Vehicle Description
For some guys, going too far is what it's all about. Don Yenko was
such a guy, and in 1969, he started stuffing 427s into the compact
Nova and created the Deuce-a car that really should be kept in a
cage. Since there are only seven or so known to exist today, you
can imagine how expensive and highly sought they are. So, what's a
guy to do?
Well, you build your own. This neat little 1969 Chevrolet Nova
Yenko Tribute gets the look just right: one part low-buck
grocery-getter, three parts street brawler, and one part polished
debutante. The result is more than just a dressed-up Nova SS, but a
car that will get attention just for looking good. A lot of the
credit must go to the deep black paint, which was professionally
applied to a very high standard and looks fantastic today. Combined
with the red Yenko stripes, it has a very polished, upscale look
that works rather well here. Bodywork is great just like the paint,
which it better be because a black finish will not hide most
imperfections. The builders opted not to slap "SS" badges all over
the place and omitted the ubiquitous hood inserts or obnoxious
cowl, letting that awesome paint and red striping do all the
talking. The blacked-out grille insert, chrome bumpers, and trim
all look to be newer and provides a shiny contrast to the overall
dark theme of the exterior. If you think the pictures make a bold
impression, wait until you see this Nova in person.
The bucket-seat interior remains standard-issue Nova, albeit really
fresh, clean and nicely trimmed. Basic black is the color of choice
in a car like this, and the recent seat covers, door panels with
accent red stripes, and plush carpets really dress things up
inside. The Grant GT 3-spoke steering with a fat, easy-to-grip rim
adds a bit of a sporty look to the otherwise simple surroundings.
Factory gauges cover the basics of speed and fuel level, with a
trio of Auto Meter auxiliary dials to the left of the bezel monitor
oil pressure, temperature, and voltage. There's a Kenwood
AM/FM/Cassette in the factory slot, but other than that, and like
in most Novas, it's light on options which is the only way to fly
if you're looking for maximum performance. The important thing here
is how nicely it's all finished, and in that regard, this car
really succeeds. Even the back seat looks great! The trunk is
covered in proper spatter paint and you can see that there's really
nothing to hide here.
Yenko was using big blocks, but the 383 cubic inch V8 in this Nova
gives it startling performance without the complications of a
larger engine. It's obvious that good money was spent here, from
the bright Moroso valve covers to the Chevy Orange block to the
rumbling exhaust note. A Holley 4-barrel carburetor and Edelbrock
intake manifold are a combination that was perfected years ago, so
the sucker runs superbly and with long-tube headers, the torque
curve is robust. A TH400 3-speed automatic transmission snaps off
easy upshifts and is always read to drop down a gear and the
10-bolt rear end has a Posi inside, so no more wasted power.
Longtube headers feed a dual exhaust with Flowmaster-style mufflers
and act as a warning to the unwary that this car is serious about
its job. Power steering and power front disc brakes make the
driving experience extremely enjoyable, and the stance is perfected
from the Rallye wheels wrapped in 205/65/15 (front) and 235/60/15
(rear) blackwall radials.
Clean, affordable performance, this slick little Nova Yenko Tribute
offers all the right ingredients. Yenko fans, Nova fans, Chevy
fans, everyone can agree that this is a cool car. Call now!