Quote:
Originally Posted by NovaSS4spdFan
No doubt impressive, but let's digress to 1968-70. The Yenko built cars were the brainchild of Don Yenko who owned a dealership in Boalsburg, Pa. Don was a racer who initially offered the Corvair"Stinger" then Chevelles and Camaros with dealer replacement 427s.
Then came along the 1970 Yenko Deuce Nova. That vehicle, IMO, was his best offer because Chevrolet built them. The very limited COPO Nova had a factory installed Corvette/Camaro LT-1 solid lifter 350. All Yenko had to do was to install a hood mounted tach, some exterior vinyl trim and the YSC ( Yenko Supercar) label to the interior. It was a way around insurance companies and it offered near big block performance at a reasonable to insure rate.
In my old neighborhood, Wallace Chevrolet Linden , NJ received 3 (two sticks, one automatic) in late June 1970. I poured over them and the pondered the 4K price. A lot of dough back then. I ultimately decided to order a 1971 NovaSS with, what I believed at the time would be offered- the 396/375 HP L-78. Little did I know that it was being discontinued. Low compression for low lead and no lead fuels and the GM edict against offering kid killing performance in small, lightweight cars. The GM strike came in Dec 1970 and the only engine offered at write up time was the L48 350. I went back to Wallace Chevrolet and discovered that the only one unspoken for was the automatic. Sad.
To really appreciate what it was like back then, dealers didn't have a network among themselves and of course, no internet. Wallace never offered to do a search because the allotment was already spoken for and they were the only dealership in NJ to get any allotment. The final number of Yenko Deuces was somewhere between 175 and 200.
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Kool history, thanks for sharing.
Just for accurate Historical purposes:
Don Yenko built his cars in Canonsburg PA.
The first Camaros 1967 427s were converted with Corvette L72 Crate engines.
In 1968 he converted most but got GM to install the engines and have special heat treated rear gears, via the COPO program.
In 1969 all of the Yenko Camaro 427s and Chevelle 427s were built via the COPO program at GM. 1969 Yenko 427 Novas were converted at the dealership.
1970 Yenko Deuce production was exactly 175. First batch was of 125 cars and second batch was 50 cars. 10 each of the 5 Spring Colors.
Here is my former Deuce, one of 10 in Citrus Green.