A RACER RESTORED By all accounts, Ranide and subsequent owners put the Camaro to use, with it being set up for the strip and heavily drag-raced. It moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, before being sold again in 1980, ending up with the current owners, brothers David and Darrell Meister. Wanting to preserve the American classic, they had friend and famed drag racing veteran “Akron” Arlen Vanke of Akron, Ohio/Onekama, Michigan, go completely through the engine, replacing items like the rings, bearings, pistons, lifters and camshaft. The Camaro has been fitted with the correct emissions equipment and new chambered exhaust. The car’s updated M22 Rockcrusher transmission was also rebuilt, receiving new syncos and bearings. At the rear is a 12-bolt Positraction rear end, featuring C-clip eliminators and 4.88 gears. The next step in the car’s journey was a repaint, occurring in 1996. Later, around 2010, the gearhead guys noticed paint slightly bubbling on the tops of the fenders and wanted to correct and amend any imperfections. As such, the car was stripped back down to bare metal, sealed in epoxy primer and PPG base coat/clear coat. A new coat of the original color of Matador Red was applied in 2015. At some point, the car’s speedometer cable was removed, with the odometer currently reading 7,130 miles. PRECIOUS PAPERWORK In 2008, the owners were able to purchase the original dealer packet for the Super Car from former Yenko employee Warren Dernoshek. The veteran tech stated he was able to find only two packets for 1968 Camaro Supercars. One of the packets was for a dealer trade and YS8035 that was a retail sale at the Canonsburg dealership. Documents include the original file folder, dealer order form, dealer’s worksheet, conditional sales contract, commission voucher, customer’s statement, internal repair order B 24627 showing the service department installing the 427 engine, internal repair order B 24853 showing the service department precar delivery and inspection, internal repair order showing the service department replaced the hood hold-down pins and complete air cleaner, citation life insurance certificate for decreasing life and disability insurance and dealer’s notification for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. LASTING LEGACY Don Yenko was truly innovative in his vehicle marketing and ahead of the competition when it came to building a Camaro performance program that revved up across the nation. Chevrolet paid attention, and today, Yenko’s efforts are known the world over, standing out with unrivaled uniformity and exclusive COPO status. Camaros with his name are highly sought after. A chance to own one is a rare occasion, and collectors will get that opportunity at Mecum’s upcoming sun-soaked Glendale, Arizona, auction, where YS8035 will be crossing the block. In addition to its full and comprehensive restoration, the vehicle has received ample media attention, including being spotlighted in the authoritative historical guide to the COPO program: “COPO: Chevrolet’s Ultimate Muscle Cars,” authored by yours truly. The sale also includes that highly sought-after dealer packet of documentation, and the car retains its original custom fiberglass hood. While many Camaros were produced in 1968, only a select few are Yenko Super Camaros. For Chevrolet enthusiasts, these pinnacle pony cars are must-haves as the main attraction in any top-tier collection. OFFERED MARCH 31 AT GLENDALE 2023 MECUM.COM // 43