Re: 1st Yenko Deuce
 

Rick is correct, the re-po's of today are usually too 'nice' compared to the originals. The original YENKO crest emblems on the deuces are very rough, and have a very 'as-cast' appearance to them. Hard to duplicate today!

So, that type of emblem is reminiscent of the period, and is most likely not a repo.

I wonder where else Yenko would have placed an emblem like that on the Deuce?

Re: 1st Yenko Deuce
 

My own personal theory is that Don had intended these to go where the factory 350 fender emblems are. Perhaps he assumed that since the cars were ordered as COPO's, they would not come in with any engine designation, the same way the COPO 427 Camaros and Chevelles did not in the previous model year. Just as he had ordered "427" emblems to be made for these cars, he had "LT-1" emblems made for the Deuces... when the cars came in with factory attached "350" emblems, he scrapped the idea and never ordered any more besides the initial batch that was sent to him... in turn he gave away/threw away, or otherwise disgarded the few rectangular LT-1 badges that were already produced...take note that this is just my personal theory... The emblems are definitely not reproductions/fakes/etc, and are without any doubt 30+years old. I have no reason to doubt either individual i got them from, and their stories match, making me feel 100% confident these were from Yenko Chevrolet, circa 1970.

Re: 1st Yenko Deuce
 

Very interesting Camarojoe, please keep rambling on!

Do you think this was an isolated incident or perhaps other base model lot cars were used in the prototyping process for the other years and models of Yenko cars?

Tim
"Hotrodchev"

Re: 1st Yenko Deuce
 

We believe the mock up car to be fathom blue with med. blue interior, and I think the NOVA emblems on the fenders were also removed and replaced with the YENKO crests. After Yenko realized the amount of work involved with that process, they just double sided taped the crests onto the real cars!

Re: 1st Yenko Deuce
 

[ QUOTE ]
Very interesting Camarojoe, please keep rambling on!

Do you think this was an isolated incident or perhaps other base model lot cars were used in the prototyping process for the other years and models of Yenko cars?

Tim
"Hotrodchev"

[/ QUOTE ]

Tim, I believe this was the only nova used for "mock up" purposes, as its the only one i have ever seen pics of, and really don't see much of a need to do more than one...especially since this was basically just used to "layout" the stripe package and emblems, however... there was an ad posted awhile back with a Deuce that had "backward" stripes on it, I'm curious as to if this car was a "real" Deuce, or possibly another "mock up" car... If someone could find that thread, post the pic... its a neat old Yenko ad! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: 1st Yenko Deuce
 

I have the file, but it's too big!! Even cropping it won't reduce it enough?

Re: 1st Yenko Deuce
 

Is this it?
Credit Thread to Kim Howie

Re: 1st Yenko Deuce
 

Yes, that'w the thread I was referring to. i pasted Kim's attachment below. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/53186-Mvc-004f.jpg

Re: 1st Yenko Deuce
 

Several years ago, I bought some stuff from a gentleman by the name of Dick Calendar. He was a good friend of Don Yenkos, as well as working for him as a salesman. During one of our visits, he mentioned the first Deuce. Dick told me that Yenko took a regular '70 Nova and applied the Deuce graphics, emblems, etc. They did not do anything to the engine, a six cylinder, as the car was for ad use only. One day he and another employee went to the local station to get something, drove the Nova, and as luck would have it, there were several car enthusiasts hanging around. That is when it became interesting, as the locals wanted to know all about this new "Yenko". And of course, look under the hood. Dick and his friend had to do some fast talking, finally coming up with a story along the lines of "the engine in the car is top secret", and thus, they could not pop the hood. The locals bought the story, but Dick and his friend still had to hang around the station for a good bit, till everyone left, or it would be obvious what was up.

Re: 1st Yenko Deuce
 

Tom, I heard this exact story before... I cannot remember where though... did you maybe post this once before, or perhaps tell me the story in person? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif