X-11 Yenkos

[T Billigen]

Of the few X-11 Yenkos I know about the only color is hugger orange, does anyone have one that is a different color or know of any that are a different color?

[shor]

Daytona Yellow x11 D80

[T Billigen]

Shor, is this your car? Would like to see some pics if it is.

[shor]

I just emailed you a couple pics...now if I can figure out how to post them here

[shor]

I have pictures from my digital camera stored in my computer under"my pictures"
I know how to email them...I right click the mouse and one of the choices is mail recipient...but how do I post them here? The instruction page on the site shows how to attach a picture from a website only? I think?

[T Billigen]

Very Nice!!! Do you still have the original interior in your car? Mine has some odd items, bright trim on pedals, grab bar, and wood trim on steering wheel. What is your build date? I will send you an interior pic.

[Kurt S]

Tom,
I've seen X11 Yenkos in yellow, orange, and rallye green.
Your car has Z23 interior package on it, unrelated to the X11 code and I don't think it was on those other cars. Yours is the only PA Yenko I know of with it on. Brian may know of others though......

Btw, Shor's DY car is a Douglas Yenko, so it makes the comparison tough. http://www.yenko.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif

Shor,
You need to upload the pics to a site on the web or have someone else upload them. Most of the free hosting sites went bye-bye.

Kurt

[T Billigen]

I have talked to Brian about the interior and I don't believe he has seen another one either. The fellow that I bought the car from said it is the original interior, the only thing he did was put in new carpet and changed the window fuzzies. I do not have any reason to doubt his word, he is a very straight forward person.

[bkhpah]

I have only seen Hugger and Rallye X11 Canonsburg Yenko's in person. What ever Douglass did is not consistant with the Yenko orders. Tom,s interior group is the only one I have seen in person. I have seen one console in an X11, but I am not sure of it being factory installed....BKH

[Stefano]

T Billigen,
Is your Yenko an early Production COPO?
Would you mind providing the Build date.

[T Billigen]

Yes, it is an early car.
ST 69-12437 NOR 219843
TRIM 711 72 B PAINT
2D X-11
Also has the "short spoiler" on it.

[Stefano]

T Billegen,
The reason I ask is (yes ,it has to do with Jack Douglass)that all of the Douglass COPOs I have seen were ordered in this same configuration.

Jack calls it the 'Yenko Blueprint'.
He copied 'shippers' which were left in a couple of the first few Cannonsberg Yenkos delivered to his dealership.

He noted that he added Endura Bumper(a rare Yenko Option) and a few other options or option deletes. He remembers alot of GM hype and dealer promo info.about the Endura Bumpers.

He also copied Yenkos emblem placement. This has been consistent on all 4 Documented Douglass Yenkos thus far.

Jack says that at least one of the first Yenkos delivered (the one used as a blue print) had the Chevy Bowtie still on the tail pannel with the Yenko Badge installed to the right but in parallel with its two own holes and no 427 emblem present.

Does your Yenko have its original tail pannel and are there any "non traditional" holes in it?

[shor]

Tom, is this your car? It is a beauty.
http://www.cars-on-line.com/69yenko6838.html

[shor]

http://www.cars-on-line.com/69yenko6838.html

[T Billigen]

Yes, it still has the original tail panel and there are no extra holes in it. Yes that is my car, you will notice tail panel is black which is not correct and also the grill. When Charly did the resto in 1985 he also put the endura bumper on, it is supposed to have a regular bumper, which will be corrected later this year!

[shor]

bkhpah: Brian, what is your take on these last batch of 23 or 25 Douglas Copo's that Jack ordered direct from Chevrolet rather then thru Yenko. Do you think that since they were striped at Douglas's dealership rather than being delivered striped from Pennsylvania makes them less of or not even a Yenko? Or do you look at these cars as a little more of a rarity considering there are much less of them 23 vs. 25. I of course am partial to this subject now owning one of the "23" cars, but your opinion and thoughts on this subject would be appreciated. Stefano, can you add to this topic for us with some information as you are the resident Jack Douglas expert?

[Stefano]

T Billegen,
I am double checking, not to doubt you just to make sure I have the correct info.
A) the sheet metal/ tail panel appear original and never replaced?

