Yenko brand still kicking 45 years later, new vehicles coming?
1968 Yenko Super Camaro - Click above for high-res image gallery
This post represents something of a dilemma for us. On the one hand, we could tell you about General Marketing Capital Incorporated (GMCI) owner Jeff Leonard and how he's just taken control of the Yenko name and brand. But on the other, we could ask only that you stare at the above image (and those in the gallery) for five minutes in absolute reverential silence. Do you really care that Leonard will more likely than not be bringing new Yenko products to market? Sure, a 2010 Yenko Super Camaro would be sweeter than cookie dough ice cream, but hey... look up.
Additionally, we could explain how almost forty-five years ago Don Yenko gamed GM's COPO (Central Office Production Order) program to build his first factory hot rod, the Yenko Stinger Corvair, but we just cannot take our eyes off of the gorgeous blue 1968 Yenko Camaro with the 427 motor and M-21 four-speed manual. Because really, besides the Stinger Corvair, have you ever seen anything hotter? Really? What?
And what would a 2010 Yenko consist of anyhow? Well, the Yenko formula was simply to put the best performance parts possible under the skin of a given car. Meaning we're talking about a LS9 powered Camaro with carbon ceramic brakes and magnetic-rheological shocks. Actually, that sounds pretty good. The question, then, really is whether or not Mr. Leonard will be able to make new Yenkos as blisteringly desirable to people in 2055 as Don Yenko's products are to us today at the end of 2009. Any bets? Full press release after the jump.
Gallery: 1968 Yenko Super Camaro
[Source: General Marketing Capital Incorporated]
PRESS RELEASE
ON IT'S 45th ANNIVERSARY - THE YENKO NAME IS ALIVE AND WELL
Avid Car Collector and Yenko Enthusiast Recaptures Yenko Magic with Possible New Yenko Models, Fresh Product Lines
Westminster, Calif. – (October 14, 2009) As the 45th Anniversary of the Yenko legacy draws near, General Marketing Capital Incorporated (GMCI) announced today its ownership of the classic trademark and its plans to revitalize the brand.
To jump start this effort, Yenko owner, enthusiast and GMCI CEO Jeff Leonard, is consulting with several notable limited production vehicle companies in the automotive industry on possible new Yenko project cars as well as upcoming Yenko product lines.
GMCI will also launch a brand-new online home for the Yenko brand in the upcoming weeks, where owners and enthusiasts can find information about upcoming cars and products, access historical information about the brand, register to be a part of the site's forums and much more.
"The muscle car era has made a huge comeback this year and we expect this trend to grow," said Leonard. "The Yenko name is very much a part of that magnificent history and we plan to resurge its magic and its historical significance. Through GMCI's efforts, Don Yenko's name will be kept alive with the highest degree of integrity and respect."
Growing up in Detroit in the shadow of the famous Woodward Avenue during the muscle era heyday, Leonard always had a keen interest in Detroit muscle culture. As a muscle car enthusiast and owner of an original 1968 Yenko Camaro, Leonard shares the enthusiasm and excitement of many towards owning a unique piece of Yenko history.
Originally, the 60s era Yenko car was a special order vehicle, available only through Don Yenko Chevrolet in Canonsburg, PA. Don Yenko used the Central Office Production Order (COPO) program, a program GM used for fleet vehicles like police cars, taxi cabs, etc. to special order the most powerful vehicles available.
Yenko modified his first vehicle, the Chevrolet Corvair, in 1965 for the Sports Car Club of America racing team. Yenko later went on to build the Yenko Super Camaro, Yenko Deuce, Yenko Chevelle, Yenko Super Nova, Yenko Vega Stinger and the Yenko Camaro Turbo Z among the fastest SCCA racing cars ever produced.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jerjozwik 5:10PM (10/15/2009)
oh god yes!
