Jay Leno's Book Club: Yenko

Unfortunately some of the information in the book is incorrect and some of the Yenko information in the interview is also incorrect but still funny to see Leno talking about Yenkos


http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/jays-book-club-yenko/1238634/

I dont know much bout yenkos, what was wrong about it?
Cool interview tho.

I guess someone should correct him:D

Cool interview, never heard about his book club before today. :thumbsup:

http://comps.fotosearch.com/bigcomps/CSP/CSP056/k0563706.jpg

Some Yenko history I believe is incorrect in this interview.

Jay asked what COPO is and most would reply it is Central Office Production Order.

He said it was a fleet and special service but that is also incorrect as the fleet dept. name was F&SO - Fleet and Special Order

I think he was talking about 1967 where he said Yenko only did one 350 to 427 Camaro with Dick Harrell. That is not correct because there have been two 350 to 427 Camaro found so far that Yenko did before the Yenko/Harrell program and there are more vin numbers of possible 350 to 427 Camaros done by Yenko.

He said the Yenko Stinger won the SCCA championship two years in a row
The Yenko Stinger won the SCCA D/P national championship in 1967.

He said they built less then 50 Yenko Vegas. I think there were more then 50 as Yenko was selling them with no turbo but with some mild modifications and the Yenko graphics on them. Yenko said he did about 200 of the Vegas but some of Yenko's numbers have been found to be incorrect in some cases so I am not sure of the Vega production total.

He said Don died in 1986 and was 34 years old.
Yenko died March 5, 1987 and was 59 years old according to the 1987 newspaper obituary.

I have this Yenko book and believe the book also has some Yenko history errors.
Some of the info in the book on the Yenko Chevelles is incorrect.

Never a fan but I think Jay can have a pass here. He's a wealthy comic who is a fan of a hundred different cars, makes, don't expect him to be as knowledgeable as you ''experts''.

I am a Leno fan and like his web site.
He has done some nice interviews on there.

I don't expect Jay to know all about the Yenko cars but was surprised the writer could not answer some simple questions on his own book.

I'm a fan of Leno and I believe he should be one of the hosts for the new U.S version of Top Gear.

I think Jay was just trying to make conversation... The writer seemed as though he was more interested in taking a nap. Not a very exciting interview at all.

After seeing that here`s what I believe he does. He gathers a bunch of facts about the subject he`s wants to write about. Then he takes it to the publisher and their staff of writers and has them fill in and finish the book. He probably really doesn`t write that much about them other wise he would know what`s in his own book. I doubt he took very many pics at all of the cars. He gathers those as well. I really like Jay and his collection and saving a lot of rare cars. He`s actually really knowledgeable about his collection. I`ve seen him on a lot of other shows giving tours through his garage, and makes a good attempt researching his collection. so I`ll give him a pass on this one. As far as the author,, he`s a joke.

Bob McClurg is an accomplished photographer best known for his drag racing images of the '60s and '70s. He took some of the original photos of the Yenkos in 1969 Super Stock Magazine.

After reading his Yenko book and some of his articles, I don't think he is as good a writer as he is a photographer.

Bob McClurg is an accomplished photographer best known for his drag racing images of the '60s and '70s. He took some of the original photos of the Yenkos in 1969 Super Stock Magazine.

After reading his Yenko book and some of his articles, I don't think he is as good a writer as he is a photographer.
Ok maybe I stand corrected on photo part that interview was a joke. JMO

I enjoyed the segment... very few mainstream folks talking about 40 year old cars in the media. So his facts weren't perfect, I'll give them a break. All in good fun.

Just watched the end... yep he choked pretty hard on the age...he had too have been a little nervous, hanging with Jay, biggest day in his life.......

He said Don died in 1986 and was 34 years old.
Yenko died March 5, 1987 and was 59 years old.


I think Leno was well aware of some of the guy's errors, but he has a habit of letting people talk when he's interviewing them instead of stopping people and correcting them when they err, which would prove a little embarrassing to the person being interviewed.

Jay did give this guy a little jab though when the guy said Don Yenko was 34 when he died.
Leno immediately followed up with the comment..."I find the book fascinating because Yenko was almost the same age that I am." (Yenko was about 2 months from his 60th birthday, and Leno is 60).

Leno's a serious car guy. Believe me, he knew this guy was wrong on some of the fine points...and as I said, he even called BS (subtly) on Yenko's age.

-Greg