Dedicated to the Promotion and Preservation of American Muscle Cars, Dealer built Supercars and COPO cars. |
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#1
10-11-2001, 01:02 AM
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COPO *Big cars*
Hey guys ..... again, you must remember to talk S L O W L Y when bringing me up to speed on all this cool Chevy stuff.
 I was wondering if there was a provision in the COPO program to get something above-and-beyond the available drivetrain in the big cars (Biscayne, etc) ? I realize the COPO program was not just tailored for performance, but other things as well. Just curious if an informed buyer could've gotten something beyond what was on the check-box sheet in their big 'ole Biscayne ? I've always had an liking for those big tubs .....  
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#2
10-11-2001, 02:54 AM
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Re: COPO *Big cars*
You could get the L-72 in the bigger cars, so there may not have been a COPO provision for them engine-wise. And, I think(?) you could get any trans in them, but maybe the rear is where some "hush-hush" activities may have taken place.
Anyone have any info for this "big tub"..er, I mean ABOUT these "big tubs"  !
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#3
10-11-2001, 04:13 AM
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Re: COPO *Big cars*
Floyd Garrett's Muscle Car Museum claims their 427 425 hp L72 full size wagon is a COPO. I also saw another web site that claimed their L72 wagon is a COPO car. I don't know if they have documentation to back up the claims or not. You didn't need the COPO system to get the L72 in a 1966, '68, and '69, full size car but in 67 it was not an option. Some say that a few 1967 L72 full size cars did escape the factory. If this is true, were they done using the COPO system? I do not know but the big boy L72s were cool. You didn't even have to get the SS option on some of them.
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#4
10-11-2001, 11:48 AM
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Re: COPO *Big cars*
McGrober Factory Muscle cars in Phoenix,AZ. has a 68 or 69 Impala wagon with a 427/425. It was ordered by the owner of a Dealership back then,had very low miles,loaded with options and had the window sticker.When I saw it I had to laugh ,because I thought so unusual.Imagine picking up the little ones at school in this,don't make like that any more.
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#5
10-11-2001, 01:11 PM
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Re: COPO *Big cars*
I hope this is not too far off the track, of the original post. In the April 12, 1968 DragWorld, (AHRA's main weekly pub.) an announcement is made, with pics of AHRA receiving a new Chevy fleet, through Fred Gibb Chevrolet. 8 vehicles were delivered to Jim Tice, President of AHRA, for track use at 1968 AHRA events.
The shipment included 6 427 Caprice wagons, a Caprice convertible, for Mrs. Tice's personal car, and a Corvette for Jim Tice's personal use, as well as being the official pace car for all AHRA championship events. No mention is made of the HP or powerplants in the convertible or Corvette. All the wagons appear to have woodgrain sides, the pic is black and white, no colors mentioned. Fred had a '68 similar wagon that was red, with the woodgrain side. It may have been 427 powered, as it was a tow vehicle.
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#7
10-11-2001, 02:11 PM
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Re: COPO *Big cars*
That wagon at Floyd Garrett's that Joe C. is talking about I believe was just ordered with the L72 under normal RPO procedures. I was up there yesterday and was looking the window sticker over but I don't remember a COPO id code on it anywhere. It did list all of the RPO's including the L72 just as any other car would have back then. There is a license plate made by the owner of the car on the front of it stating it is a COPO but I think that was done to draw attention to it at a show or even at Floyd's. The car is a neat car and loaded with options and it does have low miles since I believe it was a drag car at one time. There is a neat little picture of it with the racing decals and Cragar SS mags from way back taped to the drivers side rear window. That is one wagon that I would not mind having, even with the woodgrain.......RatPack.............
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#8
10-11-2001, 06:32 PM
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Re: COPO *Big cars*
Back in '67 I was in the show room at Nurse Chev-Olds in Whitby, Ontario. The salesman was doing cartwheels trying to get me to order a 427-435HP Biscayne. He claimed that this was the only way you could get the engine other than the Corvette. There was no mention of COPO or anything like that. I never saw any literature on the subject and never ordered the car. It is just a curiosity. Nurse did sell quite a few 302 Z/28 cars in those days as well as a red COPO Camaro in '69. They were home to the UOP Shadow race team when ever they raced at Mosport.
__________________
Chevelleless after 46 years......but we did find a low mileage, six speed, silver 2005 Corvette. It will just have to do for now. 
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#9
10-11-2001, 07:35 PM
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Re: COPO *Big cars*
A 427-435 Biscayne ??
 Now that would be neat !
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#10
10-11-2001, 08:10 PM
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Re: COPO *Big cars*
Keith:
It's interesting that the salesman knew about it, yet that option wasn't found in any of the literature...that seemed to be a rare thing back in the day. I have heard "tales" of 427/435hp police cars ordered by the Nevada(?) state patrol on another site (I believe it was Chevelles.com?). It's kind of like the 427 El Caminos that people claim the Air Force used...you hear about them, but never see them.
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