The Complete History of YENKO Camaros!! | 1967-1969

[@drewpierce2273]

I thoroughly enjoy all your historical and proper identification videos you produce. Thanks!

[@HiTechOilCo]

@Backyard Barn Finds - I owned a 1969 Yenko Camaro for 20 years and did a lot of research on these cars. I know of the gentleman who now is in possession of all the record books for Yenko Chevrolet and he told me that there are only 199 1969 Yenko Camaro's listed in the record books. Of particular interest for the 1969 Yenko Camaro's is they all came right from Chevrolet with the L-72 427/450 horsepower engines installed right on the Chevrolet factory assembly lines. These were not dealer hotrod cars. They came right from Chevrolet with the heavy duty cooling, Z-28 suspension and heat treated axle shafts to avoid breakage from the brutal amount of power the L-72 427 could generate. Don Yenko offered to install Doug Thorley headers and aluminum mag wheels on these cars, but few were equipped that way. On early 1969 Yenko Camaro's, they did not have a tachometer from Chevrolet, so Don Yenko installed Stewart Warner tachometers in those cars. The, "sYc", stripe kit was optional and some 1969 Yenko Camaro's didn't have the stripe kit or headrest, "sYc", emblems. My Yenko Camaro had the stripe kit, but not the headrest emblems. The 1967-1968 Yenko Camaro's were just dealer hotrod cars, but the 1969 Yenko Camaro's came right from Chevrolet factory assembly lines with all the high performance goodies already installed. So in essence, these were bone stock cars from Chevrolet. Back in 1969, Super Stock magazine drag tested a 1969 Yenko Camaro and with a set of headers installed, along with racing slicks and a transmission shifter that was not shifting smoothly, the car posted an 11.96 sec.@114.50 mph 1/4 mile time. The driver said he could have gone faster, but the shifter linkage was holding the car back.

[@michaela.2933]

And Baldwin motion cars ran 11:50? By then lol ate Yenko cars for lunch

[@HiTechOilCo]

@@michaela.2933 - Baldwin Motion cars were highly modified dealer hotrod/race cars. Not mechanically stock, Chevrolet factory production line cars like the 1969 Yenko Camaro's were. You're comparing apples to oranges.

[@shimshonbendan8730]

@@michaela.2933 Comparing a Motion built car with one off the assembly line is your classic apples and oranges comparison. Joel Rosen would indulge you in any of your automotive fantasies. Don used the COPO process to deliver a bone stock car. No different than if you had ordered an L-78 Camaro

[@PhillipMoore-vj6cc]

When I was in High School, 2 of my friends got together a bought a new Yenco 1967 COPO Camaro with and all aluminum ZL1 engine. That car was fast a heck, but spent more time in another friend's backyard with groaning teenagers under the hood, than on the road. Seems that Chevy hadn't perfected that engine yet and it gave them all types of problems. Just from memory. The heads wouldn't seal tight, so the car went back to Yenco who installed head studs and faced the heads and block. NG. So back to Yenco, who replaced the aluminum heads with cast iron ones, still NG. So, the engine was replaced with a ZLX engine, under warranty. But, more headaches were to follow, so they sold the car for $4,000 dollars. (I wish I had 4 grand back then. I would have bought the car.) They bought a Volkswagen Hippy Bus, drove to Mexico, swam across the Reo Grande, and used a clothesline to fill the bus up with "weed". They sold weed for 12 buck an oz. Unfortunately they got busted by the Feds. One guy did 5 years in Leavenworth. The other guy got a suspended sentence. Sorry for going off topic a bit. However, those Yenco cars were legend, but IMHO, not much more.

[@OdinHammersmith]

This was very educational. Gonna have to watch this a few more times so the info can stick. You’re awesome Parker. 👍 🍻 🇨🇦

[@backyardbarnfinds]

Thanks Odin! 👍 🍻

[@zacariasblanco9738]

The muscle car wouldn't be what it is today without the "Build a Bear " concept when buying them new

[@michaelwpaulin4876]

Those were the good ole’ days of drag racing.

[@bobbycuesroadhouse2204]

Great stuff Parker!! I was lucky enough to have a friend with a 1969 Yenko Chevelle, it was a light green, 427 4spd, , he drove it to the track and raced it and drove home, It was around 1980 at national trail raceway, Ohio

[@HiTechOilCo]

Whatever happened with the car?

