1927–1987
Don Yenko
Racer and dealer — the Yenko Super Camaro
A four-time SCCA national driving champion who raced Corvettes at events including Le Mans, Yenko took over performance work at his family's Canonsburg, Pennsylvania dealership. He first made a name modifying Corvairs (the “Stinger”) before turning to Camaros in 1967, swapping in Corvette 427s.
For 1969 he worked directly with Chevrolet to get the L72 installed on the factory line via COPO. He died in a small-plane crash in 1987.
Key beats
- Four-time SCCA national driving champion
- 1969 COPO 9561: ~198–201 Yenko Super Camaros
- Continued specialty builds into the 1980s (Turbo Z)