"Barn Find" The Last 69 Yenko Camaro......

[njsteve]

Hey Michael, nice to see you popping up on the site.

Yeah we had a crazy neighborhood back in the day. I still remember driving my 69 Pace Car around the circle (we lived on a large dead end circular road), and stopping in your driveway to say Hi to you and your brothers back when I was around 14 years old. (The statute of limitations on underage driving has thankfully passed).

That was back when my brother Jeff had his 69 Daytona Yellow SS396 Camaro, too. I'd also sneak that car out and drive it around when he wasn't looking.

Ah, the good old days...I remember getting into a heated argument in your driveway with your brother over which was faster: my Camaro or a new 1977 Trans Am.

Man, I was such a punk back in the 1970s! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img]

P.S. if you want a supercar with A/C you should find a nice 1973 SD455. There's a neat one on ebay right now with 10K miles, and it is in Florida, too!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-SD-455-Tran...=p2054897.l4275

[MJR]

Steve,

Yup, Ox Bow lane was a lot of fun and a safe place for sure. My brother Henry just sold the old homestead on Ox Bow about 2 months ago. :-(

An SD Trans Am is on my short list for sure. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't A/C only come on cars with automatics? I haven't seen a 4 speed A/C car yet.


Let us not forget your blown Blazer or the Superbird.


FYI: I still keep in touch with Mark Lieberman, not enough but we talk every once in awhile.


Michael

[njsteve]

Yup, A/C was only available on the automatics. I remember Mark and his 1974 Formula 455 Firebird. I remember how he rebuilt the engine in his basement and then we couldn't get it up the stairs to install it in the car! I don't recall how he ever got the engine up to ground level??? Tell him I said hi, next time you talk to him.

[camaromb]

There are many definitions of survivor and in the Yenko Camaro world this was one of the best in spite of the imron painted firewall and underbody. It was one of only a handful of original paint Yenko Camaros left and the original paint/vinyl top/glass was excellent with some flaws. Original paint exemplifies survivor more than an other factor in my opinion. Once repainted it will become like so many other restored/repainted cars. I would have corrected the firewall and underbody finishes/components and enjoyed the original paint as it has been for so many years . It would have made an excellent original paint driver, flaws and all. It will now be a nicely restored repainted Yenko driver. To each is own I guess.

[John]

......

Michael,

Welcome to the site ....

Glad to hear that you are going to enjoy your car outside of your garage [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

There is a lot of great info here and a lot of great car guys..... Thanks for chiming in .

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

[69z28302]

That's nice to hear!

[SS427]

Amazing how this car is getting some negative attention because it is being restored yet another original paint Yenko got tons of respect and admiration even though a lot of restoration was done on it as well (except no repaint) and it sold for huge money a few of years ago. The restorer of Michael's Yenko calls me at least once a week and I will assure you he not only knows what he is doing, is doing it correctly and has spent a ton of time researching the car and Yenko's in general. He called me just yesterday morning asking what he should be paying for NOS door and drip rail weatherstrip and evidently I hit the numbers exactly as he said he would go ahead and purchase the NOS ones he located because it was very close to the numbers I gave him. He is locating the best of the best parts he can get his hands onto and is using next to no reproduction parts and as Michael stated it is no longer getting Vintage Air. I will assure you this car was anything but a survivor. Original paint to me does not constitute original survivor and the bottom side and engine compartment were pathetic (and no offense to the great original owner). When he did these modifications to the car it was simply a Camaro to him. The interior was very nice and I believe may be staying in the car. Also, most of the suspension pieces were purchased from the local auto store years ago with virtually none of it being correct. As far as correcting the firewall and underside, that was not going to happen. Anyone who has worked with Imron paint knows. Its all or nothing. As always, one respected member does this to their car and nothing is said while while an unknown does it they get beat up. Go figure. I understand preserving a survivor just as much as the next guy but in my opinion, this was just not the car to preserve in that state. We all talk about how much we wish these car were driven and used as they were originally attended and hate it when a car is restored and becomes a trailer queen. I can assure you this is NOT the case with Michael. I am restoring his 1970 L78 Chevelle convert to MCRD's standards and possibly with A/C as well but as with all his cars there will be NO body modifications to incorporate the A/C, will be installed to conceal as much as possible and it can be returned to stock relatively easily.

[Astock]

r

[camaromb]

When the original owner sold the car he was told A/C was going to be installed when the car was restored.. That would tend to make someone question the level of restoration on such a nice original paint Yenko.

[SS427]

Mark, I can certainly understand your concerns as trust me, I had the same concerns myself especially with Michael potentially wanting the same thing on his other cars here in my shop . I can assure you Harbor Restoration is qualified. I have done my own bit of research on them and he is more than knowledgable and capable even though they decided against it on the Camaro. Based on the photos I just saw of his Hemi I am even more pleased with the quality.