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eBay Find of the Day: 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko Turbo

Chris Tutor — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet

You've never seen a 1981 Yenko Camaro? Maybe that's because only 19 were made and they usually sell for well north of what a new Camaro will cost you from your local Chevrolet dealer.

One gorgeously restored, matching numbers example is up for purchase on eBay Motors for the eye-watering Buy-It-Now price of $180k. But please consider the car's claimed history and stat sheet before passing judgement.

As the legend goes, in 1969, Yenko Chevrolet of Murray, Pennsylvania took a 12-year break from modding Camaros. But low compression '80s engines got under the skin of Don Yenko, and in 1981, the tuning legend proceeded to cram a turbocharged, four-barrel, 350 V8 under the hood of the second-generation car. Horsepower on the rare Yenko is unclear, but it should definitely be way more than the stock Z-28's meager 175 hp. Reports suggest this was to be Yenko's final big build, and the owner of this eBay find says this one is the very last 1981 Yenko produced.

On top of all that, the Charlotte, North Carolina seller says that the car has fewer than 30k miles, some of which were supposedly put there by curious automotive journalists. The winning bidder will get the original build sheet, window sticker and a production intent letter signed by Don Yenko.

eBay Find of the Day: 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko Turbo originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Yenko Camaro cuts through the aftermarket fog

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:20:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance

Yenko Camaro - Click above for high-res image gallery

There a lot of new Camaros here at SEMA. In fact, depending upon your depth of exhaustion, residual blood-alcohol level from last night and general brain-deadedness, you might be forgiven for thinking that every other car here is a Camaro. And some of them, well, ain't so great. Useless ground effects packages, 24-inch wheels, shoddy workmanship and terrible eye-searing colors are your bag, man. That said, some Camaros do manage to cut through the crap using simple tools like quality and understatement. May we present to you the new Yenko Camaro, a quiet, big stick-carrying badass in a sea of noise.

Now, as we previously pointed out, this is the Phase I Yenko - meaning that instead of sporting a 427 cid like Yenko 'Maros of yore, the new one has a supercharged version of GM's LS3, the 6.2-liter V8 that comes standard with the Camaro SS. Purists (can Yenko fans be considered purists?) might grouse and claim a non-427 is lame, but we'll say two things on the matter. First, the supercharged LS3 will make at least 600 horsepower. Nothing lame about that. Second, Phase II and Phase III Yenkos are coming and you can bet they'll have Z06-sourced LS7 427, tuned to who knows how high. And, judging by the competition, an LS9 Yenko isn't out of the question.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: 2010 Yenko Camaro

SEMA 2009: Yenko Camaro cuts through the aftermarket fog originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Rendered: 2010 Yenko Camaro

Drew Phillips — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

2010 Yenko Camaro Prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery

Remember when we said that the Yenko brand would be revived with new models based on the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro? Well, we won't have long to wait to see the real thing. General Marketing Capital Incorporated (GMCI), the proud new owners of the legendary Yenko name and brand, have announced they will debut the first prototype of the 2010 Yenko Camaro at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas next week.

Using the V8-powered SS as a base, the "Phase I" Yenko Camaro will feature a supercharger to boost horsepower to 600, a Hurst short-throw shifter, larger brakes and Magnaflow cat-back exhaust system, not to mention the various Yenko badges affixed to the wheels, seats, sill plates, floor mats, etc. GMCI promises that a Phase II and III will follow, and just like Don Yenko took advantage of the COPO program to order Camaros with the 427ci engine, we hope that GMCI will make use of GM Performance parts and swap out the LS3 for an engine of proper displacement befitting a Yenko Super Car. Can you say LS7? Hit the jump for full details.

Gallery: 2010 Yenko Camaro Prototype

[Source: GMCI]

Continue reading Officially Rendered: 2010 Yenko Camaro

Officially Rendered: 2010 Yenko Camaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yenko brand still kicking 45 years later, new vehicles coming?

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

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]

Continue reading Yenko brand still kicking 45 years later, new vehicles coming?

Yenko brand still kicking 45 years later, new vehicles coming? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barrett-Jackson 2009: Yenko and COPO Chevrolet collection

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet

Click above for a high-res gallery of the COPO Chevrolet collection at the 2009 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction

Way back in the day, things took place a bit differently. Exhibit A: Chevrolet's Central Office Production Order system, which allowed dealerships a back door around GM's officially-sanctioned packages and options. For instance, it was possible to order a Camaro right from the production line that featured an engine that was otherwise reserved for the range-topping Corvette. Perhaps the best-known of these unique products came from Yenko Chevrolet, and bidders at Barrett-Jackson had a very nice group of these rare machines to choose from.

First up was a 1981 Camaro Z/28 that sold for $79,200.00, which was followed by an LT-1-powered 1970 Nova "Deuce" that went for $110,000.00. The compact Nova was followed by three 1969 Camaros, the first of which was a COPO 9561 with the L72 427/425hp engine that sold for $132,000, which actually strikes us as a pretty good deal. Next up was a COPO 9560 with the famed aluminum 427 ZL-1 engine, which sold for $319,000. Lastly, another COPO 9561 hit the block, though this one's status as 1 of 3 that was sold specifically for drag racing in the NHRA helped it earn $297,000.

Gallery: Barrett-Jackson 2009: Yenko and COPO Chevrolet collection

Gallery: Gary Holub Yenko Collection

Barrett-Jackson 2009: Yenko and COPO Chevrolet collection originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yenko collection being unloaded at Barrett-Jackson

Drew Phillips — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:20:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Chevrolet

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Don Yenko's Chevrolet collection

While not necessarily to the same extent, Don Yenko was to Chevys what Carroll Shelby was to Ford. He may not have beaten Ferrari at Le Mans, but Yenko built some of the most powerful Bowtie muscle cars of the 1960s. With only a few hundred built, they're also some of the most valuable. At the upcoming Barrett-Jackson auction in January, a private collector will be selling off his collection of five Yenkos, which are considered to be some of the best and most original in existence. Up for grabs will be a trio of 1969 Camaros, a 1981 Turbo Z Camaro, and a rare Yenko Nova. The highlight will be the Daytona Yellow Camaro that is one of three existing cars built by Yenko for NHRA drag racing. It features a COPO 427/425 V8, 3-speed automatic transmission, Hurst shifter, and more. Follow the jump for Barrett-Jackson's press release with more details on these rare muscle cars.

Gallery: Gary Holub Yenko Collection

[Source: Barrett-Jackson]

Continue reading Yenko collection being unloaded at Barrett-Jackson

Yenko collection being unloaded at Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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