1969 Yenko 427 Novas

[JoeC]

Trying to get a rough idea of how many 1969 Yenko 427 Novas were built.

I assembled a reference page of 25 items found online including;

pictures of 8 to 10 known cars that are said to be 427 Yenko Novas

old pictures of cars that are known and of some cars that have not been found

old newspaper ads

old Dealer ads

a Yenko 427 Nova window sticker.

I read that 3 cars were sold by Colonial Chevrolet

This is not an accurate list since there may be some duplication where the same car can be listed in multiple ads or pictures.

Not included are claims of at least one 427 Nova sold by each of several large Yenko Super Car Dealers

Maybe others can add or subtract from this group?

[John Brown]

Sold to local guy, last name Burris, from Osceola IN.

[JoeC]

I forgot this one that was posted on here years ago but don't know if this is a real one

[Stefano]

When Ed Schoenthaller a.k.a. Mr. Ed set Fencil-Tuffo up to be a Yenko/Deuce Dealer, he told me that they also got a 1969 Yellow Yenko Nova for inventory. Ed Cuneen did say that he had some documentation on that car and that it did exist, but I have never seen any paper work to confim it. I also spoke with an Individual who ordered and purchased an LS6 from them and said that he remembers the Yellow 427 as they tried to switch him to it. He was a big block guy and had no interest in the Deuces' on the lot.

[PeteLeathersac]

'

Dale Chevrolet Waukesha advertised a Yellow '69 Yenko Nova 10/70 w/ no drivetrain details as ad below.
There's more ads for '69 Yenko Novas than those posted above but as Joe notes, everything needs to be jived w/ each other to create a solid list of possibilities.
I'm up for contributing anything I can, best may be start w/ known Vin cars subtracting ads/pics etc that likely go w/ them and work from there w/ whatever's left?:hmmm:
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[JoeC]

Pete, thanks , I used a lot of the ads you posted

here is a blue v-top 427 4:10 Yenko Nova at Chevyland


Vince E. has said for many years that he had a list of 37 Novas and he thought that 30 of them were 427 conversions. In Don Yenko's 1987 MCR interview he said about 35

I know some think the 30 number is high because the 427 conversion paperwork is hard to find but I think the 30 number is possible

I have heard Colonial Chevy had 3 and other dealers like Jack Douglass may have had one. Some dealers like Byrne Brothers said they didn't have any.

[DEUCE]

37 Novas on the list, 25 got converted the other 12 were sold as regular Novas but,
are on the list as non converted cars. This is per Vince from the records.
Mike

[JoeC]

Did Vince change his numbers? He has said the number of 427 Novas is 30. This is the number he used in magazine articles he did in the 1980s.

[PeteLeathersac]

'

Below 05/84 PA ad as posted above for an unrestored RG Yenko 427 Nova notes it's the first of 37 but only 3 w/ 427?
Considering 80's date similar to above info, was the ad a mistake and supposed to say 30, not 3?:hmmm:
Phone # appears to be Ohio, others here may know whose ad it was?
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[JoeC]

here is another interesting Yenko ad

1969 Nova 427 4sp LeMans Blue

1969 Nova 427 4sp Fathom Green

1969 Nova SS 375hp Turbo Hydro Fathom Green

Thats two 1969 Nova SS 375hp Turbo Hydro cars known - Fathom Green and Rally Green

[chads454Ls6]

Vince E. had also said that none of the converted 69 Nova's were sold a Yenko Chevrolet. only participating dealers.

[Kurt S]

Vince E. had also said that none of the converted 69 Nova's were sold at Yenko Chevrolet. only participating dealers.
That I find hard to believe.....

[PeteLeathersac]

'

Yep, hard to believe also seems unlikely w/ 427 Novas advertised in multi Yenko Newspaper Ads including 06/69 as below.
Still not impossible if all DX'd but what Original Owner stories are known, any w/ Yenko delivery?
Great thread and if we all add what we can, it may help isolate specific cars whether Vins known/unknown also provide other info that indicates total cars built etc?:hmmm:
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[Hawkeye]

There is a Rallye Green Yenko Nova in the registry that shows Yenko as being the selling dealer. It is pictured with a 427 under the hood. Anyone know the details on it? Also, why does the Fathom Green with black top list it’s engine as an L78 but is pictured with a 427?

Thanks,
Marty

[JoeC]

Warren told me he has paperwork on a bunch of Novas sold by Yenko and thinks 3 of them were converted to 427.

He also had paperwork on at least three SS396 Novas sold by Yenko that are known cars.

I spoke with him recently to see if his paperwork shows anything on the 4:10 rear.

On the power team charts for a 1969 SS 396 Nova the highest RPO gear is 3:55.

In the ads and other information it shows the 427 Nova's with 4:10 gear.

