1969 Camaro 502
The 1969 Camaro is considered by many to be most beautiful
production muscle-car ever built. Though mechanicaly identical to the '68
model year, the '69 model sported new fenders, door skins, rear quarter-panels,
grille and taillights that gave the car a wider, lower appearance. A redesigned
dash and more comfortable seats made the car more passenger and driver friendly
as well.
One thing a stock Camaro of any year DID NOT come with was
the "Stinger" style induction hood. From '67 to '69, the only
way to get a Camaro so equipped was to purchase one from Don Yenko's Chevy
dealership in Pennsylvania. From the day the first Camaro rolled into his
showroom, he and his race mechanics began modifying them into "Super
Camaros" with beefed up suspensions and and a 427 BB motor rated at
425 h.p. (available in either the all-iron or ZL-1 aluminum block variants).
Yenko also added the "427" and "Yenko" I.D. badges to
the car lest anyone challenge their parentage. Factory Camaros were limited
to the 396 at the time due to GM's 400c.i. cap on mid-size cars.
This '69 happens to be a factory SS (Super Sport) that has
been fitted with an aftermarket "Yenko" hood and painted a non-Yenko
silver here at Hot Rods & Custom Stuff (Yenko Camaro¹s were available
in 6 colors -- LeMans Blue, Hugger Orange, Olympic Gold, Daytona Yellow,
Rallye Green and Fathom Green).
The "Cowl Induction" hood was based on the Corvette
"Stingray" hood. The 427 was also borrowed from the Vette.
Instead of a 427 we've shoe-horned a GM Performance 502 Big-Block
under the hood. Yenko's that came with ZL-1 engine are considered the quickest
of the series (capable of turning 13s off the lot), and the rarest which
makes them the most valuable as well. While not a genuine Yenko, we're pretty
sure this 502 equipped SS with Hurst shifter could give the Yenko run for
it's money.
What a pair! The red Camaro with the rally stripes is a '67
Z-28 with a Yenko hood added.
Hot Rods & Custom Stuff, 2324 Auto Park Way, Escondido, CA.,
1-800-HOT-ROD-5.
Hot Rods & Custom Stuff - builds, restores, paints, services
and sells parts for classic autos, cars, trucks and street rods.