Yenko Deuce

[TMagda]

The OP Deuce. I have told this story a few times on here. Went with my dad to get a new car in 1970 at W.R. Austin and there was a Deuce sitting in the showroom. My memory is telling me it was Dusk Blue, but considering it was almost 50 years ago, who can be sure. It was a dark color. Smaller dealership. Probably not too many Yenkos going through W.R. Austin, but there was also an Olympic Gold Camaro, which is still in the original owners hands. I was 10. Hopped in the Deuce and pretend ran it through the gears, making race car noises, until the sales guy kicked me out. Begged my dad to get the Deuce, but he settled on a six cyl, 3 on the tree Duster, literally no options...

I am positive the floor had the rubber mat, and it was a manual. Also, I may know what happened to the original engine and trans. About 6 years later, I was 16 and got my first car, 1969 Z/28 Camaro! It was having trouble shifting, and my engine was making noises, not knowing anything, I thought I needed a new engine and transmission. Found both listed in our local for sale paper, "The Bargain News" about a mile from my house. Pull in the driveway, there is a Yenko Deuce, dark color, engine gone, trans in the trunk. At the time, I thought it was the same one. Norwalk was small town back then. I bought the trans, but didn't need it (it was the clutch), so I sold it to LaJoie's salvage yard. Rebuilt the 302 instead. Ronnie LaJoie was a classmate of mine, so we had excellent access to his dad's yard.

I also remember a Dusk Blue automatic in town, although I don't know if it came from Austin. I clearly remember the Hurst shifter with the auto pattern on the knob.