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View Full Version : New post on the 1968 COPO Camaro mystery


JoeC
07-15-2000, 04:02 AM
In an article on the COPO 1968 Camaro (Super Chevy Aug 94) Fran Preve said he had documentation from Tonawanda on special 396 engines built for 1968 Camaros. The documents read " 396 COPO 9737" and " CONV L78 COPO F BODY" part no. 3940985 and was coded MV. There were 79 code MV engines built through 7-24-68.
This was believed to mean 396's "converted" to 427 cu.in. engines but were not labeled as 427's. Chevy did this in 1969 with the COPO Chevelles where they listed the "L78 4BBL V-8" on the build sheet and used the 9562 code to specify the L72 427 swap without calling out the 427 by name. Could they have built a MV code L78 and also a MV code CONV L78 that was actually a 427?
If you read the story on the 68 Yenko Camaro on the Kevin Suydam Musclecar web site, he claims to have a Chevy Engineering test order for smog testing a 1968 Camaro equipped with a L72 engine for Yenko.
Chevy must have been nervous about the Shelby GT500 and the 428CJ Mustang in 1968 and they wanted to build a 427 Camaro but GM would not allow it. Maybe they sneaked them out anyway.

mnyenko
07-30-2000, 03:38 AM
I have seen the Yenko stock sheets for 68 camaros.They list the date motor transplants were done and cars available for delivery.All of the 67 and 68 camaro sheets are setup this way.

JoeC
07-30-2000, 04:50 PM
There is an article in CHEVY ACTION Magazine Oct. 1992 written by Mike Mueller, with Mick Price and Roger Gibson providing tech assistance, that appears to prove that at least one 1968 Yenko Camaro is a COPO 427 car. The Camaro is the white 68 Yenko "special drag car" now in the Kevin Suydam collection. It was owned by Mick in 1992. The magazine has a picture of an original COPO order form dated 2-13-68 requested by Yenko Chevrolet and Span inc. for a 9737HD sports car conversion. One line of the document listed the RPO's that appear to have been deleted and replaced by other components. They are as follows; Z23, L78, M21, AXL2 (crossed out), J52, J50, U63, G80, N40. I decode this as; Z23 = special interior package (not on this car), L78 = 396 (they claim the original motor is a 427 with L88 parts), M21 (they claim the car has a M22, AXL2 = special performance axle (this is crossed out on the form) J50/J52=power disk brakes (the car does not have power brakes - may have J56), U63=AM radio ( the car is radio delete) G80= Posi rear (the crossed out AXL2 could spec. the axle 4:56) N40=power steering (the car has no PS). A look at the POP and trim tag would help to verify this info but that was not provided in the magazine article. Does anyone have access to the numbers on this car? I can send a scaned copy of the COPO form if anyone would like to see it.

Charley Lillard
08-01-2000, 04:44 AM
I would like to see it.

Kurt S
08-01-2000, 11:07 PM
Could you email me a copy of it?
[email protected]

Thanks!

COPO
08-01-2000, 11:51 PM
Joe, One to me too please.