Difference Between the Yenko Camaro and COPO Camaro

 

Difference Between the Yenko and COPO 

Most people probably know about how badass the Yenko and the COPO Camaros are, but how many people know where the names come from and what’s the difference between the two. Of course, if you are a diehard Camaro fan with a lot of knowledge of the first generation Camaros, you probably know some or all of the facts, but just in case you don’t, here is a little bit of education.

The Yenko

In 1967, Don Yenko, owner of Don Yenko Chevrolet, contacted General Motors and ordered 54 Camaros straight from the factory with a special mission in mind. That special mission was to convert those Camaros into Yenko drag strip-ready IHRA/NHRA Stock and Super Stock Camaro competitors.

(How many Yenko Camaros were built and sold from 67 through 69 is really unknown. The same goes with COPO Camaros; ask ten different experts and you're likely to get ten different answers).

When these Camaros first showed up at the Yenko Dealership, the first order of business was to take out the existing 396-cu.-in. engines and replace them with 427 big-blocks. Although a lot of numbers swirled around about how much horsepower they produced, it was estimated around 425-450-hp (depending on who you asked). Along the way, Yenko also had all Yenko labeled Camaros beefed up with other goodies like traction-bars and 3:73-positraction rear-ends. 

There was only one problem with Team Yenko’s plan to turn the Camaros into drag strip-ready Camaros, they were not allowed to race in the IHRA/NHRA Stock or Super Stock classes. These classes were strictly for cars that had no engine changes or any other big mechanical changes after they left the factory. They were not banned from all drag racing, just the Stock and Super Stock classes that the Yenko Team was aiming for, so eventually the Yenko program was canned. 

A lot of people think that the reason Yenko stopped the program was because of the inability to race in their intended classes. That was part of the reason, but most of the reasons were because Yenko was losing money on the pulled 396 motors and rear-ends they could not seem to get rid of and the program was losing even more money since GM would no longer warranty the Camaros if they were modified after they left the factory. That either fell in the hands of the owner or Yenko himself.

 

69 COPO Camaro   

It’s true, the name strikes fear in the hearts of racers who dare to pull up next to one in the staging lanes. They dominated the Stock and Super Stock classes for a long time.

COPO stands for (Central Office Production Order) and this program was invented specifically to put competitive Camaros in those Stock and Super Stock classes. If you ordered a Camaro from the central office, the build sheet would go to the factory, and when the Camaro rolled off the factory line complete, whatever you asked to be installed would be installed and considered stock. With that being said, there was nothing IHRA or NHRA could do about excluding the cars from racing in stock classes.

Ultimately, it was Fred Gibb and Don Yenko that pushed Chevrolet into making this program happen. Chevy saw the need for competitive Camaros in these classes for the use of sponsorship and of course bragging rights. They were Camaros, they were stock, and they were Mustang and Mopar eaters for a long time at the track. The 427 big-blocks made 425-hp and 460-lb.-ft. of torque, they took home a lot of trophies.  

Last Note 

A lot of people believe the COPO division was designed for the 69 ZL1-Camaro and then squashed, and then brought back in 2013 for the Camaro again. But the General Motors COPO Division has been around since GM made fleet vehicles e.i. cop cars, taxis, tow trucks, etc. All vehicles that are ordered specially from a corporation, charity, a government, or something like that are considered specialty-made vehicles or COPO vehicles. (It wasn’t just a program made up for one of the baddest Camaros ever produced, the Camaros just stole the spotlight). 

  

 

Yenko Camaro: Rare 1981 Turbo Z

 

1981 Camaro Yanko Turbo Z

Car enthusiasts, including knowledgeable Camaro enthusiasts, may believe one of two things: the last Don Yenko specialty car was the 1971 Chevy Nova Yenko, or it was the 2010 Chevy Camaro Yenko, but neither one of these beliefs would be true.

2010 Chevy Camaro Yenko - Not A True Yenko
The 2010 Chevy Camaro Yenko is in fact not a true Don Yenko car at all. Chevy obtained the rights to use the Yenko name on the 2010 Yenko Camaro, but that does not make it a Don Yenko car. Instead, unlike true Don Yenko cars that were customized at his dealerships, the 2010 Yenko Camaro is just a special edition factory produced Camaro, the Yenko franchise had nothing to do with it.

