E-Bay '69 Yenko Disguised As a Z-28 Clone!

[bergy]

The thread got to be such a hassle that I decided to just quietly complete the investigation. Hundreds of disassembly pictures, videos, expert observations/attestation, identification of all ownership periods, police reports, owner's statements, Yenko inventory sheet, NICB Report, on & on. The book is almost written.

The problem with posting answers to questions, individual photos, and other docs on a site like this is that each posting just results in demands for more postings - & rightly so. The book has to be viewed in its entirity to fully understand the car. I guess that's a long way of saying that I'll bring the entire book to MCACN next year and anyone/everyone can see it.

One photo (I think it was taken in 2000) previously presented on pg 14 of this thread is kind of interesting though. It seems that no one ever commented on that unusual radiator. BTW - it has a "B" date.

[NovaMob03]

Bruce, I think the nagging question, that was discussed over & over, was regarding the removal of the heater box to reveal that hidden vin and if 'that vin' matches either the hidden cowl vin or the 616414 dash vin.

[bergy]

The partial vin under the heater box is 9N616414. This is where you have to see the pictures and video to understand where (and why) repairs were made to the cowel and elephant ear section - to see where the original spot welds are still in place vs later repair welds. This was a street/track car - so the repairs to the cowl areas were not all from accident damage. You really need to see the pictures & videos. Like I said before - one question begs another - we could go on and on.

[x77-69z28]

cant wait to read that book bruce! great project. if it looks anything like your burnished brown COPO, it will be spectacular.
buddy

[bergy]

Thanks Buddy!

[Tracker1]

So along with meeting great fellow SYC members in Chicago like Plowman, pxtx, Sammy Scardino, Charlie Lillard, 442w30, Colin Comer et al, I finally got to meet bergy and YENKO 616414. The story on this car is worthy of a magazine article at the very least and an entire book is plausible given the documentation, statements and mountain of research Bruce Eilenberger has pried away from the memories of past owners and those who have even come close to this car...not to mention the microfiche of the PA dmv - the coiled, bound book is something to behold and weighs every bit of a couple pounds.

This car is 616414 and I am proud to have seen it. Way to go Bruce for spotting this thing hiding beneath a Zee clone and for having the cojones to step up and bring it to the magnificent level of finish it now enjoys. Thanks, it's a gift to all of us. What a car - What a story!

[bergy]

Thanks Des - color's better in this pic



It was great to see you too! A bunch of SYC people stopped by and looked over the documents. Continuous ownership periods documented all the way from the first owner - on PA DMV letterhead. This was by far the most time consuming research project that I've done. Lots of fun talking to old owners and documenting the history of the car. Even tracked down the "envelope" story, which Marlin now agrees had no connection to this car. Several hundred pictures of every phase of disassembly. Wreck in the early 80s and subsequent repairs attested to by 3 sources - physical evidence supports their statements. Thanks to everyone on this great site who helped and encouraged along the way. Sorry that things got a little testy at times.

[Xplantdad]

Very cool!

[bergy]

BTW - I borrowed that picture from Diego - he really takes great pics!

[Charley Lillard]

Now I'm pissed I totally missed the car.