Any self-respecting Chevrolet or Camaro fan knows what Yenko is. The Pennsylvania Chevy dealership rose to fame after planting General Motors’ 427 V8 under the hood of first-gen Camaros, which was only officially available in Corvettes at the time. Yenko isn’t around anymore, but the legend will live on in this 2015 Yenko/SC 427 Camaro unveiled at SEMA 2014.
GM bought the rights to the Yenko name in 2009 and unveiled their 2010 Yenko Camaro prototype shortly after. Unlike that car, this fully-licensed Yenko Camaro will be available to order from Classic Industries and SLP, who collaborated on the project.
Under the hood is GM’s 7.0-liter LS7 engine which has been graced with an Eaton TVS 2300 supercharger system, giving it about 700 horsepower. The car will be available in both manual and automatic configurations, with manual cars receiving a dual-disc clutch assembly.
Visually, the Yenko/ SC 427 benefits from exclusive 5-spoke wheels with a gunmetal finish and sYc center caps, a GM Heritage-style front grille, an RTM Hood with cowl induction, and Yenko body and hood graphics. There’s also 427 exterior badging, Yenko door sill plates and a black ZL1 rear spoiler.
All Yenko/ SC 427 Camaros will be built to order through SLP. If you’re interested, you’d better pick up the phone, as only 50 examples will be made. This car is being touted as the first real Yenko since the dealership shut down shop, so demand could be significant.
Comments
I could go on for page after page. Don Yenko was one of my best friends from 1968 until his untimely death in 1987.
As many afficienados know, my company, Yenko-Wildfire Motorsports, honored Don by building a limited production run of 25 cars that “Don might build if he were alive today.”
I was probably the only person on the planet that had full endorsement of family members, Yenko chief mechanic, Donna May Mims [Don’s right hand], Steel Town Corvette Club [founded by Don], Bob McClure [his best friend and co driver],
Delmo Johnson [friend and crazy co-driver], Hope Yenko,[his ex-wife] and the Executor of Don’s estate.
I never claimed to be building actual Yenkos, as no one can. Each car and oiur motto was always “inspired by and dedicated to the man and the myth, my friend, Don Yenko.
The kids, Lynn and Terry, were young and unavailable back then. I did speak to Lynn at an auction in 2002 and got verbal encouragement, though she or no on could actually sell the rights to build “Yenko Cars”.
I assume in 2009, she and GM got together on a monetary arrangement thus giving SLP an avenue to some credibility.
Just my educated guess.
Don’s originals live on. My 25 Commemoratives are alive and well, most appreciating in value and several in museums.
Felt I wanted to address the next “New Yenkos”. Nice cars with absolutely no relation except for a few dollars changing hands. Ed Hamburger and SLP have a great company and found an avenue for possible gains, i.e. Callaway, Lingenfelter,
Saleen and my 657 Wildfires built in the 80’s.
Long live Don.