Don Yenko was a famous performance tuner, racer, and Chevrolet dealer. One of his favorite cars to soup up was the first-generation Camaro, although Chevelle’s and Nova’s were also part of his tuning portfolio. The heart of the ’69 edition, which comprised more than half of Yenko’s early Camaro conversions, was an L72 427 V8, not otherwise available in the Camaro. This car has been treated to a rotisserie restoration and looks stunning inside and out. While the $65,000 asking price might seem steep, you probably couldn’t build another one for this money. Located in Sacramento, California, this Yenko tribute car is available here on craigslist. Thanks, to Barn Finds’ own Adam Clarke for the tip on this one!
The Yenko Super Camaro was a modified Camaro prepared by Yenko Chevrolet. When the pony car debuted, it was General Motors’ corporate policy at the time to limit these cars to 400 cubic inch engines. That put the Camaro at a disadvantage compared to its competition who offered bigger motors. Yenko surmised there was a market for a more powerful Camaro and went about building them. For 1967-69, 371 Yenko Camaro’s were built, including 201 from 1969 that used the L72. These special-order cars also came with power disc brakes, spoilers, a cowl-induction hood, a 4.10 Posi-traction rear end with gears, a bigger front sway bar, and a heavy-duty radiator. Transmission choices were either the M-21 4-speed or the TH-400 automatic.
Yenko would round out his creations by adding some graphics, i.e., the Yenko 427 badges, stripes, and sYc emblems in the headrests. While exterior color choices would differ, the only interior offered in 1969 was the standard black version (code 711). The seller’s car mimics the 171 ’69 Yenko Camaro’s equipped with a 4-speed manual. While this auto looks the part in every way, the engine under the hood is a 454 V8 that’s dressed up like the correct 427 would look. We’re told the only sheet metal that is not original on the car that served for this tribute is the hood.
If there are any imperfections in the restoration, they’re not visible. Given that the seller says the odometer reading is 1111, other than a placeholder perhaps that’s mileage driven since all the work was done. Besides the engine swap with a 454 from 1970 that’s been rebuilt, the transmission has also been gone through. The interior is new and looks like the real deal and the car has new gauges and a retro stereo sound system. To help show off his wares, the seller provides this video of this Hugger Orange Yenko look-a-like.
Given that maybe a third of the Yenko Super Camaro’s may have survived, they turn up for sale sporadically, and – when they do – six figures are what they go for. Clones are probably greater in number and much more affordable by comparison if you can reconcile that they’re not the real thing. But other than the disguised engine in this car, it’s likely as close to a real Yenko that you’ll ever come.
Price seems cheap for a frame off of this caliber , would have to see it in person and find out the specifics.
The ‘quick and dirty’ paint job should be a concern with a $65k asking price. I wouldn’t expect a frame-off restoration to have painted door and trunk latch hardware.
Camaro did not have a frame.
true enough … I should have used the word rotisserie instead of frame-off.
I loved my ’68 Camaro. It was a beautiful car. The ’71 Camaro: also beautiful (and iconic). The ’69 Camaro is plain UGLY. I can’t explain it.
This one looks to have been nicely done but likely lacks any investment potential.
Gee Clive, why don’t you tell us how you really feel about 69 Camaros. As an owner of a 69 Camaro I must take offence about the UGLY comment, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I love the 67/68 styling of Camaro, I just like the 69 more. And since the 69 is the most sought after Camaro of all time one of us is looking at this all wrong…
I apologize if offense occurred where none was intended DR. Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. I do however feel that the designer(s) got it right the first time (in 1967) and their attempts to improve on it adversely affected the purity of the lines. I work in design myself and it seems (to me) this happens fairly regularly in all design fields.
Build cost will exceed 125,000 today. If you started with fairly rust free body, parts cost will be near 30,000 and the rest is labor and supplies. Most shops invest 900-1200 hours depending on condition and customer ad ons to build the entire car.
ls5 ls6 ?????
How can you mention Don Yenko with saying anything about the Corvair Stinger. I may be wrong, but I thought where his major fame started.
Neat looking Camaro for sure with an overkill of torque from the “hot” 454.
The Yenko decals, basically a full on clone, look cool and I can’t imagine how many times the new owner will have to repeat that sole word…over and over no matter where the car may be. Shows, at the track, just driving around, even parked in tbe driveway,,,..”No, it’s a clone” or maybe the word tribute.
Nice ride.
Why dont they just call it a fake yenko? Why tribute or clone? Just asking.
Thanks Jody. I have always wondered how the term “Clone” is supposed to represent something worthwhile. I would be embarrassed to own a Rolex “clone” because it would be spotted as a “fake” or worse. Same goes for “tribute” cars.
I dont know , Jody,
Fake, fraud, phony, fugazi…all seem to be terms better used on a car like this If it were being passed off as legit, somehow. Kinda like knockoff golf clubs or the old lawsuit guitars…..legitimate fraud or fakes.
Maybe replica would be a good term for the Camaro here, its too close, too exacting in appearance, but to always call it a fake Yenko would bring negative reactions, in my opinion.