B) No signs of filler or welded up holes to the right of the original bow tie holes?

C)How do you know that Endura is inncorrect on this particular Yenko?

D)How are your unique options documented to the Yenko.

C)are you showing the car at Jefferson?

Thanks for providing the info., the Yenko looks great. Did you buy it off that adv. or were you selling.

[T Billigen]

A The tail panel has not been replaced, I had a body man go over the car and is all original sheet metal.

B I just checked and there is no sign of anything done to tail panel. (welds etc.)

C The fellow that restored the car in 1985 told me he put the bumper on because he liked the looks of it.

D The only thing that seems to be different is the interior and the 68 spoiler and that has been explained by Brian and Kurt.

E Not taking it to Jefferson, anyone in the area this weekend is welcome to come and check the car over. I live about 60 miles East of Jefferson in Slinger. E-mail me and I will give you my phone number and directions!

[shor]

Stefano, do you think Tom's car might have been a Douglas car based on the options it has? Other than the Douglas cars, and the #3 berger zl1, are there any other Copo's that have the 9737 and endura options? Tom, maybe your car came with the endura like mine? Do you have an amfm blue dot? What about exhaust? Since you have such a low mileage car maybe the exhaust is original? Is it chambered?

[shor]

Tom, you better put a pot of coffee on...Stefano is not on this board at the moment...It can only mean one thing http://www.yenko.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/shocked.gif

[bkhpah]

I just do not know how to take a Douglass Yenko. It seems strange to me. Ask yourself if you would trade an identical Canonsburg/Yenko for a Douglass/Yenko. I would rather have the Canonsburg car over the Douglass car. The 198 number does not include the other 23 cars. I cannot see the Douglass cars being worth more, or even equal. It is an interesting car, but even with Yenko's blessing on the deal, I prefer a Canonsburg invoiced car...BKH

[shor]

Are you saying you wouldn't trade your Daytona Cannonsburg for my Daytona Douglas? http://www.yenko.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif

[T Billigen]

This is a Canonsburg car, check Ed Cunneen's web site it is listed on there. It has the basic am radio. Does not have the original exhaust system on car. I will check with Charly again but I am positive he told me he added the endura bumper.

[bkhpah]

Yeah...BKH

[Stefano]

T Billigen's Yenko is without question one of the 198 Cannonsberg Yenkos.'ssl78'had an unrestored 01C "List" Yenko that was sold new from Douglass Chevrolet ,which had the same 'conventional' emblem placement on the tail pannel.

In fact, the original 427 emblems from his Camaro were used as some of the first templates for reproduction emblems.

Don Yenko is indeed the father of the 9737, Sports Car conversion and L-72 COPO options. He made it happen. Even the single L-72 COPO Camaros owe in major part, their existence to Don Yenko. These COPO Camaros Novas and Chevelles are not mutually exclusive and there is no need to draw a line in the sand.

It seems to me that "we" never attribute the appropriate credit to the likes of Dick Harrell, Mr. Chevrolet, who in my opinion is the Great Grand Daddy of all the Conversion and COPO Super Cars.

Fred Gibb should in my opinion be considered the Grandfather of the COPO Super Car movement.

Harrell,Gibb and Yenko's accomplishments are also not mutually exclusive.I don't mean to exclude Nickey, Dana, Berger, Thomas, and the important significant others, but my post has become a bit wordy already.

When is the last time anyone has recalled that Gibb and Yenko both used Harrell's logo templates to badge their own cars or that Harrell worked as Nickey Chevrolet's service manager and converted Yenko Camaros Moon lighting at SPAN,Inc. in Chicago.

I make this statement with only the greatest degree of respect intended to the Late Great Don Yenko. Does anyone think, that given the opportunity He would ask to see an inventory floor plan sheet prior to picking a Super Car to drive Home from the reunion.

He might prefer to try one of those Baldwin/Motion cars or test Dickie's latest toy. I certainly do not know and speculate only to make a point. Did any of the COPOs which left Yenko Chevrolet without stripes or badges become non Yenkos?

