Magic Mirror trim tag

[COPO_Anders]

I know that the 1968 Yenko Camaros used these trim tags, and that they are unique compared with other -68 Camaros, but were they common on other Chevrolets ? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
This trim tag is from a 1962 4-door Chevy II parts car I once had. Or at least I think so.

[Pacecarjeff]

I have seen a bunch of those Magic Mirror trim tags.
They were very common on all GM cars.
Seen them on Cadillacs, Corvairs, Rivieras, pretty much through the whole GM line up.
I'm not sure, but i think it must be upgraded paint.

[Charley Lillard]

I don't think it was upgraded paint. I think someone guessed it had something to do with the regular 68 tag saying something like.. "GMC certifies to the dealer that this vehicle conforms to all US federal motor vehicle safety standards applicable at time of manufacture"

The COPO might have been an unknown as to all those standards.... Just a guess.

[Supercar_Kid]

Best theory I've heard yet. Makes sense, use last year's tag without all the legal fine print. An easy way to dodge future liabilty issues. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Chevy454]

Seems like there was a couple of instances where folks had seen the tags on what were believed to have been non-COPO '68 Camaros...anyone else remember that? I'll try and dig that thread up...http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[JChlupsa]

Thought they were placed on the Export cars. Bet that Nova Tag was Exported:)

[Chevy454]

Yahtzee...found the thread (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB1&Number=148854&Searchp age=1&Main=148854&Words=%2B68+%2Bcopo+%2Btag&topic =&Search=true#Post148854), and I see Jeff already beat me to the explanation... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[supercomp 8.90]

a friend of mine has a red 68 rs camaro from france with great docs and it has that tag,i also will be storing a 68 camaro convertible at my shop that is coming straight from france for a customer of mine next week or two i will check his tag and let you guys know.

[Pacecarjeff]

I think they are much more common that you think.
Here is a picture of 2 of them right off the top of my crate.
These are both cadillac's, but I've seen them throughout the GM line
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/111/111196/folders/67366/1763191IMG2876.JPG

I really see them all the time - I bet I have 30 of them.
They read:
THIS CAR FINISHED WITH
MAGIC MIRROR ACRYLIC LACQUER
Body By Fisher

Maybe you guys are talking about something else? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Kurt S]

The ACC tag was the standard trim tag for Chevy for several years.

68 Yenko and export Camaros used that tag because they did not meet the US specs on the standard 68 tag.
I don't think that's a guess either. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[bkhpah]

Not every 68' Yenko used that tag. The very early prototypes did not use that tag and were sold to customers as demos after there demo duties were completed...BKH

[John Brown]

Well, if the different trim tag was put on by Fisher Body because there was possibly a question of compliance, that would mean that 68 Yenko cars that have that trim tag are actual copo cars from GM and not motor swap cars done by Yenko Chevrolet.

May be another piece in the puzzle. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Charley Lillard]

They were COPO's because of the 9737 COPO not because of a different engine.

[John Brown]

Does that mean the heavy duty suspension and a 140 mph speedometer could make a car non-compliant for federal standards?

[camarojoe]

[ QUOTE ]
Does that mean the heavy duty suspension and a 140 mph speedometer could make a car non-compliant for federal standards?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, which is exactly why i don't believe the magic mirror tag had anything to do with passing or not passing federal standards...as BKH stated, not all 68 Yenko's had the tag anyhow. I believe it was just a way the factory differentiated the Yenko cars from the rest of the SS396 cars when being built, just like the MV 396 engine code. Why would Chevrolet ship a car to a dealer to be sold to the public if it didn't meet federal standards?

[Kurt S]

[ QUOTE ]
just like the MV 396 engine code.

[/ QUOTE ]
That would be a major drivetrain difference. Maybe the MV engine was not emissions tested?
Me, I'm surprised at the whole 68 program......

[camarojoe]

Major difference in what way? A COPO 68 SS396 destined to Yenko was still an L78, complete with smog, etc. I know of no driveline difference from any other 68 L78 aside from the 2 letter suffix on the pad, which I believe was done simply to keep track of the special order cars being buit for the Yenko COPO order.

[Charley Lillard]

Did Brian note if the 68's Yenko's without the Magic mirror tags had the 9737 package ?

[Kurt S]

It's known that the MV engine had different components. The carb for sure.
COPO orders were done all the time without special engine codes...

[Kim_Howie]

The gibb nova 396 suffix was E3 but the engine had nothing different than any other 396. I feel the E3 meant expermental 3 speed for the auto trans. Maybe GM used this to track them. Maybe they did the same with the MV suffix for the Camaros??

[camarojoe]

Sounds reasonable to me Kim... Whats different about the carb or any other components on an MV 396?

[Kurt S]

But the Nova engine was very different assembly than the standard L78. It had a flexplate attached. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I like that suffix theory.

I don't have the carb info in front of me, but I know it was different. Fran pulled the bill of materials for the motors.

[John Brown]

It supposedly had the R4054 68 Corvette 427/425hp carb instead of the normal 396/375hp carb. But, a lot of special carb motors (including ZL-1's) didn't get the carbs listed on the spec sheets due to limited avaliability.

[camarojoe]

Another good point John. Back to the original question, Kurt, what proof/documentation do you have that shows the use of the magic mirror tag on 68 Yenko cars had anything at all to do with the cars not meeting federal standards?

[Pacecarjeff]

And why were those MM tags used, on the other cars in the GM line-up?
Cadillacs, Novas, Rivieras and Impalas? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif