COPO Identification

[sYc]

Here is what I found when I restored my mostly original '69 Yenko Camaro a few years ago. It is a March built car, X-44 on the trim tag AND X-44 on the rear bulkhead in crayon. Base big block, no etra trim. The only options (besides COPO 9561&9737) were PS and automatic. In crayon was 427 inside of each front fender extension. The car was delivered as a column shift car. The lever was removed and a special Hurst floor shifter/console was added. Also added was a S/W tach and under hood moniter. Tom

[JoeC]

Kurt,
I have to disagree with you again. There were some COPO Camaros built in LA and there were some COPO Chevelles built in Fremont, CA. No 1969 Yenko/COPO's were built in CA. as far as I know.
I think the confusion on X-codes- comes from the duplication in the parts used. The Style Trim Group has a parts list, the SS396 trim group has a different parts list but it shares some of the same parts. The RS trim Group has another parts list again sharing some parts as with the the rest of the X-codes. Using the rear fender louvres as an example - X44 (base car) has no louvers, X11 has louvers from the Style Trim Group parts list; X66 has louvers from the SS396 parts list: X22 got you 1 set of rear fender louvers but you "paid for" two sets because of the duplicated parts list. Did I add to the confusion? The people on the assemble lines must have mixed up a few.
My point on Yenko using the COPO forms is that he was able to get big block X44 cars without paying for the SS396 trim parts which went against the normal order methods.

[Kurt S]

Sorry to stir things up. I don't usually post alot, but there are some interesting topics here.

I agree that they double charged people for some of the style trim parts. There was a different price for the convertible at least (only for Z21, not for Z22 RS).
The X codes told them if the 1/4's and roof rails got trim, so I doubt that got messed up. But the headlight and taillight trim....

I know of ~185 COPOs (many are long gone), but all are/were Norwood cars.

I'd be very interested in hearing about any LA built COPO's. Are any still around?

I wonder who chose to use the X44 bodies instead of the X66 bodies, Yenko or Chevrolet? I assume Chevy cause all the other known COPO's were X11 or X44 cars. Wonder why? Maybe cause they weren't SS's and thus shouldn't have the black tailpan?

And why were a couple of the Yenkos style trim cars?

So many questions......

[Edited by Kurt S (08-03-2000 at 04:17 PM).]

[Chevy454]

Kurt:

You don't have to feel like you are stirring things up...we are all here to learn, and that only happens by asking questions. A LOT of ground has been covered in this thread, and I have learned a ton already! Keep up the info, guys!

[Ed Cunneen]

The information I have found on the X code for 1969 COPO Camaros is as follows:
The first 50 Yenko Camaros ordered (built in January, 1969) had X66 codes.
This is because these cars started out as Super Sport 396 cars, and the
COPO order 9561 added and deleted from this starting point. Base Super Sport Big Blocks (without Style Trim)received the X66 code. There were no instructions in COPO 9561 to eliminate the black painted rear panel (396only), chrome louvers, or tail-light chrome, which was included with the the Super Sport option. The Yenkos were the first 1969 Camaro COPO's built. In Yenko's second order of 100 Camaros, X11 or X44 only were used. I have found no deviations to this information. I have a broadcast sheet on one Los Angeles built COPO Camaro (No X code).
All remaining COPO Camaros, to my knowledge, had X11 or X44.
If anyone has a 1969 COPO Camaro that differs from the above, please let me
know the Trim Tag information and VIN, and I will research it.

[JoeC]

Ed - Have you seen any 1969 COPO Camaros with the D80 next to the X-code? The COPO 9561 called for the spoiler equipment but I was wondering if Norwood ever stamped the D80 on the tag like on some SS and Z/28 cars. I have not seen the D80 on the few COPO trim tags that I checked.

[COPO]

Joe, I have seen the D80 stamped next to the "X" code on a COPO car. Mine does not have the D80 stamped. In an old "Muscle Cars of the '60's 70's" there is a brown COPO and a close up photo of the trim tag. I'm pretty sure it was an X-44 D80. I'll see if I can dig out that issue. I believe it was owned by Rick Dyer of CARS.