Jack Douglass COPOs exist primarily due to the efforts and ambitions of Don Yenko. Douglass was one of the first Yenko Sports Car Dealers to join Don's network.

Douglass was without question one of the leading COPO/Yenko dealers ,in the Country. These COPOs terrorized the drag strips and city steets and helped forge the Yenko/COPO legend and legacy as it exists today.

Shor, you asked how these 22 COPOs compare to the listed 198? They were dreamed up by the same person, ordered per his established method and deliverd to the ultimate consumer as the genuine article?

These 22 are in my opinion 100% authentic Yenko COPOs and it will be the options and trim level as well as unique history which will dertermine their ultimate desirability.

[T Billigen]

Very well put Stefano! Don Yenko and Dick Harrel were the driving force, but it took all the other people to make their ideas work. Back then you really never thought about things like that. These people were trying to keep Chevy on top in drag racing and make a few bucks, It is ashame they are not here to see their visions of long ago still alive and flourishing. With every new generation " The Legend Grows"

[sixtiesmuscle]

Great discussion guys. Let's not forget that Harrell, Bill Thomas, and their work with Nickey started the concept, and, made it work. Not that Yenko & Motion wouldn't have done it anyway, but, the Stefani brothers at Nickey took the concept to market, and, did a great job of marketing these conversion cars before anyone else.
As far as who was the first or the best, however, I love 'em all. Some prefer the "factory hot rod" COPO type cars, some like the dealer built conversion cars, which typically were built for more performance. They're all an important part of the Supercar legend, and, have a unique place in musclecar history.

[Rat_Pack]

I agree with Stefano and sixtiesmuscle as to who started it and then when Dick Harrell switched camps to Yenko in mid 67 then he got Yenko going on the same thing. Don just pursued it further with Chevrolet than the others.

I have been listening to the debate over the Douglas built cars compared to the Yenko built ones. Now I may open a can of worms but from discussions I have had with guys offline, most everyone is in agreement that there is no difference. They were still COPO Camaros with the 9737 option built at Norwood when they were delivered to either dealership. Who put the stripes and emblems on should not matter since Don had given permission to Jack Douglas to do the installation and sell them as such. Would this argument have occured in 69? I do not think so. This argument would be like saying which is worth more: a 427 Nickey built by Bill Thomas or one done at the dealership? To me no difference there either.

There are Yenko cars out there that would have more value in the long run over any he built: the gold magazine test car, Ed Hedricks car, any of the drag cars, Don's demo, any car with more options than the others or that has a specific history with Yenko. Just feel proud to own what you do and quit comparing which is worth more. I thought I would never see the day when an L35/M21 69 Camaro would bring over $35k (sold one this weekend) so that tells me the value is what someone is willing to give and someone is willing to take at a specific point in time. Sorry for the long post......................RatPack................

[shor]

I promised to take my kids to Jersey Freeze for ice cream tonight.(in the Camaro!)I wonder how many 69 427 Camaro's have had two childs seats strapped into the back seat!Charley, you are good at posting pictures on the site...I will take a picture tonight and email it to you and maybe you can post it!

[T Billigen]

I agree that all these cars are important, but a "yenko" is by far the most popular to Chevy fans! If you were to line up all the chevy muscle cars produced, whether it be factory or dealer built I would be willing to bet most people would point to a Yenko and say"that is the car that I would like to own"! Don Yenko did for chevy what Shelby did for ford. Just look at the value of some of those Cobras! They were the same price as a ZL1 back then but their value is around a 250K now! I know what a car is worth is not everything, but the hard fact is everyone is watching the value skyrocket and wondering when it is going to slow down. I think it will continue rise because people will hold on to the ones that they have and since there have not been new ones discovered, people that have money and want one bad enough will pay a lot of money to get one! I think some of the well documented Yenkos with a race history and low mileage originals will be catching those Cobras in the next five years. Look at the Deuces, Belk got a hefty price out of an unrestored original, just a few years ago you could get a frame-off for a lot less than he got for that car! He made a believer out of me!

[Rat_Pack]

Shor, I have only one in my 68 and is a tight fit. My son has a ball though when we get it out.

