December '04 Feature Car

Chevy454 · #1 12-01-2004, 07:49 PM

<body>December 2004 Feature Car:Mike Guarise's 1968 Yenko Camaro<table width="100%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="middle" width="100%">Specs:</td></tr></tbody></table><table borderColor="#000000" height="150" width="100%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td vAlign="top" align="center" width="50%" height="21">Engine (factory):</td><td vAlign="top" align="center" width="50%" height="21">L-78 396ci/375hp</td></tr><tr><td vAlign="top" align="center" width="50%" height="21">Engine (Yenko):</td><td vAlign="top" align="center" width="50%" height="21">L-72 427/425hp</td></tr><tr><td vAlign="top" align="center" width="50%" height="21">Transmission:</td><td vAlign="top" align="center" width="50%" height="21">M-21 4-speed</td></tr><tr><td vAlign="top" align="center" width="50%" height="21">Rear:</td><td vAlign="top" align="center" width="50%" height="21">4.10 posi</td></tr><tr><td vAlign="top" align="center" width="50%" height="21">Exterior color:</td><td vAlign="top" align="center" width="50%" height="21">Rally Green</td></tr><tr><td vAlign="top" align="center" width="50%" height="21">Interior color:</td><td vAlign="top" align="center" width="50%" height="21">Standard Black</td></tr></tbody></table>
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"The car is Yenko # 8016, and, sold new at Jay Kline Chevy to Bob Krueger. In a letter, he explained how he went to the dealership in late '68, and, had a choice of two Rallye Green, and, two "light blue", Yenkos. After test rides, he chose this car, and proceeded to street race it extensively in the Minneapolis area. He claims he was "never beaten", and, the only car that came close was a '70 Hemi Cuda that he raced on I 35, all the way up to 130 MPH. He sold the car to his brother who removed the stripes, and, Yenko badges, but, left the SS 427 emblems that Bob had installed when the car was new. His brother installed dual Holleys on a tunnel ram, and, "Grumpy lump" style hood. At that point the car was raced only on the track. Some years later, mnyenko [Earl] on this site, discovered the car sitting outside a body shop, but, was unable to come to terms with the owner. Some five years later, after the stock market slumped in 1987, Earl was able to finally buy it for the same price that had been asked before. Later, Earl sold it to a buyer who sent the car to Gene Schmidt to be restored."

"The car was extremely solid, but, needed the usual drag car quarter replacement. For some strange reason, the paint supplier used the early '68 code of British Racing Green, and, the car was painted the wrong color. The car was completed, and, shipped to the owner in California, who enjoyed the car for a while, until he took it to a show, and, was informed by an "expert" that his car was "the wrong color". Well, the stuff hit the fan, and, eventually, he was refunded $6000. to get the car repainted correctly. Unfortunately, since the car looked great, even though it was incorrect, the owner never had it repainted."

"After two more short term owners, I was told about the car being available, but, it was slated to go to auction. I was able to buy it, and,had it home withing 48 hours of being told about it. The car has now been painted the correct Rallye Green, and, it is one of the strongest running cars I own."

Left - wrong "British Racing Green", Right - correct "Rally Green"

**YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY** · #2 12-01-2004, 08:18 PM

Sweet!!!

**sYc** · #3 12-01-2004, 08:23 PM

Mike, cool car...

As good as it looks in Rallye Green, I dig the British Green look.

Belair62 · #4 12-01-2004, 08:33 PM

Hey I really like the new Supercar Forum Rob...we can finally comment right here in it's own thread....sweet car Mike...I saw it in British and I saw it in Rallye....I like em both but the Rallye is striking on it. I really like the old drag decals on the quarter glass !!!

camarojoe · #5 12-01-2004, 08:35 PM

This was one of my favorite "new cars" at SCR7...Until then I had never seen a rally green 68 Yenko Camaro, aside from some original photos I have that were taken in Canonsburg in 68. Did you happen to get a chance to see them? I was curious if it could possibly be the same car. If i get some time tonite i will try to post a couple here. Rally green is definitely a cool color...Does anyone know how many Yenkos were done in this color in 1968?

DarrenX33 · #6 12-01-2004, 09:07 PM

Can't go wrong with rally green.

Excellent car Mike!

**COPO** · #7 12-01-2004, 09:56 PM

Great car and interesting history!

camarojoe · #8 12-02-2004, 03:07 AM

OK, here's the car i was referencing in my earlier post. These are Yenko promo/demo shots taken in 1968. Until I saw sixtiesmuscle's car at SCR7, I had never seen or heard of another rally green 68 sYc besides the one in these photos... could it be the same car?

Sorry for the sub-par quality, I don't have a scanner and these are digital pics of original pics. Compare these with the current pics of the car...

camarojoe · #9 12-02-2004, 03:09 AM

rear shot...note the lack of license plate.

**mnyenko** · #10 12-03-2004, 01:39 AM

Joe,
The photo you have may very well be Mikes car. There were 5 RG 68 camaros in the first batch of twenty. Two went to Jay Kline in Minneapolis MN. A previous owner told me the photo with tow bar. Was taken going north on hwy 65 Central ave. On the way to Minnesota Dragways. I agree with Rick. The timing tower in the other photo looks like Twin Cities dragways. Earl