1973 "427" Yenko Camaro
 

Have known about this car for over 20 years, a couple of weeks ago the original owner and his lovely wife were kind enough to allow the Clary family to become the new owners of this most unique and one of a kind car.

Very cool Tom I can’t wait to look at this car in Chicago and hear the entire story it went to a great home for sure

Wow!!!! That is awesome....

congrats on the find
is the car a 4 speed or auto?

the body modifications look like what was used on the IMSA and IROC Camaros in 1973 and into the later 1970's


Don was listed as a co driver on this IMSA Camaro

Very Kool find.

This car, with all of its original paperwork, was purchased from the original owner October 11, 2019. The original owner purchased the car through Jay Kline Chevrolet Co. Minneapolis, MN on 8-9-1973, as a new car, complete with warranty book, owner’s manual, and Yenko Tech manual. The original invoice from Jay Kline showed the "Yenko 427 conversion" costing $2500.00 with a total price of $7832.32. Starting with a new 1973 Camaro Coupe in Dark Green, with Rally Sport and Z28 options, the car was then highly modified, including a 427/450 solid lifer engine with aluminum heads, air cleaner with special seal that mates to hood with ram-air ducts in openings behind grille, Yenko Super GT Hydro 400 HD transmission with remote cooler, shift kit and 727 pickup tube and filter, Chevrolet heavy duty 12 bolt positraction rear end with 3:73 gears and C-clip eliminators, steel hood with fiberglass cowl induction added, one piece steel front end, Trans Am type front fender air extractors, front and rear fender flares, front and rear spoilers, extended trunk and modified rear jump seat, 150 speedo, cable driven tach, aluminum wheels with B.F. Goodrich 60 series tires and 427 emblems front and rear Special Yenko badging included; gold tone Yenko emblems on tail panel, glove box, and tach, Don Yenko Sportscar ID plate on the left door front pillar post, emissions decal on core support, Don Yenko Sposrtscars decal on air cleaner lid, decal on core support warning regarding aluminum heads, decals on door stating prototype does not meet Federal emissions or safety standards, special jacking instructions under trunk lid because of modified front end. As equipped the prototype went 0-60 in under 5 seconds and had ¼ mile times in the low 13s.

very cool. So its coming to MCACN? Can't wait!

Very nice Congrats!! Boy these Yenko cars are "coming out of the woodwork" lately and going to great homes!!

Rich

Cool, another Jay Kline Minnesota Yenko!!

Tom, didnt you have a Yenko Chevelle out of Grossman Chevrolet in Mpls??

You are becoming the Minnesota Yenko guy!!

Wow,..Congrats ,...great car, what a story

I remember you having that ad in your "big book of info" and looking at it way back in the early 2000's. Remember speculating on whether it was a build, or mule. Lots of similarities to the Motion modified cars from that time. Outstanding that it exists, and found a home with folks who will share it, and the info with it.

Very cool!

What a great find! Thanks for posting. Looking forward to more information and pictures.

Chicago will have an invasion of Yenkos in 2 weeks

The paperwork, tag and decals.

The Tech manual is really cool, as page two talks bout the build and performance of the prototype (this car) and then goes into detail about the modification of each component, such why a 427 instead of 454, the use of BFG tires, modification of trans, reaerend, front end, back seat, dash, etc. The most unique feature may be the special "gold tone" Yenko emblems.

I believe Yenko did a similar manual for the Stinger Corvair.

It was mentioned the similarities between this car and Motion built cars, it appears Don took a page out of Joel's book, not only the unusual build of the car, but also the idea of building a limited number to get around Federal mandates, And while most of Yenko's other builds were geared more towards road racing, Don's cup of tea, this car was definitely intended for straight line performance.

That is just awesome!!! Congrats on the find

A couple pics of interior, modified dash, cut down rear seat with removal of package tray (outlined in tech manual).

Also gold tone emblem and larger crest, anyone ever seen anything similar? Tech manual mentions special gold tone crests on tail panel and glove box. The one on glove box is really faded and smaller in size. A similar one on cable driven tach in dash.

