1987 Don Yenko interview?

[Les Quam]

In a 1987 Muscle car review Don Yenko interview he states that 500 1969 Camaros were sold as sYc versions. What happened since then that leads the Yenko historians to conclude only 198 were sold? Yenko seemed to recall relatively accurately the 67 and 68 Camaro numbers as well as the 69 Chevelle numbers and the Deuce numbers? Yenko also thought the 68 Camaro's were not COPO Camaro's? But historians disagree with that today as well?

[Stefano]

It was so much simpler when Les was asking questions on just the Mustang Forums

[camarojoe]

Basically to make a long story short, there are 198 cars on the known inventory sheets, and none of the other alleged 300+ have ever shown up anywhere. 68 Yenko's were indeed COPO's, but were SS396 cars converted to L72's, not factory installed 427's, which is probably what Don was referring to by his use of the COPO term.

[jeff morocco]

so......lets say someone has a yenko camaro they bought new,but has taken off the stripes and emblems over the years and their car is not on the list of 198.other than the original paperwork how can he prove it is a yenko ? and would the collector car world accept it as a real deal yenko ?

[Chevy454]

NICB would be a good start...or hope Warren D. has a folder on the car...!

[Stefano]

Example; There are at least three Yenko Camaros, which I know of and they are not on the "List". One Camaro which is on the list, but is not a Yenko. Two are number transposition errors and the other two?? So while there may be a few mistakes and inconsistencies, there are not 300 missing Yenko Camaros.

[iluv69s]

I'll take just one of the missing Yenkooooossss!!!

Maybe there could be one in the river with the hemi-car???

Hey Joey...you out there???

[JoeC]

The 198 number is from Vince E’s Yenko records. He first said 201 then changed it to 198.

In the MCR article it appears they had Vince E’s numbers and presented them to Don in the interview.
Vince’s numbers (54 1967s, 64 1968s, 99 Chevelles, 201 1969s) are the same as used in the article.

Don would not accept the 201 number but stood by his number of 500 69 Y Camaros but he seemed to accept the other numbers.

What is interesting is that Jim M (Chevy F&SO) also recalled the 500 number.
It is possible that the original deal with Chevy was for a min. of 500 427 COPO Camaros. The balance later sold to other dealers.

Super Stock only required 50 units but some other racing rules required 500.

I have read that one reason the Boss 429 was built was for Ford's need to qualify 500 examples of the new 429 engine for NASCAR.

[John]

If I remember correctly ...the sign that is in the photo of Don at Colonial Chevrolet in Norfolk, Virginia
....states "500th COPO" ...NOT "500TH YENKO"
...is that the number that you are revering to?

[camarojoe]

Actually it said "350th 1969 unit built, delivered to Colonial Chevrolet Norfolk VA." The photo published in MCR in 1987 showed a photo of this sign on top of a 69 sYc camaro, but they also took photos of the same sign on top of a 69 sYc chevelle the same day, I have the negatives of the entire photo shoot from that day. I actually think seeing this photo may have made Don think he sold more than 200 Camaros... If they would have used one of the photos of the sign on the Chevelle the whole story may have been different... who knows?