My Donna Mae Reply

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

In May of 1998 I received a very nice reply from Donna Mae Mims regarding some questions I had on some Yenko Deuce information. She kindly sent along some pictures, and explanations, that I thought would be interesting to share. Here is her cover letter (on pink paper, with a pink business card attached!):


May 10, 1998

Hi Marlin --

Well. I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing the YENKO DEUCE papers -- and it was particularly enjoyable because it was I who wrote all of these things and, certainly, with Yenko's approval. I'd forgoteen everything that I knew simply on a second nature basis!

With regard to the New Car Inventory sheets, I have marked with a "red check" those which I believe I did write in. What has taken me so long in responding has been getting in touch with various ex-Yenko guys who may have had a hand in this. Those whom I contacted -- even in parts and service -- have no recollection. Apparently those who kept the majority of these records are "goners." I did write the Order/Ship Dates.

Three of us believe that the 'HURST" designations were for those Novas scheduled to receive HURST shifters.

The different (than YS) stock numbers could have been in-house stock numbers, used by YENKO CHEVROLET. (Half the guys in service didn't know who they worked for -- YENKO SPORTSCARS or YENKO CHEVROLET.)

Thank you for the fun memories -- from a time when we would jump into a YENKO DEUCE to run to lunch (as we did with the Camaros, Vettes, Vegas, and Corvairs, advising others that we considered this random testing!).

Enclosed is some non-tech stuff for your information and amusement.

Sincerely,

DONNA MAE MIMS
Corvette

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

May 1998. This is the YENKO CHEVROLET building in Canonsburg, which building stretches back to the creek. The interior also had a touch of art deco which has now been "remodeled"; to something totally nondescript.

Don Yenko would take a vote of the employees as to what new color the building would be painted. He never agreed with the vote but we always won!

This building is located at the end of West Pike Street at the south end of Canonsburg, a town of about 16,000.

A visitor from California had exclaimed, "I knew it would look like this" which we interpreted, because of his glee, as knowing that all this good stuff came from a very unpretentious outfit.

P.S. Please excuse the silly Polaroid border (I don't know who was messing with my camera).

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

May 1998. This is the little hill across the street from the dealership where Jim Buckels would sit all night, armed with a shotgun, guarding all of the special cars.

We even got a guard dog. One morning when we arrived, we found an entire engine (Jim sometimes slept) removed from a Nova with the guard dog's paw prints on top of the fender -- apparently intrigued by the engine removal.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

May 1998. And this is the creek at the back of the dealership where robbers would come down in rowboats to scavenge whatevers.

They never much bothered the Corvairs for they couldn't quite figure out what was going on with this strange car.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

May 1998. This is one of the signs which now adorn the barbed wire fence surrounding what used to be the industrial park across the creek; the industrial park where cosmetic and stray tricks were performed on the special cars.

Unbeknownst to us, and obviously others, this site in Canonsburg was one of 32 secret sites in the United States where components for the first atomic bomb were being made. No one was aware of what they were working on -- they were just "in manufacturing." And the site became a uranium dump, only in the Eighties to become subject to landfill.

This history used to be taught in sixth grade in the Canonsburg schools but the subject has been discontinued.

So, with low humor, we can explain any glowing YENKO vehicles.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

May 1998. A long range view of the "industrial park," which used to be on the same level as the road.

Hey -- my car looks really great from far away!

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

A special 'Thanks' to Donna Mae for this little peak into Yenko's past

[JChlupsa]

So was there ever a one off <font color="pink"> PINK </font> Yenko HIPO car made for her at all???

Neat story and great pics even with the boarders. I take it thats your trademark so when you see them elsewhere you know they are using yours???

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I know she had some pink race cars, but to my knowledge no pink hi-po's from Yenko.

The borders on the pics are from Donna Mae's camera, not mine

[Salvatore]

Hey Marlin, What a piece of history. Give anything to be back there from 67-70 or so just to hang around and listen to the conversations the mechanics and salesman and customers had. Like to have some autographs from some of those people that went in and out of those back doors. Could you imagine on a nice brisk fall day going for a test ride in a just finished deuce or a maybe used 427 camaro or chevelle! Man.....Talk about heaven!!! Sam