I’ve always been fascinated by the evolution of the Pony car. What started out as budget-minded fun-to-drive cars eventually morphed into all-out muscle cars, but honestly, I’m glad they did. Some of my favorite late ’60s cars are the big block-equipped Mustangs and Camaros. I’ve long dreamed of owning a Yenko Camaro but given their values these days, I’d happily take a well-done tribute like this example that can offer the same experience without all the expense. If you, like me, would love to have this 427 powered Camaro, you can find it here on eBay in Corydon, Indiana with a BIN of $69,500 and the option to make an offer.
In 1969, if you wanted the meanest Camaro on the street, the people at Yenko had the car for you. With Chevrolet’s leadership putting a limit on the size of engines offered in their “compact” models, it took some creativity and knowing the right people to get a Camaro out of the factory with a 427 installed. Vince Piggins, who was running Production Promotion for Chevrolet had used a bit of a loophole known as a Central Office Production Order to get non-standard engines installed into cars on the assembly line previously for dealers. So, Don Yenko pitched the idea of using the process to get the high-performance L72 427 V8 installed into Camaros for his dealership and Piggins made it happen. Technically, any dealership could order a Camaro with the same performance options, but it was a little-known trick that gave Yenko an edge over his competitors.
The seller of this Camaro doesn’t offer us much information, but they state that it has a 427, a 4-speed, and a 12-bolt rear end. They also claim that they spent a lot of money and time getting the car just right. Hopefully, that means that the engine is built to L72 specs, which would mean having 425 glorious horses on tap! Looking the car over, it certainly looks the part inside and out.
Inside, we find a nicely done interior. For the most part, COPO Camaros could be optioned however you wanted. I’m not a COPO expert, but I believe these came with a 140 mph speedometer, while this one appears to only go up to 120. Perhaps one of our resident experts can weigh in on that bit of history. That’s a small detail that wouldn’t hamper my ability to enjoy this Camaro one bit. How about you?
With just 201 Yenko Camaros having been built, I don’t imagine many of the remaining examples see much use on the open road. And while I get any COPO owner’s desire to protect such an important piece of automotive history, I’d want to drive mine, so buying a tribute would be the best option, at least in my opinion! What do you think though?
Only COPOs with the 9737 Sports Car Conversion received the 140 mph speedometer (and bigger front sway bar). All others got the 120 mph speedometer.
It’s nice. The green interior I could do without. I get it that a real Yenko is rare. There have been many 427 swaps over the years. Taking such a car and adding billboards and reproduction dealer decals is fishing for money in my opinion. There are cheaper ones out there.
You see this is the problem, I would love to own Yenko but will never because of the cost. So I have this tribute car and I get to spend the rest of my days saying “no it’s not a real Yenko” to every one that ask me about the car or I say yea it’s real and that would bug me. It’s like having a fake Rolex and showing it off does that really make one feel proud? The hold thing would just drive me crazy.
For those of us who have restored Classic cars.. all you need to do is enlarge the pics on the ad and take a look at his fit and finish.. this was not a “mickey mouse build”.. look at last pic.. even the inside of the wheels are sanitary.. every bolt is clean and neat .. either blasted or new.. this is not a “junk yard build”..A good buddy of mine just bought a 69 Z28 paid same money and it’s a piece.. (he bought at a classic car dealership)..it was a pig with lipstick..he was anxious and money was burning a hole…I always say buy the best car you can find.. it will save you big money in the end..and always go inspect yourself.. “buyer beware”..
All yenkos came with black interior,but l did see one tribute car blue with white interior
A 427 Camaro will always be just another……427 Camaro whether it was built or ordered by a dealer, built at a speed shop, backyard, garage..what makes the Yenko/Dana/Baldwin -Motion and several other dealer specials unique are the special stripes, hood scoops, and any other personal dealer graphics. On the road they would be highly visible and big time eye candy. At the track, legal or otherwise, the half primer grey Camaro with a fully built drivetrain was just as quick. I like this 427 Camaro a lot, a driver(?) just waiting to get stolen under false identity.$$$$
I love everything about Yenko Camaros real or fake other than the Yenkotazation. Hopefully they are just decals and the car can be de-Yenkonized!
Car nut you are 100% correct, I tell people the same thing. I know a Camaro Expert who could tell you every last detail of this car and what is correct or not. But I agree if it is nicely done and you know it, no harm no foul, enjoy it and drive it like you stole it.
Okay I’m impressed with the quality of the build, but have to agree with Desert Rat.
I realize this is apples to oranges to pears but having owned many pony cars, muscle cars, and their modern equivalents it’s a no brainer.
A brand new Camaro ZL-1 is about the same $$ as this tribute. I’m getting to the “been there done that” age where someone else can enjoy the naked roughness of the past, I’ll take the new one please…
You’re pretty much right paulG as much as i would Iike to have a 69 Camaro I bought a used 2011 Camaro SS because i could afford that, but 69’s are way out of my league
Could be wrong, but Yenko’s did not come with “tall” valve covers, that’s the first thing I noticed without reading the write up.
The title of this article calls this a Yenko Tribute, which might be more accurate than the seller’s description as a Clone.
Right away, I noticed that it did not have the wheels that most Yenkos seem to have. If you are going through the trouble of making a clone, then the wheels should be on the list.