427 Yenko Camaro uncovered after 30 years!

[@Mike-t4n6g]

I built that car with help from my friends at the Chevy dealer I was working at as a teenager. My buddy Dan painted it. I sold it to the kid! 1982(ish) he was a 17hr old and his father had just passed away. It’s super cool to see that it lives on. Mike C

[@AutoArchaeology]

Hey Mike, drop me a line about the car. [e-mail]

[@bryancoyne9692]

That's very cool thxs for sharing 👍

[@stefanobimbi9466]

Very kool Camaro you built! Any chance you can stop by the show this weekend?

[@LITTLE1994]

Awesome story.

[@johnpopoff7950]

I was 17 in 1982. My how the years have passed.

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-2025]

Wow what a walking encyclopedia he is. Great find, great car great explanation

[@dannypalazzo1969]

I'm sure I have pictures of this car from my Duquoin days. I was there almost every year that's on that windshield. Some wild times for sure back then.

[@Funsho97]

Ooh, it's a killing machine, it's got everything, like a driving power, big fat tires and everything!!! I love it, I need it, I bleed it, yeah, it's a wild hurricane. Alright, hold tight, Im a highway star!!!

[@oceania2385]

All I can hear is the lyrics to Highway star Playing on the 8 track. What a great throwback

[@joellangeman2878]

Glad to hear someone that actually knows what they’re talking about

[@kennybaumann2117]

I enjoyed the video especially since I currently own an uber rare Camaro myself. In 1978 DKM (Mecham Racing) built a prototype Camaro that was featured in Hot Rod Sept.78 and was base on their highly successful Macho T/A platforms. The Macho Z was born and tauted as a true 13 second street car when Corvettes of the time were high 14 second cars. They were Camaros built with various levels of performance modifications as well as unique paint schemes and badges with the DKM insignia and production # on the front fender or sail panel. My car was the very 1st one built in 1979 and is so designated with the Macho Z29 as well as the number "1" on the front fender and rear spoiler. There were 100's of Macho T/A's built over the years but the number of Macho Z29s was thought to be under 20 and along with the only one built in 78 I have only been able to locate 5 other ones which makes them quite the gem for a Camaro collection.

[@AutoArchaeology]

Wow that's awesome! Congrats. They sold a handful of Macho T/A's out of the dealership just down the street from me.

[@midwestspeed7889]

I love unrestored original muscle cars, but most of all i love the stories that come with the cars!

[@enginebuilder7393]

Ron was a good friend, thank you for the video

[@Nomah1979]

This car got cleaned up real nice.. I saw it on a video at the Barn Find Nationals .. Its a Jack Douglas double Copo. The paint scheme on that car was done in 1980....The crazy thing about that paint job is when the Car was at Barn Find Nationals the guy who painted just happened to be there and he verified the paint and told them the story of how he worked at a Chevrolet Dealership at the time and how he did all the paintwork over one weekend in a home garage

[@rpturbo]

Thanks for posting this up! I have a few memories of this car. Since you posted your email i may also directly message you. I remember the owner telling me at the Street Machine Nationals the car was a original Yenko car. Lots of disbelivers at the time and some hate for the paint. I always thought the car was amazing!

[@1NinjaJesus]

Ron was a fantastic friend and I miss him.

[@AutoArchaeology]

Yes he was.

[@kurtbaumann2042]

Ron loved that car, that car always got attention. I hope The Highway Star goes to the right new owner. RIP Ron.. great friend....

[@AutoArchaeology]

The actual spoiler stayed with the family. The car has a new owner and is going to be restored.

[@patrickm.8425]

@@AutoArchaeology Well, that's pretty depressing. But I guess that's the freedom that comes with owning property, you can do whatever you want with it, everyone else be damned! lol

[@larsmanson9577]

I remember seeing that car at the street machine nationals back in the late 80's or early 90's.

[@AutoArchaeology]

Any pics?!

[@jcm78]

It’s got driving power, big fat tires and everything Love it, need it, bleed it Highway Star

[@MAC-ws8fz]

WTF?

[@danielplummer6385]

@@MAC-ws8fz It is a Deep Purple song Highway Star!

[@tomeighty]

Great video. It was awesome seeing this car at the show and getting to talk to you! Keep up the great work.

[@AutoArchaeology]

Thanks, you too!

[@Hobart1958]

Awesome video, Ryan! Learned a lot from Stephano here about the Jack Douglas cars too, which was very interesting. Ron would be proud!

[@AutoArchaeology]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JA-sm9zf]

Wow what an amazing Camaro. Great job documenting this special car.

[@AutoArchaeology]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@valricogarcia]

Very cool. I hope it gets preserved just the way it is. I was at the CC nats but a few years before this car was there (1984-85)

[@2000TA]

This is an awesome find, Ryan!!

[@AutoArchaeology]

Thank you!

[@BENCHSEATRACIN]

I had a green black vinyl top automatic Yenko body back around 81-82. Might be you or someone in your camp I talked to about it. I’m in Maryland. Whoever I spoke to tracked it down to the original owner and a few owners after me. He verified it was indeed a real yenko 69 Camaro. The big block and 12 bolt were gone when I got it. I traded a 72 SS Nova roller for the Camaro as a roller. One of the many I should have kept. He figured out mine was from Marshall Chevrolet in PA

[@AutoArchaeology]

Wow!

[@TheJagjr4450]

Ordered in Early March, there were a number of COPO's in the 302XXX 303XXX body numbers group which were built in late May. I found a X11 single COPO at a local cars and coffee which was a 05D build

[@danielplummer6385]

Do you know who Stefano Bimbi is? He is the owner of NicKey Performance in Loves Park, Il. formerly NicKey Chevrolet out of Chicago. I remember when I was a kid driving into Chicago and seeing the big Nickey sign sticking up above the expressway. The K is capitalized and it is actually a backwards K which you cannot type. I still remember their ads " I'll put any engine in any car". The NIcKey Chevrolet dealership was sold in the late 70s or early 80s but they kept the performance division and later on Stefano Bimbi purchased it. They are still going strong and up until the end of the Camaro they were still selling the NicKey Camaro through a couple dealerships. They offer stages1 thru 3 and were registered cars like Yenko and others. The have been involved in the drag racing scene since the early 60s. Two years ago I had them do performance work on my Gen5 and at that time it was a year wait for people to get their cars worked on.

[@nickeyperformance93]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@johnr5252]

A rare car like that and someone decided to trash it up like that. Amazing.

[@jamesdalton7191]

That is totally a 1980's show car in the flesh 😎🏁

[@nemesisxrox6773]

... 70's into the 80's

[@chrisarp4111]

This needs to be restored back to original as close as possible.

[@ceedell]

Great vid, saw it at MCACN was so cool to see it!

[@michaelcraig4710]

" highway star" was a song by deep purple in the early 70's.

[@AutoArchaeology]

I had no idea

[@patrickm.8425]

And about this very car too!! 😉

[@thud9797]

Best car song ever! 😎 kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3KudIVtoLaAirMsi=GPrrUezet-R_gTbG

[@mattskustomkreations]

I think it’s extra cool it’s named after a Deep Purple song 🤘

[@bobgasm1471]

Used to be an Olds nut around here that built a beautiful Vista Cruiser..he named it Fool for the City

[@AutoArchaeology]

Yup, I had no idea.

[@mattskustomkreations]

@@AutoArchaeology It’s a killer song. You are forced to accelerate when listening to it! 😆 One slight issue must be overlooked though….Since they’re Brits, 6 Cylinders was a lot to them. So in the lyrics he says “six cylinders all”, where 8 would be much more suitable # for American muscle cars.

[@nickeyperformance93]

Mike the prior owner named it.

[@drhoff585]

Finally got to see the video. Great stuff. It was great meeting you at MCACN. We talked about my barn find COPO.

[@AutoArchaeology]

Great talking with you as well! Can't wait to see your car out and about.

[@p3th3t1c]

A Yenko Street Freek is pretty sic tbh.. i had a 69 copo big block car back in early 2000's and i sold it for what i thought was big bucks back then.. now they are just stupid prices LOL

[@brentftaylor]

I saw a Yenko go through a Tulsa auction in 1974. They wanted $4500 and couldn’t get a buyer

[@gregorylyon1004]

I'm not surprised they wouldn't get a buyer for $4500 in 1974. That price is about what they sold for brand new. And with the oil embargo of 1972, these cars sunk in value big time. A lot of them got scraped out for junk in the late 1970s because nobody understood that they would be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars today

[@ProudPatriot60]

Check the water hoses. The water hoses are up high. The clear the valve cover then it's a big block if you're down low, it's a small block and if it's a Muncie it's a m22 or m21 it's not a m20 or m21 it's the m22 or m21

[@stefanobimbi9466]

What?

