I have been watching this post with a lot of interest as it was my original post on the Yenko, that re-newed the interest in discussing this topic. While my original post wasn't meant to do anything more than tell a story of a real car, and how it was used, I think the "debate" generated by it is good for the hobby.

In this day of high dollar restorations, and ever increasing car prices, one must be especially careful as to what is bought and the "proverance" behind a car. This website (while a great place for information) has "pushed" the prices on certain cars to levels that are more than most houses. The people responsible for the escalation of the values, routinely trade cars amongst themselves and each time the cars' "value" increases while the "history" might become "blurrier." Let's face a reality..show me over the last 2 years the number of "supercars" that have sold outside of this group..I would bet it is less than 5%...In my opinion (again it is an opinion)this has created a "false" market..one that is filled with specualtion. While we hear what cars "sell" for is it truely the amount of actual money that changes hands?? If I sell a car to a fellow collector in actual cash for $75k, but I make a deal with the new owner to "publicize" the price was 100k, doesn't it become a "win win" for both parties??? The new onwer gets a car that has a higher value attached to it, so if they sell it he can fetch more money and the former owner can say he sold a "higher" priced car thereby "increasing" his prominence and "worth" in the hobby. The cars themselves don't change..only the "perceived" value...

This is where the whole "re-body" issue comes into play...I know in new cars and "regular" everyday cars things go on..It is true that replacing every sheetmetal panel on a car is pretty damn close to "re-boding." However in this hobby, what is perceived by the masses as "acceptable," is sheetmetal replacement..not cutting a firewall out and welding in another body shell. Therefore when the topic comes up and a specific car is mentioned it generates controversy.

The people that don't want the topic brought up are the same people that are routinely trading cars and escalating the value. If one car is brought to light, surely others will follow. If this happens then the perceived value of ALL the cars might be questioned. If I own a Yenko with a "pedigree" and there aren't any "issues" then my car might go up..if that "pedigree" is somewhat "murky" then it very well might decrease as a result of the "public" becoming educated. Anytime people get educated they ask questions..with these questions comes a desire to have answers...with the answers comes possbile "de-valuation.." This is something the specualtors and majority of people here can't have..

The main reason why I think some people here found my post controversial wasn't because I told about a particular car. After all it didn't name the current owner, and I researched the car for 2 weeks before even posting the facts as I knew them..It is these "facts" that some here DON'T want mentioned or discussed..According to most I spoke with this particular car was known to be "questionable" to those in the core group of Yenko owners, and if the current owner bought the car with all the info. then why should he be ashamed or embarrassed?? He shouldn't..The problem is becase others don't want "outsiders" questioning THEIR cars,as a result of info being shared... The mentality is if a guys car is discussed then "my" car can be,...and MAYBE "my"car won't stand up to the scrutiny..

I really don't think in the late '80's or really up til the late '90's, anyone would have suspected that a guy in VA (me for instance) AND NOT being in the "core" collector "fraternity" would have been able to know the history of a car residing in the mid-west and be able to track it down..It is because of the internet that the world has gotten really small..The point is what was done on certain cars back in the days before the internet can now be discussed globally..If in the early '90's I wanted a Yenko I more than likely had to get Hemmings, or go to a show and get into the "gang" of guys that owned them..Today I can find one in a different region of the US using the internet, and the "history" of a car can be traced..This means that the info can't be controlled among the "core" group of collectors..So any car that has a history that isn't as "clean" will eventually be found out..This also means that some collectors might have to explain certain things..This means some guys will find the car they bought for 150k, might only be worth 100k..Look at the number of Yenkos and ZL1's that are known..They made 69 1969 ZL1's yet we know of 40 something cars...Is it not unreasonable to think a factory race car would actually be used and abused..thereby since the majority of the cars appear "stock" some might be re-bodies..Do we really think people bought a Yenko as everyday transportation??? No..they were used and abused. Hence if the vast majority are now "stock" appearing then some cars might have "issues."

I actually spoke to the person named in my original post as having "located" the Yenko from Mike. He seemed like a nice guy..I was out of line to mention an event I had heard about from others..(the stamping of an engine) and for that I'm truly sorry..He neither confirmed NOR denied what was done to the Yenko mentioned, only stating it was a "race car" and that the sub-frame was replaced...When he bought the car I think he was doing what he perceived as the right thing based on the condition of the car..does it make it less of a Yenko...not in my book..BUT it does make it less valuable to me than a car with an original shell..I think the "locater" probably told the guy he sold it to what the deal was..but since it is a "tight" community the info might not have been passed to the current owner..Who knows??

The basic question in all of this is..What is a car??? Is it an original dash with VIN, cowl and maybe a steering column as I believe (my opinion) the case here, or is it an original body shell..??? To me it is the latter...That however is a question of personal preference...