Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69hurstSC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Where had Chris noted that he thought it was stolen? Let's not put words into someones post. I had noted that it was stolen, though I'm just a casual observer making an assessment on the information posted so far.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: paceme</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Initially in the thread you stated lost and now it morphed to a stolen </div></div> </div></div>


Actually Wes you stated it was stolen property in several of your posts. So in fact that was really your interpretation of Chris's posts which was mine as well. See your post below:

69hurstSC Online
Glad you have the documentation between the Army and your mom. Stolen property is stolen property, whether it's a Picaso a Yenko Chevelle or a baseball glove. Someone took it upon themselves to take advantage of your mom who was no longer located in CO with your father. I feel bad for anyone who may have owned or purchased the car w/o knowing it's history, but the car was never rightfully theirs.

Chris did state many times his mother never relinquished ownership because she never signed any documents and as such has claim to legal ownership and tried to report it stolen.

In the end I only hope everyone involved get what is rightfully theirs.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69hurstSC</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
You also state you have not initiated any legal proceedings yet in earlier posts you stated you tried to apply for duplicate title and you once tried to report it stolen. Those look legal to me.
No hard feelings. </div></div>

A 9 year old kid picking up the phone and calling or pretending to call law enforcement is reporting it stolen? Come on Charley, you're better than that. </div></div>

He said he started looking for the car when he was 9. He did not say he reported it stolen when he was 9.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Man, this thread <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">almost</span></span></span> makes me hope I don't find my uncle's COPO..................this scenario is exactly what I hope NOT to encounter! I just hope everything works out fairly for everyone.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Just an anecdote on Colorado law back in the day. In 1980 when I was going to diesel school in Denver I lived in a rented house in a suburb outside of Denver. We had some crabby neighbors who were always calling the police on us for no reason. Too many cars in the driveway...oil drips on the street, too many pretty ladies visiting the house, etc.

Anyway, the &quot;Crabbies&quot; eventually moved out and when they did they left their 1972 Chevy Vega parked in front of our house (*among other items left behind). It sat there for three months gathering parking tickets. No one ever came to get it. So I called the police and they said to go to the DMV and apply for an abandoned vehicle title and then do whatever I wanted with it. I did just that. All I had to show was the police report, reporting it as abandoned and they issued a title and registration for around $25. I eventually traded the car in to a used car dealer who had a connection to a wrecking yard. At the wrecking yard was a rusty 1971 383 Cuda convertible that had been abandoned at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver! I got the Cuda with a bill of sale, and applied for title and got it.

* as for the other items? One of which was a six-foot tall pot plant that the police noticed on the Crabby family's screened-in back porch. They promptly seized it and took it away in the trunk of their patrol car, smiling as they drove away.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

I know the past few pages of this thread have taken a turn for the more abrasive and posturing. I need to apologize for perpetuating that if it came off that way.
It is a very delicate situation when you start questioning the history of any automobile because no one wants to be painted in a different light or cast any shadow over ownership.
If you start reading this thread from the beginning you will see that it has evolved from simple speculation to hard pressed facts. I believe Charley is representing the current owner in a positive and respectable light. It is from my understanding that the cars purchase was a completely valid and legal given the information at hand, and I'm positive they want the true history to be brought to light so that this can be resolved as soon as possible.
As far as I know, the car was never abandoned. My mother never received any information regarding the claim of abandonment. Mind you, she was never in Colorado at the time of my father, and has not been since. I am trying to remain objective and open-minded regarding all possibilities regarding the time from from 1978 to 84 when the car was purchased by Mr. Funk. It is unfortunate that his passing leaves a hole in the history of this car which I'm sure he would willingly divulge and put this thing to rest.
Once again, I need to thank Charley and the current owner for coming forward and contributing to this thread. I know it was their prerogative to remain silent and are only trying to keep the reputation of this car pristine with their comments and rebuttals.
I believe the truth is out there in some DMV microfiche or title history and will soon come to light.
Have a great day to all of you who have been reading and commenting. I believe the comments...either in support or critique or criticism is valid on each account. It what separates the wheat from the chaff and makes a truly epic story and journey.
Thank you
Chris Workman

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

If it was stolen in the 1970's, then the current owner is in possession of stolen property, no matter if he has a title in his name or not. It happened to me... I bought two vehicles in good faith that turned out to be stolen years before. I lost the vehicles and all the $$ I had into them when the cops came knocking on my door...

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

There is no stolen vehicle report. End of law enforcement story. Somebody on the base in Colorado - perhaps in cooperation/cahoots with some of Mr. Workman's extended family or perhaps completely separate - pulled a fast one in 1976. Good luck finding documentation for that; it doesn't exist! From what I have read of this thread the car is not even on the military's list of Mr. Workman's effects upon his death, making it doubly hard to prove anything.

