Interesting paperwork (part 1)

[Chevy454]

This is part of some paperwork between Don and Frank (Yenko) concerning how much to pay Bill Hartley for doing "this year's cars" (1969), and that they should pay him for "last year's cars" (1968) as well. Interesting part is the last line...

1968 - 45 engine changes



Comments????

[Stefano]

First, Who was Bill Hartley?

Isn't the number of 1968 Yenko Camaros Conversions only to have been 65? Do your records correspond to the 65?

If there were 65 total 427 Camaros sold and the records show only 45 converted by Yenko Chevrolet,then it would tend to indicate that the additional 427 Camaros were built by someone other than Yenko, like General Motors.

????

[JoeC]

Does the second to last line read - ((only requires short block changes)) ? Can this be for the 1969 427 Nova where they used the 396 375 top half and replaced the 396 block with a 427 short block?
There may have been some sort of collaboration between Yenko and Dana on the 1968 Camaros. Yenko mentioned it in his interview and there was one ad that shows the Yenko address and the Dana address on it. Dana and Yenko used same fiberglass hood in 1968.



[Edited by JoeC (05-10-2002 at 09:15 PM).]

[Chevy454]

Joe:

It says "only requires emblem changes". They were only going to give him 1/2 as much for doing the '69s as all they required were emblem changes.

Is it possible that some of the '68s stayed 396 cars (thus only converting 45)?

[sYc]

Bill Hartley was Yenko's chief mechanic, both at the dealership and on Don's race team. This memo, along with a couple others, was attached to Bill's pay sheet for 1969. It included notions where he went to several races with Don, including Sebring and Daytona. Of course Daytona was where Don won the Citrus 250 in '69.
What does the notation on the memo mean? To me, this memo, plus other info I have on '68s, means just what it says, that Yenko only switched engines in 45 cars in '68. But, that is not to say that there were not other '68 converted cars, with Yenko emblems, performance parts other then engines swaps, etc. Sort of like was done with Stingers, with different levels (stages) available to the buying public.
Tom

[Stefano]

Tom,
What is your position/opinion on the 427s being 'COPO'installed by the factory later in the year.

[sYc]

I am undecided, but lean towards no. Here is why. A reliable source, some one who should know, has told me more then once that there were several 50? 427 cars built in '68. But, on the other hand, the Yenko paperwork I have on '68s does not mention COPO '427 engines. Anything is possible, but I would need more proof then what I have seen/heard thus far before I would believe that 1968 427 Camaro(s) were built by Chevrolet. Tom