No more COPO's but

[Jakes Dad]

The end is coming no one including those in the auto business know when.

Will the V8 go away. Will everyone be driving electric cars? Will cars and trucks have wheels? Are just a few of the questions only time will tell.

You can't order specially equipted vehicles from the factory any longer, COPO's. If you're LUCKY do your homework and know when you spot something different, you better buy it.

Example: 1957 Airbox! I've seen pictures of cars here. The poster wanted a guess on what it was. I've seen questions on everthing including how much quicker will I run with Summer Air in my tires? I won't play games I'll post what a 1957 Airbox was.

It was a 1957 limited factory, 43 production units, plus a prototype Corvette. Built to run SCCA. Car had hevier brakes, suspension, steering, no radio, heater, wider tires, Tach mounted on the steering column, fuel injection, HD shocks. It was called RPO 579E or 579D. The truly sad part. The option package cost $726.30.

An no I didn't pull any of this out my ass. Going through a worthless box of stuff, according to my wife, I found the article. My kids think I have enough stuff to design a car game. Another example: who won the 1960 or 1970 US Nationals in AA/G?

An old man and his dog - Jake

p.s. has anyone have one - seen one?

[2002_Z28_Six_Speed]

As far as custom ordering cars you are right. No one sees $$ in specialisation. They want the most units possible with the least number of variation. There are whole schools of thought out there now which promote the least number of variables to reduce operating costs and run the line faster.


Today's cars only come in packages. The doors are made as shallow as possible for quicker ASM. You can't get any colour you wish. Ask for high performance ignition or the "SS" motor in a base car and you will get mocked at the dealership. You don't order your own car and wait for it to be delievered to you like back in the day. You settle for what is on the lot.

It is sad to see but needed in a world where the bottom dollar wins.
The Americans of today want more for less hallmarked by larger closets at home and self storage businesses dotting the land!

Will we ever learn less is more? Don't buy it unless it will last? I doubt it, personally.

[Jakes Dad]

I doubt that the old days will ever return. Doesn't matter how old you are you learn more keeping your eyes open and your mouth shut though.

Even a kid pushing a broom in 1959 can take pride with a victory. Even if the final et on the run that won the 1959 US Nationals was only 11.98 @ 124. 65 mph with the Cadilac powered supercharged Willys. Same A/Gaser won the event in 1960. Won again in 63 and 69. Thats funny when I was playing army we didn't win. Now the US Nationals have moved to Indy. No longer a Willy's it's a Mustang running AA-Gas. Running oh hell ya! 8.59 @ 164.23 in '69 It doesn't matter what you drive or what part you play, learn from your experiences. And even if you don't win no one can ever take away your experiences including Best Engineered Car awards.

$723.00 was nothing. Thats all thie 57 Corvette option cost. In 1969 winning the Springnationals paid 15K. Lots of money to a snot nose puck ass 22 year old kid. I never officially made a pass in the car, CHICKEN!

An old man and his dog - Jake

[RPM WS6]

Originally Posted by 2002_Z28_Six_Speed

You don't order your own car and wait for it to be delievered to you like back in the day. You settle for what is on the lot.

You can still factory order a car. Albeit, not with a full spectrum of custom options like in decades past. I mean, there was a time when anti-freeze was an option! But there is still some joy in creating a car specifically for you. During the F-body years, you could pick and choose a host of options from SLP to make the car more rare or personalized.

Will the next Camaro be the same? I hope so. I'd like to pick some SLP stuff that won't be found on every Camaro in dealer stock. Not sure where GM's relationship will be with SLP at that point though.