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LOT #1407 - 1967 CHEVROLET YENKO SUPER CAMARO 427/450 - NO RESERVE
ORIGIN OF

THE SPECIES

YENKO’S WILD 427-POWERED CAMARO

One of America’s most successful racing drivers Initially named “Stomper” but soon
from 1957 through 1981, Canonsburg, PA- known as the Super Camaro, Yenko’s wild
based Chevy dealer Don Yenko was one of the 427-powered cars were rated 450 horsepower
truest proponents of the “win on Sunday, sell with 4-speed transmissions and 410 ponies
on Monday” mantra during his storied career. with an automatic. The first were based on
With the Camaro’s debut in late 1966 as an factory-original 350ci cars with much hand-
eventual and more-conventional replacement labor required to complete the conversions;
for the rear-engine Corvair, Yenko immediately however, once the RPO L78 396/375hp option
realized the future was with Chevrolet’s new was available, only the short-block required
competitor to Ford’s Mustang. swapping for a 427ci equivalent. Much more
than a simple engine upgrade, Yenko’s beasts
Since the early Camaro was already available
with a mild 396ci “Mark IV” big-block engine, also included significant modifications to
quiet factory-sanctioned experiments were the cars, such as suspension and driveline
conducted with Chevrolet’s larger-displacement upgrades, NHRA-legal scattershields, exhaust
RPO L72 427-cubic-inch mill at Bill Thomas headers, added instruments (including
Race Cars in California ‒ one of Chevrolet’s tachometers), higher-grade spark plug wires, a
unofficial “Skunk Works” racing shops, before fiberglass hood with a Corvette “Stinger” style
the Camaro even went on sale. Factory-rated treatment, hood pins and “427” badges.
425 horsepower or 25 more, depending on the Warren Dernoshek, one of Yenko’s mechanics,
specific application, the solid-lifter 427 was remains active in the Yenko niche and, as
the key to Chevrolet’s racing future in the face he related in a June 2010 Muscle Car Review
of Chrysler’s virtually track-ready Street HEMI magazine article, extensive handwork was
and Ford’s 427 cars. Southern California’s Dana required to complete the Yenko Super
Chevrolet, led by former Shelby American Camaros, noting the lack of lifts, hoists or air
national sales manager Peyton Cramer and tools onsite at the time. Since the emphasis
racer Dick Guldstrand, worked with Thomas was obviously on refining the conversion
to build 427-powered Camaros. Well-known process for speedier response to growing
Chevy drag racer Dick Harrell, who was dealer orders once word got out, production
sponsored by Thomas, brought Chicago’s numbers for these first-year Yenko Super
Nickey Chevrolet into a similar production Camaros understandably differ a bit among
deal; however, a change in business plans at marque experts. Dernoshek was quoted at 53
Nickey led Harrell to join forces with Yenko cars – 22 of which were converted by Harrell at
Chevrolet, including national sponsorship for his St. Louis, Missouri, operation, while other
Harrell’s racing cars. experts cite from as few as 54 to as many as 75

110 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE WINTER 2022