1968 Yenko Camaro RS/SS YS-8035 Barrett Jackson

[TarheelRyan]

Buyer Beware. I purchased YS-8035 at Mecum Glendale 2023. I found out after the auction it was a rebody. Mecum took the car back and required the seller to repurchase. Barrett's ad states, "the original restoration required utilizing body and cowl sections from another Camaro, eliminating some original confidential VIN numbers." Needless to say, it is a little more than that. There is little out there on this car as it has purportedly been owned by the same family for 40+ years. The car has some of the best Yenko documentation I've seen, but don't be misled by the paperwork. I hate to discredit anyone's car, but a rebody is a rebody. If anyone has questions, please ask!

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/scottsdale-2025/docket/vehicle/1968-chevrolet-camaro-yenko-281252

[TarheelRyan]

Just a few of the pictures we took...

[Charley Lillard]

From the Barrett-Jackson description "The original restoration required utilizing body and cowl sections from another Camaro, eliminating some original confidential VIN numbers and ultimately requiring a state-assigned VIN."


It looks like they used a complete Los Angeles built body from reading the hidden vin.



The description says "eliminating some original confidential VIN numbers". It looks to me like all the confidential vin numbers are gone.

[TarheelRyan]

It is a full rebody. History was tracked back to the original owner. Pictures were taken at Frank's shop.

[PeteLeathersac]

‘

Great you found out the truth in time to unwind the deal, here’s the thread we had going then including original sale link also sad reality of Rebody as later revealed…
https://www.thesupercarregistry.com/forum/showthread.php?t=174355
Wonder what ever happened to the Real YS-8035 as below pics…68’s Yenkos look so badass tough!
124378N459745
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[Mr70]

Thanks for sharing this with us.

[FTC]

First off, I'm glad you were able to stop this purchase, and I believe the car should be better represented when being sold, and complete disclosure of how it was restored should be given to all prospective buyers.

I'm not trying to start an argument here, I'd just like to know your opinion on this subject. I've seen this discussed every so often. Is it a given that everyone believes as long as the original firewall and cowl panel sheet metal is used, with the hidden VINs stamped on them,..it's accepted as being the original car?

Even if fenders, doors, quarters, roof, tail panel, rockers,..etc,,etc have been replaced due to crash damage or rust and rot, and the only remaining sheet metal is the cowl and firewall?

What if the fire wall and cowl was destroyed beyond repair, by rot or a t bone crash, wouldn't replacing those parts to factory specs and tolerances, for aesthetics and safety reasons, be the proper repair?

If a donor body was used completely, or for those parts in question, and it was a legit, registered, owned and titled car by the same person as the car being restored is, therefor removing any inclination that there was some underhanded, stolen vehicle issues being covered up....wouldn't using the used OEM body parts..be the same or even better than using aftermarket parts or catalog parts to repair the car?

[Keith Seymore]

First off, I'm glad you were able to stop this purchase, and I believe the car should be better represented when being sold, and complete disclosure of how it was restored should be given to all prospective buyers.

I'm not trying to start an argument here, I'd just like to know your opinion on this subject. I've seen this discussed every so often. Is it a given that everyone believes as long as the original firewall and cowl panel sheet metal is used, with the hidden VINs stamped on them,..it's accepted as being the original car?

Even if fenders, doors, quarters, roof, tail panel, rockers,..etc,,etc have been replaced due to crash damage or rust and rot, and the only remaining sheet metal is the cowl and firewall?

What if the fire wall and cowl was destroyed beyond repair, by rot or a t bone crash, wouldn't replacing those parts to factory specs and tolerances, for aesthetics and safety reasons, be the proper repair?

If a donor body was used completely, or for those parts in question, and it was a legit, registered, owned and titled car by the same person as the car being restored is, therefor removing any inclination that there was some underhanded, stolen vehicle issues being covered up....wouldn't using the used OEM body parts..be the same or even better than using aftermarket parts or catalog parts to repair the car?



