Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

I pulled into the driveway tonight. Before I could even get out of the car, my 14 year old came out of the house holding a section of the news paper. What now I thought?

He handed me the paper and said "Could we go see it?" Low and behold on the front page of the Daily Break section of the paper was this;

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/132...esDeuce1SM.jpg

35 years after he purchased special-edition Chevy Nova, it’s still owner's pride and joy
BY LINDA McNATT
THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

SMITHFIELD — In December 1970, Alan Ives had just gotten a job.

Pumped up with his newfound success and swaggering - just a little- Ives tooled over to Colonial Chevrolet in Norfolk, got out of his clunker and strode across the car lot.

"I want a Corvette," he said.

He remembers the car salesman patting him on the shoulder, handing him keys to the blue, low-slung beauty and telling him to take it home for the night.

Later, Ives called his insurance agent, who happened to be his father's best friend.

"He wouldn't stop laughing," Ives recalled. "He told me, at my age, I'd never be able to pay the insurance."

He took the Vette back the next day. The salesman had something else for him to look at. Sitting across the lot with a handful of similar sedans was a dark blue Chevy Nova with white stripes. Black leather upholstery. Push button AM radio.

Hidden under the hood, though, was a beast that few Novas ever knew: a 350-cubic-inch, solid lifter, Corvette LT-1 engine with a Muncie M-21 four- speed transmission.

Please see Yenko, Page E7

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/132...esDeuce2SM.jpg
It was a Yenko Nova, the product of a Pennsylvania race car driver who pulled stock Chevrolets from the assembly line, pumped them with power and released them in very limited numbers.

"Guys like me, just driving the streets, could have a performance car," Ives said. "And I could afford the insurance."
He walked away from the car lot grinning. After 35 years, he's still grinning.

The car has recently undergone a four-year restoration. It's as bright and shiny as new. And it will be featured with about 200 other vintage Chevrolets on Saturday at the Spring Dustoff car show in Smithfield.

In case of rain, you can peek inside the trailer that transports "Blue Thunder." Ives doesn't take the car out in the rain. And it's not for sale.

"It's a trailer queen," said his wife, Margie. "It used to carry us. Now, we carry it."

There were only 175 of the Nova Deuce LT-l's made. Colonial Chevrolet had 12, and that was only because Josh Darden, who owned the dealership at the time, was friends with Don Yenko, whose father owned Yenko Chevrolet in Canonsburg, Pa.
Was it fast? "What do you think?" Ives said, grinning as he recalled Saturday nights on lonely back roads. "In the quarter mile, there was nothing else out there that could catch it."

The "mini muscle car" got about 10 miles to the gallon, but so what? Back then, gasoline was about 35 cents a gallon.
Ives drove the car for 20 years, on family trips, back and forth to work. Finally, in 1990, when it began to get a little temperamental, the Yenko was retired to a shed.

Four years ago, at his wife's urging - threatening, maybe - the restoration began. It started at American Legends in Norfolk and was completed at Jesse's Rod Shop in Chesapeake.

Ives spent countless hours painstakingly researching correct replacement parts and color of parts for the car. Many of the parts are original.

It still gets about 10 miles to the gallon. Ives uses premium gas, adds an octane booster and a lead substitute and drives it every week or so for at least a few miles.

Only 71 of the original Yenko Novas are still around; only 12 are still with their original owners.
Ives said he believes there may be one other car similar to his in the state, but he's uncertain of its condition.
He's tracked one Yenko that was on the same car lot in 1970 as his "baby." It was purchased by a Navy man, he said, and driven to Nevada. The man who bought it, Ives said, now lives in Minnesota, and it has been restored.
The Yenko brothers stay in touch.

"His still has the Colonial dealership badge on it," Ives said, "but I have the original sales papers on mine."

The Smithfield car show is sponsored by the Virginia Chevy Lovers Club, and the event celebrates 50 years of Chevy V-8 power.

Registration at the show will benefit local fire and rescue squads and Boykins Tavern, an authentic 1700s tavern at the Isle of Wight Courthouse.

There's no charge for admission. Vintage Chevies will be spread across the historic town.
If it's not raining, Ives' Yenko will be prominently displayed.

"This car is better now than it was when I bought it brand new. It's part of my past, part of my youth."

Reach Linda McNatt at (757) 222-5561 or [email protected]

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Needless to say my son will get his wish.....

Oh yeah, I heard on the radio today that Colonial Chevrolet is moving to a new location.

Greg

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Wow! Very cool!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Wow! Very cool!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Have to second that, Thanks for sharing and tell your son, Mahalo as well!!!

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Ahh, another one of us crusty ol original owners. Cool deuce. I got more hair. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Yeah in your nose and ears ya old fart Schoneye

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Cool story. I still find it incredible people have held onto cars for so long.

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah in your nose and ears ya old fart Schoneye

[/ QUOTE ]

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Very cool... Greg, do you know that guy personally? I'd love to talk to another Colonial Deuce owner.

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Joe: He lurks here...

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

joe, have you tried to see if Colonial had any paper on your car?

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Yeah, supposedly all the old records are gone, i heard a story that they were lost in a hurricane or tornado or something... considering they are located right on the coast, i guess its possible... at least makes for a better story than just saying someone tossed them in the trash. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

I really like those optional Door Mirrors on Mr.Ives Deuce. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif
Greg,or if anyone else attends that show,can you take some good detailed pix of his Deuce & share them with us here.Please. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Alan is a great guy and has a super neat car. I got the privelege of talking with him during the restoration and helping out with parts whevever I could.