If the Colorado re-titling process was as &quot;loose&quot; as njsteve suggests in his examples, I think Chris is going to have to be happy knowing the car is safe and in good care cuz that's all he's going to get.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

The title that Funk turned in when he bought it was title # 04P094649. No idea if it was Colorado or Michigan.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Unfortunately they did not put the title number on the registration I have from 1975/76. Im sure we will find out soon enough where the information Mr.Funk had came from. Regardless, Thank you to Charley for posting the information.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Did you find out who was in charge of his estate at the time of death? someone had to remove his belongings from the house. Did you find out if the house was on or off the base? were you able to get any military records. It's good to see the facts are floating to the top. This is the most open discussion i have seen on here with regards to posting informative and critical information that most people keep private. chris, i have known charley for years and would trust him. I believe he has no skin in the game, other than wanting to help you. He is the coolest car guy i have ever met.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Is this the first time that the current owner will be attempting to track the history of this Yenko Chevelle?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">At this point I think the owner will probably spend his own money to find out what happened but it looks like it will be done without your involvement. He is a private person and prefers to keep it that way.

No hard feelings. </div></div>

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

It would seem that the current owner, and all of the past owner history is very clear, at least back for 25+ years not to mention original owner input. Also from what I read here, it would seem the current owner with Charlies help, are more than willing to also get to the bottom if this mystery. If I had that offer I would put my cards on the table and finish this once and for all. It would seem you have the most to gain here. I see no real reason for the current owner to even try and help you out here, yet the offer was made. The current owner, to the best of my knowledge owns, the car with proper documentation and a clear and free title in hand...BKH

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Asking for information from Chris and not divulging information from the current owner is more than enough reason for him not to take the offer. Chris has provided free photo's and history which will only add value to this Yenko Chevelle. For people to be chastising him for not &quot;taking the deal&quot; is asinine.If the current owner would provide even half as much information as opposed to what Chris has disclosed in relation to his father's ownership history than it would be a fair offer.

Instead all assertions seem to indicate that the current owner is circling the wagons. If the current owner is so confident in their ownership records than why the statement about the ownership history being attempted &quot;without your involvement&quot;? And I find it mindbogglingly strange that &quot;private&quot; owner of a 69 Yenko Chevelle is only now looking fully into the ownership history of such a prominent car. It's rather easy to assimilate that the reason this Chevelle has flown under the radar is because it has a dark history.

I've never met Chris, but as a younger man (like myself) in the collector car hobby, it can be a daunting task trying to communicate and converse with people who own elite american muscle cars. I've found that these people often don't have time for us younger collectors and enthusiasts. Chris should be commended for how he's handled this to date. He's brand new here and in every post he seems to be apologizing. No wonder there's so few of us 40 and under guys in the hobby. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif[/img]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bkhpah</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> It would seem that the current owner, and all of the past owner history is very clear, at least back for 25+ years not to mention original owner input. Also from what I read here, it would seem the current owner with Charlies help, are more than willing to also get to the bottom if this mystery. If I had that offer I would put my cards on the table and finish this once and for all. It would seem you have the most to gain here. I see no real reason for the current owner to even try and help you out here, yet the offer was made. The current owner, to the best of my knowledge owns, the car with proper documentation and a clear and free title in hand...BKH </div></div>

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69hurstSC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is this the first time that the current owner will be attempting to track the history of this Yenko Chevelle?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">At this point I think the owner will probably spend his own money to find out what happened but it looks like it will be done without your involvement. He is a private person and prefers to keep it that way.

No hard feelings. </div></div> </div></div>
The current owner has done no owner searches because he already had it back quite a ways.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

This is a very interesting thread and I check in often to see any developments. They say opinions are like.......well, you all know what they say. I'm not gonna comment one way or the other on the main topic here, but one of the latest posts did warrant a reply:
I'm 56, and have yet to meet a collector car owner (and I've met shieks at Pebble Beach--really) who wasn't eager to speak about their car with a fellow hobbyist, regardless of age. I have been around these cars all of my life (so far) and I &quot;encourage&quot; conversations about our cars. Even the wealthiest (some of the members here) owners, I have found very approachable. Maybe it was my upbringing from my dear dad (gone 10 years now), or my own desire to stir interest in &quot;newbies&quot;, but &quot;talking cars&quot; with anyone has always been easy and fun for me.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.......

