1969 Yenko Camaro

[T Billigen]

After much consideration I have decided to place my car up for sale. This is a completely matching number drive train. (no restamp) The car recently underwent a total frame-off restoration by Dave Tinnell. This is a rare Hugger Orange, X-11 with Z-23 interior. It has 16K original miles. It has been documented by Ed Cunneen and I have a signed statement by Dave Tinnell verifing all numbers and the Z-23 interior. Asking price is best offer over 160K. Here is a link to some pictures and I can send additional picures of the restoration if anyone is interested. SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE.

www.msnusers.com/billigen (http://www.msnusers.com/billigen)
(262) 644-6760
[email protected]

[Jeff H]

Sweet car! So if I take out a 2nd mortgage on the house, this Hugger Orange Yenko could be a stablemate to my Hugger Orange JL8! It's a good thing I don't have any money. LOL!

[Mr70]

A Beautiful Camaro Tom. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Glad I took Pictures of it at VetteFest while I could.
I may never see it again.
You have owned some incredible Cars.
Now get that Lemans Blue Yenko Chevelle back will ya! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[T Billigen]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[sYc]

Dang it, Tom. Just when we "almost" have you taked into racing, you go and decide to sell it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[MrsBillyBobcat]

[ QUOTE ]
It's a good thing I don't have any money. LOL!

[/ QUOTE ]

ME TOO!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Nice car!

Rita /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[T Billigen]

It is'nt sold yet /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[Chevy454]

Now that's the spirit! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[rich p]

Nice car Tom
Had your buyer !!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Nice and quite sale !!!!

[Born30YrsLate]

nice car tom - did somebody slip something into your turkey...I'm sure the car will go to a good owner.

[camarojoe]

Cool 1969 PA dealer plate on the back! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Charley Lillard]

Does this mean Rich sold the car ?

[sYc Yenko]

Good luck with the sale, Thats one nice care, Hope it goes to a good home
Nick

[T Billigen]

I would like to thank Joe Barr for helping with finding the Pa. dealer plate and an NOS E/70 15 Wide Tread G.T. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[T Billigen]

The car has NOT been sold. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Mr. T]

Tom, did you sell your beautiful 69 Yenko Camaro? I never heard if it sold or not. Thanks! http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[T Billigen]

Yes, I delivered it on Friday. I'm sure the new owner will post something on the site when he is ready. http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[JChlupsa]

Which direction did it go?

[Mr70]

What's next Tom....a Deuce or maybe or a 2002 ZL-1,or Both? http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[T Billigen]

I am now the owner (again) of my 1968 Corvette Bronze 396/375 Camaro which I originally purchased new at Kenny Ross Chevrolet in Pittsburgh, PA in September 1968. Car only has 5K original miles, and may be a Non-Converted COPO/Yenko which I was unaware of at the time I owned it. Have been researching this possibility for sometime now and all signs are looking very positive. Will update as I learn more. I have attached a picture of the car that was taken in 1968 in front of the dealership.
http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[Belair62]

How did you find your old car Tom ?

[Mr70]

Wonderful news Tom.CONGRATS
Glad to hear it is coming back to you. http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
The Following is from an article from Kenny Ross himself in January 1970,through the Chevrolet Central magazine:

Kenny Ross,from Kenny Ross Chevrolet,is Performance minded,but not a specilaist.He has been keeping a close watch on the Youth market for some time."marketing for all sorts of products has been aimed at the under 25's-and that includes cars."
Even though the Dealership is not located in a Performance area,he believes that getting into the performance market is the way to reach young buyers.Today,close to 25% of thier new car business is in peformance cars.
"The kids are looking for identification,........individualty,they're looking for a Car with Flare....speed...color-something different.
For this reason we do a lot of custom painting.
The Kenny Ross Dealership has three specialists on the sales staff,and a seperate showroom for High performance parts.
The most Important thing a dealer needs,Ross Believes,Is a Service Dept. equipped to handle performance car business.When it comes to ordering,most of the Kids Know as much about the cars as anyone on our staff.But if you don't have good service,you lose the business.This is especially true in make-ready,so we can make an extra special effort preparing performance cars for Delivery".(Outstanding equipment in thier service department includes a Dynamometer-not usually found outside specialized speed shops.)

