Chevrolet, under the personal supervision of Don Yenko. The originals
Chevrolet, under the personal supervision of Don Yenko. The originals

were all first-generation Camaros. When the Camaro debuted, a General Motors
were all first-generation Camaros. When the Camaro debuted, a General Motors

corporate edict prevented it from carrying an engine larger than 400 in³
corporate edict prevented it from carrying an engine larger than 400 in³

V8; this put the Camaro at a serious disadvantage to the Ford Mustang,
V8; this put the Camaro at a serious disadvantage to the Ford Mustang,

Plymouth Barracuda and the Dodge Dart since neither Ford nor Plymouth/Dodge
Plymouth Barracuda and the Dodge Dart since neither Ford nor Plymouth/Dodge

had such a limit. Don Yenko, however, knew there was a market for an ultra
had such a limit. Don Yenko, however, knew there was a market for an ultra

powerful Camaro and found ways around the GM limit.
powerful Camaro and found ways around the GM limit.

1967 Yenko ordered L-78 equipped SS Camaros
1967 Yenko ordered L-78 equipped SS Camaros

and swapped in the Chevrolet Corvette's L-72 427 in³ V8. The cars came with a
and swapped in the Chevrolet Corvette's L-72 427 in³ V8. The cars came with a

4.10 rear end and heavy-duty suspension. The exact number of cars produced is
4.10 rear end and heavy-duty suspension. The exact number of cars produced is

104. Yenko also installed a fiberglass replacement hood similar to the
104. Yenko also installed a fiberglass replacement hood similar to the

"Stinger" hood featured on 1967 big-block Corvettes.
"Stinger" hood featured on 1967 big-block Corvettes.

Don Yenko's Camaros were equipped with a 427ci L-72 in them with either an M21 or
Don Yenko's Camaros were equipped with a 427ci L-72 in them with either an M21 or

M22 transmission. The horsepower was rated at 450 hp. Yenko Camaros were not
M22 transmission. The horsepower was rated at 450 hp. Yenko Camaros were not

allowed to race for Chevrolet on the drag strip because they were not made by
allowed to race for Chevrolet on the drag strip because they were not made by

Chevrolet. Chevy's answer to this was the COPO Camaro, or Central Office
Chevrolet. Chevy's answer to this was the COPO Camaro, or Central Office

Production Order, in 1969. The COPO Camaros were equipped with the same
Production Order, in 1969. The COPO Camaros were equipped with the same

427ci engine and were allowed to race for Chevy.
427ci engine and were allowed to race for Chevy.

1968 Encouraged by the success of the 1967
1968 Encouraged by the success of the 1967

model, Yenko continued to produce his Yenko Super Camaro's for 1968. All of
model, Yenko continued to produce his Yenko Super Camaro's for 1968. All of

the 1968 Yenko Super Camaro's started life with the L78 396 ci 375hp engine
the 1968 Yenko Super Camaro's started life with the L78 396 ci 375hp engine

and close ratio 4 speed Muncie transmission. They were all built as
and close ratio 4 speed Muncie transmission. They were all built as

Super Sport cars but only the Yenko ordered cars came with the 9737 COPO
Super Sport cars but only the Yenko ordered cars came with the 9737 COPO

appointments which included; 140 mph Delco speedometer, special Magic Mirror
appointments which included; 140 mph Delco speedometer, special Magic Mirror

trim tag and large 1 1/8th inch front sway-bar. Yenko then swapped the factory
trim tag and large 1 1/8th inch front sway-bar. Yenko then swapped the factory

396 ci short-block for the L72 427 ci 450hp short-block reusing all of the
396 ci short-block for the L72 427 ci 450hp short-block reusing all of the

rest of the 396 engines components including the heads, carburetor, intake
rest of the 396 engines components including the heads, carburetor, intake

manifold etc...He then swapped out the stock hood for a twin snorkel fiberglass
manifold etc...He then swapped out the stock hood for a twin snorkel fiberglass

one he had made along with other features including Pontiac 14x6 steel
one he had made along with other features including Pontiac 14x6 steel

wheels with special Yenko caps, Yenko emblems gracing the front grill, front
wheels with special Yenko caps, Yenko emblems gracing the front grill, front

fenders and tail panel, 427 emblems were added to the tail panel and front
fenders and tail panel, 427 emblems were added to the tail panel and front

fenders as well. Other additions were a Yenko Super Camaro serial numbered tag
fenders as well. Other additions were a Yenko Super Camaro serial numbered tag

in the drivers side door jamb, Stewart Warner pedestal mounted tachometer and
in the drivers side door jamb, Stewart Warner pedestal mounted tachometer and

gauges were installed in the interior, early cars got a rear spoiler made for
gauges were installed in the interior, early cars got a rear spoiler made for

Yenko and later cars all got the factory spoilers front and rear. The recognized
Yenko and later cars all got the factory spoilers front and rear. The recognized

production number for these cars is aprox 64 cars converted, with well less
production number for these cars is aprox 64 cars converted, with well less

than half of that number known to exist today.
than half of that number known to exist today.

