Yenko Camaro

Yenko Camaro (1969 ) at the Cruise Night 2009

The Yenko Super Camaro was a tuned Chevrolet Camaro the first generation, which was built by Yenko Sportscars under the direction of Donald Yenko. When the Chevrolet Camaro came out, its V8 engine to factory instruction from GM was not allowed more than 6,555 cc (400 cu.in. ) have displacement, which the model gave a disadvantage compared to its competitors Ford Mustang, Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Dart since neither Ford nor Chrysler lined up such restrictions. Don Yenko knew that there would be a market for a particularly powerful Camaro and found a way to bypass the GM specification.

1967

Yenko ordered a Camaro SS with L -78 engine and built the L -72 engine of the Corvette with 6,997 cc one. The exact number of so -equipped car is not known but it is believed that about 50 pieces originated. Yenko also built another Bonnet GRP, similar to the Stinger with the big-block Corvette engine from the same year.

Don Yenkos Camaros with the L -72 engine were equipped with the M21 or M22 transmissions. The performance of this car is specified with 423 bhp (311 kW). The Yenko Camaro was not allowed to compete as Chevrolet, because it was not manufactured by Chevrolet directly at racing events. Chevrolet's answer was 1969 COPO Camaro (Central Office Production Order ). This car was equipped with the same 7.0 liter V8 engine as the Yenko Camaro, but were allowed to compete for Chevrolet.

1968

Encouraged by the success of 1967, a Yenko Camaros continue. All of these vehicles were equipped with the close-ratio, four-speed manual gearbox M21. A large hood with two air scoops replaced the " Stinger " version of the previous year and Yenko emblems were to be seen on the sides of the vehicle and the rear license plate. The COPO model had an improved suspension and other changes and managed 225 km / h, but was not equipped with the 7.0 -liter V8 engine. Yenko provided the vehicles with engines that had 6,489 cc capacity until 1969 Chevrolet decided to install the 7.0 -liter V8. A single Camaro should have been delivered already in 1968 with the big engine, which made him the most sought after collector's item ever.

January 17, 2009 Auto Auction Silver Yenko with four-speed transmission for U.S. $ 121,000 was provided with a new body on the Barret Jackson,, - auctioned.

1969

In 1969, the Chevrolet representative worked with the work together to incorporate the L -72 engine on the factory assembly line, was set up by a Central Office Production Order ( COPO ). The order included powerful disc brakes, a 4:10 positraction rear, a stronger front stabilizer and a heavy four snakes - aluminum radiator. The customers had a choice between manual M21 four-speed transmission and the automatic Hydra-Matic 400 1969, exactly 201 of these cars sold, 171 with manual transmission and 30 with automatic transmission. Yenko rounded out the look with front and rear spoilers, a hood with air intakes, special " Yenko 427 " emblems, double stripes on the body sides and bonnet and a " SYC " Emblem ( Yenko Super Car ). According to the Camaro Research Group was Black ( color code 711 ) is the only ordered by Yenko interior color. Today, however, have many Yenko car, a white interior.

More than 40 years later, these Camaros were estimated at more than U.S. $ 2.2 million and sold for this price as well at Barrett -Johnson auctions. In September 2008, there were two 1969 - Yenko Camaro with automatic transmission on the ESPN auction show.

On January 17, 2009, it was a real ZL -1 COPO, dark green and with a new body for U.S. $ 290,000, - auctioned. A yellow copy with original body, new cylinder heads and automatic transmission achieved U.S. $ 270 000, -.

1981

1981 Don Yenko tried for the last time to produce the ultimate high -performance automobile. The Yenko Turbo Z was based on the Chevrolet Camaro from 1981.

Don Yenkos comment to this car was:

"As for their performance, the cars showed a slow but steady decline in the last ten years. Include low- compression engines, the petrol niedrigoktaniges tolerate are the norm today. Constantly new emission controls have taken their toll on the once powerful horsepower engines. It's a real challenge to balance the summed power losses without additional pollution. After many months of testing and developing but we managed it. From working closely with the people from Turbo International emerged a system that met all of our expectations. This system provides, like all others, the energy to improve the inflow of the fuel - air mixture. This, however, the similarities end. Our system has no pilot valve, so there is no turbo lag. We also have no wastegate, which might not work. And since all of the fuel that enters the engine is first swirled in the turbocharger, you get better fuel efficiency and a better response even without improving performance. All screws, nuts or other parts that are used in this system are the best. It has been tested with every possible emission control and works. "

1969 Replica

Recently a company in North Carolina called Classic Automotive Restoration Specialists has resumed production of the Yenko Camaro from 1969. Don Yenko sold 201 pieces of his famous COPO Camaro on his car dealership in Canonsburg ( Pennsyslvania ). As reported in Muscle Car Review in March 2008, the new car is a fully licensed Yenko whose first specimen bears the number 202. The 7.0 liter V8 under the hood was built by GM, which provide the big- block engines of the muscle car era again. For the other components you needed 2 ½ years to regain the old machines. The available optional equipment is the same as it was also in 1969, as well as the paint colors. The car cost about 60 % less than some of the known, 39 years old, surviving Yenko Camaro, but go as one driven by the old car when it was new down on the farm at the car dealer.

2009

A new Yenko Camaro based on the Camaro chassis of 2009 was presented at SEMA 2009. The new engine is a supercharged version of GM's LS3; the 6.2 -liter V8 engine is one of the Camaro SS as standard equipment. Since this vehicle is called Phase I, is also expected Yenkos Phase II and Phase III LS7 engines with 7.0 liter displacement and maybe even LS9 engines.