69 Yenko Camaro - Numbers Matching Engine

[TarheelRyan]

Does anyone have a rough idea how many of these cars still retain their original factory installed engines? Looking at auction sales over the past 5-10 years, it seems to me that maybe 10% - 20% still retain their original engines. I'm guessing the same holds true for the Yenko installed engines in the 67 and 68's? Sorry for all of my recent posts/questions...I appreciate everyone's feedback.

[Krateness]

I would say that few still retain them. I always look for them to mention it in any auction listing and will most of the time read “period correct” which to me means the original engine is long gone. Our car that we are currently restoring had is original block but the original transmission was blown up and discarded long ago. Luckily the engine wasn’t damaged in the process.

I looked the Orange 69 Yenko Camaro over at Mecum here in Indy over the weekend and it’s the first in a long time to state that it’s complete numbers matching drivetrain is still intact. With both our car and this car being an automatic, I’ve often wondered if the automatic cars are more likely to have their original engine when compared to the 4spds.

[Stefano]

The 4 speed / manual transmissions were usually the first casualty when pushed hard. The Iron block 427s are very robust until over-reved. So I would agree with your assumption that it is more likely for an automatic to survive with its original engine than a manual trans Yenko Camaro.

[DAVE H]

Hey guys, I'm wondering if any of these copos have ever been reunited with their born with engines that for whatever reason, they were separated from? What a cool story that would be!

[Stefano]

Yes, this has happened in the past.

[mprice]

I don't know what the percentage of them is with the original engines but I would say more then you think it would be. The orange automatic Camaro and the Chevelle from the Indy auction were both certainly original engine cars. The complete drivetrain in the Camaro was original when I bought it from Carl Dwiggens in the early to mid 80s and really the car shouldn't have even been restored it was that nice. The Chevelle has the original motor and rear but the trans got away from it before I bought it in Beaver Damn Ky from Charlie Menton in 1986 for 6,000 dollars. Those were the days.