COPO....Now And Then

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by BowtieFroggie

Who really nows what the first COPO it was when GM adopted that name for any vehicle that was not a regular production unit! My GM sources says it was a early to mid 50's term when first used.

I am sure that is the case if we were talking about taxi cabs and police cars......

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by Casey Miles

Back in 1969 according to "street racers", there was never a 396/375 or 427/425 ever made. They all claimed that they had 396/325 hp engines. COPO cars didn't exist also.
Street racing was where it was abound and I don't think that anyone cared about NHRA rules or what the manufactures were targeting.
I can remember a very specific COPO Camaro that used to make the rounds, it was light blue with baby hub caps and 14" tires. The owner took off the 427 markers and put on 396 in their place to try to hide what was under the cowl hood. That car came from Baldwin Chevy, the same dealer that delivers cars to Motion Performance on Sunrise Hgwy.
The '69 Z28 was the far better buy back then, because you could get insurance for it. The Z28 option didn't show on the Vin # and the 302 cu inch engine fell under the insurance companies hp to weight ratio radar. With that the insurance companies didn't know that it was a peformance car.

Casey Miles
248H "F"NHRA Stock!

I think that the general public is just as aware today as they were in 1969 in regards to the existence of a COPO Camaro!

For what it's worth, there could be a street legal 427 Camaro out in 2014.

[danny waters sr]

Originally Posted by Jack Matyas

Danny - Its a great plan but has a few flaws - first my wife suggested I sell mine and take the profit and buy '13 model - problem is there is no guarantee that I'll be able to get one .That leads me to your situation - as there were only 67 COPO's released to the public and there were more than 3,000 applications to get one your dream may not have happened .

All that and I bought mine to take to the dance ........not to sell or gather dust in my garage .

I just knew you would bust my bubble again...lol

That's what it's made for Jack and i will be routing for you....

[Al Loyrat]

The fathom green camaro in the photo is a COPO # 9561 car with the 427/425hp iron block and heads. Hundreds of those cars were factory built. The COPO #9560 is the 427/430hp aluminum engine cars that only 69 were built. Only 2 of the 9560 cars came with option C08 (vinyl top) both were lemans blue.

[Greg Hill]

Originally Posted by Al Loyrat

The fathom green camaro in the photo is a COPO # 9561 car with the 427/425hp iron block and heads. Hundreds of those cars were factory built. The COPO #9560 is the 427/430hp aluminum engine cars that only 69 were built. Only 2 of the 9560 cars came with option C08 (vinyl top) both were lemans blue.

That fathom green 69 Camaro brings back a lot of memories. I had one a SS 396, dark green vinyl top, 4speed. I do think they look much better with the white hockey stripes. Mine also had the dark green custom interior with rosewood trim. My favorite car of all time.

[Geerhead55]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

I've had a hard time accepting the looks of the new Camaro. The new COPO does look better than the street cars with the bigger tires stuffed in it.
What do ya'll think of these retro SS or RS front grilles on the new Camaro?
I'm thinking not...

http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merc...gory_Code=C478

Jeff,, you can buy a "heritage grille" from Chevrolet, that fits in the stock place, and it looks a lot better than this whole front end change from Lingenfelter. I have a buddy who had the dealer install one in his SS Camaro 2 years ago before he picked it up. It resembles the RS grille, and like you, I wasn't really impressed by it, but its his car. Heck,,, the dang things even missing the 3rd pedal!
Danny Durham

[woodstock]

The two copo's are rob's auto body and towing . He runs a dragster and vet at atco .
http://www.lraautomuseumandsales.com/

[Harry 6674]

Originally Posted by Casey Miles

Back in 1969 according to "street racers", there was never a 396/375 or 427/425 ever made. They all claimed that they had 396/325 hp engines. COPO cars didn't exist also.
Street racing was where it was abound and I don't think that anyone cared about NHRA rules or what the manufactures were targeting.
I can remember a very specific COPO Camaro that used to make the rounds, it was light blue with baby hub caps and 14" tires. The owner took off the 427 markers and put on 396 in their place to try to hide what was under the cowl hood. That car came from Baldwin Chevy, the same dealer that delivers cars to Motion Performance on Sunrise Hgwy.
The '69 Z28 was the far better buy back then, because you could get insurance for it. The Z28 option didn't show on the Vin # and the 302 cu inch engine fell under the insurance companies hp to weight ratio radar. With that the insurance companies didn't know that it was a peformance car.

Casey Miles
248H "F"NHRA Stock!

It sure wasn't like that for me. When I was in Viet Nam in 69 I was going to order a new Z/28 through the PX for $3300.00. I had to secure insurance to order the car and my insurance was going to be $1100.00/yr. No good. Had to buy fulie 61 Corvette when they dumped me in Oakland for $1300.00.