Cool find - congratulations

Awesome find! Can you share what it says about why they did a 427 conversion and not a 454?

Here you go, I did the high lighting.

Regarding the prototype.

Wow
 

So was the car ever registered for the street curious after seeing all the stickers indicating may not meet emissions off road use only?

Yes, driven on the street since 1973, Was currently licensed in Minnesota when we bought it. I have the original title.

Here is the Minnesota plate he ran.

Thanks Tom, killer Camaro.

That is a cool plate!!

I have had the chance to look over the car and paperwork. Overwhelming amount of documentation. No doubt this it the real deal and very cool!
Jamie

What is that Protect-O-Plate? Car is a TypeLT Z28.

looks like the vin has the "S" for type LT and the "T" for Z/28

did the car have Z/28 stripes on it or was it ordered stripe delete?
stripe delete should show on the trim tag


the rear seat looks something like the jump seat Yenko sold for the C2 Corvettes where you can access the area behind the seat.

Does it fold down like the Corvette jump seat?

Yenko still listed the jump seat in the 1970 Stinger Stuff catalog


Someone posted about 10 years ago that the guy who made these seats was about 70 years old and was still working in Bridgeville Pa. He did some of the interior projects for Yenko in the 60's and 70's


I have not seen or heard of the Yenko jump seat in a Camaro before

TypeLT Z28s never received stripes and the cowl tag will just be blank where the stripe color code would be.

Congrats Tom!

We are honored to be hosting this car, which will be right beside Mr. Perry's freshly restored 1967 Yenko 427 Camaro in our Real Day 2 Invitational display at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals.

Yep...several more reasons to join us November 23-24!

Yes; Yenko will certainly be well represented at MCACN again this year.

BA

A few vintage photos. The original wheels and tires were stolen early on, while in the owners garage, so Centerlines, then a set of later model after market wheels. I have just purchased the correct size slotted mags and BFG tires as would have been originally equipped.

In the pics is the car with the aluminum headed 427, minus, the air intake system (which fortunately the owner saved). In the 1980s the car was sold to kid a down the street, who removed the 427 and replaced it with a SBC. A short time later the original owner bought the car back. Following MCACN we will be replacing the SBC with a more correct 427, complete with aluminum heads.

The air induction system, air cleaner and cut out in bottom of steel hood.

Strange with no front bumpers.

Restore or not Restore?
 

Tom
Will the car eventually receive a full restoration taking into consideration the current condition and non original motor.

Eventually yes, but for the time being, will remain as is, except for more correct wheels and tires, and after MCACN, a 427 with aluminum heads.

Come Spring I will attend a few shows with it and let my grandson Drew race it at such events as SCR23. He has driven the car and is pretty excited about making some passes in it.

It's current condition really doesn't bother us, and being so unusual, I want folks to see it pretty much as it left Jay Kline. As they say, only original once. The non-original engine issue, not for sure how one would determine that with a transplant car anyway, but regardless, wanted to be upfront regarding the engine.

saw this photo on FB

Neat car and pedigree Tom 1 of 1

Though kind of intimidating being surrounded by several award winning Yenkos, I really enjoyed showing the ’73 Yenko, I appreciate Doug, Andy, Rick/Annie, and of course Bob Aston, for allowing me to be part of Yenko/Day Two display.

As expected, lots of questions surrounding the car. Thankfully I have a ton of original paperwork, plus info from the original owner, that answered most of them. A few, such as why were the package tray and back seat altered, is anyone’s guess.

It was good to see this car in person, the last of the breed.

We heard nothing but great compliments all weekend long about the display and cars and Lynn stopping by only added to the excitement. It was a great weekend and we had a blast. As far as being intimidated, people love these cars when they are unrestored/unmolested as it brings back lots of memories from when they were younger. I know it certainly got my attention and we enjoyed being parked between two original unmolested cars.

Thanks for the kind words.

IMO, this is one of those cars one has to see in person to fully understand just how different this car is compared to other Yenko modified cars. and, except for Don's race cars, most Yenkos in general.

Thankfully all of the original paperwork was saved, or else would have been the center of a never ending debate. I don't need another one of those. LOL