Brass hat or copo
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: brooklyn ny
Brass hat or copo
How could you tell if you had a Brass Hat car or a COPO???????????
If a Brass hat car was sold to a friend would there be a paper trail? Would there be anything on the tank sticker i.e. Delivery to Factory????
If a Brass hat car was sold to a friend would there be a paper trail? Would there be anything on the tank sticker i.e. Delivery to Factory????
Last edited by BILL09; Dec 3, 2009 at 10:20 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Del Boca Vista FL
I guess if you paid a half million more than you would pay for a COPO you had a brass hat car?
I hadn't heard the term brass hat car before so I, of course, went to Google.
Best I can tell it is kind of like the difference between ridiculous speed and ludicrous speed.
Rich
I hadn't heard the term brass hat car before so I, of course, went to Google.
Best I can tell it is kind of like the difference between ridiculous speed and ludicrous speed.
Rich
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Pendleton IN
The term "Brass Hat" has always meant that the car was ordered by an upper management employee, as far as I can remember. I come from a GM town though. Pretty normal term around Anderson, IN. Home of Delco Remy and Guide Division.
Documentation would be needed to determine if you had one though, not that it would always make it worth more money. Maybe a car like Zora, Harley Earl, Ed Cole or Bunkie Knudsen had the Styling Dept "create" that was different than what the normal guy would order.
Documentation would be needed to determine if you had one though, not that it would always make it worth more money. Maybe a car like Zora, Harley Earl, Ed Cole or Bunkie Knudsen had the Styling Dept "create" that was different than what the normal guy would order.
Last edited by Vette Daddy; Dec 2, 2009 at 06:21 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,022
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From: Del Boca Vista FL
The term "Brass Hat" has always meant that the car was ordered by an upper management employee, as far as I can remember. I come from a GM town though. Pretty normal term around Anderson, IN. Home of Delco Remy and Guide Division.
Documentation would be needed to determine if you had one though, not that it would always make it worth more money. Maybe a car like Zora, Harley Earl, Ed Cole or Bunkie Knudsen had the Styling Dept "create" that was different than what the normal guy would order.
Documentation would be needed to determine if you had one though, not that it would always make it worth more money. Maybe a car like Zora, Harley Earl, Ed Cole or Bunkie Knudsen had the Styling Dept "create" that was different than what the normal guy would order.
Rich
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Greenville, Indiana
I had a couple built like that but I never had anybody call me a "brass hat".
If something on the car deviated from the window sticker or the spec sheet, it was either stolen parts or a mis-build.
Race Director
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From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I know a guy who worked the line along with all his buddies for Ford in 69. He ordered a plain mustang fastback, and it rolled out with every option in the book, Mach 1 trim, optional drivetrain, everything. He's still got it, bright red with a shaker hood. Guess you'd call it a mistake! 
Team Owner
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From: Greenville, Indiana
I know a guy who worked the line along with all his buddies for Ford in 69. He ordered a plain mustang fastback, and it rolled out with every option in the book, Mach 1 trim, optional drivetrain, everything. He's still got it, bright red with a shaker hood. Guess you'd call it a mistake!
Also, upgrading features in the event of stock shortages used to be common also. Not so much anymore as "truth in advertising" laws killed much of this. Ya' gotta' build what you advertise.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Bronx New York
Noland Adams explains COPO pretty well at the end of Vol. 2 in the addenda section.
quote:
"COPO's were written to cover all types of special yet factory built Chevrolets. For example there were special paint jobs for GM VIP's and their friends. And special accessories became almost routine. By the time the 63 Corvettes were produced COPO's were becoming increasingly limited."
So I guess a Brass Hat (exec. car) didn't always have to be a COPO. And since some COPO's were available to the public they weren't always brass hat cars...and vice versa like Yogi would say.
quote:
"COPO's were written to cover all types of special yet factory built Chevrolets. For example there were special paint jobs for GM VIP's and their friends. And special accessories became almost routine. By the time the 63 Corvettes were produced COPO's were becoming increasingly limited."
So I guess a Brass Hat (exec. car) didn't always have to be a COPO. And since some COPO's were available to the public they weren't always brass hat cars...and vice versa like Yogi would say.
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Le Mans Master
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From: "cutesy" TN
A "COPO" vette could be anything that would not be the norm.
Like a red interior with a blue (or green) paint. All of the "Shriner" cars were "COPO" cars.
A "brass hat" was ordered by an executive of GM (or Chevrolet) usually a high horsepower car (at least the ones that bring big money) or the 63 with A/C that the A/C was put on months after it was built.
The yellow ZL-1 was ordered by the plant manager (a good example of a "brass hat" car).
Like a red interior with a blue (or green) paint. All of the "Shriner" cars were "COPO" cars.
A "brass hat" was ordered by an executive of GM (or Chevrolet) usually a high horsepower car (at least the ones that bring big money) or the 63 with A/C that the A/C was put on months after it was built.
The yellow ZL-1 was ordered by the plant manager (a good example of a "brass hat" car).
Team Owner
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From: Washington Michigan
"Brass Hat" cars have had many meanings over the years - from regular cars ordered for company service (many of us got a company car every 3000 miles in those days, which was either sold to an employee or wholesaled to a dealer at 3000 miles), to S.O. (Shop Order) cars that were modified at Styling for senior-level executives.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
As I worked for a Chevrolet dealership in the mid-'80's the term "Brass Hat" applied to nothing more than salesperson's demos that were taken out of service. They may have been advertised as "driven by the dealership's owner" or "owner's wife" as that was supposed to add some cache to the vehicle. And that seemed to make a difference to some buyers. Like the owner's wife was really particular and cautious withe the free car that she received each year......
Ray
Ray
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Lakeland FL
Funny but real!
Ray is not kidding. I was looking into buying a new Caprice wagon in 79 at Lakeland chevy dealer when the salesman offered me a 78 wagon that had been driven by the dealer's wife. They wanted near list for it because of it's provenance! They were serious! I was escorted off the property after asking them what they were smoking. Bought what I wanted for cheaper in Tampa the same day.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Hightstown NJ
Actually, the yellow ZL-1 was ordered by George Heberling, the Resident Engineer from Chevrolet Engineering at St. Louis, as his company car.
"Brass Hat" cars have had many meanings over the years - from regular cars ordered for company service (many of us got a company car every 3000 miles in those days, which was either sold to an employee or wholesaled to a dealer at 3000 miles), to S.O. (Shop Order) cars that were modified at Styling for senior-level executives.
"Brass Hat" cars have had many meanings over the years - from regular cars ordered for company service (many of us got a company car every 3000 miles in those days, which was either sold to an employee or wholesaled to a dealer at 3000 miles), to S.O. (Shop Order) cars that were modified at Styling for senior-level executives.
Thanks
Verne
Team Owner
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From: Washington Michigan
Drifting
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From: Hightstown NJ
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Washington Michigan
