1969 Chevelle COPO 427 - Page 4

Kenny Bomar · 08-18-2011, 07:12 PM

I had the first 1966 396/375 chevelle in memphis tn, bought it new I was 17 yrs old paid $3845.99 for it, I still have the original bill sheet ! Wish I still had the car !! Boy did I have fun w/ it no/one had seen a 375hp so all the other muscle cars took me on thinking of a 325hp, no comparison as we all know now! After a cpl of trips to jail for street racing I decided the parking was too high at their lot so I went to Lakeland Dragstrip It was on then !! What a blast! It ran in A/ps a pure stock class had to have street tires mufflers, suppose to be stock all over. Then when I finally had $ to buy headers I ran A/S Then the next year NHRA refactored the engine and the 375hp hardtop could not make the #per hp to run stock only a convertible 66 would make it. So I saved my pennies skipped lunches worked o/t as an app. electrician and purchased an L-88 short block from chevy for $430. put it in the car and ran B/mp as they say having a blast Back in the DAY!!!

CycloneFE · 08-18-2011, 08:00 PM

My favorite video...

denny harvey · 08-18-2011, 08:31 PM

a salesman at conners chevy in whitehall,ohio back in the day had a blue 69 copo chevelle that just killed everyone at green gables [ big street racing hangout ]. car had headers and 4:56 gears.what was funny was they had 12 to 15 copo camaros on the lot,but he had kids and choose the chevelle.too bad all i could drive then was a stingray bike...also downtown at white chevy on broad st they had yenkos on the new car lot outside...outside..dam

joe huestis · 08-18-2011, 09:04 PM

Paul,
Was that photo taken at Dover Drag Strip in Wingdale,NY ? Those fences in the background look awefully familiar. And was the chevelle of Frank Russo that of "Russo's Rat" fame ? I remember it well.
Joe Huestis

RebelRoad · 08-19-2011, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 396chevy

Might be several out there. I raced Carrol Fink's hemi at the 1974 division 3 indy points meet. I'll have to think alittle if any others. I do know where a photo of my black copo chevelle racing a nito 9 mustang. Might be a few pictures at local Pittsburg tracks of this car in 1973 and 1974

Thanks for the PM's...looks like we may have located your old COPO Chevelle. Try to post a pic or 2

Paul Ceasrine · 08-20-2011, 10:32 AM

Rock,,

For the NHRA in 1969, the 1969 Chevelle Malibu 427 COPO,
with the L-72 engine (425 HP) was originally built for the
SS/D and/or SS/DA class..

But in 1969 the NHRA re-adjusted the classes, and the 1969 Chevelle 427 COPO
was classed in SS/E or SS/EA, in with the B-Body Street-Hemi cars (except the heavier Dodge Chargers or convertible B-Body cars).

The SS/E class weight factor was (7.50 - 7.99 wt/hp).
The 69' Chevelle Malibu with the 427/425 HP L-72 weighed in at
#3554 lbs. (manual) or #3611 lbs. (automatic).

The 425 HP engine was re-factored to a higher rating, which placed the
Chevelle's in that HP/weight bracket.
Also, the cars could be classed in A/S for 1969.

In 1970,,,,the Chevelle 427 COPO car was re-classed back into SS/D,
and/or B/S in the stock class.

The carburetor, was a Holley Model #4150 780 CFM, w/vacuum secondaries.

Overall, a very powerful 'street car',,,,,,,,and driveable without any major problems,
at the track,,,,,moderate success,,,,,

pc

pc

larrylomascolo · 08-20-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CycloneFE

My favorite video...

Kevin Borgstrom yenko chevelle, he put a stick in car and ran AA/S ,beautiful car.

Frank Castros · 08-20-2011, 11:02 AM

Paul,

What ever happened to one of my favorite Dover cars "Russo's Rat" and was it an original COPO?

Paul Ceasrine · 08-20-2011, 11:42 AM

Frank Castro and Joe Huestis,,,,,

Yes, that is a 1969 Dover photo,,,,,,,but that Chevelle (1968 B/S) was not
Frank Russo's Chevelle.

Frank Russo's car was an original 1969 Chevelle SS396 (375 HP), 4-speed.
Bought out of Carmel, New York,,,,,'Putnam Motor Sales'
Dark blue original color...

Frank also ran in B/S in 1969,,,,,,,and a solid Class Winner running around 12.60's...
Went into SS/E in 1970,, and did pretty good at the 1970 NHRA Summernationals at York US Drag-O-Way, in Pennsylvania.
Won a couple of rounds in class, before breaking.

And here it is,,,,,

Frank Castros · 08-20-2011, 12:18 PM

Thanks Paul. What a great race car.

