"New Yenkos", what is your opinion

[sYc]

From time to time, the sYc is asked to endorse a Yenko related product, including cars. In the past, I have resisted, do to the fact that I am a purist, and there is no longer a Yenko Chevrolet.
But, as I reflect on the past and look towards the future, I can see where it might help in the promoting of the Yenko name/legacy, if done right. I have seen first hand what the re-releasing of the new Berger cars has done for the Berger name, including hi-po cars sold there in the past. A whole new generation is getting exposed to Berger and their cars, through coverage in most of the major car magazines. Berger cars, old and new, have never more popular. I have attended several events with these "new" cars and can safely say that the cars CAN coexist. I have had a chance to drive one of the new Berger cars and had a blast. If only it had Yenko on the side. Tom

[mnyenko]

What a great way to promote the new retro camaro when ever it becomes available.First generation tie to the next generation.Any interest from a large Yenko dealer like Colonial to do the next generation?One of the original selling dealers would be a good sponser.Earl

[Keith Tedford]

This whole Yenko idea might have been just the ticket to save the Camaro. Can you envision a factory built, Yenko striped car. Power it with the Corvette LS6 under a COPO deal. If the people in GM only had some imagination. Something as simple as the Smokey and The Bandit movie saved these cars in the 70s. All of a sudden every second person had to have a black T/A and next thing you knew the Z/28 was back. There is still time yet.

[MikeA]

Like your post indicated Yenko Chevrolet does not exist so how can a new Yenko car be produced? Just because a Yenko badge is placed on a car does not make it a Yenko (i.e. clone cars). I think someone else on the board indicated that any new Yenko produced must have a connection to the past as the new Berger cars do. At this point I do not know of the connection other than the name.

It is my opinion that if a person is against clone cars than I think it would be difficult to endorse any new Yenko produced.

[Charley Lillard]

Keith....Wake up.............. :-)

[Keith Tedford]

Sorry Charlie. The idea is just too simple to work. Terrific dream though.

[Edited by Keith Tedford (10-12-2001 at 06:09 PM).]

[JoeC]

Chevy did a 2000 ZL1 Camaro concept car that would be worthy of the Yenko stripes. How about a 2002 ZL1 COPO? They are making the block again but I don't think the GM lawyers would approve.
The 2000 ZL1 info......
"At the heart of a laundry list of updated ZL1 modifications is the powerplant: an 8.4-liter aluminum-block pushrod V8 making a foot-stomping 770 horsepower at 6900 rpm and a raucous 683 lb.-ft of torque at 5200 rpm. Transfer of power comes via a five-speed manual transmission and a three-disc hydraulic clutch setup.

On the numbers side, that potential is realized in a 0-60 mph time of just 2.7 seconds. The ZL1 runs the quarter-mile in 10.410 seconds (137.19 mph) and has a top speed in excess of 230 mph."

http://www.fast-autos.net/camarozl1pics.html

[Chevy454]

That's the car that ran against the late model Boss Mustang on Car & Driver, or Motor Trend, whatever show that was. Dad has had the luxury to see it a couple times this summer and said it's an awesome car, and sounds just as good as it looks.

[Edited by Chevy454 (10-13-2001 at 07:23 AM).]

[Charley Lillard]

And they didn't even use a Chevrolet block in it.......Go figure.......

[Chevy454]

Yeah, I know what you mean. They used a Donnivan(sp?) aluminum block. I don't think they had started remanning the "new" ZL-1s whenever they originally built the car, though. I think I read where that car was a prototype car, or a test mule or something, and they added the newer ('98+) front clip. Either way, that car is an abosolute BEAST!

[Edited by Chevy454 (10-13-2001 at 09:37 AM).]