May buy a 69 sYc. I've seen the car but need help

[Ernie]

I am a Mopar afficienado but know little about yenko's. What I do know is to ask a bunch of questions, so here they are, and any help is GREATLY appreciated.

In regards to paper work (There is a factory MSO (?) and other things) what is needed to ABSOLUTELY document the car?
I assume the VIN's of the Yenko's are documented, but to avoid a re-body, what do I look for?

This particular car has painted drip rail moldings around the side windows. Should they be Chrome?

Also the car should have a Vinyl top.. but doesn't. Hard or dangerous to install?

Anything else anyone can tell me will be much appreciated.
Thanks
Ernie.

[William]

All Yenkos are documented, if you don't mind a 10th generation copy of a handwritten ledger. The people that have copies are not known for freely providing this info. Some recent good news is that a former Yenko employee has in his possession much original documentation, mostly '67-'68, some '69. If he has it he is happy to sell docs on your car. Not cheap.

For 1969 Yenko convinced Chevrolet to install the 427 engines along with other special equipment like the 140 speedo. Unfortunately others dealers learned of this and were able to order identically equipped 427 Camaros. A dealer in Illinois was able to purchase stripes and emblems from Yenko for his 427 cars which were sold as Yenkos. These cars are not on the Yenko inventory ledgers and are dissed by some. None of the '69s have the YS ID plate.

The drip rail chrome you mention was an option; some had it some didn't. A '69 that does not will be coded X44 on the body tag. Vinyl tops are not difficult to replace but '69s used a unique molding you would have to find used, not a problem.

All Yenkos had a special Yenko window label which has been reproduced. The original warranty folder has the code of the factory-installed engine: MN for 4-speed and MO for automatic. All cars had an MSO; it should show Yenko as the dealer of record.

It is not difficult to re-body a Camaro; everyone knows where the hidden VIN stamps are-under the heater box, another on the upper cowl under the cowl vent panel below the windshield. It is sometimes visible if you look through the front edge of the RH grille. If you know what to do a body swap could be indetectable.

I strongly advise you to hire someone knowledgeable to examine the car BEFORE you buy it. Try Camaro Hi-Performance.

[Ernie]

Thanks William, appreciate your expertise.

Ernie