speedvision yenko/copo t.v

[Denis]

bkhpah couldn't have said it better -- the Supercar episode was good but fell short of great. I hesitated earlier to say anything, seeing as how I'm no great authority myself, but they should've checked their facts better. For example, they said SS 350 were used as base cars by Yenko in 1967. I thought Yenko used SS 396/375 L78 cars whereas Nickey and Dana were starting with SS 350 cars. Then, when they started explaining the COPO program, they showed a 68 Dana, which isn't a COPO car. It looks like their data might've come from vintage magazine articles and archive photos/footage. They should've asked the guys here instead. Heck, they could've shot the whole episode at Kevin's house.

That said, it looks like we'll be hauling 5-6 cars to the reunion that would not otherwise have gone from the NW. Can't complain about that.

Finally, and most importantly, the show did raise awareness and appreciation of the cars. My 3 teenage kids -- who normally couldn't care less about the hobby -- all watched the show, learned a lot, asked good questions, and seemed genuinely interested. And that, my aging friends, is what it's about!

[Chevy454]

That said, it looks like we'll be hauling 5-6 cars to the reunion that would not otherwise have gone from the NW. Can't complain about that.

Denis:

PLEASE tell me you aren't teasing us!

[Denis]

I'm serious. Jim & I are good for 2-3 cars between the two of us (depending on what kind of deal $-wise we can work out with the truck owner). Yenkofan is interested if we can get his car from LA. Can't speak for Kevin but we all know he has enough supercars to fill up a friggin' caravan of haulers, plus I'm 95% sure he'd be up for it if the rest of us do so. Will know better in 2 weeks after he's back. PS: Maybe we can take his newly-acquired red 1968 Dick Harrell SS 427 Camaro

[NWYENKO]

Well, the wife says I can go. My Bday is 8/30. Lets see what kind of deal we can get. Would the cars need to be there Fri and out on Sunday? Denis, when Kevin gets back,let's see what he says. Could the truck get there in 2 days or would it take 3 each way? Freds concern was if fuel prices go up. He also said he is really booked in August with Pebble Beach. I don't know the dates for that. If the price isn't too bad and there is room I would bring the Camaro and the Deuce. Wow! Do I sound EXCITED??

[Denis]

mapquest says it's 2,130 miles and 36 hours of driving from seattle to collinsville. figure three days time driving, four days elapsed, each way.

pebble beach concours d'elegance wraps up on the 19th of august. that's about 9 days from when our cars would need to get picked up locally.

looks do-able from where i'm sitting, although you might remind fred it took him three months to get my dang car shipped here from maryland

[SuperCars]

Over in Europe here for two week trip, (my wifes choice for the kids springbreak), but have my laptop to keep in touch. I see my friends are making arrangements to get me to bring cars to the Reunion. I'll have to think about it.

Hey Charlie did you drop the reserve on the Duece like you were talking? I think Jim needs to be a three Duece owner. lol.

I didn't get to see the Supercar Show on TV. The producers called me and asked me to send pictures of my 68 Yenko though. I referenced it as being unique as a "Special Order Drag Car" as shown on its GM tag riveted to the door pillar post. I told them about the old article of my car in Chevy Action that asks the COPO question. Seems to be a lot of mystery on this.

Anyway I have the copies of the GM documents obtained by Fran Preve that have a lot to do with this. I have studied these for hours trying to solve the mystery. There are about 50 pages, most of which deal with COPO 9737 which was typed on the bottom as 9737 Yenko Sports Car Conversion. In the 1969 COPO 9737, the word Yenko gets dropped so it appears that in 1968 this was a 1968 Yenko only COPO order. Anyway, I sent Marlin a couple of the noteworthy documents. I haven't forgot, but I promised to send to Brian too(When I get Back). Marlin if you could post the one showing the GM Lab report for 68 Yenko 427 Camaro Smog Emmissions test, which is a document that shows a 68 427 Camaro was factory built.

My personal belief as has been discussed on this web site off and on is that the 68 Yenko COPO 9737 MV code motor is predominantly the L78 396, and Yenko did the 427 transplants. But I also believe there was at least one or two 427 Camaros from GM. I don't think my car was labeled "Special Drag Car" because it was the ordinary L78. But whether you want to call it COPO or Pilot Prototype is the real question.

The Tonawanda GM engine documents I have show the MV code as F body CONV L78, of which approximately seventy some were built. (I am typing from memory so don't hold me to exact numbers.)On this same sheet it shows the separate code for the standard F body L78 as well. In addition to the Tonawanda records, I have the engine ECR's (Engineering Change Recommendation Orders) showing on the L78 the Add and Delete of intakes and carbs etc, to the L88 intake and Carb. These add/deletes were done under one engine assembly part number. It is the engine number of the MV Code. But towards the end of the production year, under COPO 9737, the engine assembly part number is superceded by a different ECR engine assembly number, not just once, but twice. This possibly tells me there were three different motors during this 68 COPO 9737 production run. One other noteworthy item is a handwritten note by one of the GM engineers on the engine ECR is stating make RPO V78 mandantory for Yenko 9737. When I go to the list of RPO's that make up the Yenko 9737, it says RPO V78 is something to the effect of: nonconforming and for export only. Other items on one of the ECR's state use L78 fuel pump only for delivery to Yenko, new pump to be installed at Yenko. If the motor was already a L78 as installed by GM why would the Engineer say to install the L78 fuel pump only for delivery, as if it truely was an L78, it would already have the L78 pump on it?

Well I must be bored over here to have typed this much. I've refrained from typing this in the past as I don't like controversy. So all I can say is that the above is all speculation on my part, as I am no expert. Also typing from memory as I don't have the Documents here in frontof me. Kevin.

[Edited by SuperCars (04-01-2001 at 12:46 AM).]

[COPO]

Kevin, great information. I would agree regarding the special tag rivited on your car. It must have been a pilot or prototype car. Have you ever tried a NICB search on the car to find the original destination once it lef the plant? Perhaps it was sent to GM Engineering?

I'm on the spring break trip myself for 3 weeks. Taking a crusie of Asia/India Currently in Thailand (Phucket). Kids are having fun and it's nice to be abel to keep up w/the board via satellite.

[Edited by COPO (04-02-2001 at 02:56 AM).]