MUSCLE CAR REVIEW's Yenko Camaro #202

[LS6 RAT]

I just received my March 2008 issue today in the mail. There is an article written about the Hugger Orange Yenko Camaro built by Jim Barber, owner of Classic Auto Restoration Specialties (CARS).
This article says it is the first of the continuation series of Yenko Camaros. Here is a quote "Jim Barber says it best: This car is not a rebody. It's not a clone built from a wreck. It's not a custom or someone's tribute. It's the real thing. GM says it is. These cars are built to standards far beyond those with which the originals were built. It's a trip back to 1969-a chance to experience the sights and sounds of the Yenko in a new car. It's an all-steel, fully licensed and approved Yenko Camaro. You can't do much better than that."

The hell is isn't a 'tribute car'. I'd like to hear from the Yenko crowd on this.

[mockingbird812]

That type of verbiage is how you justify the lofty price!

[SSjeff427]

My car being called a clone or tribute is fine with me, cause that is what it is. But sure wasn't made from a wrecked car and my work is just as good as his. I am sure my car exceeds the standards of 1969 also, but that doesn't make it the real deal. I built a car to look just like a Motion car not because I couldn't find one or couldn't afford one, I did it so I could drive and enjoy it and not have to have my behind puckering holes in the seat bottom every time some clown in POS runs up behind me http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif or jacks on brakes in front of me http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif or swerves at me. Of course when I leave sideways, I can't blame any one for those puckers. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[bkhpah]

The real story is Belair Bobs COPO Chevelle in the new MCR. A REAL COPO Chevelle. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif BKH

[68l30]

I'll drink to that... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

Congrats! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

What's the Camaro titled as..1969 or 2008? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif


Steve

[m22mike]

Good ? Steve. I want to see what the Vin tag looks like. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif
A bunch of http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif

Mike

Bob...Congrats on the artical about your COPO http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Les Quam]

Absolutely ridiculous description to claim it's the real thing and not a tribute or clone. Has there been another resurrection from the grave other than Jesus's and Don Yenko is back modifying Camaro's again? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif

[ORIGLS6]

[ QUOTE ]
The real story is Belair Bobs COPO Chevelle in the new MCR. A REAL COPO Chevelle. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif BKH

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[camarojoe]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The real story is Belair Bobs COPO Chevelle in the new MCR. A REAL COPO Chevelle. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif BKH

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Saw that! One of the coolest COPO Chevelles ever... Congrats Bob! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[LS6 RAT]

Here is another portion of the article, in quote "In 2004, Jim assembled the Hot Rod 1 Camaro convertible, a Steve Stanford designed profiler, from the first Dynacorn reproduction Camaro convertible body. In doing so, he instigated the legal process that concluded with that car becoming the first new, all-steel, fully finished , GM-licensed and -approved, legally titled '69 Camaro in 35 years."

[bkhpah]

Bob's black COPO from the new MCR magazine...BKH

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h50/bkhpah/DSC04110.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h50/bkhpah/DSC04112.jpg

[KENNY_PASCOE]

SAW IT AT VETTEFEST... NEAT CAR. KP

[owners2]

It is what it is, a clone ,tribute or continuation,nothing differant unless it was built that way in 1969 !!!!!

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Bob's car is real = cool.

The camaro is a fake that is trying to be made real = not cool.

[RM Schimel]

A CLONE IS A CLONE IS A CLONE. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif BEAUTIFUL 1969 COPO CHEVELLE BOB: CONGRATS-RM

[Belair62]

Those wheels and tires sucked.

[x Baldwin Motion]

[ QUOTE ]
Bob's car is real = cool. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

The camaro is a fake that is trying to be made real = not cool. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

[169yenko]

Wonder how they insure it? 69 or 08. Gotta be some high insurance on a 2008 427 powered vehicle. Why don't people call their stuff what it is. "it is not a rebody" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
Sounds like "Clintonese"..."I did not rebody this Camaro".

[Andy]

They say that the cars are a continuation in the series, and are clearly marked on the vin tag as "yenko series". Don Yenko didn't build them so, its someone else's idea of what the car should be.