Now if I could have only got him to promise me the car... ;0)

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Well lets get him to the Reunion where people will really enjoy and appreciate his baby ! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Thanks for sharing. Nice to see a Deuce get some press! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Thanks for sharing. My Deuce also came from Colonial and has the optional mirrors (which look cool but are absolutely useless).

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Alan is a super nice guy, we helped him through the resto over those 4 years and he was nice to send me some discs with pics of the progress. This car is super! Orig owner, orig drivetrain, full paperwork, some cool dealer options, wow!

The colonial deuces seem to be nicely optioned, with sport mirrors very common for them. As with other Yenko products from Colonial, the Colonial deuces seem to travel to remote parts of the country early in their lives, due to the Navy base in Norfolk. However, this deuce stayed right at home.

I remember talking to Alan's first resto shop several times years ago, trying to get them to understand the significance of the Yenko Deuce over a standard 350 Nova. This girl Crystal was a real handful.

Here's an in-progress pic.

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Hey, my nose, and ear hair ain't so bad. But as far as the old fart, I do have a flatulence problem, and am looking forward to setting next to you at the banquet table at the reunion. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif
That is a very cool deuce. First one I ever saw was fb. If I'd have had a choice, I'd had bought that color.
Hope you bring it to the reunion. Be great to visit with you. Schonye

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Ahh, another one of us crusty ol original owners.

[/ QUOTE ]

CRUSTY? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/blush.gif Speak for yourself, Sir. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif

What a great story. I'd love to see that car at SCR8. Get to work on him, Marlin!

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

[ QUOTE ]
I really like those optional Door Mirrors on Mr.Ives Deuce. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif
Greg,or if anyone else attends that show,can you take some good detailed pix of his Deuce & share them with us here.Please. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


here's a pic of an original paint car with the sport mirrors, sold new out of Tamson Chev, in Danville, VA, a/t without p/s.

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

camarojoe;

I do not know him (yet). I hope to meet him this weekend if it does not rain. I would like to take pictures of it.

Greg

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Well,

The day was rained out but I did meet Alan and took pictures of the car. Really nice! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

You can see the rainy day pictures here: Yenko Pictures

Greg

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Greg, very nice pics. Ask him if it came with the underhood insulation. Is this one of the first batch, or last 50 that went to Hurst? It even sets right. Nose up. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Schonyenko2;

He mentioned that it was from the first batch.

Greg

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Very Nice Pictures.
Thank You Greg.

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Wow, I can't believe all those people brought their cars out in the weather we had yesterday. We're having some serious flooding here along the Delaware River here in NJ and Bucks, PA. It's almost as high as it got back in Sep and that was supposed to be a 50 year flood! They're calling for it to go 3-4 feet higher than Sep.

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Excellent pics Gregg, thanks!

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

You all are welcome. I get so much information from you guys it is the least I could do. Just giving back to the hobby.

Greg

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Hi everyone,
Sorry it took me a while to get on the board with a response but I have been so busy since the show. I am the owner of the blue deuce that was featured in the newspaper. I have spent the past week cleaning and drying my car.
The first thing I want to say is how very grateful I am to a guy that you all already know and his name is Marlin Spotts. He is the one person who is my resource for rebuilding this car and without his expert advice and encouragement, it could not have been done. So the car you have seen in these pictures only looks this way because of him and his help. I also have another person to thank for encouragement and the best source of Nova parts that I could ever find, his name is Allen Cardo and my hat is off to him also.
Does anyone have any questions that I can answer about my car?
Alan

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Alan,

Welcome to the site! As you already know, there a bunch of cool and knowledgeable people here.

Again...Welcome! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Bruce,
You are so right about that. Thanks, it is great to be able to talk with people who know about these cars and can really appreciate them.
Alan

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Thanks for the kind words Alan, but our hats are off to you for buying this Yenko Deuce new and keeping it all these years https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

My only question? How many times have you smoked the tires since you finished it up https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Welcome Alan! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif Can you tell us how it was to go and buy a Deuce at Colonial? Was there other Yenko cars there? Did you ever take any pics of your car when it was new that you can post here?

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

One of my most frequently asked questions Frank! Alan has great stories from when he bought it, and it's early years.

Love those Fathom Blue Deuces https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Hi Marlin,
Its great to hear from you. Well, I think I have lit up the tires at least four times but at the cost for these Coker reproductions I don't do it too often. There are times though when you just gotta do it as you also know.
Hi also Frank,
The purchase of my Nova was actually a bit of luck. I went there to buy a Corvette but when I found out that I couldn't get insurance then the salesman showed me the Deuces that they had for sale. Can you imagine, they actually had about twelve of these for sale. They had six different colors and two cars in each color. The only difference was one was an automatic and one was the M-21 four speed. Needless to say, the M-21 had to be the choice for me. I do have a few old pictures that I will scan and post them for you guys. I think they are all without the stripes because water had gotten under the vinyl and started rust so I had to scrape them off and re-paint.
Alan

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Very cool... my car was probably sitting in the same row... I have a Forest Green 4-speed car from Colonial. Do you have any of the original Colonial paperwork from the car? Bill of Sale, etc... Would love to see some of it. Bring that sucker to Collinsville this year!
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

What was the cost of your Deuce out the door,and how much were your insurance premiums back then.
WELCOME! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: Local Deuce Featured in the newspaper (Long)
 

Look familiar?