[@bobbycuesroadhouse2204]

@@HiTechOilCo not sure, I moved to Florida shortly after …..

[@gmain1977]

Great video , I love Yenko's

[@redlight3932]

Awesome video thank you for the hard work and dedication to automotive journalism

[@backyardbarnfinds]

Thank you for your support! 👍

[@mgcarr61camaro91]

Thanks for another very informative video! 🇨🇦🇺🇸

[@bighouse1695]

Great info Parker. I knew quite a bit of that info but not all of it. Thank you

[@darkmanzz]

that was an awesome video--I wanna spin back in time now ( with money)

[@backyardbarnfinds]

Thanks Steve! 👍

[@glucarelli]

The early horsepower wars were very exciting!! The current horsepower wars are awesome!!!

[@MrBluoct]

Can’t imagine those that took delivery back in the day and their post- break -in experiences on their communities and or track events …

[@phoenixblack1220]

Great information! Thank you so much!

[@carlosgarza1962]

Thanks Parker. I always look forward to your videos

[@backyardbarnfinds]

Thanks for your support!

[@Gunny426HemiPlymouth]

Awesome stuff. Idk why I forget just how into sports car racing he was.

[@erickort1987]

great stats n production numbers,nice research

[@jumpman40823]

Love your videos bro !

[@robertwagner8596]

another great show,keep up the good work

[@raymondcollyear4773]

Thanks for the information, sorry to hear his life came to an end to soon. I'd never heard of the 81s . Thank you again

[@BrandonHelfrick-f3g]

Great video keep em coming

[@jimthomas1989]

I got a 66 Chevelle Malibu , it came out with either a 283 or 327 and Auto Trans , I have in it now a 1971 small block 4 bolt main LT1 350 making 360hp from the factory , I added a Holley carb and headers with dual exhaust and it's 375hp now with 11 inch clutch and 4 speed trans , I'm no Don Yenko but I like doing the same thing as him , and this is where I get my inspiration from . Build it the way you want and enjoy it all you want !

[@haroldbirge6881]

🏆Great man 🏆RIP Don🍀 got R done 😎✌️

[@jorgesoto4847]

Mine is the 69 Z28 with the 302 sbc.

[@HiTechOilCo]

The 1969 Z-28 Camaro's only came with the 302. There as no other choice.

[@alexanderblackburn4520]

The yenko chevelle and yenko nova, are what i truly want.

[@HiTechOilCo]

*Yenko Chevlle and Yenko Nova. If you want an original of each, you'll need several hundred thousand dollars.

[@thejackofalltravels8267]

Great video I want a stinger clone

[@dennisdempseyradiooutofcontrol]

cool video history brother do a video on Berger Chevrolet and span inc that put these copo cars buyable anywhere👍👍

[@ellisonlowrimore7751]

I’m very lucky to own a 69 RS/SS 350 4-speed car.

[@cosmicHalArizona]

Yes you are

[@burneswhitehead3020]

Thank you for sharing this information

[@jimmynester1216]

I would like to know how rare are the 69 Camaros with no gills in the quarter panel because I don’t think I have ever seen one before watching this video!

[@ralphalter3621]

How do I find the build code for mid to late 1960s Cadillac

[@reddeerrebelrc6674]

Yenko Super Coupe

[@w41duvernay]

hoping you guys can do the Pontiac version of this article Myrtle Motors 428 Firebirds that ran 11s.

[@gmain1977]

Not heard of these

[@adammiller2246]