[Mr. T]

Tom,

What a great way to end 2003, to actually buy back your 68 Camaro SS396 that you originally purchased in 68. Can't believe it only has 5,000 miles. WOW! You don't hear of stories like this everyday. Do you know if the car was shipped from the factory to Don Yenko and then to Kenny Ross? Can't wait for more info on your car. Congradulations!! http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[T Billigen]

I just drag raced the car mainly. I really never drove it much. I sold it to a friend in 1971 and it sat in storage for the next 30 years. He sold it in November of 2002. I talked to the fellow that bought it a couple of weeks ago and asked if he wanted to sell it. He said he would think about it. I explained to him that I was the original owner and would sure like to get it back. Finally he said OK! I had him check a few numbers and I made sure that the 140 speedo was untouched and it was. In 68 I never paid much attention to the speedo, I thought all 375 HPs came with it. It does have the deluxe wheel, standard black interior,Big sway bar and correct writing on vin tag It was a very late car: 07E is the build date.

[Supercar_Kid]

"Even though the Dealership is not located in a Performance area..." http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif Ouch, I'm hurt. Shows how often the writers of Chevrolet Central visited the Pittsburgh area. The 'Burgh was a hotbed for performance oriented buyers in the late 60's. There was Kenny Ross selling plenty of L-78 cars and the sort, not to mention Don Allen, Tom Henry, Schrieber, Bud Donahue, and I'm sure several others that would sell you any high perf car in Chevy's lineup short of a COPO, which could had easily enough by heading on out to a little dealership in Washington county by the name of Yenko Chevrolet. Let's also not forget that Grabiak Chevrolet in nearby New Alexandria sold nearly as many Corvettes as Yenko did, and remains a tri-state Corvette volume sales leader still today. Sure...maybe the Pittsburgh area wasn't as performance oriented as say the Woodward cruising crew that bought from Berger or the Long Island Baldwin/Motion crowd, but it sure wasn't lacking in performance seeking customers or dealers that could provide what they were looking for. http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif to all the "back easties" out there.

[hvychev]

Tom did you keep any paperwork or old photos of your car when you sold it?

Supercarkid....The Chicago area market was the hottest hi-performance market of the time! http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[camarojoe]

Tom, do you have any pics of your 68 as it looks today? I feel pretty confident your car was an unconverted COPO 396/375 car originally ordered and delivered to Yenko Chevrolet and later dealer traded or sold to Kenny Ross. Not sure if you'll be able to turn up any paperwork to prove that, but with the 140 speedo and being sold just a few miles down the road from Yenko, I would bet my last Berger wisk broom that it was originally delivered to Yenko and was one of the cars that never got converted from a 396 to a 427.

[T Billigen]

The fellow I originally sold the car to in 1971 still has some paper work and alot of pics when we were racing at Keystone. He still has the original engine but getting it off him may be difficult. He is a packrat and does not like to sell anything. You should see the rare items he has hidden away. The engine in it now is the L-88 that I bought at Yenko in 1969. I am very confident that this is an unconverted car also. http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[Unreal]

Tom, if you've been friends with the guy since 1971, why would he not sellit to you...or even trade for the L88 motor? It's not my business, but just curious.

[T Billigen]

Without going into details...."Friend" is not exactly what I would refer to him as. The trade is a good idea however.

[JoeC]

Tom, congratulations on your purchase of your old Camaro. Sounds like a fun project with a lot of good memories. Yenko ran ads locally trying to unload 1968 COPO L78 Camaros. One ad listed (I think) 8 Yenko Camaros four were 427 and four were "special" 396 cars. I think the ad even listed the colors. Last summer I did a lot of research on the 67 Yenkos and found some info on 68s.

