Yenko Camaro
| Yenko Camaro | |
|---|---|
1968 Yenko Super Camaro YS8011
|
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chevrolet (General Motors) |
| Production | 1967–1969 |
| Assembly | Norwood, Ohio |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class |
pony car muscle car sports car |
| Body style | 2-door coupe |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | F-body |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 427cid (7.0L) Chevrolet V8 |
| Transmission |
4-speed manual |
4-speed manual
The Yenko Super Camaro was a modified Chevrolet Camaro prepared by Yenko Chevrolet, under the personal supervision of Don Yenko. The originals were all first-generation Camaros. When the Camaro debuted, a General Motors corporate edict prevented it from carrying an engine larger than 400 in³ (6.6 L) 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 had such a limit. Admittedly Ford only had a 390 Mustang in 1967, with Carrol Shelby producing the 428 Police Interceptor equipped Shelby GT500. Don Yenko, however, knew there was a market for an ultra powerful Camaro and found ways around the GM limit.
Yenko ordered L-78 equipped SS Camaros and swapped in the Chevrolet Corvette's L-72 427 in³ (7.0 L) V8. The cars came with a 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 "Stinger" hood featured on 1967 big-block Corvettes.
Don Yenko's Camaros were equipped with a 427 in³ L-72 with either an M21 or M22 transmission. The horsepower was rated at 450 hp (336 kW). Yenko Camaros were not 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 Production Order, in 1969. The COPO Camaros were equipped with the same 427 in³ engine and were allowed to race for Chevy.
Encouraged by the success of the 1967 model, Yenko continued to produce his Yenko Super Camaros for 1968. All of the 1968 Yenko Super Camaros started life with the L78 396 in³ 375 hp (280 kW) hp engine 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 appointments which included a 140 mph (230 km/h) Delco speedometer, a special Magic Mirror trim tag and a large 1 1/8th inch front anti-sway bar. Yenko swapped out the factory 396 in³ short-block for the L72 427 in³ 450 hp (336 kW) short-block reusing all of the rest of the 396 in³ engine's components including the heads, carburetor, intake manifold, etc. He swapped the stock hood for a twin-snorkel fiberglass one he had made along with other features including Pontiac's 14"x6" steel wheels with special Yenko caps, Yenko emblems gracing the front grill, front fenders and tail panel and 427 emblems were added to the tail panel and front fenders as well. Other additions included a Yenko Super Camaro serial-numbered tag in the driver's side door jamb and Stewart Warner pedestal-mounted tachometer and 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 production number for these cars is approx 64 cars converted, with well less than half of that number known to exist today.
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