The Yenko Stinger was born from Don Yenko’s frustration on the race track. He was getting trounced by Mark Donohue and his famous Mustang, and the only way he could stay loyal to the Chevrolet brand and win races was to build his own car.
In fact, the run of 100 Corvair-based Stingers that Yenko and crew quickly built during December 1965 to meet SCCA homologation requirements is where the legendary COPO manipulator got his start.
Through GM’s Central Office Production Order (COPO) system, Yenko ordered 100 Ermine White Chevrolet Corvair Corsa two-door sport coupes with 4-speed manual transmissions, Positraction, 3.55 rear end gears, and upgraded suspension and steering kit.
Tags:
muscle car, classic car, corvair, hotrod, racing
Now comes 1967, and the new Camaro is HOT. Except you can’t get a 427 in the Camaro from Chevrolet. Since Yenko has a dealer network that already sold his modified cars, why not a 427 Yenko Camaro? The 427 engines shipped to Canonsburg straight from the Tonawanda Chevy engine plant. The factory 396 comes out, the 427 pops in, and the Yenko Super Camaro, complete with warranty, is born. In 1968, the process gets more streamlined. Yenko then used a COPO code to get non-SS Camaros built with special speedometers, suspension gear and the 427 carburetor pre-installed on the standard 396 engine. Once the Camaros got delivered to Pennsylvania, Yenko’s guys pulled the engine out and swapped the 396 hardware over to a new 427 “short block” .
Tags:
chevrolet, hot rods, vintage cars, hot rod art, nova
Yenko Chevrolet was a Chevrolet dealership located at 575 West Pike Street in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Operating from 1949 to 1982, the dealership is best known for selling customized sports cars during the late 1960s. Referred to presently as "Yenkos," they are among the most collectible 1960s vehicles.
967, Yenko transferred Chevrolet's 427 cubic inch (7 L), 425hp (317 kW) L-72 engine (along with other high-performance parts) into some Camaros, creating the Yenko Camaro. The 1967 & 1968 427 Camaros were so popular that, in 1969, Yenko used Chevrolet's Central Office Production Order (COPO) system to have L-72 engines installed into Chevrolet Camaros and Chevelles.
Yenko Chevrolet Camaro 427 was the delicious conversion of muscle car need and a factory's desire to please.
To Ford fans, Carroll Shelby is the high-priest of performance. Chevy loyalists revere a Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, car dealer named Don Yenko. Yenko had a deserved reputation for driving, building, and selling dominating Chevrolets, starting in '65 with well-crafted super Corvairs. He advanced to installing 427-cid Corvette V-8s in '67 and '68 Camaros, performing 118 of the transplants. These $4,200 ponys ran in the low 13s right off his shop floor.