The Forgotten Last Yenko: The 1981 Camaro Turbo Z

  

1981 Yenko Camaro Turbo Z 

Car enthusiasts, including many knowledgeable Camaro fans, often believe one of two things: either the last Don Yenko specialty car was the 1971 Chevy Nova Yenko, or it was the 2010 Chevy Camaro Yenko. However, neither belief is actually true.

2010 Chevy Camaro Yenko - Not A True Yenko

The 2010 Chevy Camaro Yenko is, in fact, not a true Don Yenko car. Chevrolet obtained the rights to use the Yenko name on the 2010 Camaro, but that alone does not make it an authentic Don Yenko creation. Unlike the original Yenko cars, which were modified and sold through Don Yenko's dealerships, the 2010 Yenko Camaro was simply a special-edition Camaro produced under license. Don Yenko himself—and the original Yenko operation—had nothing to do with its development.

Stage I & II 1981 Camaro Yenko Turbo Z While the 1971 Chevy Nova Yenko may be the last well-known Yenko specialty car, there was one genuine Yenko model that followed it. The extremely rare Stage I and Stage II 1981 Camaro Yenko Turbo Z may not have arrived during the golden age of muscle cars, but like most Yenko creations, these Camaros were modified to produce considerably more performance than they offered from the factory.

Thanks to tightening emissions regulations, the 1981 Camaro Z28's 350-cubic-inch V8 was rated at just 175 horsepower—far from the fire-breathing muscle cars of the late 1960s. Don Yenko decided one of his final automotive projects would be giving the Chevrolet Camaro the extra power it desperately needed.

1981 Yenko Camaro Stage I & II

Only 19 Stage I and Stage II Yenko Camaros were built through Don Yenko dealerships. Of those, just three were Stage II Turbo Z models, making them among the rarest Camaros ever produced. Today, all 19 examples are considered exceptionally rare and feature numerous visual and performance upgrades.

Not only did the 1981 Yenko Camaro receive enough performance enhancements to shave roughly three seconds off the stock Z28's quarter-mile time, but it also came loaded with nearly every luxury option available from the factory, including leather seats, air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, and more. The only thing it didn't include was a radio. In its place was a distinctive "Yenko Turbo Z" identification plate.

1981 Yenko Camaro Upgrades:

• 7-psi turbocharger added to the 350-cubic-inch V8
• Turbo 350 automatic transmission
• G80 Positraction rear differential
• 3.08:1 rear axle ratio
• Koni shock absorbers
• Stiffer stabilizer bars
• IROC front spoiler
• Turbo Z-specific decals and floor mats
• Leather-wrapped racing steering wheel

So, how much horsepower did the turbocharged 1981 Camaro Yenko produce? No one knows for certain, but most experts estimate the output to be somewhere between 210 and 225 horsepower.

While those numbers may not sound impressive by today's standards, they represented a substantial increase over the stock 175-horsepower engine and made the Turbo Z one of the quickest third-generation Camaros of its day.

Heading To Mecum Auto Auction

If you're thinking about adding one of these rare Camaros to your collection—especially one of the three Stage II models—good luck finding one.

The last 1981 Camaro Yenko Turbo Z to cross the auction block sold for $66,000 at a Mecum auction in 2018. Considering its rarity and significance as the last true Don Yenko specialty car, that seems like a bargain today. It's possible many bidders simply weren't aware of the car's fascinating history or just how rare it really is.