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Flying under the radar? Really, This car has been FEATURED in at least three musclecar magazines over the years, and has been at many public events. There is a folder of information about the car in the current owners hands. This doesn't sound to me like &quot;dark history&quot;. If the current owner is willing to get to the bottom of this, and has offered to, why is that asinine? I really doubt that claiming a Yenko Chevelle was in some way taken from someone would add any value...BKH

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Very interesting thread... I want to commend all for thier politeness. (sometimes not the norm here)....

I will add to NJSteve's anecdote by saying that way back when I first started dealing with the old cars, I became friends with the employees at the local auto tag agency. To get a duplicate title to an abandoned car or a car w/ a lost title was no big deal. Then to get it changed over in your name was the same...Everything was very simple... The old titles back then even had the space to write your name as buyer and a few other names also...and then just flip the car to another person without ever going thru the state...I still have a few titles like that...

I guess the loss of tax revenue curtailed that... I am from Pa...

I'm not saying the car in this thread was ever actually 'abandoned'...just saying that it would have been easy for someone else to title the car back in the day.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

I would add to the above addition with this: When I traded that old Vega to the car lot and went and picked up that rusty old Cuda from the wrecking yard, the Cuda still had all the ID and personal paperwork of the Air Force employee (didn't show whether he worked there or was a serviceman) but it had all sorts of his personal paperwork still in the glove box. The guy was from Rochester, NY. The dilapidated car had been towed away from the base after being left there for an extended period of time. Since it was a 12 year-old, rusted out, used car with 120,000 miles on it, no fabric on the convertible top frame and no real quarter panels left, it was just a disposable car left behind by someone for someone else to get rid of.

That could have been what initially happened to the Chevelle - someone on the base with no connection to the car, or knowledge of the tragedy that befell the owner, had it towed away by a yard and a subsequent buyer then put it back on the road and retitled it as a formerly abandoned vehicle.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

No disrespect intended to anyone who's posted but the parties personally involved seem most reasonable which is not often the norm, especially around here!
Great car and story but it may be best to get together privately before furthering of this thread somehow changes a situation involving good people that can still be approached amicably?
Best of luck to everyone!
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Steve,
I think the base should have known whos car it was since it had to be registered with some sort of sticker to allow him to drive it on base. All they had to do was check the number on the sticker with their records, then contact the next of kin.

Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

I never noted that it having been taken from the family would add value. I noted that the pictures and history Chris is providing will add value. Full documented history always adds value to an automobile, this isn't rocket science.

Than how come this is the 1st adventure into documenting the history of this Chevelle by the current owner? And please, feel free to post the FEATURED articles. We'd love to read them and see how much information was disclosed. I'm thoroughly perplexed to read that a car that's been featured in 3 muscle car magazines has never been traced for ownership history. I'm not accusing the owner of hiding anything, but in this hobby and with this prominent of a car, usually the first thing we hobbyists do is try and track owner lineage.

Whether Law Enforcement becomes involved or not, the key to what happened to this car is in the paperwork exchange between the military and Chris's mom, and I think that's whats getting lost in this discussion. From what I've read here this car wasn't just left behind on the side of the road or in a junkyard.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bkhpah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Flying under the radar? Really, This car has been FEATURED in at least three musclecar magazines over the years, and has been at many public events. There is a folder of information about the car in the current owners hands. This doesn't sound to me like &quot;dark history&quot;. If the current owner is willing to get to the bottom of this, and has offered to, why is that asinine? I really doubt that claiming a Yenko Chevelle was in some way taken from someone would add any value...BKH </div></div>

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

First off I want to say thank you for people offering their insight and opinions on this story. One thing I do have to say is that, myself included, have to aware and recognize that none of us know exactly what happened from 75-84. We can speculate and postulate all we want but the truth is in the documentation that the State of Colorado has and the Military. I have a records request into both and I'm sure the current owner does too. I want this &quot;mystery&quot; resolved just as much as he does and do not see him/them as a opponent or bad guy. This is what you guys do...buy and restore cars...but more so, you love them.
When I started this journey everything was a complete mystery about the car. To me it was a plethora of things...lost...stolen...missing. Now I know that it has matured in to a linear and logical path that dispels my first assumptions. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES do I believe there has been any wrong doing to shady dealings by the current owner and any assumptions by anyone should be labeled as false. I am interested in the comment Charley made about the person in Kentucky that he stated wasn't &quot;a gentlemen&quot;. As I do not know the name of this person, I will leave it up to Charley if he wants to elaborate, but once again, that's his prerogative and I respect his decision if he chooses not to reply.
As we all know this process can take time, at least for me in Michigan and the United States Postal Service. I'm sure many of you are privy to quicker ways of finding out information, but I have to rely on sail mail, phone calls, and internet research for now. When the documentation starts showing up then we can finally come to a conclusion.
Thank you all...I appreciate everyone's opinion...
Chris

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Sent you a pm. Last time I dealt with the guy in Ky is when he knowingly sold me a fake big block Pace car. Just another POS.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Thank you, much respect.

