In 1967, the very first Yenko Camaro made its way onto the streets of the United States. Having had a similar face to the standard Chevrolet Camaro, one would suspect not much differs between the two variants. However, you immediately knew the car meant business once you popped the hood and saw its big V8. On the 2023 Yenko Camaro, not much has changed in that regard. One look under its hood, and you know it’s ready to party.
Whereas a 396 cubic-inch 6.5-liter V8 powered a standard Camaro SS of the time, the Yenko Camaro borrowed its engine from its big brother — the Corvette. Boasting a 427 cubic-inch 7.0-liter L72, it had a factory rated 450 horsepower on tap (although real-world numbers were said to be even higher), putting it on par with some rarer-optioned Mustangs like the Shelby cars.
The original Yenko Camaro was ready to take down Mustangs!
This decision resulted from GM’s restrictions on the size of the engine allowed in the Camaro, thus, putting it behind rivals such as the Ford Mustang and Dodge Dart. However, Don Yenko, dealership owner and racing driver, was not satisfied with GM’s decision, and the Yenko Super Camaro was born.
Don Yenko in the flesh!
Fast forward to 2010, and the Yenko name was reimagined via the fifth-gen Camaro at SEMA, boasting a supercharged LS3. Using the sixth-gen Camaro platform, the Yenko name was reinstated again in 2016. Built by Speciality Vehicle Engineering (SVE), this new generation of Yenkos features the Gen V LT1 making anywhere between 750 and 1,000 horsepower, depending on the options chosen. These latest Yenko Camaros remain faithful to the high-power nature that went hand-in-hand with the Yenko nameplate.
2010 Yenko Camaro prototype at SEMA (AmcarGuide)
A lot has changed between the time of the original SVE fifth-gen Yenkos and now. We’ve had to face a worldwide pandemic and are seeing a global move from internal combustion cars to an electric-only future. Thankfully, the team at SVE isn’t finished yet, announcing two new Yenko Camaros based on the latest Chevrolet Camaro platform for 2023.
Starting with the 750 horsepower package, 1SS and 2SS Camaro owners can opt for a Yenko/SC 3.0-liter twin-screw supercharger. This package is available for coupe and convertible top Camaros with either an automatic or manual transmission. Even while producing that high power figure, the Yenko is still emission legal in all 50…
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