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Jay Leno Shows Off His Rare Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger

Are you familiar with Don Yenko’s work in the 1960s? The Camaros? The Novas? Great! But did you know that he started modifying Chevrolets by tweaking the second-generation Corvair?
1966 Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from YouTube
Yes, we’re talking about that awkward looking car that had its engine mounted in the back and brought GM more 100 lawsuits over its handling characteristics. Don Yenko prepared 100 Corvair-based sportscars in order to homologate the vehicle for the SCCA series, where it would race against the Triumph TR4.

The Yenko Stinger was available with four engine upgrades, with the most powerful delivering 240 hp, and word has it only about 70 of them still exist today. Leno bought his Stage 2 from Jeff Guzzetta, a fireman who restored the 190 hp vehicle a few years ago.

Leno seems quite happy with the latest addition to his garage and we really can’t blame him. That flat-six engine sounds awesome and the car looks gorgeous. Find out more about it in the video below.

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About the author: Ciprian Florea
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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.
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