February 2010 Feature Car

[Chevy454]

<u>Joe and Jake Anglin's 1969 Yenko Chevelle</u>

L72 427/425hp, M21 4-speed, 4.10 posi, Dover White w/ standard black interior, AM radio w/ rer antenna & front/rear speakers, original selling dealer was Joseph Chevrolet, Cincinnati, OH

In the mid 1980's, I heard about a Yenko Chevelle from my friend Bob Evans that was located a few towns over, but never could pin down the owner's name or exact location. Then in 1988, while going to look at a convertible Chevelle, I got to talking with the owner and asked if he knew of the Yenko Chevelle or the owner of it. The man said he knew of the car and it was still owned by the original owner. He himself had tried to puchase the car, however the owner would not sell. The man proceeded to tell me where the owner, Freddy, lived.

After leaving from looking at the convertible, I drove straight to Freddy's house. I approached the door, and asked Freddy about the Yenko. He went on to show me some pictures of the car, and told me a bit about it. However, the car was not there. It was at a garage a few blocks away. We went there later that night, but Freddy quickly told me he was not interested in selling the car, and did not uncover the Yenko for viewing.

I contacted Freddy periodically throughout the years and finally was able to purchase the car in April of 2004. The car was located in Freddy's garage in Newport, KY, up on concrete blocks. When we opened the trunk, the original heads, intake, drive shaft, cross member, radiator, and alternator were stored.

It still retained all of it's original sheet metal. The original engine had been replaced under warranty early on. The car had only 12,748 original miles on it, due to the fact that it had been extensively street and strip raced until the mid 1970s, and was then parked until purchased.

Restoration began in the summer of 2004 and was completed in December 2008. The frame-off restoration included finding correct date-coded parts and historically accurate addembly.

The car was restored by Jim Bell and LeRoy Conley. Body and paint was done by Mike Wolking.

Photos and write up by Ashley Anglin.