Dealer Order Procedures

[Kurt S]

Sheetmetal dates would be before the trim tag.
The trim tag date was just a week, and not very specific at that. Not unheard of to have drivetrains after the tag date, depending on how close they were running to their suppliers. And it wasn't a FIFO (first in, first out) system, so the last built part could be the first to be used.
VIN was attached after the body left Fisher, a couple of days after the body was started.

[JoeC]

Here is a copy of an interesting post by JohnZ who is a retired GM engineer that was involved with assembly.

"When I was working at Willow Run in 1966, we got a COPO/Fleet Order for a utility company in Oklahoma (Southwest Oklahoma Gas & Electric, or something like that) and built a fleet of 25 white Chevy II/Nova station wagons with red interiors, the factory under-the-dash hang-on A/C, with the 327/350 L-79 engines, 4-speeds, and Hurst shifters - the Oklahoma customer rep brought the Hurst shifters and linkage parts into the plant and we installed them just like the production Muncie shifters. The CEO must have been a real gearhead!"

[JoeC]

one of the above questions is about GM using the COPO process other then Chevy. I don't know if Olds called it COPO but they were sneaky like Chevy and put over 400 cu in engines in some cars also. this is from an Olds site
""The 1968 Hurst/Olds was a limited production of 515 cars. It was powered by a special 455 with W-30 components that produced 390 horsepower. It also came with under the bumper forced air induction, better known as Ram-Air. GM was not allowed to put any engine larger than a 400 cid in any A- body car, so Oldsmobile originally marketed the car as being built by Demmer Industries, but later we found out that all Demmer did was add the Hurst Dual Gate shifter and console, the walnut dash inserts, Hurst/Olds emblems and the special black markings. Oldsmobile in fact had built and installed the Monster Engines without the GM bigwigs finding out.""

[Stefano]

JoeC,
Sounds like a Cool Set up, do any exist today?

Do you think COPO Pete could get one to run a quick as his ZL1?

[T Billigen]

There are quite a few of these Hurst olds out there, I believe they built a little over 500. I don't know what the going price is but is a lot cheaper than a Chevy!!

[Chevy454]

Stefano:

Don't know about that! Pete has that thing COOKING! And, the best thing is, there is still more to come!

[Stefano]

Thanks Kurt,
I had always regarded drive train components dated after the trim tag as inncorrect. Do any origial Drive train COPOs or Yenkos have an Engine trans or rear dated or cast after the trim tag date?

What is the maximum length of time a body with a trim tag installed would have stayed at Fisher Body, unVINed?