Regards,
Chris Workman

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Chris, I realize you are wary - but I'd take the offer from Charley and the current owner.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

I've read every post here and I agree.
This is an opportunity in time you're going to wish you could come back to in the future,if you don't Chris.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

My 2 cents.

Your decision is yours to make.

I have recently found this group of experts and novices alike, some have been around and around these types of situations many times. Some of them have collections of cars with high values; some can barely pay for internet to share our thoughts. From what I have seen and heard here I would have a web meeting E-Face to E-Face with Charley and plan how you want this to play out from there. A meeting face to face has 100% more validity than any amount of E-typed communication. We are humans we are meant to decide from normal human interactions who are on our side, shake hands and trust one another.

Go with your gut feeling, it is right, not any of us.

Ryan

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Were some of these Yenko Chevelle's available w/o the headrest lettering when new?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CJASON</div><div class="ubbcode-body">https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...076-img002.jpg
</div></div>

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Yes, When i talked to Clarence he said that his never had the headrest stickers and had rally wheels.
My dads cousin Andrew also said that the Yenko didnt have any markings on the headrest.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

I don't think the headrest decals stuck too well, and/or the installers were not real particular about making sure every detail was in place before shipping the cars to their destination or to the buyer.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

That rampant use of Brylcreem back then probably didn't help either.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

For those of you who haven't figured it out yet this Chevelle was the May 2005 Supercar Feature on this site where the then owner wrote up a long paragraph about the car. He bought the car out of KY and then a few years later through the prior owner was able to buy the original engine back which was still in CO. He also mentions talking to the original owner and getting documentation from him. I know this car was featured in the February 1991 issue of Super Chevy soon after it was restored. It's been a well known car for over 20 years.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Was this the Gates Yenko that was cruisin down the Indiana country road at three digit speeds late one night......only to be &quot;passed &quot; by a Yenko Camaro headed to Gates? Great story from the first owner of a Yenko at MCACN a few years back. Could have swore it was this Chevelle??

BIG

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Hi, Yes this is the car. I cant believe we are talking about that again on here, you remembered it close but but I was working in Southbend Ind and would go home to Ipls for the weekend.,back then it was a two lane road most of the way,, This week end I was really in a hurry to get home so I was driving way too fast , I would always be watching the mirror for police ,, I keep seeing this car gaining on me I couldn't believe some one was going faster than I was , so I keep watching finally I could tell it was another Chevelle, as it got closer I could see it was an older grey hair guy driving a yenko he passed me on a straight stretch so I just stayed up with him ,several stretches over 100 mph, to indy. he went to Nankivell Chevrolet which was the Yenko dealer. I talked with him for a bit ,,he said he was doing a dealer transfer. it think it was a dark green chevelle not too sure any more . If anyone has the car ,I have some nos dealer stuff from Nankivell Chevrolet I would share with the current owner.
I think some of the paper work I shared with a previous owner, was serviced at Nankivell Chevrolet . a dropped valve or something they said ,, no warranty on that said I abused the car,,
clarence

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

I have a Yenko Deuce from Nankivell and would genuinely appreciate an opportunity to buy anything related to Nankivell. I've been to the dealership, now Hubler, and to the other Nankivell dealership - I forget the town. I kept in touch with the Nankivell family for quite some time, but have not spoken to them for several years. So, anything Nankivell related - I'm in!!

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Thanks, I knew I wasn't going nuts! I heard so many good Yenko stories that weekend my mind was at full capacity. Guess I remembered the main point.... It takes a Yenko to pass a Yenko!


Good to hear from you again, I enjoied talking at MCACN.


BIG

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Great story. I am tuned in!

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

All restoration shot's I've seen of the car have the headrest decals. It looks like whomever restored the car went for personal touches and not &quot;as delivered&quot; authenticity. Still, one badass Yenko Chevelle!

http://i59.tinypic.com/svmo8i.jpg

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cworkman2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes, When i talked to Clarence he said that his never had the headrest stickers and had rally wheels.
My dads cousin Andrew also said that the Yenko didnt have any markings on the headrest.
</div></div>

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Agreed, the person who did the restoration did an excellent job and was very committed to really capturing it in their own personal way. It seems this car has that affect on people. Hope everyone is having a great day!

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Here it is in all it's glory pre resto. My guess is at one time someone put a glass front clip on it. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...1-3930_001.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...2-3931_001.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...3-3932_001.jpg