08-18-2011, 07:12 PM	#31
Kenny Bomar Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: mphs tn Posts: 218 Likes: 3 Liked 424 Times in 50 Posts	Re: 1969 Chevelle COPO 427 I had the first 1966 396/375 chevelle in memphis tn, bought it new I was 17 yrs old paid $3845.99 for it, I still have the original bill sheet ! Wish I still had the car !! Boy did I have fun w/ it no/one had seen a 375hp so all the other muscle cars took me on thinking of a 325hp, no comparison as we all know now! After a cpl of trips to jail for street racing I decided the parking was too high at their lot so I went to Lakeland Dragstrip It was on then !! What a blast! It ran in A/ps a pure stock class had to have street tires mufflers, suppose to be stock all over. Then when I finally had $ to buy headers I ran A/S Then the next year NHRA refactored the engine and the 375hp hardtop could not make the #per hp to run stock only a convertible 66 would make it. So I saved my pennies skipped lunches worked o/t as an app. electrician and purchased an L-88 short block from chevy for $430. put it in the car and ran B/mp as they say having a blast Back in the DAY!!! Last edited by Kenny Bomar; 08-19-2011 at 02:05 AM.

08-18-2011, 08:00 PM	#32
CycloneFE Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Decatur Illinois Posts: 634 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: 1969 Chevelle COPO 427 My favorite video... __________________ Steve Jackson

08-18-2011, 08:31 PM	#33
denny harvey Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: pataskala ohio Posts: 132 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1969 Chevelle COPO 427 a salesman at conners chevy in whitehall,ohio back in the day had a blue 69 copo chevelle that just killed everyone at green gables [ big street racing hangout ]. car had headers and 4:56 gears.what was funny was they had 12 to 15 copo camaros on the lot,but he had kids and choose the chevelle.too bad all i could drive then was a stingray bike...also downtown at white chevy on broad st they had yenkos on the new car lot outside...outside..dam

08-18-2011, 09:04 PM	#34
joe huestis Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Youngsville, N.C. Posts: 621 Likes: 279 Liked 393 Times in 111 Posts	Re: 1969 Chevelle COPO 427 Paul, Was that photo taken at Dover Drag Strip in Wingdale,NY ? Those fences in the background look awefully familiar. And was the chevelle of Frank Russo that of "Russo's Rat" fame ? I remember it well. Joe Huestis

08-20-2011, 11:02 AM	#38
Frank Castros VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Lowcountry. Posts: 2,935 Likes: 2,513 Liked 2,560 Times in 936 Posts	Re: 1969 Chevelle COPO 427 Paul, What ever happened to one of my favorite Dover cars "Russo's Rat" and was it an original COPO?

08-20-2011, 10:32 AM	#36
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1969 Chevelle COPO 427 Rock,, For the NHRA in 1969, the 1969 Chevelle Malibu 427 COPO, with the L-72 engine (425 HP) was originally built for the SS/D and/or SS/DA class.. But in 1969 the NHRA re-adjusted the classes, and the 1969 Chevelle 427 COPO was classed in SS/E or SS/EA, in with the B-Body Street-Hemi cars (except the heavier Dodge Chargers or convertible B-Body cars). The SS/E class weight factor was (7.50 - 7.99 wt/hp). The 69' Chevelle Malibu with the 427/425 HP L-72 weighed in at #3554 lbs. (manual) or #3611 lbs. (automatic). The 425 HP engine was re-factored to a higher rating, which placed the Chevelle's in that HP/weight bracket. Also, the cars could be classed in A/S for 1969. In 1970,,,,the Chevelle 427 COPO car was re-classed back into SS/D, and/or B/S in the stock class. The carburetor, was a Holley Model #4150 780 CFM, w/vacuum secondaries. Overall, a very powerful 'street car',,,,,,,,and driveable without any major problems, at the track,,,,,moderate success,,,,, pc pc Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 08-20-2011 at 12:31 PM.

08-20-2011, 11:42 AM	#39
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1969 Chevelle COPO 427 Frank Castro and Joe Huestis,,,,, Yes, that is a 1969 Dover photo,,,,,,,but that Chevelle (1968 B/S) was not Frank Russo's Chevelle. Frank Russo's car was an original 1969 Chevelle SS396 (375 HP), 4-speed. Bought out of Carmel, New York,,,,,'Putnam Motor Sales' Dark blue original color... Frank also ran in B/S in 1969,,,,,,,and a solid Class Winner running around 12.60's... Went into SS/E in 1970,, and did pretty good at the 1970 NHRA Summernationals at York US Drag-O-Way, in Pennsylvania. Won a couple of rounds in class, before breaking. And here it is,,,,, Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 08-20-2011 at 11:57 AM.

08-20-2011, 12:18 PM	#40
Frank Castros VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Lowcountry. Posts: 2,935 Likes: 2,513 Liked 2,560 Times in 936 Posts	Re: 1969 Chevelle COPO 427 Thanks Paul. What a great race car.