Yenko corvette question
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Yenko corvette question
I am helping a widow sell a ‘64 convertible matching #s 1 owner survivor that was supposedly a Yenko dealership special order with side pipes 327/365. Rumor is he took the car and ran with Yenko a few times we are still searching and reviewing paperwork.
im fairly knowledgeable owning a frame off 67 convertible matching #s and a 62 NOM convertible with a Chevy 350, but could use some help from the real experts for direction.
supposedly the title shows the purchase from Yenko. I Haven’t seen or ask if the tank sticker exists, but it’s on my list.
does anyone have any advice or suggestions for things to look for?
any help will be much appreciated
Thanks!
im fairly knowledgeable owning a frame off 67 convertible matching #s and a 62 NOM convertible with a Chevy 350, but could use some help from the real experts for direction.
supposedly the title shows the purchase from Yenko. I Haven’t seen or ask if the tank sticker exists, but it’s on my list.
does anyone have any advice or suggestions for things to look for?
any help will be much appreciated
Thanks!
Popular Reply
Jun 26, 2023, 01:07 PM
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,436
Likes: 1,345
From: Edmonds Washington (Stunning view of Olympic Mtns and Puget Sound)
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I am helping a widow sell a ‘64 convertible matching #s 1 owner survivor that was supposedly a Yenko dealership special order with side pipes 327/365. Rumor is he took the car and ran with Yenko a few times we are still searching and reviewing paperwork.
im fairly knowledgeable owning a frame off 67 convertible matching #s and a 62 NOM convertible with a Chevy 350, but could use some help from the real experts for direction.
supposedly the title shows the purchase from Yenko. I Haven’t seen or ask if the tank sticker exists, but it’s on my list.
does anyone have any advice or suggestions for things to look for?
any help will be much appreciated
Thanks!
im fairly knowledgeable owning a frame off 67 convertible matching #s and a 62 NOM convertible with a Chevy 350, but could use some help from the real experts for direction.
supposedly the title shows the purchase from Yenko. I Haven’t seen or ask if the tank sticker exists, but it’s on my list.
does anyone have any advice or suggestions for things to look for?
any help will be much appreciated
Thanks!
begee22
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 524
From: Ventura California
Order the delivery records from NCRS. That will tell you what dealer it was delivered to new.
Then go to the Yenko super car forum and there are some very knowledgeable Yenko folks on that site.
Then go to the Yenko super car forum and there are some very knowledgeable Yenko folks on that site.
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,002
Likes: 4,158
From: US-PNW
I am helping a widow sell a ‘64 convertible matching #s 1 owner survivor that was supposedly a Yenko dealership special order with side pipes 327/365. Rumor is he took the car and ran with Yenko a few times we are still searching and reviewing paperwork.
supposedly the title shows the purchase from Yenko. I Haven’t seen or ask if the tank sticker exists, but it’s on my list.
supposedly the title shows the purchase from Yenko. I Haven’t seen or ask if the tank sticker exists, but it’s on my list.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 38,289
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From: California
Yes best to check first as to whether it even came from the Yenko Dealership. Don did take control of this second dealership in Cannonsburg for his Dad in 1957. He was doing a lot of playing (racing). He did get on the list to get 1963 Z06s, and not sure if he got any 1964 Z06s (all Coupes). Side Exhausts on a 1964 has been a myth, many have claimed it, but paperwork related to cars with options, and the count shows no side Exhaust 1964's. Most racers were fabricating up side pipes at this time. Moving on, the Dealerships usually filled out orders to bring in a variety of cars that they thought they could sell. It was the rare customer that came in and ordered one special from Factory available options at this point in time.
Team Owner
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From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
Team Owner
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,067
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From: EHT NJ
Join some facebook local town groups to the cars location and ask if anybody has pics.or remembers and has stories of the car.
Post a pic of the car to get attention. U have to post often as some people aren't on the group all the time.