Tom, the Yenko is more recognizable by Chevy fans and the general automotive public and would probably bring more than the others. However, a Jack Douglas Yenko should not be worth any less than one done in PA when they are exactly the same cars. Right now the industry is seeing the prices skyrocket on the supercars and some of the factory hi-po cars also. I was at Corvette Expo in Knoxville two weeks ago and there was not a single driveable Camaro for under 12k. The mid year Vettes were selling high along with some of the earlier ones also. Last week in Pigeon Forge I counted over 30 66-7 Chevelles and the cheapest one out there was a Malibu for $23k. I thought these guys were nuts then we sold that 69 L35 Camaro for $37k and then my friend and I were one of those "nuts". Just glad to see the hobby doing well after a few "down" years.......................RatPack............... ......

[Edited by Rat_Pack (04-26-2002 at 11:38 AM).]

[T Billigen]

I meant ALL Yenkos!

[JoeC]

I been doing some research on Nickey. In my opinion Bill Thomas most likely did the first conversion cars. Bill was directly connected to Chevy Engineering and the Nickey Dealership and had his own engine building and fabrication shop in the early 1960s. He worked on many special cars for Chevy's underground road racing projects including a 1963 fiberglass 427 Nova (3 built). I posted an article on the 62 Nova V8 conversion kit he developed for Chevy to sell through the dealers. He most likely built the first 427 Camaros because he had the facility to do it and the connections to Chevy to get an early Camaro. Dick Harrell worked with Bill Thomas on the drag racing but I believe it was at Bills shop where they were first done. Harrell had Nickey sponsorship in 1966. Not to take anything away from Dick Harrell as he has many accomplishments. He had drag record setting Chevys in the early 60s and a 63 Z-11 then ran his 427 Z-11 motor in a new 64 Chevelle and ran early altered wheel base FX cars that became the Funny Car class. Bill Thomas built many of these early cars and his name is on many of Dick's early drag cars. Yenko and Nickey were involved with road racing Corvettes in the 1950s and getting special Corvettes in the early 1960s. Fred Gibb got involved in 1967 with the Little Hoss Z/28.

[T Billigen]

Joe, you are right about guys like Bill Thomas that did all the "grunt" work so guys like Dick Harrell could have all the fun on the drag strip! They should be recognized!

I have had words with sixtiesmuscle about the douglas yenkos. In all fairness, the last 50 deuces were converted at hurst. I don't know if these cars were ever at yenko chevy? Is this the same? Not quite. But similar in a way. I suppose it becomes a problem when you are selling a douglas yenko, and you over-explain the situation, and the buyer backs out. I think if everyone that owned a douglas yenko, had the correspondence from Don Yenko and Jack Douglas that stated this was authorized, that would be a form of documenting these cars. I would assume someone that buys a yenko car, would want yenko verification? We in the "circle" understand, but those out, do not. Just like there are "in the circle" prices, and out of the circle prices. These cars in my opinion have different "pedigree" levels. This is what people pay for. Obviously if you own a yenko camaro, they are worth alot, until you want to buy another! It is truly a double edged sword.

[JoeC]

Did Jack Douglas keep a record of his vin numbers? One thing nice about the Yenkos are those inventory sheets. The sheets saved a lot of cars from being scrap metal because of people like Vince E. who tracked them down using the vin.

[68TopStock]

JoeC & Stefano,

I too agree that Bill Thomas was there at the beginning with Chevrolet. In Grady Bryants book "Match Race Madness" he relates how he and Dick owned a '63 Z11 Impala, which won the 1963 Winternationals. Bill Thomas had sent Dick some experimental high compression "fireslot" 409 pistons for the car before the event.

I have come to the conclusion that Dick's first AFXer was the Bill Thomas "Bad Bascomb" (a stroked FI sb) which was highlighted in a 1963 Hot Rod publication. I have compared pics from early articles on Dick, and the bumpers, dash/interior look identicle. Bill Thomas's name was on the 1st AFXer, "Retribution II, which I think Dick ran in 1965.

