Author Topic: COPO  (Read 10132 times)

IZRSSS

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COPO
« on: September 15, 2010, 11:48:27 AM »
Can anyone shed light on the official definition of a "COPO"?

william

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Re: COPO
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2010, 12:32:33 PM »
Central Office Production Order.

If you wanted a fleet [at least 50 I believe] of cars with non-normative options or equipment a request was placed with Chevy's Central Office in Detroit. If Engineering approved it a number was assigned and the cars got built. Mostly used for police, fire, commercial vehicles. Non-RPO paint also used this process.

Most famously used for back-door hot rods such as the ZL-1 & L-72 Camaro. Someone who would know told me GM management was quite upset when they learned the process was used to circumvent corporate policy regarding engine size limitations for certain car lines.
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IZRSSS

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Re: COPO
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2010, 01:05:04 PM »
Can you go into more specific information with regards to "Non-RPO" paint.  Would "Special Paint" delete fall into this category?

william

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Re: COPO
« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2010, 01:25:23 PM »
Non-RPO paint is any color OR stripe color not listed as regular production. Central Office had to approve all non-RPO paint but those cars are not thought of as COPOs. Technically you could order any GM color except some of the Cadillac metallics. A few Z/28s have been found with non-RPO stripe colors such as Le Mans blue/black and Cortez Silver/white. These are not always - - paint. Stripes could also be deleted.

A few weeks ago it was revealed that there was a special COPO stripe. Don't know much about it just now but it appears to be available on ducted hood cars. It may be a single Z/28 stripe on the hood and upper grille panel.

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IZRSSS

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Re: COPO
« Reply #4 on: September 15, 2010, 01:31:48 PM »
Thank you William...with so much "stuff" out there on the web your explanation is by far the best!

crobjones2

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Re: COPO
« Reply #5 on: September 15, 2010, 08:57:13 PM »
William
I am very interested, if you could post, of the copo stripe. Possibly elaborate more as to the size and placement
Thank you
Chris
69 SS 350

william

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Re: COPO
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2010, 12:03:50 AM »
What exists is this photo from an old issue of The Camaro Enthusiast. The owner of the car was adamant that this was a factory stripe.




A few weeks ago someone posted a COPO window sticker. The last line reads PAINT STRIPE-HOOD. The COPO # was obliterated and we are hoping for a better copy. There is a poor photo of the car from the side [burgundy] but it does appear the top of the hood is white.
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68Zproject

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Re: COPO
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2010, 03:34:18 AM »
 I have seen that kind of stripe before.  I just can't remember where.  It's been a few years since High School.
68Z28

crobjones2

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Re: COPO
« Reply #8 on: September 16, 2010, 07:23:44 PM »
I have a stripe that is almost exactly that. It runs down the trunk as well, but not on the roof
Chris
69 SS 350

tom

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Re: COPO
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2010, 12:40:19 AM »
There was some discussion a long time ago on this site regarding a similar stripe. I don't recall if a photo was posted or not. Someone was looking for info regarding a single stripe centered on the hood, also not a Baldwin car.
69 X11 Z21 L14 glide
looking for a 69 export model (KPH) speed
o

IZRSSS

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Re: COPO
« Reply #10 on: September 17, 2010, 02:43:21 AM »
William...if a car comes from the factory w/o stripe's would it show up as - - on the cowl or is the only way of knowing on a build sheet?  In other words what is the difference between one - and --?

KurtS

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Re: COPO
« Reply #11 on: September 17, 2010, 04:17:13 AM »
Kurt S
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crobjones2

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Re: COPO
« Reply #12 on: September 17, 2010, 08:36:31 AM »
William
Do you have any more information on the burgundy car?
Chris
69 SS 350

william

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Re: COPO
« Reply #13 on: September 17, 2010, 02:51:56 PM »
It was a double [triple?] COPO RS out of Courtesy Chev in Ohio. Still exists but has been raced for 40 years.
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JoeC

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Re: COPO
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2010, 01:16:06 PM »
COPO was also used to get a Camaro built with a non-standard (non-RPO) option.
An example is in 1968 4:56 rear gear was a RPO G82 in 1969 you had to get 4:56 gears using COPO 9511