Good luck n keep digging
Post a pic of the car to get attention. U have to post often as some people aren't on the group all the time.
Good luck n keep digging
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Akron OH
Keep in mind that Yenko was a regular Chevrolet dealer as well as hot rod/modifier. A recent thread on Yenko (I don't recall if C2 or C3 forum) indicated that there were no Yenko-modified Corvettes - only Yenko dealership branded Corvettes. In other words, just because Yenko sold a car doesn't mean it was anything different than what was available through any other dealership. The side pipe addition was more than likely a late-'65 owner addition to the car as I believe they weren't even available for production until late in the model year and later still through a service/parts department.
Last edited by AkrHack; Jun 26, 2023 at 09:46 AM.
Le Mans Master
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From: Pittsburgh
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Don Yenko did race Corvettes. His Dealership in Cannonsburg, Pa., sold and branded every Corvette with a inserted hard Yenko badge, (shown in previous post) usually placed on the rear taillight panel. Don opened Yenko Honda in McMurray, Pittsburgh South Hills in 1969. He moved his Canonsburg Location later in the 70's also to McMurray, Pa (Route 19 South). and was later sold to Sun Chevrolet. Sun Chevrolet is currently in Business.
I purchased my 1974 L-82 Ragtop from Don Yenko, personally. While discussing the pricing between Corvettes and Camaro's, there were 2(Two) Yenko Stinger Corvair's in the shop being worked on.
Stickers can be purchased anywhere. Is it a Yenko purchased Corvette? Who knows?
I purchased my 1974 L-82 Ragtop from Don Yenko, personally. While discussing the pricing between Corvettes and Camaro's, there were 2(Two) Yenko Stinger Corvair's in the shop being worked on.
Stickers can be purchased anywhere. Is it a Yenko purchased Corvette? Who knows?
Last edited by dcamick; Jun 26, 2023 at 11:38 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Edmonds Washington (Stunning view of Olympic Mtns and Puget Sound)
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I am helping a widow sell a ‘64 convertible matching #s 1 owner survivor that was supposedly a Yenko dealership special order with side pipes 327/365. Rumor is he took the car and ran with Yenko a few times we are still searching and reviewing paperwork.
im fairly knowledgeable owning a frame off 67 convertible matching #s and a 62 NOM convertible with a Chevy 350, but could use some help from the real experts for direction.
supposedly the title shows the purchase from Yenko. I Haven’t seen or ask if the tank sticker exists, but it’s on my list.
does anyone have any advice or suggestions for things to look for?
any help will be much appreciated
Thanks!
im fairly knowledgeable owning a frame off 67 convertible matching #s and a 62 NOM convertible with a Chevy 350, but could use some help from the real experts for direction.
supposedly the title shows the purchase from Yenko. I Haven’t seen or ask if the tank sticker exists, but it’s on my list.
does anyone have any advice or suggestions for things to look for?
any help will be much appreciated
Thanks!
begee22
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,002
Likes: 4,158
From: US-PNW
Wonderful! I've never seen the Yenko back seat in a real car - just seen the ad. Looks like it fits very well and not some aftermarket cheap thing. Have you ever test fit a kid back there? I'm thinking they can't be very tall!
Drifting
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From: Edmonds Washington (Stunning view of Olympic Mtns and Puget Sound)
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,633
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From: Shamong, NJ
The following are excerpts from something I posted in the C3 Forum a while back when someone was questioning the availability of "Yenko Corvettes". For the most part this is what I know about Yenko from my years of being around racing in the Northeast, and from becoming acquainted through vintage racing with Yenko's former crew chief, who's son is currently vintage racing an original Yenko Stinger.
Don Yenko started out racing Corvettes in the 57 and continued to race them through the early 70's (he was supposed to co-drive with John Greenwood and Dick Smothers in the 72 LeMans 24 Hour but broke his leg mountain biking and missed the race).