"Ship of Theseus Paradox"

https://www.google.com/search?q=ship+of+theseus+paradox&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS852US852&oq=ship+of+th&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCggDEAAYsQMYgAQyEAgAEAAY4wIYsQ MYgAQYnwQyDQgBEC4Y1AIYsQMYgAQyBggCEEUYOTIKCAMQABix AxiABDIHCAQQABiABDIHCAUQABiABDIKCAYQLhjUAhiABDIKCA cQLhjUAhiABDIHCAgQLhiABDIHCAkQLhiABNIBCTg0MjlqMGox NagCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on

People have been attempting to answer these questions since the first century. Ask ten different enthusiasts and you'll get twenty different answers.

The only difference is that first century wooden ships did not have hidden VINs (as far as I know).

K

[TarheelRyan]

Pete - Nasblu, another member on this site, was able to track this car's history back to the original owner. Through his research, the 3rd owner is the one who rebodied the car. The body tub of YS-8035 sat behind his garage for a period of time before it was purchased and used in some form of dirt track racing. Thereafter, it was scrapped and crushed.

[GMC_Typhoon]

Sometimes I wish I could rebody my wife.

[FTC]

Sometimes I wish I could rebody my wife.

lmao...... :)

[FTC]

"Ship of Theseus Paradox"

https://www.google.com/search?q=ship+of+theseus+paradox&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS852US852&oq=ship+of+th&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCggDEAAYsQMYgAQyEAgAEAAY4wIYsQ MYgAQYnwQyDQgBEC4Y1AIYsQMYgAQyBggCEEUYOTIKCAMQABix AxiABDIHCAQQABiABDIHCAUQABiABDIKCAYQLhjUAhiABDIKCA cQLhjUAhiABDIHCAgQLhiABDIHCAkQLhiABNIBCTg0MjlqMGox NagCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on

People have been attempting to answer these questions since the first century. Ask ten different enthusiasts and you'll get twenty different answers.

The only difference is that first century wooden ships did not have hidden VINs (as far as I know).

K

Hmmm,....I never heard of that but it sure does sound like the same debate.

[SS427]

Even if fenders, doors, quarters, roof, tail panel, rockers,..etc,,etc have been replaced due to crash damage or rust and rot, and the only remaining sheet metal is the cowl and firewall?


My opinion has always been, and take it for just what it is, an opinion, is that as long as the firewall and the main 'birdcage' if you will is reused, I do not consider it a rebody. I have had cars in my shop that we had to replace every bit of sheetmetal such as quarters, decklid, door skins, hood and fenders but used the original birdcage and firewall, I do not consider that a rebody by any stretch. Again, just my opinion.

[luzl78]

Sometimes I wish I could rebody my wife.

better keep her off this thread

[R68GTO]

My opinion has always been, and take it for just what it is, an opinion, is that as long as the firewall and the main 'birdcage' if you will is reused, I do not consider it a rebody. I have had cars in my shop that we had to replace every bit of sheetmetal such as quarters, decklid, door skins, hood and fenders but used the original birdcage and firewall, I do not consider that a rebody by any stretch. Again, just my opinion.

I'm with Rick on this....commonly called the "body in white" these days, it is the main inner structure that surrounds the passenger cabin. Includes floors, firewall, A&B pillars, rockers, and inner wheelhouses. While it's common to replace parts of the cage (rockers, floors), the rest of it usually stays relatively intact barring a significant collision.

[Lynn]

Agree with Rick.

But when it comes time to shop for a car, I would much rather get one that is all original panels.

Similar debate on "restored" vs "over restored" or "incorrectly restored".

Lots of opinions. I did some things on my car to improve on what the factory did. The bottom inch of parts of the lower rear valance on mine got no top coat from the factory. Should I have left it that way? I didn't.

[Rsconv68]

I’m sure it looked better reassembled than the pictures from BJ. I’m no judge, but that thing is a mess.

[FTC]

My opinion has always been, and take it for just what it is, an opinion, is that as long as the firewall and the main 'birdcage' if you will is reused, I do not consider it a rebody. I have had cars in my shop that we had to replace every bit of sheetmetal such as quarters, decklid, door skins, hood and fenders but used the original birdcage and firewall, I do not consider that a rebody by any stretch. Again, just my opinion.

I agree for the most part, but I am a body shop manager, auto painter by trade, and in my 45 years being in this trade, I have seen a lot .