[Stefano]

I'd rather have the Yenko L88 in it and the factory engine on a stand.

Congrats http://host.threadshosting.com/~yenko/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[camarojoe]

[ QUOTE ]
Without going into details...."Friend" is not exactly what I would refer to him as. The trade is a good idea however.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would never "trade" the Yenko L88 if you are sure thats what it is, and have any type of paperwork to prove it. He'll eventually sell you the original engine too, just keep the pressure on him. JMO.

[T Billigen]

I will probably hold on to the L-88. I bought it in the Spring of 69. It had just come in and was still in the shipping crate. The short block was 450.00 I got it home and tried putting my 375 HP heads on it and found out they did not work on 13.5 pistons! I callled Yenko to find out what the heads would cost and they told me another 450.00. So I went to Miller & Sons in Aliquippa and bought a set of stock 427 pistons and used the heads off the 396/375. Which should be still on the engine.

[Unreal]

Upon further consideration, I would hold onto the L88, too. But you gotta get that motor back, somehow. I guess some guys just don't want to sell/trade. Isn't there a case of a couple of ZL1 motors that are in the wrong cars, but the owners can't seem to get together to get them in the right cars?

Tom, Congrats, and good luck on the quest.

[T Billigen]

The Camaro will undergo a complete restoration this Spring by Chuck Huber and Paul Cupp. I will update on the engine situation http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Belair62]

Just go get a Wagner Power Painter and freshen it up and drive it like it is.

[Stuart Adams]

Speaking of paint, what is the name of the blue you painted your car ( very nice)- you know the car with the Ronald McDonald twins sitting in it.

[Belair62]

Factory Nassau blue for 62....different than the later Nassau.

[camarojoe]

Done with a Wagner?

[Belair62]

Power roller...and a lot of wet/dry

[Leonard]

"LOL" I guess a power roller would leave a better finnish than the ole BRUSH method. I have seen a few cars painted with a brush. Not sure if was enamel or latex. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif Latex may be the choice for the "one coat" coverage. "LOL" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[sYc]

[ QUOTE ]
I am now the owner (again) of my 1968 Corvette Bronze 396/375 Camaro which I originally purchased new at Kenny Ross Chevrolet in Pittsburgh, PA in September 1968. Car only has 5K original miles, and may be a Non-Converted COPO/Yenko which I was unaware of at the time I owned it. Have been researching this possibility for sometime now and all signs are looking very positive. Will update as I learn more. I have attached a picture of the car that was taken in 1968 in front of the dealership.'

Tom, after re-reading this thread, and the other one about the car, and looking at your emails and PMs to me, I have a couple of things to throw out.

How/why did a Yenko end up at Kenny Ross? Part of the Yenko SC network, or dealer transfer? , But with no signs of it being a Yenko (I am assuming this since you just now feel it might be a Yenko, nothing caught your eye back then). If the car originated at Yenko, all of the factory paperwork, including the window sticker, would have read Yenko. And, if the car had any Yenko options, it would have had a Yenko window sticker. In addition, Yenko made sure their cars could be identified, by the use of stickers, emblems, and later on stripes. After hearing from numerous folks who bought Yenko cars new, from various dealers, including Douglass, the one common theme is they were all well aware of the Yenko connection, whether it be though paperwork, emblems, stickers, what ever. I have to wonder if this car originated at Yenko.

Now, could it be a Kenny Ross COPO? Well that is possible, in the same sense as dealers in '69 found out about the 427 COPO (JD) and ordered them direct from GM, rather then get them from Yenko. But, even with that, the COPO option would have been present on any paperwork, such as window sticker. And, was not the 9737 option the listed as the "Yenko Sports Car Conversion" option?

Regardless, an interesting car. Would be nice if GM had the Chevy archives up and and running.

[John]

...I have a standard bore 427 short block with the last three digits on the back of the block are "321"
...and the casting date is "F167"
...any interest? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif