[JoeC]

There are a lot of unanswered questions and we can only guess at what went on but it seems that some dealers did not use the COPOs. I don't think Motion used them at all and since he was installing headers and scatter shields etc. I don't think that starting with a COPO Camaro would have made much difference for him. If he began with a L78 he would only have to purchase a L72 block and probably could sell the L78 block for close to what he paid for the L72 block. A lot of Super Stock guys were racing the L78s. To install the headers and scatter shield he had to do some disassembly and if the customer ordered blueprinting or cam change he had to open the motor anyway. Another problem with the COPO may have been availability. The COPOs were not readily available at all times. As far as I can tell, Yenko, Gibb, and Berger block ordered them with a prearrangement with Chevy but I have heard stories where people would order them from other dealers and had a long wait or could not get them at all. Even Fred Gibb did some L72 427 conversions according to his interview and he certainly knew about the COPO program. I have not heard of any COPO cars related to Nickey. As I said - a lot of this is guessing.