1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

I have just located a 1968 Yenko Camaro 9737 car. This car was sold unconverted. It was a 396/375 car. It was a COPO that did not receive the 427 conversion. It is a very low mile car. Original MV 396 is gone, but I think the rest of the driveline is intact. What is the thoughts of board members on a unique car like this. Supercar or not?...BKH

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

I have missed your posts, Brian. Nice to see you back again. https://www.yenko.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Brian,
Did these cars come with a 4:10 rear? The car I had with the 140 speedo had a 3:73 rear listed on the window sticker. What color? I got ahold of the fellow that had mine and he sold it in November for 16.5K It had less than 4K miles on it. Where was the one you located sold at? I think these cars, if documented, would be very unique and worthy of being called a Supercar!

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

No question in my mind definately a Super Car by defintion and application. It is after all a COPO 9737.

Just sounds like it is not also a Yenko Conversion Car.

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Brian, If it has the POP or similar documentation showing the MV engine then there is no argument, it is a 68 Yenko Camaro like the other cars with their original MV engine. Otherwise it is a 375hp Camaro sold by Yenko...................RatPack.................

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Brian; Neat car. I am assuming that this is the car that you had me research a while back. As per being a supercar, I would say yes. To me, it is the same as the 1968 396/375 automatic Gibb Novas that were not switched to 427s. Both are special in their own way. Yours with the 9737 COPO (Yenko) package and the Gibb cars with their COPO auto trans. To me, these cars represent the start of what I consider COPO built supercars.

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

To my knowlege no one has yet had a real MV 396/375 car. The car is a definite 9737 Yenko car. O7E build date. It was to be a conversion but was never done. It is a very interesting car. It has all the marks of a 9737 car..BKH

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

I would agree with Tom's thinking. (While special on their own.) The 1968 COPO cars from Gibb and Yenko were the prelude to the the COPO Super Cars of 1969 and 1970.

Is this COPO one of the non converted 20 of 65 from one of the recent prior threads?

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

As Stefano, I too wonder if this is where the difference in the numbers comes in to play. The number of '68s was thought to be around 65, but Yenko's chief mechanic was paid for converting only 45 cars.
Brian, I am curious, what, if any, SYC data plate and/or serial number does the car have. Tom

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

The car has the special trim tag that only the 68' COPO Yenko Camaros had. Has the 140 speedo with the special sway bar, etc. Has plain 712 interior without console. Deluxe wheel. I was under the impression that @ 70 cars were ordered, only 65 converted. This being such a late car would seem to confirm that it was a straggler. This is the third car I have been told about that was bought as a straight up 396/375. Just like the Turbo Z program in 1981 more cars were available for conversion that got the conversion. This may be the only surviving example of a 9737/375 car. Anyone ever seen one?...BKH

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Brian; I think the BIG question may be knowing the exact number of '68s, either converted or not. I say that since I have proof of over 100 1967 Yenko Camaros, which goes against the once accepted number of 54. You would think that there might have been more '68s. Tom

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

This car did not have the SYC plate in the door pillar...BKH

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

That is what I suspected. For whatever reason, not all Yenkos got tags and quite possibly were not assigned syc #s, thus were not on THE LIST. THE LIST is incomplete, and the accpeted number for 1967 and 1968 Yenkos needs to be updated, to reflect the new found information. I perdict, that in the next several months, we may find more "unknown" cars to come onto the scene. Tom

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

What is special about the trim tag? My old car had the deluxe wheel with standard black interior with no console. I could not get any cowl tag info because the fellow I sold the car to sold it in November, he was supposed to contact me in the event he was interested in selling but never did or I would have the car in Wisconsin now!!!

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

With the model year nearing the end, Some of the Yenko 9737 cars would not have been converted. This is what I feel happened to this car. Why convert more cars when the 1969 COPO 9561 cars are already on the board so to speak. The trim plates on the Yenko COPO 68' cars are different from the standard trim plate. Sold along side the other SYC converted cars. If a buyer wanted a 375 car and could not afford the 427 conversion you would think Yenko would just sell it that way. Similiar to the Yenko Nova SS 427 cars. More cars were ordered than converted. Leaving some cars un-converted or mildly warmed over with Yenko special parts....BKH

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Just looked at a 68 camaro. Sitting in a garage for 20 plus years. 1/8 " dust on car. mold forming on rear seat. Big block heater box. Smallblock in car now w/ tunnel ram and big old hood scoop. Front disc brakes and 4 speed. Has 396 emblems on the front fenders in the bumble bee stipe and yenko crest just behind the 396 emblems. These look to be old yenko emblems in color.Is this the correct placement for the yenko emblems in 68. Also, could this be a non converted car? Could not see if it had a 140 speedo. Lots of dust on lense. I only had a chance to veiw it for a few minutes. What else should i look for? Would a vin # and cowl tag info help? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

you need to check for the 140 speedo, diameter of front sway bar, the vin and a picture of the trim tag will help

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

The car in this BKH thread and my car are one in the same. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Tom
When did you find that out.
Not while Brian was posting this?....