I was a fan of Motion Performance in Baldwin Long Island NY. When I was 14, I started hanging around the shop. I met Joel Rosen who was the owner of Motion. For some reason. he did not chase me out of the shop. The shop had only 3 bays until he had another one built. Originally it was a gas station. The building still exists at 598 Sunrise highway on the Baldwin line near the Baldwin rail station. The tenants painted the front of it blue if I remember correctly. When I was there it was yellow and blue lettering. It is still used by another auto service. They are into stereos, alarms, etc. As of my last visit they were not building cars. Joel was nice to me. He saw a wide eyed kid who loves fast cars. I would ask questions to the 2 techs who were building these cars and they would answer me. This one day that I remember, I was sweeping the floor in the shop and Joel asked me if I wanted a ride in a V8 Vega. He was going down to a deli he liked about 1 12 miles away. Of course I said yes. It was a red Vega GT, with a 450 hp 427 big block stuffed in it. He and I backed out of the small parking lot that he had and we were off! That car was evil! It scared the hell out of me! At a couple lights that we had to stop at, he broke the tires loose with no problem. What a fond memory . Bless you Joel I drive a Hennessy Corvette TPE 850 these days. I am still a wide eyed kid who likes fast cars. The vette I have is a Z06, which comes with 650 hp stock. With the magic of these guys, exhaust, cam, valve hardware, headers, programming, throttle body, and super charger now it is 846 hp. Some kids never grow up.

[@tomupchurch4911]

I worked at Chevy dealers for years. In '81 I worked on a '67 Camaro straight 6 manual on the column convertible. Weird.

[@tommynoonan3974]

excellent video! if you are not already considered an expert in muscle cars, or video production,,, Well you should be! if I'm not already subscribed, I will be doing so; right now. Great job!

[@backyardbarnfinds]

Thanks Tommy!

[@RT22-pb2pp]

I would love to know all this if I had 200 grand to buy one so not concerned about things that do not affect me or most car lovers. handful of collectors can afford a yenko and they already know anything this video talks about bet money on it. Not like I ever saw a yenko much less need this info LOL but thans anyway for reminding what to look for in a car I will never own or even see unless I see it from 25 ft at museum

[@howarddavis1307]

Great video don yenko did an interview for muscle car review back in the 1980,s he said he did not own any off the yenko cars that he built because he didn’t think that they would be worth anything in the future boy was he wrong also said that he had a hard time getting rid off the 396 short blocks out off the cars he was converting into 427 .it’s a great interview I still have that magazine.👍

[@HiTechOilCo]

The 396 engines Don Yenko removed from the 1967 and 1968 Camaro's were not shortblocks. They were complete engines.

[@sharp-1000]

Why when you show the race footage of the canam you always show the AMC javelin passing and ultimately winning that race? Let’s see the biography on the Javelin AMX that ran during that decade (I am old enough to remember watching that race on Wild world of sports . It eepic

[@Beecher_Dikov]

69 hands down

[@jeffrey4547]

i have a 67 ss rs 427 yenko they claim that only 256 was built i got it free on a clean up they had to get rid of all the not running cars and they had a lot to haul off so they could sell the place also got a 68 ss 396 and 1 79 z28 rs t top full option car and a 79 z28 hard top with a 79 4x4 short box with under 35,000 miles on it just needed a new fuel pump and carb cleaned with 15 pu's fords and chevys all 79 and older and rust free the 67 yenko was half restored with chrome in boxes

[@manbearpig2164]

Lucky guy

[@HiTechOilCo]

There is no such thing as a 1979 Z-28 Camaro RS. That option was not available in 1979.

[@jeffrey4547]

@@HiTechOilCo yes there was u can even find them on the net for sell just most have a sticker for gills but some had real gills u sound just like the guy said in 79 u could not get a 4x4 with a 400 but i have one parked in my drive way with original miles at 35000 miles on it with all the factory stickers and paper work on it and i have the build sheet on the 79 z28 rs t top it is a z28 with the rs interior package power windows and power locks wiper delay tilt wheel cruise control ,ac power trunk light in the trunk light under the hood rear widow louver full spoiler kit full gauges with tach interior trim package

[@h2oskiaddict]

Great video but you're pronouncing the name wrong. It's not yank co, it's yen co.

[@ericthompson3551]

Zee El Won.

[@wadeadams4263]

The back window on Camaros' always leak when it rains

[@HiTechOilCo]

I owned a 1969 Yenko Camaro for 20 years and the rear window never leaked.

[@vincentgonzales3312]

@@HiTechOilCosell it

[@HiTechOilCo]

​@@vincentgonzales3312 - I had to and it broke my heart. There are things in life that are worth more than money and this car is one example.

[@HiTechOilCo]

@@vincentgonzales3312 - Why sell a great car?

[@edinelsonramirez5656]

The photos of the cars don't match what you are talking about :( e.j. talking about a Z/28, but are showing a SS photos, etc.

