Original Owner Yenko Vega

[whitetop]

This write up is from my FB page that covers car history of the Wheeling-Ohio Valley area.

Pete K. from Bethlehem (outside of Wheeling) bought a yellow 1971 Yenko Vega hatchback new in '72. It was a unsold leftover. Pete said he sold the car in the later 70's to a guy in Weirton W.Va .-still in the Yenko stripes.
The car went through 2 sets of recalled front fenders due to rust out. Before installing the last set, he coated the inside of the fenders with roofing tar and when he bolted up the fenders the tar squished out of the sides. The Vega was set up to be turbocharged but it never was-Pete still has the Yenko Turbo valve cover. His neighbor ,Chuck Hornoer (I'm butchering this spelling and pronouncement) worked for Yenko and always volunteered to take the car up for servicing but Pete always wanted to go to check things out and see what was new.
The picture with the quarter wheel damage was due to a motorcycle hitting him.
Pete said every time he went to the dealership he visited Chuck who gave him handfuls of Yenko stuff- Yenko badges etc. Pete said everything was in a back room in boxes and he would grab a handful of Yenko matchbook covers, badges etc.
Pete took the Yenko badges off the side of the car and replaced it with GT badges and GT paint treatment on the hood because he liked the look
Any of you Weirton guys know of this car?
I want to thank Pete for sharing these pics and story.

[Hawkeye]

Great story and history. Thanks for sharing. I’ve always liked these little Vegas.

Cheers,
Marty

[JoeC]

Interesting Yenko Vega story.

The Yenko Vegas were ordered with COPO 9734 and came with forged pistons for the Turbo kit.

The Yenko valve cover was supposed to come with the car but some were on back order so Yenko had to send the covers after the buyer took delivery of the car.

[whitetop]

Originally Posted by JoeC

Interesting Yenko Vega story.

Here is Petes neighbor-he owned a '67 SS396 he bought new at King Chevrolet in Wheeling Wva and the stinger hood on the car he purchased from Yenko when he worked there after leaving Kings.
Notice the Yenko Turbo Vega in the foreground This was at a car show in Wheeling Wva and Don Yenko had Chuck drive the Vega down tho Wheeling to enter the show.

[JoeC]

here is a restored green white stripe Yenko Vega wagon

The photos I have of Yenko Stinger Turbo Vegas are all black stripe cars.

[whitetop]

I received this pm from Chuck. He was a tech at Yenko.

"It was a hatchback. I did drive it down because at one point in time I did all the turbo modifications at my house. Vega was sold to a buyer in Turkey"

[sYc]

Rescued from a dairy farm in Wisconsin several years ago. Sold new by Thorstad Chevrolet in Madison, WI. We have protect-o-plate and other paperwork. Purchased from second owner who was in the Air Force when he owned it. Like most Vega owners, had issues with the engine.

[iluv69s]

Broken axle?

[whitetop]

JoeC

Chuck just pm me this:

I can’t say for positive but about 25 turbos.
Also from memory Don Yenko ordered 200 1973
Vegas for the Yenko conversion
I was a tech
It was definitely cool working for the Yenko sports car division

No 69’s (Camaros) left while I was there and I only remember 1 coming in for warranty work

[Zoomin69]

There are only 7 known Stingers in the COPO.com registry.
Yenko built 200 COPO's in 1971 and 200 in 1972. No documented 1973's.
Ed