Two of the Yenko Nova's are said to have a BV code rear (4:10) but I don't know if they are original to the car.

I would think Yenko would have done a COPO or special order to have the car factory built with 4:10 gears so he didn't have to change out the gear sets.

I don't know if Chevy allowed him to get the 4:10 on the 1969 Nova SS396 but he did get the COPOs for the 1970 LT-1 Nova (Deuce)

[x33rs]

Here's one I used to see once in a while around Phoenix at the local cruise. No idea if it's real and I haven't seen it around in several years. The owner was a car dealer in the area but I don't think he's in business anymore.

One thing I like about Lou is he gets a good shot of the data plate. This is originally yellow with a black vinyl top. Don't know if it's the same yellow Nova with black top that Pete or Stefano previously mentioned.

https://youtu.be/HYQ3wvyx9tg

[JoeC]

thanks for posting, That is an interesting yellow Nova

He didn't mention anything about documentation.
I don't know if that is a documented car .

It has 733 interior bucket seat and console and gauges. Most of the Yenko Novas so far have been 731 bench seat rubber mat.

Yenko advertised colors were Garnet Red, Fathom Green, LeMans Blue and Rallye Green.

Yenko didn't always do low option cars and didn't always follow his advertised colors, so that doesn't rule it out.

[JoeC]

here is a 69 Nova power team chart

[x33rs]

thanks for posting, That is an interesting yellow Nova

He didn't mention anything about documentation.
I don't know if that is a documented car .

It has 733 interior bucket seat and console and gauges. Most of the Yenko Novas so far have been 731 bench seat rubber mat.

Yenko advertised colors were Garnet Red, Fathom Green, LeMans Blue and Rallye Green.

Yenko didn't always do low option cars and didn't always follow his advertised colors, so that doesn't rule it out.

Yeah since the data plate doesn't tell us much, these particular cars really need solid paperwork to prove anything. So I never really knew if the car was real. I always thought yellow versions weren't made as you pointed out Joe. But since a yellow one was mentioned earlier, possibly being a vinyl top car, that reminded me of this one.
If they were made in yellow, and since only a couple dozen were made, I'd bet you could probably count the yellow ones on one hand. What are the chances of it being the car mentioned in the add above?

Anyway, I just figured that with a good shot of the data plate, and as savvy as you guys are, you might be able to use the body sequence number and get a rough idea of the vin, give or take, and see if it falls within a known group or batch of Yenko Novas. Since cars like this are many times ordered in batches. That is if anyone has a data base of known Yenko Novas with vins.
It's a stretch but thought I'd toss it out there.

[GMC_Typhoon]

I don't know jack shit. But IMO there is a green one and a red one that are unquestionably real.

[JoeC]

why does the Fathom Green with black top list it’s engine as an L78 but is pictured with a 427?

Thanks,
Marty

I think that is a mistake

[JoeC]

Anyway, I just figured that with a good shot of the data plate, and as savvy as you guys are, you might be able to use the body sequence number and get a rough idea of the vin, give or take, and see if it falls within a known group or batch of Yenko Novas. Since cars like this are many times ordered in batches. That is if anyone has a data base of known Yenko Novas with vins.
It's a stretch but thought I'd toss it out there.

The build date is in line with other Yenko Novas but that does not rule it in or out

[JoeC]

a lot of fate news on youtube but some video is pretty good like when they race a Yenko 427 Nova against a Yenko 427 Camaro , you don't see that everyday

Yenko drag race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdR2bDRuMrw

the LeMans blue Yenko Nova by VAN Chevy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYMJwLyJQyk&list=RDCMUCZrnoMQMKqQ7yhlFyr_sqHg&index=1


drag strip Yenko Nova sold by V.V. Cooke Chevrolet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e_IsCYTDzw

[PeteLeathersac]

'

YouTube Comments w/ Lou's feature notes the Yellow car a Clone also in Australia now as below w/ Tag pic.
On the Powerteam chart, wasn't 410 RPO but Copo 9511 necessary to get Factory 456/488 rears for '69?:hmmm:
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[JoeC]

The power team charts for 1969 Chevelle and Camaro show the 4:10 gear but the 1969 Nova does not

here is a power team chart for 69 Camaro

[lowmile]

I had a pretty crappy 69 nova with a 4sp and BV rear in it about 25 years ago. 1969 Nova SS 350 always thought it was original to the car but who knows.

This came off of the nova resource page.

