69 Yenko w/ automatic trans?

[kato]

There were some automatic Yenko Camaros, was there not? If so, were they column shifted or did they have floor console shifters?

[Chevy454]

Started life as auto on column, then got Hurst his/hers units.

[robber6910]

Rob, were the columns changed out when the switch was made? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[Chevy454]

Nope. Knocked out the pin, and yanked out the lever.

[kato]

Thanks for the info. One more question. OK, Two!
After I did a search, I found more info. There was supposedly two shifters installed. The Hurst his & hers (dual gate) and the Power stick. What was the Power stick ? I can't find any info on it. Were both shifters using the mini console like this.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2421371629&category=10 076

2nd question. How many of the 200 69 Yenko Camaros were autos?

[Steve Shauger]

I believe at least one yenko automatic was produced with a console and floor shifter. It was at the last reunion.

[JoeC]

I believe Some of the Yenko Deuce's used a Hurst "auto stick" shifter which looked like a 4sp shifter and used a big rubber boot. Some used the Hurst duel gate like the 69 Camaro and Chevelle. The Hurst duel gate plastic console you show a link to is a repro that is pretty close to the original but not exactly the same. It is also made of material about 2x the thickness of original.

[JoeG]

kato,
I'm not a Yenko book of info--but I'm looking thru Leffingwell's book-American Muscle--in the back under 1969 Camaro Yenko/SC 427---Production 201---30 with automatics.----------JoeG

[kato]

Thanks for all of the replies guys. What is the best source of reference for Yenko cars?
I grew up about 25 miles from Cannonsburg, in Belle Vernon Pa. In the fall of 1979, I remember a guy selling an Orange Yenko Camaro with a big automatic shifter in it. I was managing a tire and custom wheel store. He left it in the lot for a few weeks to advertise it, so I got to look at it quite a bit.
There was more than one discussion over the fact that they offered automatic sYc Camaros. The guy who had it was from Monesson Pa. and he was asking $3,000. We all thought he was asking way too much. A few months after that, I bought a 1970 Nova SS, all original from the original owner for $300! Minor rust and 90,000 miles, it ran great for a few years. Muscle cars could be bought pretty cheap back then.

[John]

...You may want to checkout this "past feature car"

... www.yenko.net/features/2002/July2002.htm (http://www.yenko.net/features/2002/July2002.htm)

...it was purchased from a guy from Penn. ....not sure if it is the same car you saw many years ago. I still own it and even had it at a car show in Roanoke, Va. for the July 4th weekend. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif
... Yes it came automatic on the column and the Hurst dual-gate shifter was installed at Yenko Dealership. and the original consoles were very flimsy...and cracked easily...

[Chevy454]

[ QUOTE ]
What is the best source of reference for Yenko cars?

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's a good place to start: http://www.yenko.net/dealers/yenko.htm

[kato]

John, where from Pa did you buy it? How long did that guy own it? That sure looks like the car! I'm a writer as well as a muscle car nut. I grew up on Chevy muscle and now own a 69 Z/28. I'd like to collect and write about the many great stories out there! I have a wackey few of my own. Even one relating to Don Yenko himself.

Thanks for the link on the info. I've absorbed all I can on-line for Yenkos. Are there any books?

[Unreal]

If you have a story on Don Yenko, you gotta share it, here. We can't wait for the book!!

[John]

You may want to check out "The 1969 Camaro Reference Book" by John Hooper. There are chapters on Baldwin Motion, Dana, Zl-1, and Yenko along with many color photos with alot of great information on just the 1969 camaro.
...The guy I bought my car from was from Beaver, Pa., but had moved to West Point Va. when I purchased the car
( 1988 )...He had titled it in July of 1970...and owned it till 1988...when I purchased it.
...So let's hear your story about Don Yenko!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[T Billigen]

John,
What is the fellow's name you bought it from? I'm from Aliquippa and may know him. I remember one orange Yenko in the area but I thought it had black stripes but my memory could be failing me! Also, is it an X-11 car? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[John]

His name is George Shaffer. Have you ever heard of someone named Louie Anceral? My car is an X-44 car....3B build date, was shipped to Yunker Chevrolet ( 6/2/69 ) and then was purchased back by Yenko on ( 9/3/69 )...probably because it came with "Automatic Transmission and power steering". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[kato]

