COPO Identification

[CopoCrazy]

Hello all. I am fairly new to the COPO world and am interested in purchasing one. I have been involved in restoration of muscle cars for about 6 years, but want to make sure I get my COPO purchase done right. What are some ways to identify a real COPO?

Thank you.

[GMH454]

Can't help too much technically, but something about let the Buyer Beware keeps coming into mind. Known history helps enormously, as does seller with credibilty.
Chev engines numbers are no guarantee of originality.

[COPO]

Suggest you start doing some research from the various printed material if you are serious. Since you didn't specify which COPO, I assume you are referring to the most common COPO 9561, ie. a 69 camaro w/iron block 427.

Beyond the obvious engine block numbers here are a few other things to check.

1) Silver grille (common to all non SS cars)
2) Single 3/8" fuel line from gas tank
3) On Norwood built cars X-11 or X-44 on cowl tag. (Having these codes does NOT mean it is a COPO 9561, could be a base car or an SS 350)
4) check for a 4 core radiator (most COPO's had curved neck)
5) Check driver's side outer rear frame rail for welded plate indicating the car came factory equipped w/dual exhaust.
6) most importantly check for "BE" coded rear axle. unique to COPO cars
7) cowl induction hood.
8) power disc brakes.
9) re-read the above post.

That's all that comes to mind. Good Luck!

[Horseman]

I also have been looking but just to darn picky. Learned alot from books, but they say don't always believe what you read. Go to the shows. And yes BUYER BEWARE. Good luck

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

The '69 COPO/Yenko Camaros can also be X66 bodies.

[JoeC]

I believe there were some 1969 COPO Camaros built in Los Angeles plant that may not have any X codes.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

COPO:
Does this mean that the first 50 '69 Yenko Camaros that had the X66 bodies received them as part of the 9737 COPO? I thought that it was a mixup, and that COPO 9561/9737's were installed in X66 bodies even though they were ordered as base trim cars. What is included on an X66 body?
Marlin

[JoeC]

try this link for the X code info infohttp://www.camaros.org/numbers.shtml#XnnCodes

[COPO]

To further clarify a bit. The Norwood built COPO 9561 would only be coded X-11 or X-44. The first 50 COPO 9737 (Yenko's) would be coded X-66. The remainder of the Yenko's would be X-11 or X-44.

[Edited by COPO (06-30-2000 at 09:09 PM).]

[bkhpah]

It appears that most of the first 50 Yenko's were X66 bodies. The X66 is a style trim option that would have included bright tail light trim, Black tail light panel on all but Fathom Green cars. Black rocker panels on all but Fathom Green, and quarter panel trim pieces. The headlight bezels would be plain and no other moldings would be used. Also Copo Camaro's used five leaf rear springs, big block heater box, Special speedo cable code, 4 speed cars use a big block crossmember, a ton of special ZL2 parts in addition to the hood, best advise, hire a pro to look at the car before you spend the long green.
BKH