I think Jim Mattison made that statement in an interview. But that was also true for Z/28s-Chevy stopped taking orders for them Nov '68 because dealer orders exceeded their capacity to build 302 engines during normal order lead time.
Some components were in continuous production based on a sales forecast-307 engines, powerglide transmissions, etc. That stuff was always in stock. COPOs were not forecast; Z/28s probably were but they guessed wrong. In those days, dealer orders were transmitted to the plants for Production Control to plan material. When they saw COPO orders due 4 weeks out, they ordered BE axles in whatever the unit quantity was, probably what a shipping rack held. That's why the dates are so close. There are 33 known BE axle dates and 1,066 COPO Camaros so 33/1066 = 32. Maybe had to order them in multiples of 8. When the axle plant notified Norwood PC that their order of of BE axles shipped, Norwood could release COPO production orders.
Axle availability was not what held up ZL1s #1 & #2 [final-assembled Dec 30] based on this POP imprint. My guess: ZL2 parts.
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