The reason, as stated by others, is emissions compliance.
For a vehicle to be sold in this country, it MUST meet emissions standards for the market it is sold into.
Let's think about a few of the cars sold over the years not offered in certain configurations - The 330 hp LT4 Corvettes of 1996 come to mind...
The LT4 Corvette was a manual transmission-only model for 1996 and was standard in the 1996 Grand Sport Corvette and available on the rest. If you ordered an automatic transmission Corvette in 1996, you received the LT1 (300 hp) engine in your car.
Some have claimed over the years, they had a special, one-of-a-kind automatic LT4. GM would lose their tail by letting a non-certified car out of their doors. Not going to happen!
So.... Back to the COPO cars of the past... The 427 (ZL1) Camaros of the past, are legendary today. No doubt about it! However, 40 years ago, the auto manufacturers were not choked and burdened with the regulations of today.
COPO exists today in limited form today - paint colors and certain trim may fall under a Central Office Production Order. Higher hp engines, just don't happen though...
The good news today, is you can get an engineered, high-powered supercar from your local Callaway/Chevrolet dealer, delivering volumes of power in an (50 state) emissions complaint package, and with an unparalleled Powertrain warranty.
http://www.callawaycars.com/las/Call...Literature.htm
