Yenko modified Monza?

mahoy78spyder · #1 10-19-2000, 05:03 AM

I understand that a Yenko-modified Monza(s) did exist but do not have any proof of this. I'd like to start a thread here to see what info is out there that anyone might have. Anyone...?
Ken

bbdon · #2 10-23-2000, 05:35 AM

This is not a Yenko Monza, but it is as close as I could find, it is a Nickey Monza. Actually, the real neat car here is a Nova, of course. This Nova is maybe the coolest dealer built car that I know of, imagine it, a 75 Nova LN. This car was only intended to steal a few sales away from the Ford Granada, no driving excitement allowed there. But with a 454, this is the ultimate sleeper. You have to click on the third link to see the Monza information. So this post is only partly on topic, sorry. It is from Super Chevy Magazine.
http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/75-454-1.gif
http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/75-454-2.gif
http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/75-454-3.gif
http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/75-454-4.gif
This last link is not for a Monza either, but it is also kind of interesting to a Monza enthusiast. It is a Motion Corvette Spyder. This is from Chevrolet Performance Annual, 1977. It looks like a 77 Spyder stripe kit and four 76 Monza Spyder emblems added to a IMSA style Corvette. Off topic, but very cool. I wonder where these cars are now.
http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/cospyder.jpg

mahoy78spyder · #3 10-23-2000, 09:37 PM

Thanks bbdon, I had not seen any articles on the Nickey Monzas until now. I knew they existed, but finding original literature on them is near impossible. Thanks for the links.

The Corvette is very interesting. I've never seen the Monza emblems and decals used on other cars before.... good taste! ;-)
Ken

whitetop · #4 10-24-2000, 12:12 AM

Ken
Did the Yenko Monza have Imsa type flares?? I thought(about 99.9% sure) in the late '70's, Car Craft, Hot Rod etc had a picture of the car you are refering to. It was not in a article but was in the front of the magazine under "new -stuff-happenings" etc.
Was it raced under GT-1 type Imsa class??
whitetop

**bkhpah** · #5 10-24-2000, 01:56 AM

I will try and get some info on the Yenko Monza that was in Latrobe. I was told the car exists from some good sources, but you know how that can go sometimes, Can anyone say goose chase!
BKH

mahoy78spyder · #6 10-24-2000, 04:27 AM

Whitetop, yes, I "think" we are talking about the same Monza. Interestingly enough, (assuming it "is" the same car) I have been chatting lately with the new owner, Mr. Lefever, of said Monza, or more precisely his son Kyle. Anyway, the monza does have the IMSA flares, but is not a Dekon monza. It was originally owned by Jim Trueman (owner of Red Roof Inns.) I'm not sure if Don Yenko ever owned the car or not, but he did drive it a couple of times. A guy by the name of Kim Mason crewed on the car for awhile and when it went for sale, he bought it. (Kim M. is the very Kim Mason that came up in another forum a couple weeks ago. He runs and owns Yenko Honda in McMurry, PA. and has been a road racer for years. He was and employee/friend of Don Yenko, and also the developmental engineer on the Yenko Turbo Z (Camaro) program from 79-81.)

Anyway, once the car was ineligible for IMSA GT in the 80's, the car's body was changed from a Monza to a Corvette (at the time the wheelbase was the same length). Eventually more rules changes forced Kim into deciding whether to completely change the chassis, or convert it back into the Monza as it was
originally. He decided to put the Monza bodywork back on and sell it to a vintage racer or museum. Kyle and his dad followed the car for awhile and then decided they wanted to vintage race and that this would be a great car to have. The Trueman/Yenko Monza was raced fairly regulary in IMSA Camel GT. It was raced in the 24 hours of Daytona several times as well as the 12 hours of Sebring, once with Bobby Rahal as a co-driver w/ Herb Adams & Jerry Thompson. At
one time the car had a Chevy big block in it, but it currently has a 358 small block residing in it. The car was a middle-of-the-pack car, with a best finish of fifth at a season finale in Daytona. It raced in Monza configuration from 1976 to 1984. The Lefevers bought it and hope to vintage race the car by spring. I met them through a request that came through looking for old Camel GT decals to help them in the car's restoration. I've been helping Kyle and his Dad with possible sources for those decals.

Dave (whitetop), if you still have that article, and haven't put it up for auction on Ebay yet, consider it sold! Give me an email at [email protected].

Bkhpah, I'd love to see what info you have as well.... am looking forward to it.

Ken

mahoy78spyder · #7 10-24-2000, 04:59 AM

Btw, I began this forum thinking that there existed some sort of a "COPO" Yenko Monza, but am starting to think that maybe this IMSA-flared Camel GT Monza we're discussing is "the" Yenko Monza I've been trying to research. Funny thing is, I've not seen any pics of any of the cars we're discussing, but rather am only going off of third-party descriptions of the car(s), so I can neither confirm nor deny any of the possibilities yet. Has anyone heard of any COPO-optioned or dealer-modified Yenko Monzas? ...or have I "found" the Yenko Monza in question????

Ken

mahoy78spyder · #8 10-27-2000, 11:58 PM

To BKHPAH: Did you ever find anything out on that Yenko Monza in your hometown there? Also, how much do you know about it? Color? Stock-looking body, or IMSA panels? COPO-optioned car or IMSA race car? If you've read all the posts above, it seems that maybe I've confused the issue as to what exactly "is" the Yenko Monza. Just curious what you knew.... Thanks in advance.

Ken

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