1969 For 1969, the dealership worked with
1969 For 1969, the dealership worked with

Chevrolet to have the L-72 engines installed on the factory assembly line
Chevrolet to have the L-72 engines installed on the factory assembly line

using a Central Office Production Order, or COPO. The orders included power disc
using a Central Office Production Order, or COPO. The orders included power disc

brakes, a 4.10 Positraction rear end with heat treated axle shafts,, a Z-28
brakes, a 4.10 Positraction rear end with heat treated axle shafts,, a Z-28

front anti-sway bar, and a heavy-duty 4-core radiator. Buyers of the car had
front anti-sway bar, and a heavy-duty 4-core radiator. Buyers of the car had

the option of either the M-21 four speed or the Turbo Hydramatic 400 automatic
the option of either the M-21 four speed or the Turbo Hydramatic 400 automatic

transmission. A total of 201 cars were sold in 1969, 171 with four speed
transmission. A total of 201 cars were sold in 1969, 171 with four speed

transmissions and 30 with automatic transmissions. Yenko rounded out the
transmissions and 30 with automatic transmissions. Yenko rounded out the

visual package with front and rear spoilers, a cowl-induction hood, special
visual package with front and rear spoilers, a cowl-induction hood, special

"Yenko 427" badges, twin stripes down the flanks and hood,, and the sYc
"Yenko 427" badges, twin stripes down the flanks and hood,, and the sYc

badge,. According to the Camaro Research Group, standard black interior was the
badge,. According to the Camaro Research Group, standard black interior was the

only interior ordered by Yenko. As of September 2008, there are two
only interior ordered by Yenko. As of September 2008, there are two

known automatic transmission 1969 Yenko Camaros remaining, according to an ESPN
known automatic transmission 1969 Yenko Camaros remaining, according to an ESPN

auction show. On Jan. 17, 2009, a documented ZL-1
auction show. On Jan. 17, 2009, a documented ZL-1

COPO, dark green, re-bodied, went for $290,000 at the Barret Jackson Auto
COPO, dark green, re-bodied, went for $290,000 at the Barret Jackson Auto

Auction as Lot 12773. "Mr. October," Major League Baseball Hall of Famer
Auction as Lot 12773. "Mr. October," Major League Baseball Hall of Famer

Reggie Jackson, was bidding on this car but didn't win it. Another yellow with
Reggie Jackson, was bidding on this car but didn't win it. Another yellow with

black stripes, original body but non-original heads, and auto
black stripes, original body but non-original heads, and auto

transmission, sold for $270,000. Auctioned as Lot 96651.
transmission, sold for $270,000. Auctioned as Lot 96651.

The last five digits on the V.I.N. denote the lot numbers assigned for live
The last five digits on the V.I.N. denote the lot numbers assigned for live

sale through Barrett-Jackson auctions. 1981
sale through Barrett-Jackson auctions. 1981

The 1981 Yenko Turbo Z, as it was known, was based on a 1981 Camaro. Don Yenko's
The 1981 Yenko Turbo Z, as it was known, was based on a 1981 Camaro. Don Yenko's

comments on the car are: 1969 Continuation Series
comments on the car are: 1969 Continuation Series

Recently a company out of North Carolina called Classic Automotive Restoration
Recently a company out of North Carolina called Classic Automotive Restoration

Specialists has restarted production of the '69 Yenko Camaro. Don Yenko sold 201
Specialists has restarted production of the '69 Yenko Camaro. Don Yenko sold 201

of his famous COPO-program Camaros out of his Canonsburg, PA dealership. As
of his famous COPO-program Camaros out of his Canonsburg, PA dealership. As

reported in the March '08 issue of Muscle Car Review the vehicle is a fully
reported in the March '08 issue of Muscle Car Review the vehicle is a fully

licensed and certified Yenko starting at #202. The 427 engine under the hood was
licensed and certified Yenko starting at #202. The 427 engine under the hood was

built by GM who has brought back the big block engines from the muscle car era.
built by GM who has brought back the big block engines from the muscle car era.

The rest of the components took 2½ years to track down the original machinery.
The rest of the components took 2½ years to track down the original machinery.

Options offered on the vehicle are the same as was available back in 1969
Options offered on the vehicle are the same as was available back in 1969

including paint colors. The car costs around 60% less than some of the current
including paint colors. The car costs around 60% less than some of the current

43-year-old Yenko Camaro survivors but drives like an old car would have when
43-year-old Yenko Camaro survivors but drives like an old car would have when

it was new off the dealership. Two known people own yenkos Camaros.
it was new off the dealership. Two known people own yenkos Camaros.

2010 A new Yenko Camaro based on the new 2010
2010 A new Yenko Camaro based on the new 2010

Camaro platform was introduced at SEMA 2009. The new engine is a supercharged
Camaro platform was introduced at SEMA 2009. The new engine is a supercharged

version of GM's LS3, the 6.2-liter V8 that comes standard with the Camaro SS.
version of GM's LS3, the 6.2-liter V8 that comes standard with the Camaro SS.

Since it is only the Phase I Yenko, it is expected that Phase II and Phase III
Since it is only the Phase I Yenko, it is expected that Phase II and Phase III

Yenkos are coming which will have a Z06-sourced LS7 427 engine and possibly
Yenkos are coming which will have a Z06-sourced LS7 427 engine and possibly

even an LS9. See also
even an LS9. See also

Yenko Chevrolet Don Yenko
Yenko Chevrolet Don Yenko

References External links
References External links

Yenko.net Yenko at FirstGenCamaro.com
Yenko.net Yenko at FirstGenCamaro.com