1969 Yenko Camaro 427

Buzz

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Although built by Chevrolet, the 1969 Yenko Camaro 427 was conceived by car dealer and famous Chevrolet tuner, Don Yenko. Explore more images of this iconic muscle car.

The 1969 Yenko Chevrolet Camaro 427 was the perfect blend of muscle car enthusiasts' desires and the factory's ambition to deliver.

For Ford fans, Carroll Shelby stands as the ultimate symbol of performance. Meanwhile, Chevrolet enthusiasts hold Don Yenko, a car dealer from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, in the highest regard. Yenko earned his reputation through his skills in driving, building, and selling powerful Chevrolets, starting in 1965 with meticulously crafted super Corvairs. By 1967 and 1968, he was performing 427-cid Corvette V-8 swaps in Camaros, completing 118 of these conversions. These $4,200 muscle cars could easily hit low 13-second quarter miles right off his shop floor.

Gallery of Muscle Car Images

Other Chevy dealers, such as Nickey in Chicago, Dana in California, and Baldwin-Motion in New York, also carried out similar engine swaps. However, Yenko Sports Cars Inc. stood out with dealer locations in 19 states, granting it significant influence with Chevrolet. Despite this, dealer conversions were complex and came with only limited engine warranties.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. The most powerful engine available in the standard 1969 Camaros was Chevy's 375-horsepower 396-cid V-8. However, Yenko's cars were equipped with the Corvette 427 engine, rated at 425 bhp, though Yenko claimed it was closer to 450 bhp.

At Yenko's request, Chevy agreed to manufacture a series of 1969 Camaros with 427 engines directly from the factory, offering full 5-year/50,000-mile warranties. This was done under the Central Office Production Order (COPO) system, which was previously used for special requests from non-performance fleet customers.

The exact number of COPO Camaros produced is unclear; Yenko ordered 201, but other dealers were also able to place orders, meaning over 500 could have been made. All of them shared the same basic specifications: the iron-block L72 427 engine, solid-lifter, rated at 425 bhp by Chevy but more realistically at 450 bhp by Yenko; a Hurst four-speed manual or dual-gate automatic transmission; a heavy-duty 4.10:1 Posi rear; a cowl-induction hood; heavy-duty Z28 suspension with F70x14 tires, and additional performance parts. This package added about $800 to the base coupe price, including $490 for the engine.

Chevy supplied the standard COPO Camaros with plain dog-dish hubcaps and no exterior identification, not even for the 427 engine. Yenko customized his cars with 15-inch rally wheels, a larger front roll bar, and a 140 mph speedometer. He also added 'sYc' (Yenko Super Car) badges, striping, and offered options like mags, gauges, headers, and more, which could push the price over $4,600. When delivered, Yenko Camaros easily achieved mid-13-second quarter miles. Many were equipped with headers and slicks for street use, running 11.94-second ETs at 114 mph.

Return to Classic Muscle Cars Library.

For more cool information on muscle cars, check out:

Chevy muscle cars

are at the core of high-performance, large-engine power. Explore profiles, photos, and specifications of Chevy muscle cars.
Muscle cars come in a variety of forms. Here are features on over 100 muscle cars, complete with photos and specifications for each model.
Muscle cars have shaped their own unique culture. To learn more about it, check out How Muscle Cars Work.

Explore these muscle car profiles, each featuring detailed photos and specifications for the respective models:

The 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator stepped out of the Mustang's shadow with its bold stripes and rear spoiler.
Beep, beep! Here's one of the most formidable muscle cars ever built, the 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi.
The 1970 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am offered a perfect blend of sports-car agility and muscle car might.
The rare and fierce 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 featured an all-aluminum, race-proven V-8 engine.

For more car-related insights, check out these articles:

The engine defines a muscle car's bold character. To learn everything about car engines, read How Car Engines Work.
Muscle cars owe their muscle to horsepower — but what exactly is it? Find the answer in How Horsepower Works.
NASCAR race cars exemplify the muscle car philosophy of power. Discover what drives these high-performance machines in How NASCAR Race Cars Work.

The 1969 Yenko Camaro

Specifications

Wheelbase, inches: 108.1

Weight, lbs: 3,500

Number built: 201

Price: $4,500

Standard Engine

Type: ohv V-8

Displacement, cid: 427

Fuel system: 1 x 4bbl.

Compression ratio: 11.0:1

Horsepower @ rpm: 425 @ 5600