1 million dollar 69 Yenko SuperCar

[66 L78 ragtop]

Anybody know this Yenko? It's claimed to be the first 69 Yenko produced. "It is the test car that yenko and GM used as their prototype."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7jYIMNTKbk&feature=youtu.be


http://www.cleanclassiccars.com/1969_Chevrolet_Camaro_Sarasota_FL_227050602.veh

[66 L78 ragtop]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-3328-33119-1614e8f8_63ba_47d9_84af_8dcc48

[olredalert]

----If everything is so authentic why is the word "ORANGE" written across the firewall in big bold letters? Did Dons guys throw that on there too? Just askin!.......Bill S

[Charley Lillard]

Is this the car with some marvelous story about it being found in a junkyard or some guy took it from a junkyard ? Any bets on if NCRS paperwork will show it was delivered to Yenko ?

[SS427]

Anyone know who restored it?

[al8apex]

early car with the "straight" headrests

orig trim tag?

[SS427]

Uh oh.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=477789&page=2

and

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthrea...amaro-prototype (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/571850/gonew/1/1969-yenko-camaro-prototype)

[Mr70]

.

[marxjunk]

only $25 grand a month payments,,,,sweet

[SS427]

For the less fortunate you could extend it out to 84 months for only $13k. Now we're talkin..... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif

[68ys8030]

November 68 built car.. The ZL2 cowl hood first appeared in jan 69 on the first ZL-1. the Cowl hood wasn't even invented yet! Um....

[Tracker1]

and

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&amp;Number=402777&amp;page=1

[Steve Shauger]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 68ys8030</div><div class="ubbcode-body">November 68 built car.. The ZL2 cowl hood first appeared in jan 69 on the first ZL-1. the Cowl hood wasn't even invented yet! Um....</div></div>

The first ZL1's were built in Dec and were obviously equipped with ZL2. There were no ZL2 equipped cars built prior to Dec.

[Lynn]

Don't know if the tag is original to the car, but those rivets are not for sure.

[Mr Yenko]

Ant idea why its an X44 car?

[Stefano]

I know everyone wants to be &quot;Politically Correct&quot; can't we just call this one out for the scam, fraud, fake that it is?

This Car/Scam has been around for years.

Fraud / Scams suck,,,,,,,,,anyone perpetuating or involved in such should be behind bars!

[resto4u]

Stefano is correct. it was built buy cars in north carolina and was at sema. They claimed to have paperwork from the GM Heritage center.

[DW31S]

I see some &quot;dime store&quot; restoration parts in addition to the rivets. P.T. Barnum said it best...

[Lynn]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mr Yenko</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ant idea why its an X44 car? </div></div>

It isn't. It has no X code. At least the tag I saw had no X code. 11D build date would pre-date X codes.

Has anyone paid the $50 to get the shipper report from NCRS?

[JoeC]

that car has been around for awhile
I believe that is the same guy who tried to build Yenko and 427 Camaro continuation series cars then ran into some legal problems

http://www.maxchevy.com/features/2010/v_7-copo_yenko_camaro-3.html

[mr 707]

nicely orchestrated story.

[kwhizz]

Just like a certain 1 of 1 L89 Nova...............Just think if this site with the collective knowledge and data base wasn't around to scrutinize and protect the Pedigree of this part of Automotive History.................

[John]

...Here is when they tried to unload it at Mecum in Kissimmee, Fl. and it bid to $200,000 with a NO SALE .

Mecum 2012 - ??? (https://www.mecum.com/lot-detail/FL0112-121349/0/1969-Chevrolet-Yenko-Camaro/4-Speed/)

.... I am very surprised that the current classic car broker would not have someone like Jerry McNeish or other camaro expert inspect the car ... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

[68l30]

Is this a restoration/replacement body? I've never seen it in person..... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif


BIG

[66 L78 ragtop]

The article states no MSO and a VIN that does not exist.

The article also states the car has no registration history

How would it be possible to title the car using its stated VIN?

Sounds like the car has no hidden VINs as well... Interesting

[cook_dw]

Has anyone seen any photos of this car as untouched or as found in '96?

[black69]

I see this car as a potential pilot of the ZL2 hood <span style="font-style: italic">at best</span>, only because there is 'no registration' history, and its a November build. A ZL2 hood system to me, has a lot more new parts to be verified (aircleaner base, the hood ducting, water testing for leaks into air cleaner, coil bracket is new, etc).

The owner of this car is stretching a potential ZL2 test vehicle into a COPO car. Would GM really have to do a pilot run to upgrade how they build an L78? The block is the same from a fitment perspective. The single fuel line is already there. Curved neck radiator already existed due to the BB air cars. Speedometer could be different (big deal, I think special speedometers were done before on earlier cars). Rear end is different but not that different (its just more heavy duty). I think the top end of the 427 COPO is also the same as an L78. Thus, there is no rationale to make a COPO pilot to me, especially with such limited production. Pilot runs make sense if you are going to make ALOT of something.

