The Supercar Registry - Bresee Chevrolet

Maybe I can save you all sometime. Back in the late seventies I worked for Bresee Chevy as a poop boy, prepping new cars while going to college. I remember asking allot of question to my buddies in the parts department about the Yenko cars that were sold their. By this time some remembered a few details but many had either forgotten or moved on. But anyways I chatted with Jeff Crouse, the president of Bresee not too long ago and quizzed him on the Yenko cars again that came into Bresee back in 69, 70 time frame attempting to jar his memory. The obvious question of;Is their any documentation or pictures anywhere remaining was asked,The answer was NO. It's a rather lengthy story but back in the late '60s there was a mechanic who I was told that actually got these Yenko cars to Bresee. The owners weren't that enthusiastic about it. The racer whom I have talked with was running a 69 Camaro around Syracuse as well into the PA. area. That's where he came across the guys who owned a SYC and had the info on obtaining them from or through the SPAN program. Upon arrival back to Bresee he the racer talked to the sales manager and owner and with the ok from Bill Dunn, Jeff uncle and owner during that period Bresee was on the band wagon. The first Bresee Yenko car was said to have been sold to an area doctor, the remaining came in quickly and where gone faster yet, mainly to boys with bucks I was told. The Yenkos at Bresee were a novelty, much like todays anniversary cars that come once in a while. Jeff said he recalls driving the cars around the dealership but as far as specifics he had very little. At about the same time as these cars were coming in, Jeff was being called to duty in the Army,Vietnam era. The Yenko thing was not looked at as a big marketing tool but rather filled the needs of a few hard core racers that competed with the Ford boy in Syracuse. Jeff said that he has had people stop by to ask about these cars but like I said he can't offer much. As for Bill Dunn he still stops by the dealership nearly everyday. He is old now and asking a question like this to him is a mute point I was told. But on a bright note I work only 5 minutes from the place and stop into the parts department nearly every week to buy Camaro parts for my projects and to shoot the bull a bit with some old buddies. I have contacted the original mechanic that worked to get these cars into Bresee. I will be seeing him soon. He resided in the south and still owns an original COPO car that he bought new from Bresee in 69. I'm hoping that he will have what I'm looking for.. If and when I get more info I will update this thread. Those wanting numbers as in what came through Bresee can jump to the COPO site and see what was sold at Bresee. But further information suggests that the Yenko numbers are on the low side as far as how many they got from Don. As with most dealerships time has erased the past. As with many throughout the US, The original dealerships that during the time of experimentation with Supercars are either gone or on the brink of being taken over by the car mall attitude. But I will say this; as a kid growing up in the area, I can still hear the squealing of tires as the happy racers and car nuts loaded up their trunks with item that we would kill for today. I will update you when I chat with a few long lost racers from the Bresee area.

Wacky