They were built from the 1967 model year to the 1969 model year. Ever-increasing numbers of emissions controls have sapped their share of horsepower from once potent engines. (click here), The unauthorized use of any editorial or photographic content from americancarcollector.com without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Working closely with some competent people at Turbo International a system emerged that does everything we hoped for. The options found in the COPO weren’t available for purchase on the dealership’s paperwork. Yenko ordered L78 equipped SS Camaros and swapped in the Chevrolet Corvette's L72 427 in³ (7.0 L) V8. When the Camaro debuted, a General Motors corporate edict prevented it from carrying an engine larger than 400 in³ (6.6 L) V8. Don Yenko and others knew there was a market for a more powerful Camaro and found ways around the GM limit. According to the COPO Connection, the car was also equipped with dual exhaust, heavy-duty suspension and clutch, and a Positraction rear axle with a 3.73:1 drive ratio. This has all been developed with each and every emission control connected and functional.[2]. Yenko also ordered the cars with COPO 9737 which included a 140 mph (230 km/h) speedometer, a larger 1 1/8th inch front anti-sway bar, and a special trim tag. The 1967 Yenko Chevrolet first appeared in the pony car battle. The 1981 Yenko Turbo Z was based on a 1981 Camaro. Engine: 427cid (7.0L) ... Keeping this in consideration, how many Yenko Novas were made? The 427 in³ engine under the hood was built by GM who has brought back the big block engines from the muscle car era. Buyers of the car had the option of either the M-21 four speed or the Turbo Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission. Of those, 25,141, or 11 percent, were convertibles. Camaro SS Coupe with 6-Speed. Starting life as a 396-ci Super Sport model built at GM’s Norwood, OH, plant in June 1967, this car was delivered to Yenko’s dealership later that month, and a copy of the original handwritten Yenko service invoice lists the conversions undertaken on July 18. However, in 1969 Yenko was able to exploit Chevrolet’s Central Office Production Order (COPO) #9561 to have the L72 installed at the factory. The car pictured above belongs to Jim Parks, and is the only know '67 Yenko in showroom condition. Original Baldwin-Motion cars are in high demand with collectors and rarely change hands publicly. The cars came with a 4.10 rear end and heavy-duty suspension. [3][4] Don Yenko sold 201 of his famous COPO-program Camaros out of his Canonsburg, PA dealership. He swapped the stock hood for a twin-snorkel fiberglass hood and added Pontiac's 14"x6" steel wheels with special Yenko caps, Yenko emblems gracing the front grill, front fenders and tail panel. The horsepower was rated at 423 hp (315 kW). The found yellow SS350 conversion Yenko 427 Super Camaro with documentation is not on the 107 list or the 54 list. The Camaros were equipped with a M21 transmission. The grille was redesigned with a heavy "V" cant and deeply inset headlights. Chevrolet built only 602 Z28 Coupes in the first year of Camaro production, so when this rare example was purchased by its second owner in 1992, he immediately set about restoring it to its original configuration. Production: 1967–1969. Instead of placing an or… Yenko Camaros were not allowed to race for Chevrolet on the drag strip because they were not made by Chevrolet. The horsepower was rated at 450 hp (336 kW). 1967 Yenko 427 Camaro. This Camaro may very well have been on the showroom floor when Yenko and Harrell made a personal appearance at Jay Kline Chevrolet in the fourth week of August 1967. Dan was able to ferret out a few stats: "In 1967, 220,906 Camaros were manufactured. 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 in³ engine and possibly even an LS9. Once an order was placed, the Camaros 396 engine was swapped for … The Camaros were equipped with a M21 transmission. And since all of the fuel entering the engine is "processed" through the turbo, you get better fuel economy and improved response even without being in boost. Options offered on the vehicle are the same as was available in 1969 including paint colors. Encouraged by the success of the 1967 model, Yenko continued to produce his Yenko Super Camaros for 1968. In March of 2013, Gooding & Co. sold one for $350,000 (ACC# 215565), and Mecum sold another for $344,500 in May of 2012 (ACC# 210882). How many COPO Camaros were built isn't known; Yenko ordered 201, but other dealers could order them as well, and 500 or more were produced. During 1971 and 1972, Yenko sold Yenko Stinger Vegas. One of just 54 Yenko conversions in 1967, this car is equipped with a Muncie M21 close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission backing up its 427/450 HP OHV V-8 and power front disc brakes to help bring it down from high speeds. As reported in the March '08 issue of Muscle Car Review, the vehicle is a fully licensed and certified Yenko starting at #202. For 1969, the dealership worked with Chevrolet to have the L72 engines installed on the factory assembly line using a Central Office Production Order, or COPO. That special mission was to convert those Camaros into Yenko drag strip-ready IHRA/NHRA Stock and Super Stock Camaro competitors. So it can be said that 21% of the 4,932 convertibles made got a 6 speed or only about 1,036 (.21 x 4,932) Camaros in 1994 were convertible 6 speeds no matter what color they were. This Deepwater Blue example will head to Mecum’s auction block for its May 14–19 sale in Indianapolis.