Originally limited to engines no larger than 400 cubic inches (6.6 liters) due to a corporate GM edict, the Chevrolet Camaro didn't get the mighty 427-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8 from the factory until 1969, when the company rolled out the L72- and ZL1-equipped COPOs. But that's not to say that 427-equipped Camaros didn't roam the streets earlier than that. Because they did, all thanks to Chevy dealership owner and racer Don Yenko.
As soon as he got the first Camaros at his dealership, Yenko knew there was a market for a more powerful version and quickly found a way around GM's ban on larger-than-400 engines. Don began ordering Camaro SS models fitted with the range-topping 396-cubic-inch (6.5-liter) V8 and swapped the L78 with the 427 L72 that Chevy offered in the Corvette.
The mills were tweaked to generate 450 horsepower, 75 horses more than the L78-fitted SS. Yenko put together 106 such cars in 1967 and prepped another 64 in 1968. The 427-fitted Yenko Camaro remained in production in 1969 too, but Yenko was already working with Chevrolet to have the L72 installed at the factory via COPO orders.
Yenko-badged Camaros are among the most desirable iterations of the nameplate nowadays. And needless to say, they are the quickest and most powerful first-gen Camaros, second to only the extremely scarce COPO ZL-1. They're so fast that Fords equipped with the mighty Super Cobra Jet V8 can't keep up at the drag strip.
The video below, which sees a 1969 Yenko Camaro drag race a 1970 Ford Torino Super Cobra Jet illustrates just that. Sure, the Torino is much heavier than a Mustang Super Cobra Jet and Ford's 429-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8 isn't as powerful as the L72 at 375 horsepower, but the race proves that Don Yenko's Camaros were more than just ponies stuff with big-block engines.
The Torino is off to a good start down the quarter-mile and it's still leading halfway through the race, but the Camaro makes an amazing comeback. And not only does it zoom in front to take the win, but its ET is almost a full second quicker than that of the Torino. Specifically, the Camaro managed a 12-second run, while the Torino stops the clock at 12.72 clicks. Check it all out in the video below. The fun starts at the 3:44-minute mark.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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