Re: Visible progress!
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And back then, customers probably didn't know the Novas didn't get the 427s from the factory, and they probably didn't care.
[/ QUOTE ] I've always been under the assumption that most Yenko buyers suspected their cars were powered by a special "dyno tuned" Yenko installed 427 and not just a factory installed L-72 unit. Hence the generous 450 HP rating and the lack of any GM window sticker or documentation regarding the origin of the engine. Sure Don did this to keep others from stealing his COPO idea, but I think it also gave the sYc cars their super hi-performance aura from day one. It seems that it was a common misconception clear up until the 1980's that ALL Yenko cars were engine swaps...which we now know simply wasn't the case. Until this day if you stand around a Yenko car at a show you'll hear all sorts of misconstrued facts and stories regarding how the cars came to be 427's, and this seems to be especially true in my neck of the woods where much of the lore seems to have it's origins. I agree Yenko wanted something above and beyond Chevrolet's SS package, but I think that he actively sold the fact that Yenko Sportscars was the builder and what they were offering was far more potent than anything to be had elsewhere. I often wonder if anyone ever asked him flat out if they were factory installed 427's, or how he managed to do them so cleanly when people were used to seeing the speed shop underhood look of the Motion and Nickey converted cars. It still makes me wonder what the buyers of "regular" COPO Chevelles and Camaros that were purchased through other dealerships thought they were buying back in '69. I'm sure the original owner of LVCamaro's Azure Turquoise RS COPO knew what he was buying, preserving the car and every stitch of paperwork regarding it like he did, but at the same time I've heard of other owners saying they thought they were just buying a "plain 427 Camaro." [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img] I guess people just weren't as concerned with what's "normally" available and what's not back then like they are today. I guess it's like you said Rob "all they saw was little car, big engine" and they started reaching for their wallets. Oh to have lived back then... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
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