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thipps 5:12PM (10/15/2009)
Eff the z28 GM give us the Yanko with a Ls7 and make it light! i will sell a kidney for one
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vespid82 5:21PM (10/15/2009)
Yanko? Really?
thipps 5:32PM (10/15/2009)
well it goes without saying. i cant edit what i said. typo. nice pick up tho
jerjozwik 5:27PM (10/15/2009)
im guessing gm's going to f this one up somehow. back then the stars aligned in the most magical way that this car made it to production.
today? methinks there will be different wheels, more price, and a big yenko badge stuck to the side.
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adrenalnjunky 5:52PM (10/15/2009)
GM would have nothing to do with a YSC created by Mr. Leonard's new business venture, other than building the parts and pieces he decides to assemble.
COPO spec ordering sheets (if they still exist) probably don't allow anyone to build a stripper Camaro, but option in a LS7 or LS9 as part of the assembly process.
To get something like that today you would have to buy the parts and assemble it all together, just like Hennessey has. All these will likely be are tuner-spec builds with Yenko badging.
Polly Prissy Pants 6:42PM (10/15/2009)
Yea, with the way car ordering is today, if he tried to option in the high HP motor the factory would make him take the sunroof, auto-climate control, leather and the $4000 JBL sound/nav system as a package deal. Used to be you could order a GM car _exactly_ the way you wanted - not any more. That's why you'll never see cars like the Yenko again.
TigerMil 7:00PM (10/15/2009)
Absolutely. There's this thing called EPA and various crash requirements. I would think a COPO yanko (I kind of liked that typo...it's mine now TYVM) would have to be crash tested and epa certified with the particular drivetrain involved....mucho dinero. Not gonna happen.
nick 5:39PM (10/15/2009)
I'd replace my E60 M5 with a Yenko LS9 Camaro. Have always loved the Yenkos. A Z/28 LS9 is way less interesting to me.
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Jerry 5:57PM (10/15/2009)
I remember fondly when Yenko and Motion ruled the roads.
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Level 6:04PM (10/15/2009)
Its a big dilemma, There is no doubt the Yenko of yesterday is famous and very valuable but it doesn't represent anything in line with performance oriented on today's cars...A Yenko is like a Saleen or Roush in today's world...There weren't many back then hence why it became such a collectible....The dilemma is GM has to produce the top of the line Camaro in the form of the ZXX just like it did with the Vette and leave Yenko as pretty much a "Tuner" brand where the sky is the limit...
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ForgedInternals 6:19PM (10/15/2009)
They could be like Shelby is to Ford. More or less SVT actually designs the car and Shelby throws on a plaque, some appearance parts and puts the VIN in their registry.
Daveo 6:49PM (10/15/2009)
Aren't those Pontiac rims?
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cowboy bob 7:32PM (10/15/2009)
Ahhh...yes. The fact is, Life is like a cattle chute. You can't back up, and you can't turn around. The '60's will never come back. Glory days were in a young man's eye, as the song goes.......
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Kaveh 7:44PM (10/15/2009)
could be just a badge or they can do some crazy stuff like the in house German tuners like AMG and makes some Corvette powered Sedans like they did in the 90's with that Opel Sedan.
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KT 7:50PM (10/15/2009)
That hood scoop looks way too Mopar-ish.
I hope he doesn't ruin the good YSC name by turning out some crap cars.
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AdaM 9:09PM (10/15/2009)
YES!
I effin' love that Camaro, but the hood ruins it IMO.
TonyInMI 9:05PM (10/15/2009)
The second sentence in the article says it all. Original Yenkos were about the passion. If this happens again it will only be about the money.
Can there be ANYTHING left sacred? Seems like everything once cool and passionate is being resurrected for sake of the almighty dollar.
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VRROOM! 3:09AM (10/16/2009)
AWESOME!! I want one!
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Shamdiddly 8:11AM (10/16/2009)
19 posts and no mention of GMsucksthecamaroistooplasticybadpaintcraptransmissionblahblahblah?
That's refreshing. : )
Hell yes, bring back the Yenko and put an LS7 in it. An all-aluminum, dry-sumped modern day 427 is what should be in that car.
Anything else, and it would be akin to just slapping a yenko badge and paint stripe on it.
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