The Village Hemorrhoid

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

1967 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro

All ’60s Yenko Camaros are rare. No question there. But Doug Perry’s ’67 just may be the rarest. Consider these facts: the $5,242 sticker price makes it probably the most expensive ’67 Yenko Camaro in existence; it is the only documented ’67-’69 big-block Camaro with a cowl-plenum air cleaner assembly; the car left the Yenko dealership with a ’68 Super Sport hood rather than the custom hoods that most Yenkos featured.
The original owner, John L. Weaver Jr. – owned the car until 2018 when Doug acquired the car. He often accompanies Doug to car shows and other related events.
The story behind this Yenko is as unique as the car. Weaver and his father were shopping for a new car and ended up at Yenko’s dealership. All the ’67 Yenko conversions had been sold and work on the ’68 conversion hadn’t begun. A leftover ’67 SS 396 with an automatic transmission was still on the lot, so Yenko offered to convert that car – the last ’67 Yenko Camaro made.
Weaver put 7,252 miles on the Camaro before parking it in a heated garage in 1973 in mostly disassembled condition. Camaro restoration specialist Frank Arone told Doug about the car and he was able to buy it from Weaver and begin the 14-month restoration project.
Arone and his crew in Homer City, Pennsylvania – with help from other well-known early Camaro experts – returned the car to the original condition as it was delivered on March 15, 1968. The resulting blue with red interior Camaro features the original Yenko drivetrain, interior (including carpet), sheet metal, glass, wheels, tires, key blanks, and documentation.
The Camaro received the standard Yenko upgrades, especially the Yenko 427c.i. big block, which was rebuilt by Dave McGaffee of Bowtie Performance. Power runs through a Turbo 400 automatic to a stock 12-bolt Positraction rear axle that houses 3.73 gears. Standard Yenko rear traction bars are included.
The original Yenko-installed Doug’s Headers feed exhaust gases through the dual-exhaust system. The factory suspension includes front power disc brakes and rear drums. Firestone Wide Ovals wrap 15×7-inch Rally wheels.
The Nantucket Blue paint with red interior is unusual to say the least. The original interior was restored and re-installed, including the power windows. Stewart Warner gauges fit under the dash. A tachometer is mounted on the console.
This ’67 Yenko Camaro could be considered triple-rare, if that’s possible. It’s only one of the 100 or so ’67 Yenko conversions, it’s the only documented Yenko with a cowl-plenum air intake, and it’s the last ’67 Yenko to leave the dealership.