69 Nova Big Blocks

[AutoInsane]

I think a major point in this discussion is how the car(that is to say any 'super car') is presented. If any of the cars in question were modified by any of the supercar dealerships at time of initial purchase or subsequently thereafter it would seem they belong in the category of supercars. If a car was one of the ones converted after purchase it should be noted in the description of the car. This full disclosure would serve to bolster the authenticity of the history on the car, nothing hidden, no stories. I would see no diference in classifying the two categories. And from there.... caveat emptor

My opinion...any thoughts?

[Jeff H]

Tom, what I'm referring to as an "ordered car" is for example a BM Phase III. A customer would order the car with those options. It didn't matter if Joel ordered a factory L72 COPO or an SS396 car. The later 67 and 68 cars were usually ordered with the L78 so the L72 swap would be straight forward. Yenko would order the L78 with the intentions of putting the L72 in because a customer called and ordered one, correct? That's what I see as a true SuperCar. Then the COPO came along and made it easier. The early 67 cars were SS350's that were ordered and had the L72 transplanted into because the 396 was not available yet. I think the same comparison would work for Mr. Norm's Dodge's and the Royal Pontiac's. A car sold at Mr. Norm's that had an engine swap or super tune done a year or 2 after the purchase isn't the same as a car that was done when it was ordered or came in. I wish we could get some more input to see what other people think. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] I don't have a car that fits into either category so I'm just trying to add my point of view.

[Belair62]

I can see it now....a 75 year old ex dealer mechanic slapping in 427's in his garage !!!!! Another day...another SUPERCAR !!!

[bkhpah]

I bought my Nova with the intention of the car being a Yenko SS 375/396 car. No more no less. It is in my own opinion a very nice car with rock solid Yenko ties. I am happy with that, I can tell you. Later I recieve a call from Tom Clary about a conversation he just had with Warren D. Tom asked him about the 427 Nova SC cars. Warren had told him that none of the Novas Tom was asking about were ever done in his presence. The only Nova SS he ever did a 427 conversion on was a special order car sold at Yenko. The car he was refering to was the one I had just bought. I did not even talk to Warren about this untill a few weeks later. I asked him and he told me that he indeed did do the 427 for my Nova. An aluminum head L/88 style engine. He told me about 1970 he was making the transition from Yenko Cheverolet to Saab. He was unhappy with the direction Yenko was going with the proposed Vega program. He was still involved with the Yenko racing program. Warren built and installed the 427 for his friend at his own shop were he was building hi-performance engines as well. The car was a Yenko Nova SS with a 427-L/88 installed by Yenko's top man in about 1970. He said the car was a lot of fun!. So what is the car today? I think it is just what it appears to be, A Nova SS with direct ties to Yenko and all the right people to do that type of work. Is it a Yenko/SC Nova, I don't think so. But it is another example of what was being done in Canonsburg during the late 60's early 70's. I like the car no matter what. It is the only example of this type of car I have ever seen. Living in the Canonsburg area I have never yet owned the textbook Yenko car. It has always had something different. You decide what it is. Tim I ask you this, why were you asking Warren about my Nova to begin with. The car is not yours. I talked to you at the reunion and told you the car was an SS 396. I had the file folder for the car from the begining. The guy I bought the car from had it for years. I did not ask Warren to lie about anything he did to the car. You come across like I am a big liar. You can bash my car all you want, but don't hint that I did something wrong ...BKH

[copolocater]

Spin,spin, spin, spin, spin.You and the administrator of this site tried to pull a fast one on everybody.I talked with Warren about all the paperwork he had and we discussed many cars not only yours.I have talked to Warren on a few occasions to verify cars.I mentioned how nice your car was and he gave me the full history.I'm not putting the screws to you you screwed yourself along with Tom with this BS story.I've watched these post by Tom and he hasn't answered one question honestly.Spin,spin spin into another direction.Ive had it.Verify the car I don't care.Post whatever you like .You and Toms reputation have been tarnished by this.I won't believe anything either of you have to say.Go ahead and hammer me .I'm over it. <font color="blue"> [P.S.] I have just been told I've been too harsh.Let me explain this.Brian I watched the user board all day yesterday and you were on numerous times if this was your feeling that you stand by you should have put a stop to it yesterday you chose not to.Also I've never denigrated your car to anyone I bragged how nice it was.Blame me no blame Tom I wasn't verifying your car as a 427.