I guess my question, or maybe it's an opinion is,.....if a "rare" car, (take that term as you will) meaning not some base 6 cylinder daily driver, is on it's way to getting restored, aka replacing 75% of it's sheet metal, because of rot from sitting in four feet of chicken poop in a barn some where,...and it has extensive damage to the hinge pillar, cowl panel, and firewall, from a side T-Bone hit, and those panels are also showing signs of rust as well....isn't panel replacement not only the correct way to repair those area, but the proper and safe way of restoring the car? If the answer is yes, then there are only two ways to achieve that.

1. After all the work on the frame machine, the pulling and measuring is done, the cowl and firewall and dash panel are cut off and replaced, (which will be joined by rotted floors, roof, rockers, quarters, etc...being replaced later) with new NOS or Aftermarket parts, resulting in the unavoidable removal of the VIN plate, data tag, and partial VINs.

Or

2. The rare car receives a donor body, one in great original shape, with all factory assembled OEM sheet metal, at factory specs, which also will result in the unavoidable removal of the VIN plate, data tag, and partial VINs.

[Z282NV]

I agree for the most part, but I am a body shop manager, auto painter by trade, and in my 45 years being in this trade, I have seen a lot .

I guess my question, or maybe it's an opinion is,.....if a "rare" car, (take that term as you will) meaning not some base 6 cylinder daily driver, is on it's way to getting restored, aka replacing 75% of it's sheet metal, because of rot from sitting in four feet of chicken poop in a barn some where,...and it has extensive damage to the hinge pillar, cowl panel, and firewall, from a side T-Bone hit, and those panels are also showing signs of rust as well....isn't panel replacement not only the correct way to repair those area, but the proper and safe way of restoring the car? If the answer is yes, then there are only two ways to achieve that.

1. After all the work on the frame machine, the pulling and measuring is done, the cowl and firewall and dash panel are cut off and replaced, (which will be joined by rotted floors, roof, rockers, quarters, etc...being replaced later) with new NOS or Aftermarket parts, resulting in the unavoidable removal of the VIN plate, data tag, and partial VINs.

Or

2. The rare car receives a donor body, one in great original shape, with all factory assembled OEM sheet metal, at factory specs, which also will result in the unavoidable removal of the VIN plate, data tag, and partial VINs.

In my books as soon as you touch the VINs its no longer the same car, no matter how you do it.

[FTC]

In my books as soon as you touch the VINs its no longer the same car, no matter how you do it.

So a rare, numbers match, one owner, all original drivetrain, COPO Camaro, with every piece of documentation it could possibly have, that has a rotted dash panel that needs replacing,.....(and obviously needs the VIN tag removed then re-installed because of the panel replacement).... isn't a numbers matching COPO Camaro anymore because of some rust repair?

[Z282NV]

So a rare, numbers match, one owner, all original drivetrain, COPO Camaro, with every piece of documentation it could possibly have, that has a rotted dash panel that needs replacing,.....(and obviously needs the VIN tag removed then re-installed because of the panel replacement).... isn't a numbers matching COPO Camaro anymore because of some rust repair?

Yup, no longer a COPO. It may have COPO parts and documents related to those parts but thats it.

Here is an analogy. Just imagine I pass away in a car accident and some of my organs are donated to others who need them. They can even have my birth certificate, does that make them me?

[FTC]

Yup, no longer a COPO. It may have COPO parts and documents related to those parts but thats it.

Here is an analogy. Just imagine I pass away in a car accident and some of my organs are donated to others who need them. They can even have my birth certificate, does that make them me?

That's a completely different story. Apples and oranges. I didn't say a few COPO parts remained on the car,..I said the entire car is numbers match, every nut and bolt original., all documentation to support all of it, original owner, etc....and what goes without saing is, the cowl data tag, and all hidden VINs are still in tact. All I mentioned was one VIN tag had to be removed to replace a rotted dash panel, the correct way to do the repair, then it obviously had to be reinstalled..

In your first post you said as soon as a VIN is touched, it's no longer the same car. I believe differently.

That $200,000.00 COPO is now worth $60.000.00 as just a 427 Camaro because of some proper rust repair? Not in my book, and I don't think anyone who owns a COPO would agree with that either.

