Can't wait to see it.

Tom Goldman · 12-03-2012, 05:00 PM

Can't wait to see it in the shop !

George Lyons · 12-03-2012, 05:31 PM

My #53 car, a Victory Red 427, was delivered to me the day before Thankgiving and that will surely be a day I will never forget. GM and all the folks at the Oxford, MI facility really did a great job. After having taken delivery on many new Chevy cars and trucks over 4 decades, this was one memorable experience. I have yet to see the first quarter mile in my new COPO but the entire order, build and delivery process has made me one happy customer. You will have a great day getting that car and seeing it home in your own garage will be very rewarding.

Mackie Family Racing · 12-03-2012, 06:14 PM

Jackson -- was at Turn Key today... nice place, had a chance to tour with Mike Lawrence... also dropped my damaged Chevy II hood over at the Mancini's paint & body shop, and they had a few COPO's rolling around getting ready for paint...

I will attempt to attach a couple of (lousy) photos I took of your sled... looks like they have "a little" work to do to be ready for you on Friday -- but I'm sure it'll all come together.

Congrats, have fun -- and I will call you about wheels... dropped off a few samples with the Turn Key guys for the Camaro roller program

Scott

12-02-2012, 07:37 PM	#1
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,927 Likes: 406 Liked 2,050 Times in 398 Posts	Live from Oxford , MI - the Camaro COPO story - Part 3 Talk about hard - when asked to write this my first response was ---- " no way " because writing about yourself is tough to do without sounding like you're bragging but after a little prodding here we go .As many of you know this coming Friday - December 7 ( Pearl Harbor Day ) I'll become one of those " new car guys " when I take delivery of a Victory Red Camaro COPO - # 62 to be exact . My delivery will take place at the Chevrolet Performance Build Center in Oxford , MI - about an hour north of the Motor City - Detroit , where it all started . When I was last at the build center in August I got to witness the first COPO to roll out of the building - and it was my friends - Jim Boburkas' # 007 COPO and was thrilled - and even more when I watched him make it faster and faster -- and then to go on to Class wins . Would I have liked to have mine on the same day ? You bet but someone must be first and someone has to be at the end .......Still ---Well , you get it .Even though I'm pretty much at the end of this run I'm still going to be the owner of one of the first batch - whatever that is worth .And to someone like myself who was around to see the original sixty-nine 1969 Camaro COPO's its important .Today is a bit different as they are sold out - in 1969 Chevy dealers weren't so lucky - my hometown dealer had two and it took him more than 2 years to sell them - why you ask - they were $ 7,500 each - big money back then - twice the price of a loaded Z-28 . My peeps on this almost 600 mile trip that we'll be leaving for early Thursday morning - Jeff Jewell ( son of Division One SuperStock legend Larry Jewell ) , Keith Lehman - lifelong friend ( and a devout Camaro Z-28 guy ) and Joe Burns - a Chevrolet Service Manager ( and former drag racer ) from the Philadelphia area . Friday will be a long one for sure as besides me taking delivery 9 others will be also - a record for sure as this has never happened before . I'll be smiling all day - not only will I be getting my car finally but I'll be covering the others for ClassRacer.com .Thanks Ken for the opportunity . Stay tuned as I promise to bring it all ............... Attached Thumbnails __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO Last edited by Jack Matyas; 12-02-2012 at 07:57 PM.

12-02-2012, 07:52 PM	#2
Mackie Family Racing Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Milford, MI Posts: 179 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Live from Oxford , MI - the Camaro COPO story - Part 3 Captain Jack -- I will be delivering a set of WELD wheels to Turn Key in Oxford tomorrow morning... not for your car (yet...) but I may throw a few Weld Racing stickers on your car for good luck! Travel safe, and if you're still around on Saturday after picking up your new sled, give me a call. Scott

12-02-2012, 07:59 PM	#3
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Live from Oxford , MI - the Camaro COPO story - Part 3 Have all the guys at the shop sign it under the hood or inside the trunk lid or some place else on the car...and good luck with your new ride. Last edited by Hemi Moose; 12-02-2012 at 08:04 PM.

12-02-2012, 08:07 PM	#4
Rat Raceway Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Denver Co Posts: 408 Likes: 282 Liked 35 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Live from Oxford , MI - the Camaro COPO story - Part 3 Congrats! It's a unreal feeling seeing your car for the first time. Enjoy every second, it's over in a flash! Something I will never forget. Do a big old burnout before you leave!

12-03-2012, 08:20 AM	#6
Paul Hellenberg Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: 41035 Posts: 243 Likes: 3 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Live from Oxford , MI - the Camaro COPO story - Part 3 Congrats Jack It looks like a fun project. __________________ Paul Hellenberg 3881 SS and STK paul@hellenberg.us

12-03-2012, 12:16 AM	#5
Jerry Terry Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 652 Likes: 6,086 Liked 450 Times in 133 Posts	Re: Live from Oxford , MI - the Camaro COPO story - Part 3 Congradulations Jack, thats a trip alot of us would like to take, cant wait to hear from you. Jerry

12-03-2012, 10:01 AM	#7
Pistol Pete VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Punta Gorda Isles, Fl. Posts: 1,626 Likes: 3,403 Liked 779 Times in 209 Posts	Re: Live from Oxford , MI - the Camaro COPO story - Part 3 Good Luck Jack & Have A Safe Trip. Thanks for all of the updates. I didn't win the powerball, so i guess i'll have to wait to get mine. lol Can't wait to see it.

12-03-2012, 05:00 PM	#8
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,475 Likes: 887 Liked 865 Times in 235 Posts	Re: Live from Oxford , MI - the Camaro COPO story - Part 3 Can't wait to see it in the shop ! __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

12-03-2012, 05:31 PM	#9
George Lyons Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 33 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Live from Oxford , MI - the Camaro COPO story - Part 3 My #53 car, a Victory Red 427, was delivered to me the day before Thankgiving and that will surely be a day I will never forget. GM and all the folks at the Oxford, MI facility really did a great job. After having taken delivery on many new Chevy cars and trucks over 4 decades, this was one memorable experience. I have yet to see the first quarter mile in my new COPO but the entire order, build and delivery process has made me one happy customer. You will have a great day getting that car and seeing it home in your own garage will be very rewarding.

12-03-2012, 06:14 PM	#10
Mackie Family Racing Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Milford, MI Posts: 179 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Live from Oxford , MI - the Camaro COPO story - Part 3 Jackson -- was at Turn Key today... nice place, had a chance to tour with Mike Lawrence... also dropped my damaged Chevy II hood over at the Mancini's paint & body shop, and they had a few COPO's rolling around getting ready for paint... I will attempt to attach a couple of (lousy) photos I took of your sled... looks like they have "a little" work to do to be ready for you on Friday -- but I'm sure it'll all come together. Congrats, have fun -- and I will call you about wheels... dropped off a few samples with the Turn Key guys for the Camaro roller program Scott Attached Thumbnails