[12bolt]

I am surprised it has not been a flaming topic as yet. maybe everybody is at work or doing some other form of public service. Here goes my opinion. in the Year 1969, A C.O.P.O. Camaro was a Car specially ordered with one of two possible 427 engines installed at the factory. One Cast iron and a very few with an Aluminum Engine. They can be traced back through the COPO Connection and certified to be one of these specially ordered Cars. 35 years later, many things have happened to these Cars. one in particular apparently was Raced and then left in a Corner for many years. Forgotten. then resurrected and bringing $201,750 Dollars at Barret Jackson this year. Others drifted from owner to owner through the Gas crisis of the Seventies looked down upon as they were too costly to operate as daily drivers. Some were well preserved and recognized early on for the treasures that they are and would become. Many were wrecked and stripped of their useable parts. Others were left to deteriorate in various stages of disrepair. Some had their Engines pulled for various reasons. Other's Yanked their rears and trannys for whatever reason sounded good at the time. (Let's remember the true purpose of their production in the first place. I believe it was to go "Real Fast" in a straight line) and just like all the other Fast appreciating Musclecars of that Bygone era, People are recognizing that there is Gold in Them there Cars!! If a C.O.P.O. Camaro left the Factory and is still the original Body and frame, proven beyond the shadow of a doubt It is still a C.O.P.O.! devoid it's original drivetrain, it "May" not bring the Money that a similar C.O.P.O. with it's original drivetrain would. I say "May" due to the unpredictability of this Market. Supply and Demand tends to set the prices on these Cars as well as any other highly sought after item. Be it Picasso's or Beach front Real Estate, They just are not Making any new ones! So essentially I guess you can ask yourself, What is your 427 Corvette worth in Real nice condition, minus the original drivetrain, but equipped with a similar 427 from another Corvette as the Car you speak of could be compared to?? Remember Folks, I am using my FORD logic here!! a Shelby Mustang with N.O.M. is still a Shelby Mustang and commands about 95% of a Car with it's original engine. Boss 302 Mustangs Had bad Piston skirts and Many have Service Blocks in them as well. what is not acceptable with high value is a Car that is considered to be a "Re-Bodied" Car.(The practice of taking a Totaled original Car and putting all of the original stuff including Vin and Cowl Tags,onto a Clean Body is nothing more than a Glorified Clone) I have put on my asbestos suit and look forward to the reponses of those that might see things differently.