Yenko first raced a 57 Corvette, in SCCA B Production. In 61 he switched to a 61 Corvette and won the SCCA BP National Championship with it. In 63 he raced a Daytona Blue 63 Z06 tanker, the Meister Brauser Scarab (https://www.scarabmotors.com/) and the white Grady Davis 63 Z06. Sometime during 63-64 Yenko started racing what I've seen described as a "light weight" 57 he built and successfully raced in BP against newer Corvettes and GT-350's. I think this car may actually have been the 56 Corvette SR2 number 2, since Yenko did own that car in the 60's
The first Yenko Sports Car was the 65 "Yenko Stinger" modified Corvair that was offered in both street and road racing versions. When the Camaro came out in 67 he initially started out modifying 67 Z/28's for road racing and selling them under the name "Yenko Stormer", but I think he only found two buyers. Shortly after he started dropping 427's into 67 Camaro's and the first Yenko Camaro was born, though he first sold them as the "Yenko Super Camaro". He continued to sell 427 powered Yenko Camaros in 68 and 69. In 69 he also built 427 powered Yenko Chevelle's and in 70 built LT-1 powered Nova's called the "Yenko Duece". In 71 Yenko sold a handful of turbo charged Vega's called the "Yenko Turbo-Stinger", and in 1980 he revived his car building business when he introduced the "Yenko Turbo-Z", a turbocharged 80 Z28, but he program died after about 20 cars were sold.
He sold race parts for Corvettes and Camaro's (starting in the 50's with cut down windscreens, tow bars, roll bars, etc for C1 Corvettes) and built many road racing Corvettes and Camaro's for customers throughout the 60's and 70's. I'm not saying it's impossible that Yenko modified a customer's Corvette, I'm just saying there was never any modified, street going "Yenko" edition Corvettes, like there were other Chevrolets.
There was a book out a few years ago about Yenko that both Donna Mae Mims (Corvette Racer and manager at Yenko) and Yenko's long time crew chief Warren Dernoshek (I think that's the correct spelling) contributed too. I've met Warren a few times, as well as his son Logan, who vintage races an original 66 Yenko Stinger. I first met them at Indy 6 or 7 years ago when we were paddocked by them at the Indy Vintage races. I must say it was quite fascinating talking about Don Yenko, Yenko cars and racing with Yenko's former crew chief!
Like so many racers (and other performers), Don Yenko died in a private plane crash around 87-88. Rumor has it that Don's first race car, a 57 Corvette, is part of a private car collection in South Jersey?
Don Yenko started out racing Corvettes in the 57 and continued to race them through the early 70's (he was supposed to co-drive with John Greenwood and Dick Smothers in the 72 LeMans 24 Hour but broke his leg mountain biking and missed the race).
Yenko first raced a 57 Corvette, in SCCA B Production. In 61 he switched to a 61 Corvette and won the SCCA BP National Championship with it. In 63 he raced a Daytona Blue 63 Z06 tanker, the Meister Brauser Scarab (https://www.scarabmotors.com/) and the white Grady Davis 63 Z06. Sometime during 63-64 Yenko started racing what I've seen described as a "light weight" 57 he built and successfully raced in BP against newer Corvettes and GT-350's. I think this car may actually have been the 56 Corvette SR2 number 2, since Yenko did own that car in the 60's
The first Yenko Sports Car was the 65 "Yenko Stinger" modified Corvair that was offered in both street and road racing versions. When the Camaro came out in 67 he initially started out modifying 67 Z/28's for road racing and selling them under the name "Yenko Stormer", but I think he only found two buyers. Shortly after he started dropping 427's into 67 Camaro's and the first Yenko Camaro was born, though he first sold them as the "Yenko Super Camaro". He continued to sell 427 powered Yenko Camaros in 68 and 69. In 69 he also built 427 powered Yenko Chevelle's and in 70 built LT-1 powered Nova's called the "Yenko Duece". In 71 Yenko sold a handful of turbo charged Vega's called the "Yenko Turbo-Stinger", and in 1980 he revived his car building business when he introduced the "Yenko Turbo-Z", a turbocharged 80 Z28, but he program died after about 20 cars were sold.