I'm still researching stories from the 70's. My knowledge of Don is minimal and the connection is a little strange. When I was 20 years old in 1981, I fell in love with an older woman. She was 35 at the time.
She was a sucsessful business woman that owned a hardware store and lots of property on Mt. Washington over looking the city of Pittsburgh. Maybe it was the car I was drivivng at the time that caught her eye, I don't know. It was my first Vette. Bright blue 1973, built 454 with chrome sidepipes and a 4 speed. Now before you say that there's no way it was a car that attracted her to a young stud like me,
her interest in cars and particularly Corvettes is an interesting story in itself.
When we first met, she told me she raced Corvettes in SCCA events and some other more prestigeous races. I didn't know if she was for real or not. I didn't press for information right away, but later I had to know the details.
There were many local stories of a girl running around in a blue 67 427 Vette with fender flairs, sidepipes and word was, a roller cam! Nobody had a roller cam in the 70's where I lived! Her front license plate read, 'If you beat me, you can eat me" I thought it might of been her. I asked her if it was and she just kind of smiled and made some funny sounds that kind of, well, turned me on. The subject matter was changed instantly. This happened more than once. It was a while before I seriously asked again about her past with Corvettes.
One day, I decided I had to know, and she told me.
She revealed to me that she had a long time affair with Don Yenko, and he was the guy that got her into cars and racing. She recounted the many times of flying with him and the places they would go. He must have been a busy guy!
On another end of the spectrum, my friends dad grew up in Bentlyville and knew Don & his Dad. In case you didn't know, Bentlyville is where the original Yenko Chevy dealership began. I have to get his stories as he's getting up there.
So there you are, I poked the same girl that Don Yenko did!

[T Billigen]

I don't know the owner of your car but I sure know Louie Ancrile! I met him in 1965, he came to Eat N Park in Aliquippa to race my 65 442. He had a dark blue 64 Plymouth 426 convertible. We went to the Aliquippa boulevard and ran for 20.00. I beat him by about two car lengths. I remember taking his 20 and going to the show and treating my two buddies to see a James Bond picture. Four years later he wanted to run again. He had just spent 2500.00 in a complete blue print and balance of the same engine in the same car. Larry Wynn did the work. (Larry's Speed Shop) in Beaver. We went to Newell West Virginia and raced for 200.00. He did not have a chance! I had a 68 Camaro with a L-88 engine that I had bought at Yenko Chevy. I had just bought a set of 10.5 M&Hs for the occasion. That old Camaro came out of the hole at 6 grand and that Plymouth was nowhere in site! I never seen him again after that. Unfortunately he passed away in 1993 in Las vegas. Louie was a super nice guy and a true drag racer!

[budnate]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[hvychev]

Holy $hit kato!! That is a great story! That is the reality of life. We all make Don Yenko out to be a saint but he was just a regular fella. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

BTW If I had landed a chick that was 35 years old when I was 20 I would have been a god in my area!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[JoeC]

Kato, are you talking about Donna Mae?

[SS427]

There were many local stories of a girl running around in a blue 67 427 Vette with fender flairs, sidepipes and word was, a roller cam! Nobody had a roller cam in the 70's where I lived! Her front license plate read, 'If you beat me, you can eat me"

Amazing!!! Starting back in 1979 on Central Ave in Minneapolis at the Sun Drive In, I heard this very story several times, same desription of the car, same description of the girl who was from the East Coast. The saying was not on her license plate but on the rear tail panel. I always chaulked it up to plain and simple /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif Could it have been true all these years?????????? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif Any of you other Minnesota guys that hung out at Porky's or the Sun ever hear that story?

[Mr70]

kato
I'll bet it was really T.Billigen wearing high heels,a wig and make up.He has been known to do alot of things to win a race back then.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[T Billigen]

Ha! Ha! Rick, don't give all my secrets! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[kato]

No, her name wasn't Donna, it's Sandy. I just saw her in December and she looks exactly the same as she did 23 years ago! I didn't ask her then about getting some good history, but I plan to.
Oh, the girl in a Vette story was true, in Belle Vernon Pa anyway. It was verified by a few buddy's soon after that. Her name was Poulan and her Dad owned a hardware store on the other side of town. The 'hardware store' connection made me think it was Sandy.
When I was 20, in my Vette, I was a bad dude! Now I'm all grown up and worship my own God now. My Wife! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Belair62]

Did you ever double date with the Green Hornet ??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Stefano]

Didn't Shirley Maldouney(?)the drag racer have the previously mentioned saying pinstriped on her race car back in the day.

