[John Harding]

I think the reason this car did not bring more at auction are several reasons. Although I would never dispute or disrespect the fact that this is a beautiful car, a few things do make it differ from a true Yenko dealer car, first it is a cross breed, not a problem for a custom built car, but the true Yenkos were not in that classification. Although real Yenko's have been referred to as "conversions", which they really were not. Shelbys were not built at the actual factory, they were shipped to another factory to be made into Shelbys. While the drive line components were put in on the assembly line, all the external Shelby equipment was done at the final factory, or what is known as final assembly or final manufacturing location, still under Fords watchful eye on new vehicles. This is even referred to in the Ford Marti Report. The Firebird differs in this respect: It had already been final built at the Pontiac plant and sold through a pontiac dealer under warranty. The title then transfered to the new private owner. He then took a privately owned "used car" to yenko for the conversion, and when compleated it was returned to the owner, and no doubt voiding the Pontiac warranty, Yenko's cars were actually the final assembly or manufacturing point which was sanctioned and warrantied by Chevrolet. What makes it noteable is the fame of the Yenko dealer. If the same "used" firebird were taken to John Doe Chevrolet in anytown USA for the same work, thats want it would have amounted to, a service order for drivetrain changes of the owners request. What truly seperates the Yenko Dealer cars is that they began with a factory copo, (with exception of early cars), and the rest of the mechanical and cosmetic design changes were actually done by Yenko designers and engineers,and backed by Chevrolet. Dont get me wrong, it is a beautiful, exceptional example of a trans am, the only difference being the service work done at a gm dealership, Yenko, rather then the Pontiac dealer that sold it new. That being said, I believe the last bid too low and would pay that in a heartbeat.
John