BA - 2.56 open 10-bolt
BB - 2.56 posi 10-bolt
BC - 3.36 open 10-bolt
BD - 3.36 posi 10-bolt
BI - 2.73 open
BL - 3.07 open 12-bolt
BM - 3.31 open 12-bolt
BN - 3.55 open
BO - 3.73 open 12-bolt
BP - 2.73 open
BQ - 2.73 posi
BR - 3.07 posi 12-bolt
BS - 3.31 posi 12-bolt
BT - 3.55 posi
BU - 3.73 posi 12-bolt
BV - 4.10 posi 12-bolt
BW - 4.56 posi 12-bolt
BX - 4.88 posi 12-bolt
PA - 3.08 open 10-bolt
PB - 2.56 open 10-bolt
PC - 2.56 posi 10-bolt
PE - 3.08 posi 10-bolt
PX - 2.73 posi

[x33rs]

So how would the BX rear fit in? I've never seen it on an option chart.

I have one of those here that came out of a 69Z decades ago. Don't know if it was original to the car or not.

[JoeC]

1968 Nova you can get up to 4:88 .

a 68 Nova with L78 375hp M22 4:88 gear was pretty much a factory drag car

[x33rs]

Thanks for that Joe. That's the first time I've actually seen it listed on an option list like that.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Just catching up to this topic, always interesting!

The word of mouth story is that the yellow one is/was an a/t, and that it was listed on the paperwork as 'did not work'. However, we don't know what that means nor whether it was sold with a 427, and if so - which version of the 427 (the speculation is that it could have been sold with a lower HP version of the 427).

The claim of Yenko not selling any 427 Novas is more likely that 'only' Yenko sold 'non-converted / tuned' Novas. This is because other dealers wouldn't need to DX a standard issue L78 Nova. We've spoken to orig owners of a LB 427 Yenko Nova that was bought at Yenko and later stolen - I think at a Steelers game. We also have initial order papers (no VIN) for a different LB 427 Nova (notated as Chevy II) that was sold to a local resident through Yenko. Donna Mae told me they had guard dog in the lot across the creek who's paw prints were all over the fenders of a 427 Nova, apparently amused by the theft of 427 that night! So, I think most of us that have been at this awhile believe that Yenko did sell some 427 Novas.

The ad for the RG car that claims 'first one built' is reportedly true. This car is one of at least 4 cars built in 01A (which typically had some options) and was originally sold at White Chev in Dayton, OH as a 396 car. However, the engine was stolen and Yenko bought it stripped and built the first 427 Nova from it - as confirmed by Bill Smith & Vince Emme. This car is found, and is the non v/t RG car. Ownership goes back to '83 with; B.Greenwood, C.Dwiggins, D.Bridges, R.Jackson, K.Hudson, to ??

It is this car:

[JoeC]

here is another original pic that was with this set

it was sold at auction in 2012

https://www.mecum.com/lots/SC0512-126516/1969-chevrolet-yenko-nova/

[JoeC]

Anyone know an original POP for a 1969 Yenko Nova ? There is said to be one around.
That would help with the 4:10 rear end code mystery

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Anyone know an original POP for a 1969 Yenko Nova ? There is said to be one around.
That would help with the 4:10 rear end code mystery

BV. The 4 series carrier in a Nova was not a COPO item in '69, that didn't happen until '70.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I forgot this one that was posted on here years ago but don't know if this is a real one

This car is the other RG one, currently in the Albaugh collection. It is this car:

[JoeC]

In some of the restoration articles they say the car has a BV code 4:10 rear. I don't know if it is original or replaced rear or replaced gears or restamped.

I think the only way to solve the rear code mystery is to find a POP or window sticker or other documentation.

I think BV 4:10 rear would have been a special order.

[69hurstSC]

Kevin's website denotes his car "left the factory" with 4.11's. http://corvettes-musclecars.com/gallery2/v/69+PhaseIII/1969+Yenko+Nova+427/

[Big Block Bill]

Kevin's website denotes his car "left the factory" with 4.11's. http://corvettes-musclecars.com/gallery2/v/69+PhaseIII/1969+Yenko+Nova+427/

I've never seen a Factory 4:11 in a 12 bolt axle (maybe aftermarket?). I was of the understanding a 4:10 was the ratio in a 12 bolt rear axle and a Corvette had a 4:11 ratio, neither one had the other as far as I remember. Bill

[Bfinn]

Pender collection now.

[Big Block Bill]

Pender collection now.

Where is the Pender collection located, and is it open to the public?

[Bfinn]

North Florida. Not public private collection. Will be available to view when our new car barn is finished being built for private tours

[69PostSSChevelle]

Since you let the cat out of the bag, what will we be able to see in the Pender collection?
A Firebird, '69 H/O Convert and......

[Bfinn]

8 rare shelbys and 2 boss 429

[Bfinn]

Good eye

[69M22Z]

8 rare shelbys and 2 boss 429

Woohoo!! Let's go!!

[Bfinn]

A few of what they have

[luzl78]

Love that trans am!

[JoeC]

Great Yenko 427 Nova that's been around a long time

[TMagda]

My neighbor has one of these. Rallye Green auto.

[69M22Z]

Wow!!