[JoeG]

SS427,
I guess this girl got around--convertable vette white ----blonde, like in American Grafitti------hand lettered on car-If you beat me you can eat me ----saw her twice making passes thru a popular drive-in,----MITCHELLS on 86st. Bklyn---67'-68--------never heard of an actual run.---car had a heavy rumble/loping idle/solid tappets.--the car we had at the time wasn't fast enough to eat veal- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif--so we had a couple of burgers,------but we always kept our Lobster bibs handy.----------JoeG /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[Unreal]

Did you ever live in a Pool House behind a mansion in Brentwood? (California, not Pennsylvania)
Were you ever a houseboy for Inspector Cluseau? (sp)

[John]

T.Billigen...the guy I bought my car from said that Louie Ancrile was the original owner of my car...Louie supposedly raced /owned the car only for a short time ( 9/69 to 7- 70 ) or possibly a few months shorter then that. That is the the only reason I knew his name.....small world! I'll bet your last race with him looked like this... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[T Billigen]

Thats amazing! I never knew he owned a Yenko Camaro? I guess he decided that if he could not beat those Chevys, he might as well join them! One other strange thing, my brother ended up marrying his ex-wife! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[kato]

[ QUOTE ]
Did you ever live in a Pool House behind a mansion in Brentwood? (California, not Pennsylvania)
Were you ever a houseboy for Inspector Cluseau? (sp)


[/ QUOTE ]

To answer your S.A. (assumed since NO smiley faces were used) questions:

Question 1: No. kato was my dogs name that somehow got used as my user name, instead of my secret (ha, ha, now) password.

2nd question: You want to find out? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

My user name should have been Jimmy P. I've been over at Team Chevelle for YEARS. I stumbled onto this cool site recently since I purchased my second 69 Camaro. 1st one a real Z and this one, just a cool clone.
By the way, I wouldn't disrespect Don Yenko or this board with trash or lies.
Little info on me:
I'm 42, born & raised in Yenko country, and now live in Texas. I work in Nuclear Power generation. Cars, bikes & Kustom paint are my things, right behind my wife & family. I was really hoping that nobody would be offended with my posts. How do I change my user name?

[Seattle Sam]

Don't know if you can change your user name, but you could re-register as Jimmy P.
-Sam

[T Billigen]

That time frame would sound right. I think I ran him sometime in August. I know he was an "unhappy camper" after he spent all that money and could not win the race! In 1968 I almost had the chance to run a 68 Yenko Camaro. It was owned at the time by a fellow named Joe Weis from New Castle. He came to Aliquippa hunting for me but at the time I had the rearend out of the car. I did not even know what a Yenko Camaro was, I noticed the funny hood and it sounded real healthy! I know one thing, I would have had my hands full with that car! Everything that Joe owned was fast! I seen him run at New Castle many times and never seen him lose a race! Years later that car was purchased by Chuck Huber and fully restored. It was a red car with black vinyl roof. He received "The muscle car of the year award" in 1992. That was the nicest 1968 Yenko I have ever seen! I think it resides in Cliff Ernst's collection now. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[Belair62]

Don't change it....it's unique...and this is no B.S....we had a Lhasa Apso named Kato !!! No comments Charley !

[John]

Man this is getting real strange....ask your brother's wife if she remembers the hugger orange yenko camaro...got any old photos ...or maybe an old "protecto-plate"... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
...you don't know if you don't ask... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[hvychev]

Kato you didn't name your dog after the creep who's picture is attached to this post did you? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Mr70]

Frank,there is only one kato...That would be the Green Hornets sidekick,played by Bruce Lee.
Another cast off from TC...Welcome. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Charley Lillard]

Ha..... It figures that you would have a Lhasa Apso Belair....Was its Nickname Fee Fee or Fluffy ?

[Belair62]

We nicknamed it "Charley"

[T Billigen]

I plan on talking to him on Sunday. I am just as curious as you are! I will let you know what happens. I find it kind of odd Louie did not come looking for me after he got the Yenko? I would figure he would want to get even and get some of his money back! Does your car still have the original motor?

[John]

The original motor was gone prior to 7/10/70 when "George" bought the car. I don'think Louie owned it for very long...Louie supposedly, was the original owner...then sold it to "George's friend" ( whose name I don't know /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif) and George bought the car from his friend. ..at least that is what I was told by George. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[T Billigen]

John,
I talked to My brother's wife today. She does remember the Yenko! All she remembers is that it was orange and had black interior. Louie would not let her drive it. And she has no other info. I was hoping she may have some paperwork stashed away but she said he only had the car for a short time and said does not have any idea if Louie kept anything pertaining to the car. She said she did drive his 426 convertible extensively when he got into some legal trouble and spent a couple of years in the "gray bar hotel!" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[John]

Thanks for the info. That helps me confirm that the original owner of my car was Louie Ancrile. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif