The sanctioning body approved the cars with back seat removed and upgrades to the Corsa engine increasing horsepower and torque. In fact, none of the 323 COPO Chevelles built were Super Sports. Come late ’68 for the 1969 Chevy model releases. But before the Canonsburg, PA, Chevy dealer built Yenko Camaros, Yenko Novas, or Yenko Chevelles, they made the Corvair-based Yenko … Along with the Camaro, Yenko also gave the Super Car treatment to the Chevelle and Nova for 1969. Instead, they were base coupes with a COPO option package that cost about $860, including $533 for the L72. Automatic Yenkos were delivered with the shifter on the column, though most were converted to a Hurst Dual Gate floor shifter. Painted in Rallye Green (code 79) with a black vinyl top and Yenko white graphics, the car screamed for attention. A total of 39,207 6-cyl engines were installed; 29,791 in U.S. built Chevelles and 10,416 imported from Canada. In addition to the L72 engine, the car got the standard equipment M-21 close-ratio four-speed manual transmission and a 4.10 PosiTraction gear in the 12-bolt differential. From there, he began hot rodding Vegas and then produced a few hi-performance Camaros in '81. By the end of the year, Yenko sold just 37 of his 427 conversions. He swapped the engine with the same standard high-compression code L72 427 used in the big car line (Impala, Caprice) that is already being COPO-ordered in the more sporty models noted above. )or the Muncie “rock crusher” 4 speed transmission (M-21 opt. One of the most original Yenko Chevelles in existence. The turbo was however available separately as an aftermarket item. Yenko had a special stripe package and interior trim his crew added on, as well as some dress-up tags and little 427 emblems as fair warning, but that’s about it. Only 99 Yenko Chevelles were produced. The handful that survived for the past half-century earned their reputation. Most Yenko Chevelles (this one included) were fitted with close-ratio M21 four-speeds, but some received TH400 automatics. The Chevelles rolled on F70-15 Goodyear bias-ply tires mounted on either Rally wheels or the optional Yenko/Atlas five-spoke "mag" wheels. The F41 heavy-duty suspension included a 13/16-inch diameter front antisway bar, heavy-duty front coil springs, heavy-duty rear springs, and a set of ACDelco heavy-duty shock absorbers. These are bone-basic beasts whose only job is to either run a quarter-mile faster than the other guy, or make easy money by street racing after the sun goes down. The 1969 Yenko Nova also has a bench seat (keeps that girlfriend close), Hurst floor shift, Atlas wheels, quite scary narrow tires, and small brakes. Front discs-- standard on Super Sport Chevelles -- were a mandatory $64 option on COPO cars. Yenko rounded out the visual package with special "Yenko 427" badges, stripes down the sides and hood, and the sYc (Yenko Super Car) on the headrests. It's quite possible these 24,454 units were destined for overseas sales and were not reported in the above production numbers. Yenko’s dealerships also cranked out a limited number of 427-powered Chevelles and Novas with a conversion treatment similar to the Camaro that same year. Less than 50 remain in existence today. A total of 413,255 8-cyl engines were installed; 198,285 307cid, 150,745 350cid, and 64,225 402/454cid engines. Mark helpful. I've looked at the data he compiled, but his figure of 323 does not come from Tonawanda records. While at the time the largest engine being installed in Chevelle SS's was the 396 cid V8, Yenko chose to equip his acquired models with the Chevrolet 427 cid V8. When Chevrolet refused to build the big-block 427 Camaro that people wanted, Don Yenko stepped up to answer the call. Very little was known about the COPO Chevelles until the late 1980s, when survivor cars were discovered and written about. Now, remember, these are not pretty, dressed-up SS models. Instead, they were base coupes with a COPO option package that cost about $860, including $533 for the L72. Nobody advertised this, however, other dealers could also use this COPO code to do likewise. Yenko put his trademark dress-ups on the 99 he ordered. In 1969, Yenko Sportscars proudly declared that it was "The Leading U.S. Producer of Hi-Performance Chevrolet Based Vehicles." A few Yenko badges here, a 427 badge there, and a decal or two all added up to a 427 COPO that had Yenko written all over it. Yenko also formed a national network to sell them using already established associated Chevrolet dealerships. Chevrolet offered the code ZL1 427-CI all-aluminum motor (only available for Corvette, and an engine which cost more than $4,000 alone to install). However, in 1969 Yenko was able to exploit Chevrolet’s Central Office Production Order (COPO) #9561 to have the L72 installed at the factory. Yenko Chevelles could have came with any/all/none of the following options: Yenko hood stripes, Yenko side stripes, head rest decals, "Torque Thrust" style wheels, aftermarket tach, aftermarket guages, Yenko emblem(s), 427 emblem(s), [NOTE: to see how the Yenko Chevelles were equipped when they arrived at Yenko Chevrolet from the Chevrolet assembly plant, check out the COPO page.] The 12,748-mile car was recently restored by Jim Bell and Leroy Conley at the Rusty Nuts Garage for the father-and-son team of Joe and Jacob "Jake" Anglin. Lynn Yenko herself was known to stripe many of these cars. He was interviewed only a month or so earlier about his foray into performance car marketing. Chevelles is not known. Sold* at Scottsdale 2015 - Lot #2016 1969 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE YENKO 427 COPO cars weren’t promoted in brochures, so the paper trail is scant, hidden in grease-laden shop manuals. Those wanting an automatic transmission could order the M40 three-speed. At the time, corporate execs at GM mandated nothing more than 400-CI be allowed in anything, but full-size cars or Corvettes. Yenko had also ordered some COPO Camaros in 1968, consisting of the L78, 140mph speedometer, 4.10:1 heavy-duty rear axle and heavy-duty suspension parts. It is unknown how many Yenko Vega’s were actually built, and with the rust problems that plagued the car, there are very few documented examples surviving today. Yenko had hopes of keeping this now-infamous … Body styles include coupes, sedans, convertibles, and station wagons. It wasn’t just any big-block engine that Yenko was bolting […] Don Yenko was a winning road racer from Pennsylvania. It was 1969. Of the 99 units prepared and sold, a dozen Yenko COPO 9562 Chevelles were in Garnet red, like the one shown here. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. At the time, corporate execs at GM mandated nothing more than 400-CI be allowed in anything, but full-size cars or Corvettes. This is evidenced by the late-run COPO 427’s. The 307 and two-barrel 350-powered cars were shipped from the factory with the 10-bolt rear unless the Trailering option (which also required a Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission) was specified, in which case the 8.875 axle might have been substituted. One stripe kit fit both Camaro and Chevelle equally well. One of the most original Yenko Chevelles in existence. The 100 1966 Corsas that received certification were all painted white and most had blue striping, and were named "Yenko Stingers". / how many 73 chevelles were built with 454 engine.and what are they worth. Since Yenko cars were unique machines with high price tags, the overall number of produced vehicles was small. Meanwhile, people who didn’t know when to shift (or lift off the gas) certainly blew some of those 427s into shrapnel. Less than 50 remain in existence today. Ford had big, bad Boss 429 Mustangs. We’ll never know. Only 60 of these extremely rare supercars were built. Said by many to be the finest original example. Yenko only made 99 of his cars using the COPO system, and about 22 have been accounted for. ", The rare Yenko sat like that for 39 years until the Anglins bought it in April 2004. 1970 would see GM lift its ban on engines over 400 cubic inches, and the Chevelle would respond with one of the most powerful models ever produced. A grand total of 37 … Exterior paint colors sold were a choice the consumer made and not technically an option so even the overall number of red/blue/green/etc. Yenko put his trademark dress-ups on the 99 he ordered. Some of these include: either a specially tuned 400 turbo hydromatic, automatic transmission (M-40 opt. Beginning with the Camaro’s launch in 1967, Pennsylvania Chevrolet dealer and racer Don Yenko produced some of the most wicked versions of the model ever made. The 12-bolt rearend was filled with 4.10 gears. There were 323 COPO 9562 Chevelles built that year, with 99 of them going to Yenko and his franchised Yenko Super Car associates. Photo by Geoff Stunkard Under the hood, an L72 427-CI engine that made scads of power. This is why 68 Yenko camaros have factory 140 mph speedometers and bigger front sway bars. However, as for the Nova here, the factory would not touch it. Notes/Caveats: (1) The total production according to the reported last VIN of each assembly plant totals 660,012 and does not match figures above and leaves about 24,454 Chevelles & Monte Carlos from the assembly plants unaccounted for. Originally listed under Yenko stock number 9299, this Chevelle was first sold through Joseph Chevrolet in Cincinnati to Fred J. Plageman, who paid $5,150 for it on June 17, 1969. ", At a Glance1969 Yenko ChevelleOwned by: Joe and Jake Anglin, Union, KYRestored by:Engine: '69 427ci/450hp L72 V-8Transmission: Muncie M21 4-speed manualRearend: GM 12-bolt with 4:10 gears and PositractionInterior: Black vinyl Strato bucket seatWheels: 15x7 Yenko/AtlasTires: F70-15 Coker reproduction Goodyear Wide TreadSpecial parts: Yenko/SC 427 conversion, one of five painted Dover White, By clicking Sign Up, you agree to the  Terms of Use. As seen, it had just been restored by Rick Smith Restorations of Virginia and is reputed to have last changed hands for someplace above $500,000. The Chevelle left the Detroit as a COPO 427 car tied to a Munice 4 speed. After 1965, the Malibu SS badge disappeared except for those sold in Canada. These Chevelles were not SS models but still received a number of hot changes, with the most important being the big L72 427/425 HP big-block. A fun bit of trivia that most readers don’t know about me is that I have been an avid toy, The USA has been the target of terrorism due to terrorists’ innate jealousy of our democracy. But then again, 1,000 horsepower doesn't come cheaply. Photo Credit: Mecum Auctions Photo Credit: Mecum Auctions According to David Steele, Yenko fan and executive director of the American Hot Rod Foundation : “It’s true that Yenko was successful in SCCA racing with the Corvair but it was with a slightly less nimble car, an early Corvette, that he originally made his name in road racing. These figures are for the U.S. production of Chevelles only (unless otherwise indicated) and does not include the Monte Carlo. Of those, only 16 Yenko Chevelles were ordered in Butternut Yellow. Yenko only made 99 of his cars using the COPO system, and about 22 have been accounted for. These Chevelles were not SS models but still received a number of hot changes, with the most important being the big L72 427/425 HP big-block. And while Chevrolet's Don Yenko isn't as … Front discs-- standard on Super Sport Chevelles -- were a mandatory $64 option on COPO cars. Before we removed the original stripes from the body of this car, we put a lot of time into measuring how they were laid out. How many COPO Camaros were built isn't known; Yenko ordered 201, but other dealers could order them as well, and 500 or more were produced. His family had a small Chevy dealership in Canonsburg, not far from Pittsburgh. A limited 201 Malibu SS 396 'Z-16' big-block -equipped cars were also eventually produced starting in late 1965, with most being built between mid-March and mid-April. COPO cars weren’t promoted in brochures, so the paper trail is scant, hidden in grease-laden shop manuals. 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