Yenko Chevrolet

Yenko Chevrolet was a Chevrolet dealership located at 575 West Pike Street in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Operating from 1949 to 1982, the dealership is best known for selling customized sports cars during the late 1960s. Referred to presently as "Yenkos," they are among the most collectible 1960s vehicles.

Yenko Chevrolet's history dates back to 1929, the year Frank Yenko opened a dealership for selling Durant cars. After the Durant company ended in 1932, Yenko opened a Chevrolet dealership in Pennsylvania in Bentleyville in 1934. In 1949, Yenko opened a second Chevrolet dealership in Canonsburg, nearby in the same state.

In 1957, Frank's son Don Yenko assumed ownership of the dealership. Known for his modified Chevrolets, Don managed the dealership until 1982, at which time he sold the business.

In 1966, Frank Yenko was impressed with the late model Chevrolet Corvair's handling, and decided to apply for SCCA approval of the Corsa model for racing. The sanctioning body approved the cars with back seat removed and upgrades to the Corsa engine increasing horsepower and torque. The 100 1966 Corsas that received certification were all painted white and most had blue striping, and were named "Yenko Stingers".

Yenko continued to modify Corvair coupes as Stingers for the rest of the car's production run. The last Stinger was a 1969 coupe, after which Corvair production ceased at Willow Run, Michigan. Charlie Doerge wrote a book on the Yenko Stinger and some of Don's escapades in 2011. The book lists many original and subsequent owners, as well as known racing history with much information on all of the cars that were produced. Jay Leno in a video has declared it "the bible for Yenko Stinger owners".

When Camaros, classifiable as a "pony car", became available in 1967, Yenko transferred Chevrolet's 427 cubic inch (7 L), 425hp (317 kW) L-72 engine (along with other high-performance parts) into some Camaros, creating the Yenko Camaro. The 1967 & 1968 427 Camaros were so popular that, in 1969, Yenko used Chevrolet's Central Office Production Order (COPO) system to have L-72 engines installed into Chevrolet Camaros and Chevelles.

Durante 1971 y 1972, Yenko vendió el Yenko Stinger Vegas. Basado en el Chevrolet Vega GT Hatchback, el Stinger Vegas incluía alerones delanteros y traseros, franjas laterales Yenko Stinger y un motor COPO especial con pistones de aluminio forjado con revestimiento de aleación. El Vega modificado de 2.3 litros y 4 cilindros en línea con bloque de aluminio, turbocompresor y 155  hp requería una prueba de 50,000 millas para la certificación de la EPA, y Don Yenko finalmente decidió no usar los turbocompresores. ^{[ 1 ]} Chevrolet no estaba interesado en el potencial comercial de una versión Turbo, ya que ni los bloques de motor de mayor compresión solicitados por Yenko ni los motores turbo equipados de fábrica llegaron a fabricarse. El Stinger Vega se ofreció a través de Yenko Chevrolet hasta 1972 sin turbocompresores instalados, pero Yenko sí los ofreció como un kit de posventa. El alto rendimiento y la producción limitada de todos los autos modificados por Yenko los hacen valiosos y apreciados por los coleccionistas.

• Don Yenko
• Camaro Yenko
• Chevrolet Corvair: Yenko Stinger
• Chevrolet Vega

• Yenko Stinger II Vega
• Distribuidores de Yenko en Yenko.net
• El Nova Yenko Deuce de 1970