There is way more work in my opinion in getting any potential bugs out of the ZL-2 option and all of its new parts that has to work on small blocks <span style="font-weight: bold">and</span> big blocks.

But without no stamps on parts, or certain variations in a part, its all speculation.

Even if it was a ZL-2 pilot, its not worth anything extra.

[William]

No registration history means nothing. I have done many searches that came up empty on cars that were still around. Back in the '60s some states didn't title cars; some registered cars by county. Even NCIB couldn't find registration history on them in the '80s.

[Lynn]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cook_dw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Has anyone seen any photos of this car as untouched or as found in '96? </div></div>

Darrell: As with most made up stories, it changes over time. Jimmy Owens registered it in May 1993, and the title states there was a previous title number. That means SOMEONE had to have registered it prior to May of 1993.

As for the hood, even the early resto photos show a flat hood and open element air cleaner.

[cook_dw]

I live in Wilson Co so I am trying to do a little detective work. Hartsville is one town north of me and I will ask around. One of the car guys here will know something about it.. Ive lived here all my life (except from 1996-2010) I remember a supposed Yenko going up for auction around that time but even then people were saying it was bs.. There are a couple local car shows this weekend. Ill find out something surely..

[Lynn]

Take a pic of this with you.

You can also go to the Tenn licensing authority and request the title history. Tell them it may (doesn't have to be a sure bet, but &quot;may&quot; be used for litigation.... which it may because if someone buys this car, you can pass on any info you find) and you can get the previous title info if they still have it. That is one of the Federal exceptions to privacy laws.

vin 124379N549828

previous title number: 15683268

Good luck.

[Jonesy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">previous title number: 15683268
</div></div>

It looks like 35683268 to me <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif

[PeteLeathersac]

VIN 124379N549828
VIN 124379N549878

Vins as Bruce laid out in the previous thread, there's two depending on which paperwork you want to look at.
Should come w/ a pair of hip waders, this car's fable is pure BS and even deeper than most <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif
~ Pete

[Day2_69Z]

Wheres the lien , bank loan info that's always on the front ?
Didn't the write up make a big deal of the loan &amp; settlement agreement with the estate ?

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PeteLeathersac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
VIN 124379N549828
VIN 124379N549878

Vins as Bruce laid out in the previous thread, there's two depending on which paperwork you want to look at.
Should come w/ a pair of hip waders, this car's fable is pure BS and even deeper than most <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif
~ Pete

</div></div>

The credit for that work goes to John....I was just helping out <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[Lynn]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jonesy</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">previous title number: 15683268
</div></div>

It looks like 35683268 to me <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif </div></div>

Of course, you are correct. Darn readers.

[Lynn]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Day2_69Z</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wheres the lien , bank loan info that's always on the front ?
Didn't the write up make a big deal of the loan &amp; settlement agreement with the estate ? </div></div>

Yes, but then one of the &quot;information&quot; boards said it had never been registered until 2006.

[chevelleheart]

Thx for posting The true info guys

[mike70ss]

Jimmy Owens lived in Hartsville Tennessee, I met him about 25 years ago. At the time, I was restoring cars in Hendersonville for Cliff Ernst. Cliff had quite a collection of N.O.S GM sheetmetal and Jimmy inquired about buying a pair of full quarters for his 1969 Camaro, which he claimed to be a Yenko. I was able to sell him the quarters and offered to deliver them, as I was enthusiastic about seeing the body. So, I went to Hartsville and saw a very rough body and was not convinced of what was there. He had an assembled subframe with an engine built, but am unsure of what engine was there. He showed me his collection of parts he had acquired to build the car and we talked at length about the old car hobby. Jimmy and I spoke a few times after, but lost touch after a while. Fast forward a few years, Jimmy leverged most of his car parts and the reported Yenko to get a significant bank loan, so that he could buy in to and try to save a struggling local circle track. It was not a good deal. Jimmy, unfortunately fell ill and died. The bank held an auction on the property and sold everything trying to settle the loan default. I was at the auction and got so mad at how it was handled. The items were in lots and I bid and won several lots. Then the auction company dropped the bomb on us all. We hadn't bought anything. We just priced the items and the grand total was announced and all items were joined into one lot with the opening starting bid being the grand total. A brawl nearly erupted. I called a very good friend a G.M. parts expert, Yenko collector. and historian of Yenko info in Illinois about the body and was informed not to touch it as it was too early to be a Yenko. Two guys out of Florida bought everything and I spoke to one of them after the sale. He said I didn't know what I was looking at. He said it was a pilot car for the Yenko production. I just shrugged it off. (I have seen a lemans blue Yenko that was noted as the number one car anyways).This car has had many stories attached to it over the years by the people that bought and restored it. It's been a prototype C.O.P.O., it's been a pilot car/mule for Don Yenko to drive, it's been the first Yenko. Lots of hype. Who knows?