I think Dick went to work for Nickey in 1966, so he knew Bill at least 2-3 years before the move to the midwest. Maybe Dick's relationship with Bill Thomas led to Bill's relationship with the Nickey dealership? or visa versa? Dick's '66 AFXer ChevyII was wholly sponsored by Nickey. I think Bill Thomas may have built a '67 FunnyCar for Nickey and Dick, but when Dick left in the spring of 1967, the car was undeliverable? This "Nickey" '67 Camaro FunnyCar was for sale in the Fall of 1967 in several DragWorld Nickey advertisements. Maybe we will learn more this fall at the Reunion with the Nickey folks.

Dick was sponsored by Don Yenko for the summer of 1967, and maybe Dick's use of big motors in little cars was the seed that started the Yenko conversion program? I do not know when the first conversions occurred, but I might bet it wasn't until the spring of 1967. The earliest article I have of the Yenko/Harrell connection is from the June 23, 1967 DragWorld. It highlights the "Yenko" Sponsored Dick Harrell Camaro FunnyCar which I believe debuted at the AHRA SpringNationals. This was at St. Louis, which would have been in late May of 1967.

BTW, Chevrolet's desert proving grounds were in Mesa, Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. I wonder if Bill Thomas and Dick Harrell visited there occasionally? On the map, it is located right in the middle between Ahaheim CA and Carlsbad NM.

[sixtiesmuscle]

"Top Stock", great info. Don't forget that the car that became a Yenko sponsored car driven by Mike Garfinkle was built by Nickey. That must have been around the Nickey split with Harrell, huh? That's the one I'd like to find. Heck, next to a Douglass-COPO/Yenk, how about a Nickey-Yenko Camaro? Now that's truly "one of one"!

[Stefano]

Sixtiesmuscle,
If you find that particular Super Car, I would be interested in purchasing it from you. I'm certain that since it is not on the Yenko Inventory Sheets it wouldn't be very desirable ,or even valuable for that matter http://www.yenko.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/wink.gif



P.S. I just couldn't resist.

[Rat_Pack]

Topstock, that Chevy II was "Bad Bascumb" that Bill Thomas used as a test bed for the FI 327 which eventually became the altered wheelbase car that Dick drove. That car was replaced in 65 by the black car that had a stock wheelbase. The black car was built without help from Bill Thomas, even though his name was on the fenders. Then while the 66 car was being built, with help from Bill Thomas, Nickey Chevrolet came on board as a sponsor. Nickey was into road racing long before drag racing and that is the connection between them & Bill Thomas Race Cars (BTRC).

BTRC did not build the mystery Camaro funny car for Nickey in 67 but they did build a dragster. They built it sometime after the 66 Nova was finished but I am not sure if it was ever competitive. I think I have seen a couple of pictures of it somewhere but I cannot remember where. DragWorld? Also I am not sure who built the funny car that was for sale but it was not BTRC. Could this have been the car that DH ended up using for the 67 season with the Yenko/Courtesy sponsorship or was it too late?...................RatPack................... ..

[Stefano]

I can't wait till the reunion, to get more info, but I know Nickey was heavy into roadracing.
I have seen some Nickey sponsored early Corvette pictures from Road America, in Wisconsin.

[Stefano]

Joe C,
Very cool info. It seems to have evolved around a few Key players, kind of like the 'Big Bang' theory.
Harrell was also hot rodding Chevy IIs with Corvette motors,first small and then Big Blocks.
Which came first,Thomas'relatioship with Nickey or Thomas'relation ship with Harrell?
I still maintain that these relationships are not mutually exclusive. These guys were live'in it and making it happen and their paths had crossed in many ways.
The catalyst for these projects and ultimate Super Cars and disseminator of info may indeed have been General Motors.
Keep the info comming guys I just can't get enough of this stuff.

[JoeC]

Here is some info found on the net,

Bill Thomas was a service manager at C. S. Mead Chevrolet in Pasadena, Ca.. Bill briefly road raced a white 1956 Corvette.

Bill Thomas and sprint car designer Don Edmunds worked together to put a fuel-injected 327 into a modified sprint car tube-frame chassis and enclose it in a stylized coupe body with a 90" wheelbase. Called a Cheetah, it was designed to compete with the Cobras. 1963-64

Jim Jefford drove for Chicago based Nickey Chevrolet in 1958. Jeffords was virtually unbeatable as he easily took the titles in 1958 and 1959 in the Nickey Chevrolet "Purple People Eater" Corvette.