He sold race parts for Corvettes and Camaro's (starting in the 50's with cut down windscreens, tow bars, roll bars, etc for C1 Corvettes) and built many road racing Corvettes and Camaro's for customers throughout the 60's and 70's. I'm not saying it's impossible that Yenko modified a customer's Corvette, I'm just saying there was never any modified, street going "Yenko" edition Corvettes, like there were other Chevrolets.
There was a book out a few years ago about Yenko that both Donna Mae Mims (Corvette Racer and manager at Yenko) and Yenko's long time crew chief Warren Dernoshek (I think that's the correct spelling) contributed too. I've met Warren a few times, as well as his son Logan, who vintage races an original 66 Yenko Stinger. I first met them at Indy 6 or 7 years ago when we were paddocked by them at the Indy Vintage races. I must say it was quite fascinating talking about Don Yenko, Yenko cars and racing with Yenko's former crew chief!
Like so many racers (and other performers), Don Yenko died in a private plane crash around 87-88. Rumor has it that Don's first race car, a 57 Corvette, is part of a private car collection in South Jersey?
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 64
Likes: 49
From: New York / Nebraska
There was a book out a few years ago about Yenko that both Donna Mae Mims (Corvette Racer and manager at Yenko) and Yenko's long time crew chief Warren Dernoshek (I think that's the correct spelling) contributed too. I've met Warren a few times, as well as his son Logan, who vintage races an original 66 Yenko Stinger. I first met them at Indy 6 or 7 years ago when we were paddocked by them at the Indy Vintage races. I must say it was quite fascinating talking about Don Yenko, Yenko cars and racing with Yenko's former crew chief!
Like so many racers (and other performers), Don Yenko died in a private plane crash around 87-88. Rumor has it that Don's first race car, a 57 Corvette, is part of a private car collection in South Jersey?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,633
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From: Shamong, NJ
That must have been quite the conversation with Warren, would have loved to hear some of those stories. On the topic of Don Yenko, I'm on the board of a new Corvair museum in Hastings, Nebraska, that we are working to build (hoping to fully open in 2025), and our central attraction is going to be the Yenko Stinger Experience, focusing on Don Yenko and his cars. We plan to have a mini replica of the Cannonsburg dealership housing the display, and alongside one of the 100 original Yenko Stingers, we will also feature other non-Stinger Yenko cars on a rotating basis (we have a couple already lined up.) Our website if anyone is interested in seeing what we have planned: Corvair Museum of America
Good luck with the Museum. While I've never owned a Corvair, but I've always loved them. Around 1972 my cousin built a mid engined Corvair, with a crate LT-1 in it using the old Crown conversion kit. That thing was wild and handled amazingly. I think the 65-69's were some of the most attractive cars ever made.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 64
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From: New York / Nebraska
Warren's still building engines and working on race cars, but he's doing them with his son now. His son owns Dernoshek Racing in Kannapolis NC, where they prep and vintage race Logan's 66 Stinger out of. Here's the website for Dernoshek Racing http://www.dernoshekracing.com/, and he also has a Facebook page with quite few pictures of his Corvair's (it appears he's added a second Stinger).
Good luck with the Museum. While I've never owned a Corvair, but I've always loved them. Around 1972 my cousin built a mid engined Corvair, with a crate LT-1 in it using the old Crown conversion kit. That thing was wild and handled amazingly. I think the 65-69's were some of the most attractive cars ever made.
Good luck with the Museum. While I've never owned a Corvair, but I've always loved them. Around 1972 my cousin built a mid engined Corvair, with a crate LT-1 in it using the old Crown conversion kit. That thing was wild and handled amazingly. I think the 65-69's were some of the most attractive cars ever made.