[cook_dw]

Mike hey its Darrell; Carman Cook's son. How have you been!!??.. Thanks for clearing this up..

[bbbentley]

To my way of understanding, why would a test mule/pilot be needed period, albeit for Don Y.? Yenko had been doing conversions for quite some time already and knew what the car could do. Handling, braking etc...would be no different than a 396 car. Performance acceleration would be a couple of tenths in the 1/4 better than a L78. That was the only difference. Most all the characteristics of BB Camaros were known for a year and a half (Mid 67-thru 68). What would a mule tell them (GM &amp; Yenko)? The only thing I could see would be for the Norwood plant to understand the components needed to do a COPO. I would think a &quot;test&quot; car would have been destroyed?

[Verne_Frantz]

This may not be of interest to most at this time, but I'd like to comment on something &quot;William&quot; said in this thread that was referenced earlier. I took a look at it and had forgotten the overspray issue was discussed and I had posted some photos. I feel a follow-up is necessary.
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/402777/2

His quote was:
&quot;The Manufacturers Statement of Origin [MSO] is generated by the firm producing the vehicle. It is in effect a title sent to the dealer of record and NICB. Back in the day it was probably in the paperwork the new owner took to DMV to title and register a car. As stated some race cars were never registered and could be &quot;on MSO&quot; forever. These days the buyer never sees it as most states now require the dealer to immediately title &amp; register vehicles upon purchase. Point is no car got out of Chevrolet without an MSO. They did sell cars Engineering used for evaluation; the Pete Estes '68 Z/28 convertible is probably the best known and had considerable documentation to back it up. The '67 and '69 Indy 500 track cars are also well documented examples. As I stated, back in my COPO tracking days I did many title/registration searches. To conclude anything about a 41 year old car showing no registration history [as you seem to have] is folly. Back in '69 some states did not title cars; some registered them by county-there was no state-wide system. Cars that go unregistered for a few years are deleted from the system.

Chevrolet has insisted for many years that it has no build records at all prior to 1977. How the GM Heritage Center was able to verify your car is of considerable interest to many Chevrolet muscle car owners.

As for the car itself there were errors made in the restoration. I posted a photo of an excellent example of factory engine paint-how can there be overspray along the sides of the intake when the entire top of the engine was covered during paint? I was in the parts end of the business for 15 years; we had dozens of used HP aluminum intakes and I have seen hundreds more in the last 35 years. I have never seen more than a very slight amount on either end.<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"> How 409s with painted rocker covers may have been painted doesn't apply.</span></span>

No one has stated you car is not what you claim it to be. Unfortunately the hobby has become inundated with fake body &amp; VIN tags, re-created &quot;aged&quot; paperwork, re-stamped drivetrains and all sorts of fast-buck types making claims. Completely fake cars have been sold and are now in litigation. The audience has become quite jaded as you can imagine. Making claims about a historic provenance of ANY muscle car requires more than you have shown.&quot;

If the same procedures were used to protect aluminum manifolds in '62 as in later years, why does the '62 evidence not apply? A vacuum formed plastic mask was laid on top of the intake prior to painting in '62 as in later years. The results are shown in the photos I posted in that thread. I don't understand the relevance of the comparison to &quot;painted valve covers&quot; to the topic of intake overspray. Certainly there could not have been ONE mask that covered both the intake AND the valve covers. In that case, there would be no paint at all on the intake surface of the heads. In the 409 era, Tonawanda used disposable plastic molded valve covers on the heads when the engines were painted. They were also used during the test runs prior to paint. I just wanted to point out that if the procedure was the same, then the results were the same.
Verne

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1145-33206-tonawanda_test_runs.jpg

[cook_dw]

Excellent write up and comments Verne.. To add to this I will submit a photo from JohnZ and the link to thread about engine paint over on CRG. You can see the mask that they used over the pad stamping area, the lower rad hose connection &amp; the bypass hose and upper rad connection.


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1263-33207-bbtonapaintline.jpg



http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=11414.0;all

[Verne_Frantz]

Thanks Darrell. I learned something new. I thought they just put masking tape over the stamp pad.

Verne <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif
BTW, the photo of your painted engine in that thread looks perfect to me. What paint did you use?

[cook_dw]

Thanks!.. You're gonna laugh but its duplicolor DE1620 out of a spray can...


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/superslow/1967%20Camaro/IMG_1606_zpsrqzl5osg.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/superslow/1967%20Camaro/IMG_1605_zpskhlfnfxv.jpg

[mike70ss]

Hey Darrell. Good to read your posts.

[69VN]

I used Duplicolor on my engine too...great stuff! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cook_dw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks!.. You're gonna laugh but its duplicolor DE1620 out of a spray can...


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/superslow/1967%20Camaro/IMG_1606_zpsrqzl5osg.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/superslow/1967%20Camaro/IMG_1605_zpskhlfnfxv.jpg </div></div>