Dick Harrell started racing at the age of 14. After 3 years in the army, Dick got back into racing and by the mid sixties, he was traveling all over the country to race. In 1965 he went to work for Nickey Chevrolet and after a couple years started his own performance shop in St. Louis, Mo. (fromZ/28 web site)

[TimG]

The "Purple People Eater" Corvette (one of them) is alive and well in the hands of Chip Miller. I have seen it twice, it is beautiful. Jeffords is still alive also. I bet you the car and driver will be united at the Vintage Races in Monterey this year. The Corvette will be honored at Monterey and there will be a number of rare road racers present. He may be able to answer some questions about the early days of Nickey.
The trouble is that these guys are just swamped at events like this. There was a four hour wait to visit with Jim Hall last year at Road America.

[sixtiesmuscle]

Those of you interested in Nickey's road racing efforts will be pleased to know that Tom Stephani, whose dad John, with his brother Ed owned Nickey back in the day, will be bringing his collection of Nickey memorabilia to the reunion. Much of this "stuff" is related to their road racing in the late 50s & early 60s. It is terrific!

[JoeC]

I think the Purple People Eater was named after a song from the 1950's?
I have been hearing a lot about the up coming Monterey Corvette event and it sounds like it will be a great show.

[TimG]

I ran into Tom at Road America two summers ago. He had a Nickey hat on and it caught my attention. He said his family owned the dealership and gave me his business card to order a hat.

[TimG]

Stefano,

I was worried someone would ask me that. I had his card for a quite a while, I just do not know where it is any longer. If I uncover this I would be more that happy to post the information. Tom and I were watching the super V event at the vintage races. I think that either he had a super V or he had one as a partner with a friend. He really got into these VW powered open wheel cars. Struck me as unusual for a guy that had access to so many big cube cars. He said the super V cars were very fast and drafting was the best part. They run down the track like they are all stuck together.

[Rat_Pack]

68TopStock, I have not gotten the full story behind the black 65 Chevy II. All I know is that when the 62 was destroyed in a wreck Dick was supposed to be out of a ride. Sometime before Bill Thomas built him the 66 car he ran this stock wheelbase Chevy II and it was painted black with a red and white interior. I will try and dig the only picture I have of it and email it to you. To keep this post short I will get with you by email sometime tomorrow or the next day....................RatPack.................... .....

[68TopStock]

Rat-Pack,

Which car are you referring to as the "black car" in the above post? I am trying to piece together all of the Harrell or Harrell sponsored cars. I know the '64 Chevelle was black, and I am not sure if another car was between the Chevelle and "Retributution II". Does anyone out there have a comprehensive list of the Harrell cars, starting with his '62 409? I have so far counted 14 cars, not including cars like the Garfinkle driven or Gene Rains driven '67 stockers.

JoeC

You are right on regarding Bill Thomas, Hot Rod magazines '67 "TestCar" had a Thomas built big block as a demonstrator, beat Bill Jenkins first time out (maybe he redlighted his Chevy II out of fear), this was the fall of '66.

I went back to my archives after my above post, and found this in the December 9, 1966 DragWorld:

"The Nickey Camaro made it's debut at Lions Drag Strip and was as impressive as the Green Bay Packers' offense. The car displayed an awesome amount of raw horsepower with more to be tapped out of the powerful 427-cubic inch powereplant.

Bill Hielscher, of "Mr. Bardahl" fame and most recently honored as AHRA Driver of the Year, guided the almost all stock Camaro to a fine 11.37 and 126.40 mph. What's more is that the smooth shifting "Mr. Bardahl" thinks the car is a potential 10.50 and 130 mph car-of course that's with a good dose of Barhahl in the engine."

On the same page is an announcement:

"Nickey Chevrolet in Chicago will have Dick Harrell flying their colors on a funny Camaro, but they will also have Don Kriby's (Kirby?) blown 1967 Corvette funny car. The 427 cubic-inch car will be built at Nickey's western representative, Bill Thomas Race Cars."

