March '03 feature car

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Charlie B's '69 Yenko Camaro was also a cloned Z when we found it!

[Mr70]

Remember David Heath from Tx.,who thought he stubbled upon a 1968 Camaro and after research thought it was a Yenko converted Car.
After purchasing the Car and continued with his research found out it was a COPO.
Then with more research,found this Camaro he just bought out of Hemmings,was the LONE 1968 Prototype built to test fit all the 1969 Camaro COPO's to follow! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[SuperCars]

That "one and only COPO on the planet" story is not true. I have a copy of the body sheet on that car. Heath's car is not a solo "one and only" car. But definitely it, as well as another(mine), and some more were 68 COPO 9737 Camaros. Beyond the 9737 COPO in 68, there is great controversy over whether 427's were also COPO in 1968. Jim Mattison gave some input on this subject which has thoroughly been discussed in past threads.

All 68 sYc Camaro's ordered were in groups of 4 Camaros per Vince Emme. Vince has what he describes as onion skin sheet copies of the 68 sYc Camaro orders Yenko placed to Chevrolet. Vince also has a solo order onion skin document of my 68 Yenko which is the only car on the sheet, which to me is a "one and only". My 68 was ordered as a "Special Order Drag Car" which is typewritten on the order invoice from Yenko to Chevrolet. I have the strong belief my 68 Yenko is the "one and only" 68 pilot/prototype 427 Camaro due to it being a solo order typed out as "Special Order Drag Car".

[Mr70]

SuperCars
Good stuff.
Thanks for clearing that up.

[Stefano]

Mr70,
I would think that most of the prototype fitting /testing was performed in late 1966 and early 1967 for the first Generation Camaro big block installation, by Bill Thomas, Dick Harrell, Payton Cramer, Fred Gibb ,Don Yenko and Joel Rosen. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

[68l30]

Anyone know the build date (body/VIN) on the "One and Only"?Why the early nose stripe,pre Jan,on a supposed 69 prototype car?It does not make sense to me,unless a incorrect repaint was done.I know the stripe was availiable as a option on a base car,but was this a 396 conversion with a 9737?Why stripe this COPO?It,I think,was a low option for 68. Just a few thoughts on a interesting topic......


Steve

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I agree Kevin, that One and Only car was not the prototype. I only contribute this because I have spoken with some prior owners of that car. I actually don't recall why/how they determined that it was some sort of prototype. What's the legend on that decision?

[JoeC]

My notes show the "one and only" car's trim tag as having the dash and no paint code. This may have led to the confusion of the trim tag decode but may only mean it was stripe delete. I show it as YS#8008 which would be early car and less likely to be a prototype for 69 models. I recently found 67 Yenko Camaros with a dash on trim tag but not paint code. Don Yenko may have special ordered many of his cars from Stinger Corvair to Stinger Vega. I have not looked into the 81 Turbo Z. Don knew how to work an order blank and was in with some big wheels at Chevy.

[Stefano]

Joe,
I don't believe there is any question Don Yenko special ordered the Corvair Stingers via the COPO process. COPO 9531a which was the 3.89 positraction differential, only available on the Stinger in 1966 or over the counter and refered to as "Yenko" option in the parts book. Only approx. 1/2 of the 100 '66 Stingers recieved this COPO option.

COPO 9861e, The Dual brake master clyinder used on all/most
'66 Yenko Stingers.

[SuperCars]

Okay I have the ex-Heath Body Broadcast sheet in front of me. I thought about scanning, then posting it, but don't know who owns the car. I wouldn't want someone copying documents of one of my cars onto a website without permission, so won't post this one.

The last line of Boxes on the sheet are as follows:

ZONE-13, DEALER-899, ORDER NO.-01610, F& SO OR COPO NO.-FN0221, ORDER RECEIVED 02-21

Then last lines, (no boxes):
9737AA 1001HA
PAINT 900EE