They talk about authenticity, and trying to replicate the cars as best as they can, but I see a comfort grip steering wheel on the car in the magazine. I have never seen a comfort grip wheel on a 69 Yenko Camaro. They have the rims mounted on firestone wide oval tires, but the copo package had rallyes with E70x15 wide tread tires, right? Yenko offered the atlas wheels as an option, but I thought those also had the wide tread gt tires. The continuations also have a "rock crusher" M22 in the car, but all 4 speed cars were equipped with M21s, right? Did any 4 speed cars have power steering in 69? I thought only the automatic equipped cars had that option. Thats 4 big things that I spotted within a few minutes of looking at the article. I'm sure there are more things.

It would be cool to have a completely new 69 Camaro decked out in the yenko treatment, and I think that is what is attracting the younger buyers. I guess there are options you can add to the car to have it like you would want it, but that that strays away from the concept of an exact clone/recreation/contiuation...ect.... if you deviate from what "the man" did in 69. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[JoeG]

Car looks all business Bob...... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[camarojoe]

4 speed cars could get power steering too... the Wide Oval repop firestones look out of place on ANY pre-70 Chevrolet IMO, as does a repop 3 spoke steering wheel. I always get a kick out of how stuff like this comes out and they call it #1 of xxx... when really it will most likely be 1 of 1, if they can find even that one guy to pony up some 90+k for a taiwan camaro. To each his own I guess, and it is what it is... but I think you could look on ebay on any given day of the week and find something as good or better for far less coin. Now Bob's car on the other hand... (aside from those silly redline radials of course http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif) , its got it goin' on! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[rick rothermel]

Hi guys!
I'm the cretin who wrote the article, Thanks for the comments! Good to know someone's reading!
Great site here, too!
Okay! The M21 thing is my fault, Jim gave the correct info but I mis-read or something, it's my bad.
Now, about the car, many good comments here but I tried to keep editorial comments out of the material. Seems to me though that with the GM and Yenko estate granting license to the manufacture of the car does give a bit of credibility,
and DAMN! it is one kick-ass car!
I am also reminded, though, of a quote from my favorite fiction author, Robert B Parker: 'A thing is what it is... it's not something else'.
To me, #202 'the real thing' because of the content, the intent, the talent required, and licenses granted. That's the way the world works today, for good or not. Whatever else the car is, is up to personal interpretation.
but, it'd be waaaay better to have one of those than nothing...

[parkbrau]

Rick,
Thats not the way the world works today. Sorry for ruining it for you.

And DAMN! The kick-ass car is BelAir Bobs. Hands down.

[bkhpah]

Your article states that the Yenko estate granted the license. Just who or what is the Yenko estate?, Hope Yenko, or one of the daughters of Don Yenko. Or is the "Yenko estate" something different?...BKH http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Charley Lillard]

Welcome to the site Rick. I have seen the car up close. I think it's quality is better than most of what you see on Ebay. I haven't heard of any Yenko family involvement, just the trademark holders involvement. Finding faults in stuff like a steering wheel or a rock crusher versus a M21 is really grasping to find stuff wrong. I personally don't consider it a real Yenko but I do appreciate the effort and quality of the car.

[Stefano]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi guys!
Seems to me though that with the GM and Yenko estate granting license to the manufacture of the car does give a bit of credibility,
.........and licenses granted.

[/ QUOTE ]

Welcome aboard!

Please explain how the car is licenced by GM???? I am aware that the individual restoration parts are.

[x Baldwin Motion]

I could not find this article about Yenko 202 or the builder CARS online. Can someone please post it or a link to the site. Thanks - in the dark - http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[rick rothermel]

Stefano:
Thanks for the welcome!
As for the GM license, ya gotta understand, I am but a meager magazine scribe, work with the info I am given. I do know GM is on board at several levels and Jim Barber is heavily connected, but as to the details I have to defer to him. The text has to be condensed a lot to make space, not my call, but the article did get the word out, and that was the goal.
We had the first writeup in a national magazine, something I'm a bit proud of.
Hope you and the rest of the board members enjoyed the magazine.

[sYc]

[ QUOTE ]
I could not find this article about Yenko 202 or the builder CARS online. Can someone please post it or a link to the site. Thanks - in the dark - http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Jim Barber
Classic Automotive Restoration Specialists, Inc
8235 Nautical Point Drive
Belews Creek, NC 27009
336-595-3900 Fax: 336-595-4900

www.classicautomotiverestoration.com (http://www.classicautomotiverestoration.com)

[RamAirDave]

Long discussion here from a few months ago on TC, in which Jim from CARS explains:

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=120439

[bkhpah]

And the Yenko involvment is what?...BKH http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

More $$.

