The Yenko name is closely tied to the Chevy Camaro nameplate, with car dealer and racing driver Don Yenko offering up high-performance variants of the Chevy Camaro as early as the ‘60s. These days, the Yenko Camaro is nothing short of legendary to enthusiasts, which makes each original example of particular interest to collectors. Now, this ultra-rare 1981 Camaro Yenko Turbo Z will soon be available at auction.
This particular Yenko Camaro is one of three Yenko Turbo Z Stage IIs ever produced, and one of 19 Yenko Camaros produced in 1981, the last year for the original Don Yenko conversions. Under the hood, Yenko fitted the 350 cubic-inch V8 engine with a Turbo International turbocharger, upping output with seven psi of boost to produce somewhere between 240 and 250 horsepower – a significant increase over the 175 horsepower produced by the standard Camaro Z28, and enough to clip a full three seconds of the quarter mile time. Interestingly, the turbo V8 was still emissions-compliant.
Power is routed rearwards through an automatic transmission, while the exterior is covered in white paint, with special Yenko Turbo Z graphics added up front, in the flanks, and in the rear. Weld two-piece wheels with a bronze and polished finish roll in the corners, while “Turbocharged” decals can be found on the hood. The white exterior is matched with a black interior, highlighted by a Racemark three-spoke steering wheel and bolstered Kamp leather bucket seats. Complementary upgrades include Koni shocks and polyurethane bushings, per the Stage II spec.
Now, this rare 1981 Camaro Yenko Turbo Z will be offered as Lot K170 at the upcoming Mecum Auctions event in Kissimmee, Florida, set to take place January 2nd through the 14th. Sporting less than 40,000 miles on the clock, Mecum estimates the vehicle’s value at $60,000 to $80,000. The sale also includes the original build sheet, owner’s manual, and COPO Connection Certificate.
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Comments
I think it will beat the estimate. We shall see.
I agree. ANY Yenko, has gone through the roof lately. But on the negitive side, because there are so few great Muscle cars left, the prices are making it more and more difficult fot the average Joe to be able to afford them. Like anything else, supply and demand. Glad we still have our ’69 Chevelle SS 396, my husband bought in April 1969. Glad it’s still ours.
Another case of just because it’s rare, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s worth a lot.
The 85mph speedometer is hilarious. My ’79 black and white RS had a 130 mph speedometer and I buried it several times!
I didn’t realize that the 305 (5.0L) was used in the 1981 Z28 – that was a huge HP hit at 165. The 1980 with the 5.7L pushed 185 HP.
Apologies, the original post erroneously stated that the ’81 Z28’s 5.7L V8 was rated at 165 hp, when in fact it was rated at 175. The drop in horsepower ratings from the previous year was due to the addition of emissions compliance equipment, specifically a new Computer Command Control unit.
The writeup says that this Z-28 has a 350 ci engine that originally output 165 hp, not a 305. I would think that a 350 of those times could do a little more than that.
I have a carbureted 1986 Trans Am with a 305 that was rated at 185. Under the hood of my T/A there are lots of hoses going in every which direction. But this turbocharged Z28 looks like it has even more (!) of them… I replaced the coolant hoses in the T/A of course. But service is difficult and tedious because I’m always wary about the age/flexibility of some of the plastic and rubber vacuum lines. The electronic quadrajet is still working well even with 120,000 miles on it. Few owners get that lucky.