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 so few are known to exist today, you can imagine how
expensive and highly sought they are. So, what's a regular guy to
do?
Well, you build your own. This neat little 1970 Chevrolet Nova
Yenko Tribute gets the look just right: one part low-buck
grocery-getter, three parts street brawler, and one part polished
debutante. A lot of the credit must go to the deep red paint, which
isn't frequently found on Yenkos even though Cranberry Red was
available (although the hue on this particular car looks a bit
lighter under our lights), but really looks great on this car.
Combined with the black Yenko stripes on the hood and profile, it
has a very polished, upscale look that works rather well here.
Bodywork is good and the red paint, while showing a few minor signs
of use, still has a very nice shine and deep luster that's
punctuated with the stripe work, and the strong, driver-quality
look is pretty darn sweet. The SS-style hood setup lets everyone
know that this Nova means business, and with a blacked-out grille,
blacked-out tailpanel and some nice brightwork and chrome, the car
looks sleek, crisp, and expertly finished. "SS" badges are fore and
aft, setting the tone, and the slightly squatted stance on this
brawler would even make Don Yenko proud.
The black vinyl interior remains standard-issue Nova, albeit really
clean and nicely trimmed, highlighted by the 'sYc' (Yenko Super
Car) script in the headrests. Basic black is the color of choice in
a car like this, and the nice seat covers, door panels, headliner,
and carpets really dress things up inside. The 3-spoke steering
with an easy-to-grip rim and "Bowtie" badge sets the tone inside,
and the sporty B&M T-handle shifter is a short reach away atop
the transmission tunnel. An array of white-faced AutoMeter gauges
inside a custom bezel cover way more than the factory units, and
they look very sporty and modern in their symmetrical alignment.
Like most Novas from the era, 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 original-style back seat
looks great! The spacious trunk is covered in fresh spatter paint
and you can see that there's really nothing to hide here.
Yenko was using big blocks, but the 350 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 chrome details on the radiator shroud, air cleaner, and
finned valve covers, to the Chevy Orange block that really pops out
from the blacked-out inner fenders and firewall. Upgrades include
Edelbrock E-Series aluminum heads, a big Demon 4-barrel carburetor
atop an Edelbrock polished aluminum intake, HEI ignition, and a set
of long-tube headers that ensure the torque curve is nice and
robust. A TH350 3-speed automatic transmission snaps off easy
upshifts and is always ready to drop down a gear and the heavy-duty
12-bolt rear end is more than capable of handling all the power. A
dual exhaust with throaty Flowmaster mufflers act as a warning to
the unwary that this car is serious about its job, with bright,
chrome pipes exiting from underneath the rear bumper. Power
steering and power 4-wheel disc brakes greatly improve the ride
quality of this Nova, and the stance from the 205/60/15 front and
255/60/15 rear tires wrapped around clean Rally wheels with bright
beauty rings and center caps look exactly right.
Clean, affordable performance, this slick little Nova offers all
the right ingredients. Yenko fans, Nova fans, Chevy fans, everyone
can agree that this is a really cool car. Call now!