Stage I & II 1981 Camaro Yenko Turbo Z

The 1971 Chevy Nova Yenko may be the last memorable Yenko specialty car, but there is a true Yenko edition that came after the ‘71 Nova. The very rare Stage I & II 1981 Camaro Yenko Turbo Z may not have come out in the muscle car era when cars were known for their power, but like most of Yenko’s cars, these Camaros would be customized to be much more powerful than what they were when they were ordered from the factory.

Thanks to emission regulations, the 1981 350-ci.-in. Camaro Z-28 was choked down to a mere 175 horsepower, not nearly enough to be called a muscle car anymore. Don Yenko decided that one of his last adventures in car building would be to give the Chevy Camaro some much needed modern power that could be respected.

1981 Yenko Camaro Stage I & II

There was 19 Stage I & II Yenko Camaros built at Don Yenko dealerships. Three of those were the Turbo Z Stage II Camaros making them some of the rarest Camaros in existence. All 19 of these Camaros are still considered extremely rare and came with an abundance of visual and performance upgrades.

Not only did the 1981 Yenko Camaro come with enough performance upgrades to knock off about three seconds from its original Z28 quarter-mile time, it also came with all of the luxuries that could be ordered from the factory like leather, air condition, tilt steering wheel, and more. The only thing it did not come with was a radio - in place of the radio was a “Yenko Turbo Z” plate.

1981 Yenko Camaro Upgrades:

• 7 PSI. Turbocharger Added to the 350 cu.-in. Engine 

• 350 Turbo Trans

• G80 Positraction

• 3.08:1 Rear Gears                      

• Koni Shock Absorbers

• Stiffer Stabilizer Bars 

• IROC Front Spoiler

• Turbo Z Logo Specific Decals and Floor Mats

• Leather Racing Steering Wheel

So how much horsepower does this turbocharged 1981 Camaro Yenko produce? Well, no one is for sure, but experts estimate that it is probably somewhere around 210-225 horsepower.

Heading To Mecum Auto Auction
If you were thinking about shopping for one of these rare Camaros, especially the 1-of-3 Stage II editions, have fun finding one

But....

The upcoming Mecum Auto Auction does offer you a chance to bid on a Stage II. The week of Jan. 5-14, 2018, Mecum will have one of these rare gems rolling across the auction block - expect a price tag around $140,000.00.  

2015 Yenko Camaro: 700-HP it's Really Back

Unless you have been living under a muscle car rock for the last 40 years, you probably know about the Yenko/SC Camaros of the late 60's. They were very rare sought-after muscle cars that used the Corvette 427-cu.-in. powerplant to produce legendary Camaro power. Thanks to Don Yenko and the help of his dealership, they not only put the badass Corvette motors in them, but they also added cool visual effects that help the Yenko Camaros of the 60's standout and still draw huge prices on auction blocks today.

With the end of production of those Yenkos Camaros – probably didn't leave to many Camaro enthusiasts left that thought they would ever see another Yenko Camaro in production let alone a 21st century Yenko/SC Camaro. But General Motors had a few tricks up their sleeve when they bought the rights to the Yenko name in 2009 and moved forward in 2010 by unveiling a Yenko/SC prototype. It was pretty obvious after the enthusiasm that the Yenko prototype created it would only be a matter of time that we would see an actual production push of these bad boys.

At the 2014 SEMA show, Chevrolet unveiled a 2015 Yenko/SC Camaro that was built to tell the world that there would be a Yenko Camaro going into production. It was a joint project that involved the SLP company. A company that has joined up with Chevy many times in the past for high-performance specialty cars.

The new Yenko/SC will be much like the old – packed with all kinds of goodies and visual upgrades. Those upgrades start with an Eaton TVS 2300 supercharger stacked on a GM LS7 7.0-liter engine that packs a monster 700hp punch. Backing that will be either an automatic transmission or a manual trans with a dual-disc clutch assembly.

Visually the Camaro has a heritage style front-grille to go with an RTM cowl-induction hood. Yenko hood and body graphics are added with exterior 427 badges and Yenko door sill plates. To top all that off will be a badass looking black ZL1 rear-spoiler and five-spoke rims with a gunmetal finish and sYc center caps.

Only 50 of these Camaros will be produced this year and they will have to be ordered from SLP. So if this sounds like something you desperately want -- then you better order soon.

Difference Between the Yenko Camaro and COPO Camaro

Difference between the Yenko Camaro and COPO Camaro 

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