Rare Yenko Camaros to Cross the Block at 2009 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction

Only a few hundred specialty Camaros were built by Don Yenko and his team from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Since then, they've become some of the most desired Camaros in existence, and next month, four will cross the block at the 2009 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, accompanied by a Yenko Nova. When the Chevrolet Camaro debuted as a 1967 model, buyers could only order engines up to 396 cubic inches, putting the car at a disadvantage to the Mustangs and Barracudas of the world. Don Yenko saw an opportunity to provide buyers with what GM would not and began transplanting Corvette engines into Camaros. Soon after, he took advantage of GM's new COPO ordering system to get those big engines installed from the factory. For nearly 15 years, his team built some of the most highly-desired Camaros on the market, and following the sale of the Yenko family dealership and the death of Mr. Yenko, the cars have become highly-sought after collectors items. At the 2009 Barrett-Jackson auction, four original Yenko Camaros will roll across the auction block, along with a Yenko Nova, all released from collector Gary Holub's collection in near-perfect condition. All five cars are being sold with no reserve price. "Many muscle car enthusiasts and car collectors worldwide believe that the Yenko Camaro defined America's appetite for performance in the late 1960s," said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. "Road racer and Chevrolet dealer Don Yenko learned how to manipulate the secret factory 'Central Office Production Order' (COPO) to turn the new Camaro into a formidable competitor to the Ford Mustang and Plymouth 'Cuda. The result was a special run of high-performance Yenko Camaros and later, special versions of the Nova, Corvair, Chevelle and Vegas, that ruled the roads. We're pleased that five of these rare muscle cars from a very special Yenko collection will cross the block at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale." The first across the block with be a 1981 Yenko Camaro Turbo Z, the last series of Camaros that Yenko would put out. This car is number 10 of only 19 produced and is thought to be the only one with a cigarette lighter. Others had the lighter removed to make room for a boost gauge and water temperature gauge. The car also carries the distinction of being the first ever to win the prestigious Don Yenko Memorial Award, the first car entered in the Official Yenko Turbo Z Registry and featured on the cover of Muscle Car Magazine. Every piece of the car is original except for the battery, though the original battery is included in the sale, along with all of the car's original paperwork. It's powered by a turbocharged 350 cu-in V-8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Next across the block will be the 1970 Nova Yenko Deuce Coupe. This car is on of 175 Nova Yenkos built and one of only 25 in Silver. The car features a 350 cu-in V-8 making 360 hp and mated to a four-speed manual transmission. Backed up by a 4.10 posi rear end, the Nova Yenko was meant to escape the attention of insurance agencies raising rates on high-powered muscle cars, as the stock 1970 Chevrolet Nova was much less powerful. Following the Turbo Z and the Nova are three 1969 Yenko Camaros. The first is one of 30 built in Fathom Green and features a 427 cu-in V-8 making 425 hp. It's backed up by a four-speed manual transmission and features a special hood, dual exhaust system, increased cooling capacity, larger stabilizer bar, special suspension, Hurst shifter and Yenko gauges. The car is a ten-time show winner and has full documentation. The second '69 Camaro to cross the block is not actually a Yenko, but very similar. Once Don Yenko cracked the COPO program, a few others decided to get in on the action. This 1969 Camaro ZL-1 COPO was ordered by Fred Gibb Chevrolet and was, at one point, owned by baseball star Reggie Jackson. This car is one of 50 built under the COPO program that qualified to run in the NHRA and is one of only 10 built in Fathom Green. To qualify for the NHRA, the car was ordered with an all-aluminum 427 cu-in engine backed up by a three-speed automatic transmission. It also received a special hood, heavy duty springs, heavy duty radiator and a 4.10 posi rear end. In its original form, the car ran a quarter-mile time of 11.08 seconds at 127 mph. The car later had a roll cage and a Ford nine-inch rear end installed and was repainted. In that configuration, it ran the quarter-mile in the 10.4 second range. It was later repainted in its original color and retains all documentation. The last Yenko across the block is the rarest. It is a 1969 Yenko Camaro personally sold by Don Yenko for use in the NHRA. Only three cars were built and this one is believed to be the only survivor. The car is Daytona Yellow with a black vinyl roof and features a 427 cu-in, 425-hp motor mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. It also features a special hood, increased cooling capacity, a dual exhaust system, special suspension, power steering, a Hurst Shift Gate shifter, a 140-mph speedometer, a larger front stabilizer bar and rally wheels. This car has extensive documentation, including the original paperwork signed by Don Yenko himself. According to Holub, who's owned 44 Yenko cars, it is the most-documented car he's ever seen. "I've been enamored with Yenkos since I was in high school," said Holub. "My goal then was to own one in my lifetime, but I've been fortunate enough to own 44 Yenkos throughout the years. The five special cars that will be sold at Barrett-Jackson include unprecedented documentation. The Daytona Yellow Camaro, for instance, includes the original Window Sticker and dealer packet from 1969." If you're fortunate enough to be in Arizona next month, we recommend you get over to Scottsdale for the 38th annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. This year's event will run from January 11 to 18, 2009 and will also feature a Ford Tri-Motor airplane and the first production 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. If you can't make it to the auction, check in here at Motortrend.com for the results immediately following the show. by Scott_Evans Source: Barrett-Jackson