[@BrianMimbs]

Is it just me? Im not an expert but if you pause the video at 28.55sec looks like there is another vin on top of the vin. Awesome find love it!

[@nickeyperformance93]

That is the rear end code and no there is no other stamping present.

[@BrianMimbs]

@nickeyperformance93 cool beans.

[@markhellman-pn3hn]

some cars need a museum quality restoration - this ones it

[@AutoArchaeology]

That is exactly what it is going to get.

[@HiTechOilCo]

I owned a 1969 Yenko Camaro for many years. The 140 MPH speedometer with the car in this video is correct, but not the RS emblem on the grille or the hideaway headlights. There were no 1969 Yenko Camaro RS cars manufactured. Something is very odd with the car in this video.

[@AutoArchaeology]

Yes, it was customized

[@ericturlington68]

You did not watch the whole video. They addressed this.

[@bobsilver3983]

Now that is a cool car!

[@michaelgrossman5528]

I love these stories

[@tenthousanddays2103]

Wallowing in nostalgia.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

Have you heard of the Australian Bob Jane, who brought two big block Camaros out to Australia in 1970?. One was a 4-speed which he circuit raced successfully, and the other an Auto which he drag raced. I believe that they were both genuine ZL-1's.

[@AutoArchaeology]

Nope, never heard of him.

[@sethware1665]

Ryan, you should have this dude on all your videos. Super knowledgeable. Best video you’ve posted in a while

[@nickeyperformance93]

Thank you.

[@AutoArchaeology]

Wow, thanks!

[@ProudPatriot60]

Check the water hoses if they come out high. They're a big block water hoses for temperature inside the car comes out low. It's a small block

[@clank4001]

that thing is dope

[@jimferrill1790]

Is this car going to be at the MCACN show this weekend?

[@brettmerryman2837]

It is

[@jimferrill1790]

@@brettmerryman2837 Oh Heck Yeah!! See you tomorrow.

[@stefanobimbi9466]

Yes!

[@michaelgrossman5528]

Thank you brother for a great video

[@AutoArchaeology]

You bet!

[@jimferrill1790]

It would be perfect in the barn find section

[@bubbarub1839]

Different times, Relationships had meaning, the trust and respect was 100%… You could walk away from a Verbal Deal, and not question the outcome, the work always came out better than you could have Imagined. Today it’s called “Ganko”.

[@RonNorman-ie1nv]

I live right down the street from Hinsdale. Street racing back in the early eighties mid-70s it was everywhere

[@keithcollinscollins2190]

Killer great find

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

I wouldn’t change a dang thing on that car. Perfect example of a “day 2” Camaro

[@stude1953]

Did you see the Yenko paper collection that guy has on the Dennis Collins video? Outstanding!!

[@Bowtie_Garage]

Such a cool fiind. Subscribed!!

[@AutoArchaeology]

Thank you!

[@fivestar8337]

It amazes me that a car of this kind was owned this long and none of the family knows the details

[@jeffmiddleton2222]

I'm not. I've owned a 69 in pieces since 1987, purchased in 1983. My three kids grew up with this car around and it stayed at my brothers for a year and none of them know it or my vision for it. Both of my boys are gearheads but not into 1st gens Camaros the way I was at their age.

[@silverstar4289]

Awesome car

[@marcmohr4105]

Interesting video. Thanks for sharing it!

[@stude1953]

Do you know whatever happened to the original engine? And where it is today?

[@rogerchevelle8543]

Very cool car and a neat story

[@rockeroller]

An era correct hotrod muscle car in mint condition.

[@charleshaggard4341]

I worked for a small town Chevy dealership from 67-69 while in high school. I wish the dealership would have ordered some of these high performance Cameros back then but the town was too small to be able to sell them. Back then almost all towns of any size had Ford and Chevy dealers so most people bought local unlike today.