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

[ QUOTE ]
I am now the owner (again) of my 1968 Corvette Bronze 396/375 Camaro which I originally purchased new at Kenny Ross Chevrolet in Pittsburgh, PA in September 1968. Car only has 5K original miles, and may be a Non-Converted COPO/Yenko which I was unaware of at the time I owned it. Have been researching this possibility for sometime now and all signs are looking very positive. Will update as I learn more. I have attached a picture of the car that was taken in 1968 in front of the dealership.'

Tom, after re-reading this thread, and the other one about the car, and looking at your emails and PMs to me, I have a couple of things to throw out.

How/why did a Yenko end up at Kenny Ross? Part of the Yenko SC network, or dealer transfer? , But with no signs of it being a Yenko (I am assuming this since you just now feel it might be a Yenko, nothing caught your eye back then). If the car originated at Yenko, all of the factory paperwork, including the window sticker, would have read Yenko. And, if the car had any Yenko options, it would have had a Yenko window sticker. In addition, Yenko made sure their cars could be identified, by the use of stickers, emblems, and later on stripes. After hearing from numerous folks who bought Yenko cars new, from various dealers, including Douglass, the one common theme is they were all well aware of the Yenko connection, whether it be though paperwork, emblems, stickers, what ever. I have to wonder if this car originated at Yenko.

Now, could it be a Kenny Ross COPO? Well that is possible, in the same sense as dealers in '69 found out about the 427 COPO (JD) and ordered them direct from GM, rather then get them from Yenko. But, even with that, the COPO option would have been present on any paperwork, such as window sticker. And, was not the 9737 option the listed as the "Yenko Sports Car Conversion" option?

Regardless, an interesting car. Would be nice if GM had the Chevy archives up and and running.

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

[ QUOTE ]
I have just located a 1968 Yenko Camaro 9737 car. This car was sold unconverted. It was a 396/375 car. It was a COPO that did not receive the 427 conversion. It is a very low mile car. Original MV 396 is gone, but I think the rest of the driveline is intact. What is the thoughts of board members on a unique car like this. Supercar or not?...BKH


[/ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ]
Brian; Neat car. I am assuming that this is the car that you had me research a while back. As per being a supercar, I would say yes. To me, it is the same as the 1968 396/375 automatic Gibb Novas that were not switched to 427s. Both are special in their own way. Yours with the 9737 COPO (Yenko) package and the Gibb cars with their COPO auto trans. To me, these cars represent the start of what I consider COPO built supercars.

--------------------
Tom Clary


[/ QUOTE ] If this is the same car in this whole thread...why the turnaround of opinion....

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Until a couple of days ago, I "assumed" that the car was sold new at Yenko. But, when I learned that it was sold new at Kenny Ross, and that the original owner did not suspect it to be a Yenko, until now, just wonder if it is a Yenko. Appears it is a 9737 COPO, which yes, would be a supercar, in the same sense as the Gibb cars.

Until now, I/we had assumed any car with the 9737 option, special trim tag, were Yenkos, but that may, or may not be the case. And I certaintly do not know.

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Tom Billigen made the comment that he bought the car in September 1968 at Kenny Ross, and had no idea it was a Yenko car. In fact, he said he assumed all L78's had the 140 speedo. All of us who lived in Pgh at the time knew about Yenko, so unless Tom crawled from under a rock the day he bought the car from Kenny Ross, it's fair to assume his car had no Yenko sticker on the window, and no yenko badging. Since the 69's were about to be introduced, dealers would be clammering to unload 68's. It is reasonable to assume that Yenko transferred this car to Kenny Ross in the same manner as he would have transferred an Impala station wagon.

Is this a Supercar? In my opinion, a 9737 without the L72 engine transplant is no more a supercar than the 70 Camaro with the COPO spoiler. I mean no disrespect to anyone's car. In fact I, personally would prefer to have an unconverted COPO 9737 L78 than a Yenko conversion. (resale value aside) But it's up to other, much more involved folks than I, to determine if it should be considered a Supercar.

In any case, I am glad for Tom to have his old car back, and hope he can reunite it with the original L78 motor.