The Nickey funnycar I have referred to above is all fiberglass, and was located in Anaheim, CA. Maybe Thomas farmed the work out to a local builder for Nickey, and built the drivetrain? I wonder were it ended up? I think Harrell left Nickey in the early spring of 1967, probably February-March, as the Pop HotRodding article in April shows Dick (sure looks like him) in the lead color shot of the article,with a Bill Thomas jacket on, but no name is mentioned. His last name is referred to in a small photo caption regarding traction bars in the article (an edit error if they were deleting his name). Maybe the folks at Nickey didn't want it known he left during the busy pre-season period. I think the lead time for mag articles back then was only 4-6 weeks. (interesting, the Red Nickey Camaro in this article sure looks alot like the Hot Rod "test car"????) Anyone care to comment? The Feb. '67 CarCraft article shows the Nickey facility with Dick named throughout the article.

Maybe this post has gotten off the beaten path, and a new one should be started? On the other hand, how many X-11 Harrell cars are known?

[Stefano]

TimG,
Can you post price and address for the hat?

JoeC,
Yes, to your question regarding, "did Jack Douglass keep records". He kept a traditional Deal Jacket with copies of all info pertinant to the deal, just as any dealer probably would have.

These Jackets/files were stored in filing cabinets and over time were moved to a near by storage facility. The files accumulated and Survived the Dealership, but did not survive a subsequent fire.

I would agree that the listed Yenkos as well as other listed Super Cars were very easy to chase based on just their vin numbers.(This has also made them very easy to rebody).

Many were found this way. See Ed Cuneen's COPO Connection Web site regarding vins for the found Douglass Yenkos.

I was told a story recently, of a title searched, by vin, ZL1, which was driven to the purchasers home by the seller because he was so eager to get his $3,000.00 selling price.
(read: the Buyer was to lazy to go pick it up.)

The Body of knowledge has been maintained mostly by hard core enthusiasts ,over the years. COPO Connection has the most comprehensive accumulation of Douglass info.

Ed, has been formally recording and gathering this info since the early 1980's. Local COPO archeologists (such as initials, M.B.) have been also following these and other special COPOs, for just as long.

Even the enthusiasts at CRG (Camaro Research Group) have been recording and maintaining info on the Douglass Yenkos.

We still get the local stories at criuse nights about yeah me and my buddy went and Bought one of those Yenko 427 Camaros right off the Dealers lot back in late 1969. The Camaros and Chevelles were lined up in front of the dealership, ready for sale.

A few other key components such as the the COPOs themselves are important. These alone tell most of the story. NICB reports, title histories, old pictures .ect .ect.

The best aspect is that Jack Douglass, his then General Manager ,Tom Dumass as well as many other Dealer employees are still with us today. Even Jack's son John is a wealth of information.

Jack even laid out his old Yenko Demo ride route for me. It is a bit more conjested today however, than back in 1969.

He recalls his sales people envoking rolling 1/4 mile blasts as a tool to help close the sale.

It was the efforts of Jack Douglass and his dealership team ,as an established "Mean ones" Yenko Sports Car distributor, which allowed most all the local Chicago Land Yenko Legends to be perpetuated.

It has been no doubt a difficult task to find and Document his COPOs, but it has been very worth while. I can't even find one of his documented L78 cars ,which I desire to own.

The difficulty though, is one aspect which makes these COPOs cherished if not nationally, then certainly locally.

With only 22-25 ever produced and sold, I feel fortunate to have one. http://www.yenko.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif

[Stefano]

Rat-Pack
Please don't go off site with the info, I'm sure that I am not the only one who wants to find out more about this stuff.
Just start another thread.
Thanks,

Stefano

[Rat_Pack]

Stefano, check your email as I sent you the same picture that I sent Ken. This was getting off of the subject that this thread was originally started about so that is why I sent the picture out by email. Plus I have no way of posting them.................RatPack....................

[JoeC]

Maybe Stefano can post it or I will post it if you can email it to me.

[Stefano]

Rat_Pac,
Very cool picture.But I am lacking the mental technology to post don't I need a host?