This isn't a re-body debate where some people won't accept a donor body as the real thing with the VINs switched and all. This is a simple and routine repair that I outlined, addressing your statement that said..... "In my books as soon as you touch the VINs its no longer the same car, no matter how you do it".

If you want to use your human body analogy,...this would suit this discussion better. If you had a knee replacement, are you still the same person? That answer is yes. Just like the COPO is still the same car with a new dash panel.

[Z282NV]

The key word is VINs, plural. Now your messing with multiple vehicle identification numbers. I guess the most important part in all of this is accurate and clear disclosure. Then let the buyer decide what it's worth to him.

[FTC]

The key word is VINs, plural. Now your messing with multiple vehicle identification numbers. I guess the most important part in all of this is accurate and clear disclosure. Then let the buyer decide what it's worth to him.

I never said VINs. I said one VIN tag on the dash needed to be removed to do a proper dash panel replacement because of the original was rusted.

My example did not mention messing with multiple vehicle identification numbers.

In response to that you said.... "Yup, no longer a COPO. It may have COPO parts and documents related to those parts but thats it."

So is it mutable VINs being messed with, removed and replaced, or switched to a different body, that makes you have that opinion,..... or does even just one removed and replaced on the same car for repairs make you think that also?

[Keith Seymore]

Geez.

I was really hoping my post might circumvent some of this discussion.

But - here we are.

K

[Keith Seymore]

I guess the most important part in all of this is accurate and clear disclosure. Then let the buyer decide what it's worth to him.

I'd say it comes down to this.

And - each scenario is different.

K

[FTC]

I'd say it comes down to this.

And - each scenario is different.

K

Without a doubt, but there are many, many honest car restorers out there, and car owners spending tons of money to keep cars as original and true as they can be. And most states even allow a VIN to be removed by licensed shops of course, to have proper repairs done to the vehicle.

I have ordered new VIN decals for vehicles that received new or used doors here at the shop where the original, being a decal, gets voided if you try to remove it. So to say a car is not what it is, because a VIN tag was removed and installed again after a repair is silly.

[FTC]

Geez.

I was really hoping my post might circumvent some of this discussion.

But - here we are.

K

Well, it is a discussion board after all....without healthy discussions, forum based websites like these are doomed.

Social media sites in general have taken over as forum based sites have dwindled. Most are either closed down and have been deleted, or are a shell of what they once were.....thanks to Facebook, Instagram, X, Reddit, and the numerous other social media web sites.

[Pro Stock John]

As long as the buyer has all the details of what was changed, they can decide.

[FTC]

As long as the buyer has all the details of what was changed, they can decide.

We all agree on that, the discussion was why some people seem ready to throw away the entire history and lineage of a special car because of a routine, but necessary repair.

[Charley Lillard]

Barrett-Jackson apparently was not fully informed of the extent of the rebody. I was told it has been pulled from the auction.

[rich p]

Glad the owner always wanted to keep the car when I was trying to buy it numerous times
Lordy lordy!!
Over 30yrs locating these cars and never ever repped rebody cars,specially knowing it's a rebody!!
Not everyone can say that! 😉

[Rsconv68]

Can I get some clarification on the term “rebody”? My understanding is a rebody would be the section of car from and including the firewall to and including the tail light panel, floor
pan, roof, quarters. Is this the case for this car? Or are the sections replaced on the firewall with different hidden VINs?

[iluv69s]

Can I get some clarification on the term “rebody”? My understanding is a rebody would be the section of car from and including the firewall to and including the tail light panel, floor
pan, roof, quarters. Is this the case for this car? Or are the sections replaced on the firewall with different hidden VINs?

There seems to be varying levels of re-body and/or non re-body.

My feeling is that if the owner saved everything he possibly could of the original car including original panels with VIN, cowl tag and any hidden VINs, then it would NOT be a rebody.

If no attempt was made to save any of the original parts/ body panels with numbers, and another car was used to just ‘swap’ the numbers, than that would be a re-body.

That being said, there are cars built from firewalls ( with numbers) only, so not sure where the cutoff is.

Hope that did not make it more confusing !

[Rsconv68]

As I’m always easily confused, can I get an explanation of pictures 1 and 2? Yes I see a VIN, but what’s the other areas that are ground down. I can’t see much detail.

[Billohio]

One looks like the sheet metal date stamp