Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut

[Steve Shauger]

I'm posting this for a friend, who happens to be the original owner of this Yenko Chevelle.


Hi I'm Clarence, the guy who purchased this car from GATES CHEVROLET in Indiana. They opened the doors and I drove it out ...so much of this is just like it was back then. I broke the mirror off in the drive in and replaced with racing mirrors, I sprayed the emblems and tried to get the stripes off. Every time I was in it I got a ticket, some times my fault sometimes just because of the stripes. I tried to trade the 427 for a small block. I knew I would be drafted soon so I just let it go. Back then no one wanted a wore out race car. I let my young brother have the car when I got drafted he was soon arrested and put in jail for street competition. We sold the car I think somewhere around $1800. The last time I saw it ,it was at a small store near Oxford Michigan and It was looking pretty sad with black wall tires and no hubcaps. When I got out of the army I almost bought another Yenko, it was butternut yellow with black top automatic and for sale for $800. It was near Indianapolis, and I didn't buy it because the trans slipped. Fast forward a few years, my son wanted to find the car after all the stories he had heard, and I still have pictures. I will post some if I can ..I guess that is what all these cars are about are the memories.


Chris I don’t think I would be upset with any of your fathers family, back then these cars were just trouble , needed gas and tires all the time
I don't think any of us knew they would be worth anything or we would have taken more care of them....

Clarence Thompson