[@michaelmumboloquercio8202]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@AngelGonzalez-wb2yh]

Some one. Now. Who. Is selling. One

[@eljefe3993]

I have #4 of 1968 Z28 but my son asked me for it so he could sell it if he chooses😢

[@HiTechOilCo]

Give it to me and I will keep it in pristine condition forever. What a shocking question from your own son!

[@johnsheetz6639]

He built some beasts. But I wouldn't call him Shelby of Chevrolet kind of holding the bar pretty high.

[@mycowboyways915]

Yenko cars are cool. I would rather have a Baldwin Motion 68 RS/SS 396 Camaro.

[@HiTechOilCo]

A 1969 Yenko Camaro was a bone stock, Chevrolet production line COPO car. Motion cars are dealder hotrod cars turned into race cars. Anyone can do that. Nothing special.

[@rickuyeda4818]

Only an idiots pays that kind of money for a car he won't drive or drag race. You can build your own at a fraction of the price and enjoy it.

[@HiTechOilCo]

The rich have destroyed what used to be the old car hobby. They buy and sell the old musclecars like stock investments on the stock exchange. They don't care about the cars or their heritage. They only worship their money-God. What a sad way to live.

[@boataxe4605]

I’ll take a Nikey Camaro,there’s even less of them.

[@HiTechOilCo]

They were dealer hotrod cars. But the 1969 Yenko Camaro's were right from the Chevrolet factory assembly lines.

[@sum12see]

They're junk...The never stood behind their builds....He had a good idea,but I would have bought a Baldwin Motion Chevy instead...They guaranteed their builds....Always.....COPO cars were ok but Yenko never impressed me...never...I've been in the car,airplane ,boat,yacht business for almost 40 years...Yenkos to me are junk!!

[@lenmaryan7943]

I would think he had the warranty on the crate engine? He convinced GM to build the COPO 427 Camaro and offer a warranty

[@lenmaryan7943]

I tried to get my dad to buy one of these, as he was wanting me to look at a 66 mustang convertible GT 289 rally pac car. I had no interest in it, I kept staring at the 69 Yenko Camaro for the same money 6500 To much car son, so I worked on him on another car Nate had 69 Hemi Roadrunner 4800 13,000 miles, engine was gone through for some reason. Ended up with nothing, and picked up a 67 Camaro RS the next year when I got my license. 1200

[@gmain1977]

Yenko's are cool one of my fav muscle cars

[@dukecraig2402]

Yea and if you had a couple they'd be the greatest thing in the world and worth their weight in gold.

[@HiTechOilCo]

"Yenko's to me are junk!!"

[@tumblelake63]

I love the Stingers too.

[@michaela.2933]

I don’t know why they make a big deal over Yenko cars but the truth is. Cars from Baldwin motion were much faster, better looking and ate Yenko cars for lunch. Motion cars were the fastest, best looking , best equips of any day 2 new Chevy based cars. They started in 66, before Yenko.

[@HiTechOilCo]

Because the 1969 Yenko Camaro's was a bone stock, Chevrolet production like COPO cars. The Motion cars were hot rodded *race cars*. That's a huge difference.

[@gordocarbo]

Ive only seen 1 legit Yenko, 1 Nickey and 1 Motion Camaro (1970) in my life This was in the early 80s, original and unrestored. Shame the rich have driven prices out of working mans realm anymore. If I could afford one no way Id pay 40, 50, 200k for any car on the planet. This started happening back in the late 80s. Wonder if todays muscle cars will have a market in 30 yrs when young owners get of age. Or if we are going to be riding nuclear powered shoes. lol

[@HiTechOilCo]

Yes, the rich have destroyed what used to be the old car *hobby* and now turned it into a cutthroat business. To them, it's all about the money. They don't care about the heritage of these cars, or actually driving them. All they care about is the money God they worship. The situation has gotten so bad that now any car at all that's over 20 years old is somehow a, "rare classic". For ha-ha's, I searched the Internet for Ford Pinto's for sale. That car was a rolling pile of junk and had a defective design where if the car was read-ended, it could burst into flames from a punctured gas tank and kill the occupants. I found several Ford Pinto's for sale, the least expensive of which was $7,500 with body rust, a cracked dashboard pad and peeling pant! The others I saw were $10,000+! Absolutely nuts!