[Stefano]

[ QUOTE ]
The real story is Belair Bobs COPO Chevelle in the new MCR. A REAL COPO Chevelle. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif BKH

[/ QUOTE ] http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/StefanoBimbi/Copo%20Chevelles/1969BlackCOPOPidracing.jpg

Could it be???

[bkhpah]

Unless they restored it minus the top. And added the stripe. I doubt it..BKH

[Charley Lillard]

That's what I believed happened.

[Belair62]

That is what happened Brian...but I don't know if this is a photo from California...those wheels are too new.I doubt it.EDIT ..I see its in Pittsburgh...it looks Photoshopped...no side markers either...car went from Cal to New York to Illinois

[Stefano]

Pic is early 1970s. Same time frame as your old car was out East. How far is White Plains from PID?

[Belair62]

I dont think it was east in the early 70's. The original owner had it for a while and then went ot another Cal owner or 2 if I recall. Sure would be interesting if it was the car.

[bkhpah]

Here is the story of that car as relayed to me by Mark Kickel. The car was owned by John Kunsak and it ran SS/E and was driven by Fred Kress, and later ran Stock Eliminator. The car was originally Azure Turquoise/black top and he thinks the car was a Malibu from new. It was NOT a COPO according to Mark who was there and knows the car. The owner of the car is still driving today, but Fred has since died....BKH

[Stefano]

Ok, it didn't go East till 1991.

Still a cool Chevelle Shot http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[ZL1#17]

WOW, to write an article in a magazine that is misleading and false is really bad. You need to investigate all the facts before you write such an article. I personally think people like Rick Rothermel need to go back to school and maybe start in 3rd grade because it is obvious they don’t understand simple terms and facts regarding classic muscle cars.

According to Webster’s dictionary the word “clone” is to produce a copy or imitation of. Now we are taking about cars here not living cells, so don’t give me the definition that a cell, cell product, or organism that is genetically identical to the unit or individual from which it was derived. The word “original” in Webster’s gives the definition as created, undertaken, or presented for the first time. And, being something from which a copy, a translation, or the like is made.

Simple question: which word best describes the Hugger Orange Yenko Camaro built by Jim Barber, owner of Classic Auto Restoration Specialties, Clone or Original?

Lastly, I believe if we asked Robert B Parker regarding his quote: 'A thing is what it is... it's not something else'. Mr. Parker would agree upon seeing the facts that yes, the Camaro is a nice Yenko Clone not an original 1969 Yenko Camaro. One last question I have for Rick is, do you really believe that a good copy of something, because of the content, the intent, the talent required, and licenses granted, makes something original?

[Mr70]

Cool launch pic!

[Shankin]

Makes you wonder by looking at the pic just what year that was.

[x Baldwin Motion]

[ QUOTE ]
Makes you wonder by looking at the pic just what year that was.

[/ QUOTE ]

after checking the attire in the stands and having a flash back, I'll take a guess at 1971 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif(or 72)

[mc25t190]

This shop is 20 minutes from my house. The car was recently shown at a local show here in Greensboro. I am sorry to say that i would ONLY buy this car as a clone or nothing more than anyone else has done to replicate the originals, nothing more. I would rather have an original 69 body done to the quality standards that this car has been done to. When i say quality, i am only meaning looks, not correctness. The car looks nice, fresh, and new. I saw it up close and personal, it almost doesn't look real, something about the rear wheel wells. I don't see it being worth any more than a nice clone you would find on ebay. I think the cars are something like $129k, way too much for a clone.

[rick rothermel]

Golly Z! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
Such insulting tripe!
And after all we've been through together!
Seems you energeticly misinterpreted the tone of the article, if indeed you actually READ the thing!
First of all, Z, I didn't give my opinion of the car, or state an opinion as fact. I presesnted the claims and opinions of the creator of the car without editorial comment so that guys like you could form an opinion. My job, really, was to get the word out on the car.
Mission accomplished!
Did I requiire you to like it or want one?
Nope!
Did the article present the car as shown with an explanation of its intent?
Yep!
Has the car found an audience?
Yep!
Is that audience partly made up of people who want the tactile and emotional experience of having a kick-ass early Camaro, perhaps without having to contend with rude, presumptious, self-important guys like, well, you?
Absolutely!
Glad to have been a part of it! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif
Rick Rothermel