[sixtiesmuscle]

I thought this was settled yesterday when two critical facts were verified.
1] The car in question was delivered to the original owner as a 396.
2] The 427 built by Warren was not installed until late 1970, and, was NOT installed or billed by Yenko.

Everything else makes a nice story, and, a neat car, but, as Brian says himself, it is NOT a 427 Yenko/SC.

[Stefano]

Just another Random thought which I have posed prior...Were all the Yenko Sports Cars , Inc. Super Cars listed somewhere in the Companies Corporate minutes. Have the Corporate books for either Yenko Chevrolet, Inc. or Yenko Sports Cars, Inc. been found?

[Mr Yenko]

So Mike we should NOT take the words of a mechanic that worked for a Supercar Dealership of the authenticity of a car from the late 60's as to its heritage? How would you present this car? Would you leave it the way it is or put it back to it's orig. cadilac bronze and L-88\427 that it was intended to have back in 1969. But the orig. owner had fallen short on $$$ to finish it the way he wanted it to be the day he was ordering this one of a kind Nova. So am i wrong saying this is a "ONE OF ONE YENKO NOVA" I challenge someone to show us another car like this no matter what the make and model or manufacture. It is still a transplant car from yenko with a transplant done by the head man from Yenko's. It just was done at a later date. "MOF"

[sYc]

Stefano, Not for sure what you mean by corporate records. Several years ago, Martha Yenko took John Connolly to the old Yenko dealership, where all of the old records and other stuff was stored, and allowed him to remove anything he wanted. Then what was left was thrown into a dumpster. The dumpster is where WD got the folders he has. Since that time, I have purchased much of what John has, including all of the paperwork, plus numerous items used at the Canonsburg dealership, such as lamps, chairs, telephones, time clocks, file cabinet (which once again holds Yenko records), etc. I have several boxes of just paperwork, much is old tax returns, time sheets, memos, etc. Some is useful, much is just "papers". Hope this helps. ADMINISTRATOR [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[hvychev]

Interesting post to say the least.

As a casual observer I have a few questions &amp; statements.

Mr. Clary, If The owner of the car in question himself has said that it is not a real Yenko S/C then why do you still insist that it is?

On another note (This may have nothing to do with the current discussion) Why are Jack Douglas *, @, or &amp; (whatever they are refered to now as.) not refered to as Yenko S/C Camaros? I mean we are going to consider a Cannonsberg Delivered Nova that had an engine swap done about a year after the original delivery date done in an ex-Yenko employes garage a real Yenko super car but not a car that was born a supercar by the GM COPO package, and striped as Yenko cars using an agreement that the two dealers had come to because it was delivered in Hinsdale? (No I can't show anybody the paperwork) [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/confused.gif[/img] Whats the deal???

IMO a car that was delivered NEW with an L72, ZL1, tuned L78, converted LS6, LS7, or a BALDWIN MOTION dealer/tuner combo, etc are real supercars. Ones that are done after the fact even the next day are not. If it is not in the original paperwork as being done or paid for to be done soon after, or can be verified by a trusted party that was on hand at that time it is not! <font color="blue">It has to be done or set up prior to delivery when the car was sold new. </font color> Dont get me wrong they are still awesome, interesting cars but do not fall in the definition of a new dealer built supercar established in my head by what I have learned from this great site. Thoes may be considered "day 2" cars to the extreme with great roots. They may be a Super Car but not a Supercar by definition.

These are just opinions and not ment to down anybodys car. Sorry to rehash the whole Douglas situation. I wish that I had one myself to have this discussion about. I just think we should stick to the original rules and not assign another situation a different punctuation mark.