[@rob-u2l]

camaro

[@AutoArchaeology]

That's cool!

[@michaelgrossman5528]

The owner of the car was smart may he rest in piece

[@scottmihalsky3612]

I love it, keep as is this car has a very unique story.

[@Hilligan7114]

Very nice Vid Ryan,please post a link to the Highway Star doing a burnout in that parking lot if U find it.

[@AutoArchaeology]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKuuf5KphMuaq7c

[@leemurphy3960]

You said it had the correct cut out for a 4 speed. I have a 69 Firebird that has a 4 speed. According to the internet the 69 had a rough cut hole for the shifter not a clean hole. Is this correct? Mine was an OHC6 with Saginaw tranny. The numbers on the motor is for a manual transmission and the numbers on the transmission match the car.

[@jeffmiddleton2222]

I've heard that they torch cut the four speed shifter holes but I have my first manual trans Camaro here and it's not torch cut and has a reinforcement ring. I will add the top of the tunnel was added to this car as it has seam that are not factory.

[@leemurphy3960]

@@jeffmiddleton2222 the internet said the 67 and 68 had clean holes with a reinforcement ring around it and the 69 had a rough cut hole. Mine is all factory tunnel.

[@goratgo1970]

Not that it helps, but my '70 402 Chevelle has a rough cut shifter hole.

[@christiecrowe1373]

No it is not correct if it looks like a hatchet was used then that's what was used it was actually common back the because no on had Sawzall or torch and they were to thick for jigsaws or hammer an chisels.😂

[@mikemonteforte9726]

It's a nice Camaro I would leave it the way it is

[@rodgerweida2811]

Thanks!

[@AutoArchaeology]

You bet!

[@AutoArchaeology]

Thank you for the SuperChat!

[@red-doggracing5557]

Wheels have centerline caps so they look to be set of Centerline Wheels

[@nickeyperformance93]

They are indeed Center Lines.

[@1972novabill]

The wheels are Center Line Auto Drags

[@garygarner1095]

super cool vid but those are centerline wheels

[@michaelpung4121]

Great car! Thank you. Someday hopefully I'll learn to not read the idiot comments. Social media and similar platforms has ruined many things with all the "experts" out there throwing their comments around.

[@Issueforth]

But idiot comments are what make the audience feel better about what they've learned. Because there is always someone out there who needs enlightening. And this helps the learn-ed to shed light on those mental discrepancies and fill the gaps or iron out the false knowledge the others acquired, by providing real knowledge and links to genuine fact.

[@Longnlow.1991]

Did the car sell ?

[@RuralEmo311]

Bob Ross was the first owner.

[@tenthousanddays2103]

🤣🤣🤣

[@thomasmccartney]

I'd like to get a close up look at that body. Could be just the lighting but looks like it has a lot of bondo around the rear and with the other changes back there I'd guess it got rear ended at some point and not so expertly repaired. Could be a loss of control and fishtailed into a telephone pole? Excellent video though, took a lot of research to decipher all that.

[@Moonshinesgarage]

My Buddy messaged me. Said he knows who painted that car

[@nickeyperformance93]

We met him at the MCACN show, Kool Guy!

[@tomkelley8313]

You are great finder sir!!!

[@AutoArchaeology]

Thank you kindly

[@c1run1]

OMG Dream Machine

[@TheBigh1229]

Cragars? those are Centerlines

[@Sean-i4r]

Cragar made them first actually

[@MarkCorley71]

@@Sean-i4r Yep, I had a set in the 80's. But those do have Centerline center caps.

[@nickeyperformance93]

@@MarkCorley71 That is the reason I said Cragar "Style".