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

would be intersting to see what dealer is shown on NICB info

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

[ QUOTE ]
would be intersting to see what dealer is shown on NICB info

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, that it would. If Yenko, new info on non-converted Yenko cars, or if Kenny Ross, new info about possible non-Yenko '68 COPOs. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/scholar.gif

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Unreal: how do you view the '68 9738 Novas?

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

We had assumed that any 9737 '68 Camaros were ordered through sYc - especially since the COPO was still called Sports Car Conversion - Yenko! So, we also assumed that in order for a COPO car to end up at Kenny Ross that it had to be dealer trxfrd from Yenko, maybe not, but most likely that's the only way another dealer would get one. An NICB would certainly clear that up for good!

Obviously, the car is not a Yenko though, it's a non-converted copo, and I'm assuming will be restored as such??

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

I never "assume" anything. I can't remember what the window sticker said. I only became interested in the background when Huber was restoring his 68 Yenko. A lot of the options that were on his car were on my old car. I even went down to the owners garage and looked at the cowl tag and interior to make sure what I remembered was indeed there and it was. This was in 1992 so I have been keeping an eye on the car for along time, when I got the oportunity I bought it! The bottom line is I know what it is and I now own it again!!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif And it is the same car as in the thread https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

I never got the impression that Tom was claiming it was a Yenko. Just that he was certain that it was a 9737 Yenko option car. One would then assume that it would have been a Dealer Trade since we haven't heard of anybody else ordering the 68 9737 option outside of Yenko. It sounds like a Cool car and I'm glad you got it back.

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Thanks Charly, If it is a "KENNY ROSS" COPO, it would be the only one in existance. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Sorry Charley. Kind of confusing, as this car is/has been discussed in two different threads here. Here is the post I was referring to.

"I am now the owner (again) of my 1968 Corvette Bronze 396/375 Camaro which I originally purchased new at Kenny Ross Chevrolet in Pittsburgh, PA in September 1968. Car only has 5K original miles, and may be a Non-Converted COPO/Yenko which I was unaware of at the time I owned it. Have been researching this possibility for sometime now and all signs are looking very positive. Will update as I learn more. I have attached a picture of the car that was taken in 1968 in front of the dealership.

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Yes that is the same post. "and may be a Non-Converted COPO/Yenko which I was unaware of at the time I owned it.". I would also assume that Yenko would have ordered the car with the intention of converting it to a Yenko 427 car but didn't ever need it so Yenko sold or traded it unconverted but I would still call it a unconverted Copo/Yenko car. I just wouldn't call it a Yenko.

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

I think that is a fair assesment https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

I'll bet if you run an NICB report (how do you do that anyway?) It will come back to Yenko Chevrolet. I'll also bet that the original window sticker DID say Yenko Chevrolet on top, and Tom just never noticed, either that or Kenny Ross made up a new sticker for it after they received the car. I find it very unlikely that Kenny Ross ordered their "own" COPO 68 Camaros. I know, "never say never", but I think its much more likely that Yenko just dealer traded their overstocked 68 Camaros to neighboring dealers that needed them as the model year wound down. I would also say its very possible that there are other "non converted" 68 SS396 L78s originally delivered to Yenko out there, not only from Kenny Ross but potentially from other Greater Pittsburgh area dealers. Tom B., doesn't that original pic you have show at least one other 68 L78 parked beside yours? Theres a possibility its still out there too! As for what you would "call" the car, if an NICB report shows it was ordered by Yenko originally, I would definitely call it an uncoverted 68 Yenko SS396. After all, most "converted" Yenkos were ultimately sold through other dealers, and weren't actually sold off the Canonsburg lot anyhow. The key to all this (obviously) is to get a report to prove that this car was originally delivered to Yenko.

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Joe,
There were four cars sitting with mine 2 Yellow and 2 Ralley Green. The one sittng next to mine is not a SS car. The other four SS's were sitting to the left of mine.

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Tom,
Yenko had 9 Camaros advertized for sale in Sep 68.
1 396 375hp rally green special interior group tinted windshield Am radio 140 mph speedo
1 396 325hp Ash Gold
1 427 450hp Madador Red Yenko Super Camaro 850 cfm Holley special maximum performance intake manifold
1 427 425hp Ash Gold turbo hydro
5 396 375hp Corvette Bronze special interior group tinted windshield Am radio 140 mph speedo

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like a dealer trade to me! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

"The key to all this (obviously) is to get a report to prove that this car was originally delivered to Yenko."
Or just not worry about it and spend the time instead looking for that Roach you lost under the seat back in 68.

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Well, that of course would be a priority as well. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: 1968 Yenko Copo Camaro/ Non converted car
 

Nobody ever sat in the back seat, so we will only have to look under the front seats for it. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif