'69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Were all the cars engine transplants into SS cars? SS or flat hoods correct? I know the red car formerly in the Chandler collection was reported to be a factory installation (although I don't think they had any documentation) and it was restored with a flat hood. Kevin's website says it was the first Yenko 427 Nova in '69. Years ago I had the opportunity to buy the Rally green car recently owned by Dick Bridges. I called Vince Emme who told me this car was the prototype 427 Nova. It got the 427 when the orginal 396 was stolen from the car and was the first one built. Yeah, it was one of those cars ... should've bought but didn't.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

I restored that car after Dick bought it, from what I recall, I think we were told that all of the Novas were supossed to be SS cars, and at the time there wasnt anything to support the red car being a non SS. I also think that out of the 35 all but 7 were transplanted 427 cars the rest were left 396/375. By now somthing must have came to light. If you ever got a chance to see Dicks collection it was one of the best of all muscle car collections with everything being represented. Still is just on a smaller scale.

[Edited by micky69396 (07-12-2000 at 09:15 PM).]

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

The ex-Chandler / Kevin Suydam Yenko Nova supposedly had a COPO box checked on it's broadcast sheet, thereby leading Greg Joseph and Roger Gibson to believe it was a factory 427. I have several broadcast sheet copies from '70 COPO/Yenko Novas, but I haven't found a 'COPO box' on any of them. This was the only information that I heard of that steered the restoration into a non-SS COPO style car. It is also unknown why Gibson installed custom interior panels on a standard interior car, unless the broadcast sheet had a different code. Some Yenko cars received the wrong broadcast sheet, (mine for example). Most believe the car was originally an SS. Some friends and I have spoken with numerous original owners of the '69 Yenko Novas, and they all repeat the same description: SS car, 427 engine, 4 speed, 12 bolt posi, dual exhaust, black interior with bench seat, disc brakes, and XT wheels with little caps and whitewall tires. Some remember just emblems, and some remember emblems and stripes, but they all remember them as Extremely Fast.

As for the first one built; from the info that I have collected, Kevin's car has the lowest VIN #, but Tom Clary's car has the lowest BODY#. This may sound strange that the car with earlier body received a later VIN, but it happened with whole blocks of the '70 Yenko Novas, usually relating to color change. I don't know which number signifies the car's chronological order, any ideas?

The '396 stolen from the car' story is even more interesting. Yenko had a lot of trouble with locals stealing parts from the cars as they sat in a lot, on a hill, that was across a small creek, behind the dealership. They got a dog to roam the lot and keep theives away. One night an engine was stolen from a '69 Nova, (unknown if it was the 396 or a 427), the dog's paw prints were all over the tops of the fenders - apparently amused at all of the activity. A few nights later the dog was gone, never seen again. Theives would row down the creek in a small boat, run up the embankment, cut a hole in the fence and steal stuff. Yenko had a guy (J.Buckels) on an adjacent hill with a shotgun, stuff was still missing - the guy was sleeping most of the night. You have to see the dealership for all of this to really make sense. (Thanks to Donna Mae for her recollections).

Although a lot of this sounds like Yenko Chevrolet was a busy hub of hi-performance activity, when you talk with some of the locals in Canonsburg you find out that they really didn't know what was going on. It was until the cars hit magazines in the '80's that they realized what he was doing. You never know who you will run into, I ran into a guy whose dad owned the tire shop across the street from Yenko Chev. It was always believed that Yenko changed the wheels on the '70 Nova's, but he didn't. Yenko had this guy's dad do it across the street, they called the stacks of XT wheels left over 'the rainbow'. He also remembers having to put tubes in all of the Atlas wheels they installed for Yenko, the aluminum was so poruous they leaked right through. If you ever get the chance, it is really interesting to walk the lots of the old Yenko dealership.

Marlin



[Edited by YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY (07-13-2000 at 08:48 AM).]

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Recently I had an opportunity to visit with the person who did much of the COPO paperwork in the late 60s, Jim Mattison. We talked about several things, including the 1969 Novas. He told me that there were 0 factory 427 Novas built. I feel that Jim should know, because not only did he work with Chevrolet in the department that handled the COPO paperwork, but Don Yenko would stay at Jim's house when in town. If Don had received a factory 427 Nova, surely Jim would have known. As for SS cars, who knows? Since the Novas were transplant cars, what would keep Don from putting a 427 in a non SS car. As we all know, if that is what a customer wanted and could pay for it, Yenko would build it. Would not a plain, flat hood Nova be the ultimate sleeper? As per the first one built, ?. A have heard from several sources who quote Vince as saying that my Nova was the first one built. Who knows? Vince? Tom

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

It seems unlikely that the Yenko Nova would use a non-SS body since you would get it with the big block engine. The 1969 COPO Chevelles still used the SS hood, grill, trim, and SS rear black painted panel eventhough the SS emblems were deleted. If Yenko started with a small block Nova if would be quite expensive to purchase all the needed parts for a conversion.
Tom - did you ask Jim about the 1968 Yenko 427 Camaros? Years ago he stated, in an interview, that he remembers the MV code COPO Camaro engine as a 427.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Dick bought the car from Carl Dwiggins. It was restored by Dave Tinell(sp). Carl was selling a bunch of stuff so Dick bought that Nova, a Yenko chevelle which ended up in IL I think, and a 65 425 HP Impala, and I think a couple more cars that he sold off. The Nova had a lot of problems so he wanted it totally done over. We did not paint it but it was totally taken apart and redone. That was a long time ago and from what I recall everything was just like a 375 HP car. I dont think they were factory installed 427's unlike the Chevelles or Camaros, there is no special rear end #. I wish I would have taken more shots of that car, but I dont have much. It is on my site on the past projects page.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

I found the car in '83 or '84 in Ohio. Car was kind of rough but restoreable. It had a 512 '66 motor, no interior, needed some sheet metal repair,all trim was gone or unuseable and had been "rode hard and put up wet". I also don't care for Rally green. I was really looking for a 427 Camaro and knew if I bought this car I'd have to put the Camaro on the back burner. I called Vince Emme with the vin and he told me the story about it being the first car and was built due to it's motor being stolen. When I decided to pass I called Carl Dwiggins and told him about the car and he bought it. I knew Dave Tenille restored the car and Dick Bridges later bought it. Only saw it 1 time briefly after Dave did the car until it surfaced on display at Floyd Garrett's. What did you have to change on the car? Anyway, I found my COPO Camaro a few months later. I should've bought the Nova though, as well as a lot of other cars, but you know hindsight is 20/20.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Micky:
As you are one of the few that has had the opportunity to restore one of the '69 Yenko Novas, do you have any specific info regarding them that you can share? Anything different or unique on this car versus other big block Novas? Special rear code? Special trim tag codes? Do you know what dealership / history of the Dick Bridges car? How did Dick acquire it / why did COPO69 pass on it?
Marlin

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

I first met Jim Mattison several years ago at the US Camaro Nats in Pigeon Forge, Tn. We visited for several hours, mainly about Yenkos/COPOS. Following this visit, I cantacted MCR magazine concerning some of the information Jim told me. It was then that MCR did their article with Jim on the COPO cars. Here are a few things that he told me. That 1969 COPO cars would not have been heater delete, as goverment (US only ?) mandates required all cars to have a windshield defroster. That there were a few, around 50, 1968 Camaros that were equiped with a factory 427. He mentioned the 1968 Yenko Camaro at the show (Kory Smith's) as being one of these cars. But Brian Henderson, who restored Kory's car, has information that leads to a different conclusion. The most interesting thing that Jim and I talked about was the number of 1969 Yenko Camaros. Jim feels that there were more then 198 but less then 500 of the cars built. Hopefully some day "original" paperwork will surface that will answer some/or all of these and other COPO questions. Tom

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Sounds like the typical 'Tinnell' restoration, pretty paint but....I guess there wasn't much info to rely on back then. Tinnell says in one article that "the car still had it's original paint and stripes" (?) "Rust was not a problem, but the wheel wells were cut out for slicks". Were there no stripes on the hood when found? They were not put on after the restoration. This car also had power steering according to the article. This is the only one with p/s that I have heard of, are there more? I have always wondered about the custom seat covers, Yenko Deuce door panel stickers, rallyes, fender antenna, headlight bezels ect. on this car. Did you change any of these things?

I am sure Reggie Jackson is pretty happy with it now though, it makes a good partner for his '73 Nickey Nova.

Does anyone know where this car was originally out of? Did Vince release the dealership on record? What part of Ohio? I know that there were several Ohio dealers in the Yenko Network.

Thanks for the background info,
Marlin

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Tom, you're right, no US COPO cars could have original heater delete. As of Jan. 1, l968 federal law dictated all cars sold in US must have front defrosters (as thus heater would be required). I don't know about Canadian cars, though. I know one was circulating a few years ago claiming to be original heater delete car but never saw any documentation. Some Camaros were assembled in the Phillipines so probably some heater deletes there but probably all 6 cyls. When we restored my Camaro we installed the heater delete plates (I think it looks neat) but have never claimed them to be original. I always thought Rusty Symmes' ZL1 looked neat with them. Always thought it was weird it was in the '69 assembly manual and not listed as export only though.

Marlin, the Rally green Nova was near Granville, Ohio ( near National Trail Raceway) out in the country. I found it in a car trader type publication. Now bear in mind this was 17 yrs. ago and memories fade but we found the car setting with a bunch of other vehicles, buses, old hulks of cars, and junk at a farm out in the country. I don't think the car had a hood on it and don't remember seeing it although I remember asking the guy if he had the hood. Stripes were still on the quarters and doors but I believe fenders were primed. It had no interior, just 2 ragged 70ish Camaro seats bolted in and a big Competition Plus poked through the floor. Big block was a 512 casting but a '66 date as I remember and had open headers. It had typical rot in the quarters but I think the trunk looked ok. I remember the guy wanted to take me a ride with him... said "it hit a good lick" burt I declined. It was your typical old worn out muscle car going to hell. Price was $5,500. and that was the price as the guy wouldn't barter. Carl later told me that the guy was tough and that's what he had to pay for the car. Carl always had stuff done to his specs according to Dave, especially using white cad. and then doing some phantom cars. I got the vin and called Vince Emme to check it and thats when he told me the story about it being the first SC Nova, Tom. That's about all I remember.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

This has been a fascinating topic. I really enjoy the "old" stories of found treasure before the prices got outrageous. What does a restored '69 Yenko Nova go for these days? Noticed Randy Miller had a set of '69 Yenko Camaro, Chevelle and Nova for sale.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Thanks for the extra background info. Granville is just east of Columbus, so assuming that it came from Columbus there would be two possible dealers. Hugh White Chev, Columbus, and Konners Chev, Columbus. It is possible that it came from Glockner Chev, Portsmouth, OH. Other possibles would be Marve Minneman, Youngstown; Cenral Chev, Cleveland; Joseph Chev, Cincinnati; Luby Chev, Cleveland; Central Motor Co, Hamilton; White Allen Chev, Dayton; and White Chev, Lima.

I have heard a similar story from some car guys in the Columbus area about a dark green '69 Yenko Nova in some junk yard. Maybe this is one and the same car.
Marlin

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Heater delete was available in Canada without question as we know of a 69 375 Nova with all paper, and has no radio or heater. As far as 68 COPO camaro's are concerned, I can say without hesitation that the 68 Yenko that we restored was a 396/375 car before the Yenko transplant.. We had interviewed the first and second owner. The first owners were brothers about 17 and 19 years old from the next town over Bentleyville Pa (home of the old Yenko Chevrolet). The brothers picked the car out from the showroom floor and had the conversion done to there specs, including Atlas wheels and headers. They would make a daily trip to see the progress on their new Camaro. They recalled the engine transplant very well. Why would Yenko remove the engine if it were a 427 to start with? This car was one of the last cars built at Norwood in 1968 with a last week of July assembly date. I still think that all the cars were 396 to start out with and were received with the COPO suspension and 140 speedo option 9737. I have heard that Yenko received @ 72 cars. With only 64 converted, that leaves a few 396 cars sold with 9737. I have also heard of a few non-converted cars with the 140 speedo etc, in the Pittsburgh area. Also we have a MV code 68 396/375 with a Camaro VIN. What are some other ideas on the MV code motors.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

I have a 69 RS Z28 with a Porcupine 302 in it that was owned by Carl Dwiggins and done by Dave Tinnell. It is Yellow with Yellow Houndstooth and it has a ton of white Cad plated bolts on it. Dave says that's how Carl wanted it and Carl was paying the Bills. Dave did a Red on Red 67 RS Z for me that turned out beautiful. Dave also just finished restoring the ZL1 that the Camaro club gave away in 94, now it is a nice car.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Thats kind of what I thought. You do the cars the way the customer wants, sometimes though its not the best way. Others make judgements off what they see and not what you can do. You have these guys that want the killer cars and then wont spend the $$$ to make them right, but they spend the money on the stupid stuff, drives me crazy. I am lucky and have not had much of that. I have seen other cars that Dave has done and thought they were very nice.

[Edited by micky69396 (07-14-2000 at 08:21 PM).]

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

It's great to see that guys who know alot more than me have honest disagreements about facts relating to these cars. Once again, be wary of "always" and "never" statements.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

427 transplants into SS cars was the cheapest and most reliable route to go. With this package you already had the 12 bolt rear end and all the rest of the heavy duty pieces. If the Chevy II/Nova build sheets were like the ones for the Chevelle in 1969, the COPO code (9566AA in our case)shows up on the build sheet at the left hand side of the page below the list of options. The 427 engine code, not the 396 code, will show up in the engine code box at the top of the page. The L78 option shows up in the option list however. It seems like all the COPO Chevelles and Camaros had the specially heat treated 4.10 gears. A COPO Chevelle got the KQ rear end while the L78 Chevelles got a KK 4.10 rear end. I would assume that factory '69 427 Novas would probably have the same arrangement for the sake of durability.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Carl Dwiggins had a white Yenko Chevelle (now in Reggie's collection) with a big NOS plenum air cleaner with the duct boot bolted to the firewall. It looked odd on there but if thats what he wanted...
His restoration guy must have went nuts though.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

My Yellow Z28 also has a 4 speed tranny out of someones 69 Yenko that Carl was having restored at the same time. If Dave said " Carl, I need a tranny to keep going " Carl would have him take what was around. The #'s matching 302 out of my car went into a red Z28

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

And yes his restoration guy did go nuts. It's pretty funny when he stars ranting about that stuff.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Anyone know of any pics of Reggie Jacksons '73 Nova on the net? I'd love to see that!

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Everything you say was wrong was. I am not saying it was him (Dave). Everyone that has bought a car out of that collection has needed the same stuff. I think that is they way Carl wanted his stuff? The bottom of the car needed some rust repair. All driveline components were wrong except rear. Interior as you said. We added the hood stipes as we felt they should have been there. Replaced a fender as I dont belive in patchwork. Put the SS wheels on it. Rubber floor mat. Got rid of all the silver cad plating. ETC, ETC, ETC. Still needs some interior, but the duece panels are gone. We put the car in Floys museum and Reggie made a big offer on it so it sold when Dick was selling some cars.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Here you go Fhakya:

http://student.monterey.edu/nr/prewa...tober/car.html

It is at the very bottom of the page.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Please educate me. What is the problem with Reggie's 73 Nova ?

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

The only "problem" that I know of with Reggie's '73 Nickey Nova is that I don't own it! https://www.yenko.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/wink.gif I have yet to see a Nickey Nova (heck, I've only saw a couple of TRUE Nickey cars anyway!), and would LOVE to see some more info on the car. Isn't he out your way (on the left coast)? Have you seen his collection?

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Ahhh, OK. No I have not seen his collection yet. He does have my old SJ 455, 4 speed Grand Prix though.

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Here is another link to pictures of the Nickey, and also the Yenko in this discussion. For what its worth, I have the assembly manual for the 69 Nova, and the assembly instructions for L48, L34, and L78 all point to instructions for adding the SS trim. Including the hood. But thats just the instructions, who knows if they were always followed or not.
http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/features/jax/jax3.htm

Re: '69 Yenko Nova questions
 

Keith;
I don't know of any 'build' sheets in the Novas, however, there are several '70 Yenko Novas with their Broadcast Sheets. Unfortunately, these don't look anything like the '69 Chevelle Build Sheets which show the COPO numbers, special engine/rear codes, and on Yenko Chevelles are stamped 'Yenko' at the bottom.

The '70 COPO/Yenko Nova broadcast sheets do not have any engine code on them, even though they were spec'd out with an L65 engine; 350/265HP, which was later over-ridden with the LT1 via COPO 9010. Joe C. explains elsewhere on this site why the sheets show an M20 trans when the cars were really M21's. There is actually very little info on these broadcast sheets, and there is nothing on them about any COPO numbers. Makes them even more confusing to decipher.
Marlin