[@nemesisxrox6773]

@@Sean-i4r ... Wrong ... had many sets of each on my rides thru the by-gone era. Cragar made 'a copy' - the 'SST' of the Centerline Auto Drag ... but it was way cheaper due to being constructed as a 2-piece wheel of chromed steel/aluminum & they'd rust ... Centerlines were full aluminum 1-piece (with cast rivets instead of bolts) which were lighter in weight plus were available in many more sizes due to the more offset configurations offered. Centerlines were far better wheels all around thou twice or more the price you'd hafta shell out for that better product. Always paid 100bux or more each for a Ceneterline than the 60buk each tag of a Cragar. Stories the same for an Ansen over a Keystone, ET, Anerican Racing, and Appliance wheel - all were 2-piece (chromed steel with alum or magnesium) - meaning more weight and relevant rust issues in the long run ... Ansen (like Centerline) being of 1-piece aluminum construction that simply couldn't b beat in weight and longetivity scenarios. As far as appearance goes - why not go with the 2-piece ... justa quik wax n go for looks. That aluminum needed constant up-keep in the looks dept. ... meaning hours of tedious labor endured. Ohh ... those numerous memories (lol)

[@nickeyperformance93]

@@nemesisxrox6773 For the most part you are correct. However Cragar did introduce this solid face with exposed fasteners style of wheel first. They were a power house by the time Centerline even started as a company. They already had a National advertising program as well as National distribution. But for the purpose of identifying what this Camaro is, the wheels on it as it was locked away are not a piece of the puzzle. We have vintage pictures with SS Cragars as well as later in life with American Racing “Daisy” wheels.

[@123tanners]

Wheels look like period Centerlines.

[@FABRIC8TIONUNLIMITE1]

They are in fact ''Centerlines.''

[@stefanobimbi9466]

Yes, they are Center Lines

[@RobertCates-h9w]

Such an awesome car! Hope they just clean it, get it running! Such a strange place for hood pins! Wonder if if this car made the "SHOWCAR CIRCUIT", looks familiar, I live in Kansas City!

[@AutoArchaeology]

It did go to World of Wheels around Chicagoland area.

[@carrieterrykellogg9960]

Awesome cars. I work at a place that builds copo camaro. The newer camaro body styles. In michigan, Oxford. Company name is turn keys

[@AutoArchaeology]

I've heard of them! Cool place I hear.

[@LITTLE1994]

Save the classics!

[@SeanJoseph-s2s]

Neat car...thanks ....🔧🔧👍

[@coachtomsvolleyballchannel2286]

I noticed that it has the 7k tach with the 6k redline. I was under the impression that those tachs were used on the early 69 MY cars. Can anyone clarify this for me? Thanks!

[@drhoff585]

My 06A built COPO has the same tach

[@adamhoffman3687]

I hope its not restored just preserved and functional

[@philipbohlinger4150]

If he's wrong about the wheels from the beginning, what else is he wrong about? Those are not SST's.

[@jeffmiddleton2222]

I didn't catch that but did feel he was ignoring details that are general knowledge in the Camaro community. I felt he would have completely ignored that RS grill if Ryan didn't bring it up.

[@nickeyperformance93]

No they are not, they are Centerlines. I have a few sets on my cars here in the shop. I wasn't paying attention to the wheels as they have nothing to do with verifying the car for what it is. I said Cragar SST "Style". I didn't even pay attention to what tires are on the car as it just didn't matter for the purpose of what I was trying to accomplish. The correct as delivered wheels would have been 15"x 7" Rallys with YH codes.

[@michaelgrossman5528]

How much did the expert say it is worth?

[@pdlegend6829]

who was the guy I just saw that bought the list of all Yenkos made? I cant recall who I was watching. It may have been Dennis Collins most recent video

[@AutoArchaeology]

There are a few people with the full Yenko list, and it is online.

[@SteveTalbot-h6o]

Centerline rims.

[@davidconley3610]

I’d have to see some original paper work

[@cpayne9790]

I would too. too many alterations. I wanna see #'s and buildsheet. I love the car, but telling me its a Yenko, I want proof.

[@jeffmiddleton2222]

How did it end up on the registry? If I was paying Yenko money I would want a bit more documentation than just a listing on the internet but for a broke bystander I'm OK with calling it a Yenko.

[@gregorylyon1004]

​@@jeffmiddleton2222 General Motors kept all of the vin numbers of the cars that were ordered by Don Yenkos dealership

[@scoopervisorservices7374]

No vin on the Muncie?

[@AutoArchaeology]

We couldn't reach it with what we had.

[@PeterBrock427]

I just want one 427#...

[@nealm8709]

I thought Stefano knew what he was talking about until he called Centerlines Super Tricks.

[@nickeyperformance93]

I did say “style” , I wasn’t focused on the wheels or the tires or the mirrors or the radio, the brand of tunnel ram, etc……..that didn’t change what this Camaro is.

[@bubbarub1839]

Not just any Four Speed… Look at the Short Shifter?

[@floydwilliams3321]

Wow

[@MrWjblake]

how much does the replacement motor hurt the value? $10,000 more or less?

[@AutoArchaeology]

Probably about that.

[@CarlBrameloah-nm9oi]

The gawdy shit people did to those cars what a shame!

[@2000TA]

They do the same shit to the cars of today. It's a phase they go through, and they just want to personalize their car. They didn't know how much these would one day be worth.

[@jamesnotter4535]

A long story but very knowledgeable

[@AutoArchaeology]

Glad you think so!

[@michaelgrossman5528]

You failed to mention it was stripped to race

[@AutoArchaeology]

It wasn't stripped to race. Nothing was removed.

[@patrickm.8425]

OK, so it's an L78 which is a high powered 396, not a 427. The 427 was an L72 and could be ordered via a COPO in the '69 Chevelle's. So if it is a true 427 engine out of a '69 Chevelle, then it is an L72, not an L78. 😉

[@nickeyperformance93]

This Camaro was ordered new with COPO 9561 which is the iron block 427, code L72.

[@thekingsilverado3266]

I think its a good fake. The vin might and I say might tell the story. Most of the modified Yenko and Motion cars also had a roll cage set up and most did not have factory gauge clusters and or even a radio. Some that I have seen don't even have heater controls. The Yenko Nova I have has a full roll cage and stewart warner gauges and speedo no radio or heater controls all gone tubbed in Alum dash board. The 4pd trans has a Yenko modification tag on it with the clutch & pressure plate numbers they used. It also has Yenko valve covers and air cleaner. My Nova is one more rare its the 73 Hatch Back style. Also the Yenko and Motion cars usually have a heavily modified sub frame like my car has kind of home made sub frame connectors they put on it. The A frame arms are also something they spun off possibly custom made. I saw the same very thick A frame arms on both Yenko Camaros and Novas. I talked to Brian Franz a welder & long time contributor to Yenko products. He states the truth is most of those GM cars like the Novas & Vegas in Particular were never never made as a big block car. The Novas were all 6cyl or small block cars. The Vegas were all 4cyl cars. A few of the Vega wagons had a v6 package the 2.8L if I am correct don't know. Brian worked both sides of the fence from the summer of 67 thru 1979 for both Yenko and Motion up in NY is where I met Brian at the Motion dealer up there. I bought on line from Brian a 1970 Motion calendar. Didn't even know it was him selling on Flea Bay. The thought is in the back of my mind nobody would paint over a Yenko car. That is the first Yenko or Motion car I have ever seen to be disgraced like that. Most of the Yenko COPA cars had the fender stripes as does my Nova. Not Rally Sport Stripes. I mean I could be wrong but it would be the first time I have seen any Yenko car with a rally stripe package. Not sure about Motion.

[@AutoArchaeology]

You are incorrect on most of your info. And this has been fully verified as 100% legit.

[@thekingsilverado3266]

@@AutoArchaeology I have had them there 100% legit reports from Lawyers in Illinois and NC.. My Nova is Yenko unaltered to this day. Don't anything like that verified thing. I've never been scammed as hard as I am these days.. Someone else will but it just not me and not with the funky paint fake dash gauges... A Mona Lisa is a Mona Lisa & that there fake Camaro is a disaster. You should be embarrassed representing that as an original one of kind anything.

[@robertwagner8596]

@@thekingsilverado3266 where is your video?post it and let us check it out

[@timmiller260]

Nice story

[@dodge33445]

Why did they paint it? UGHHH

[@royessinger7289]

You should have seen the vans in that time frame, and I bet that was the time air brush was invented

[@dodge33445]

@@royessinger7289 Vans I can appreciate but not a COPO! lol

[@patrickm.8425]

If you watched the video you'd know why they painted it!! It's not hard, just push the play button!

[@thud9797]

It was the 70's, that's what they did! 😎

[@mikekozi-lester3887]

Hi Guys nice video 📹 and workmanship that car blongs to my Uncle For Yard Art 🎨 His Garage is the same color it's losing it's color !!! 😅😮😊❤