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YENKO NOVA found, what's it worth?

31K views 126 replies 36 participants last post by  YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY 
#1 ·
A friend of mine located a YENKO duece, 1970 4speed all original, been in a chicken coupe for many many years. The car is owned by the original owner's widow and will go for sale as she is selling her home. The underside may be toast from sitting but all in all completely original. Does anyone have an approximate value for this car? I may buy it if the price is right. Red exterior, black interior, 350, 4speed. Bob
 
#4 ·
#5 ·
My GOD! That Deuce on Ebay has paper work out of the wazoo! NOW THAT is the way to buy one of the Supercars. As suggested earlier, the Deuce Vins are out, (as are the Camaro, Chevelle, I think). Get on the Yenko site and take a look at the vin numbers. IF its on there, you are more than likely looking at the real deal. If you have any other questions, a guy name Marlin posts over at Stevesnovasite, as well as the Yenko site. He is pretty much a Deuce authority. Its really tough to say value wise on this car.

HOWEVER, If I was you, I would NOT divulge any more information about this thing than is necessary if you find out that its for real and want a chance at buying it. With these cars, people have been known to waltz right in and buy it right out from under you- mainly because they have the big bucks. Keep us posted here, but not with the sort of information that could cost yourself ownership of the car. Good Luck! That would be awesome if you got it!!
 
#6 ·
Sounds like a great find. The one on Ebay is now well over $100K but is probably the nicest one there is. I agree with Buzz 100%. DO NOT give out any info on the location of the car if you are serious about buying it. You will probably get several emails asking you about it. The fisrt thing you need to do is get the VIN and check to make sure it is a real Deuce. Here is a link to the VIN numbers.
James

http://copo.com/LT1-vin.htm
 
#7 ·
Nice car on that Ebay link, but not that it matters, but I remember watching DREAM CAR GARAGE, and the host showcased the Nova. Wasn't the Red Nova's the most rare? I could be mistaken, it has been awhile since I seen the show.
I agree with the previous post, if it's a real Yenko Nova, I would definately keep it to myself (if I could afford it), until you get the confirmation it's "real". If not, is it worth restoring, or can you make a nice driver out of it regardless?
 
#8 ·
Originally posted by chevelledude71:
Nice car on that Ebay link, but not that it matters, but I remember watching DREAM CAR GARAGE, and the host showcased the Nova. Wasn't the Red Nova's the most rare? I could be mistaken, it has been awhile since I seen the show.
I agree with the previous post, if it's a real Yenko Nova, I would definately keep it to myself (if I could afford it), until you get the confirmation it's "real". If not, is it worth restoring, or can you make a nice driver out of it regardless?
Actually, I THINK that the red '69 427 Yenko Nova was the rare one. There are a few Deuces (Deuce ONLY in 1970- the 1969 427 Yenko Nova was just that. It wasnt a Deuce. It was a Beast
) that are red.

IF that VIN matches one of the ones on that list ( which is pretty comprehensive from years of research from what Ive read), then chock one up for us common folk
and BUY IT! THEN go ahead and brag about it with pics and stories. Keep in mind that if that VIN is still within the range, but not on that list, it still may be a Deuce. I THINK that the list is only of known cars from poring over paperwork, but maybe Im wrong. There always seems to be a few floating under the radar.

As always, and REALLY with these usually super high dollar cars, money talks and bull***t walks. Thats why I suggested to be REAL vague about questions and stuff if posting elsewhere about it. Good Luck! I Hope you get it and post some pics!
 
#10 ·
US $109,960.00
(Reserve met)
 
#13 ·
Man, I could have bought one in the early 80's for like $2500!!. The guy also had a 70 396 chevelle gold/black stripes, that he had just hung 2 new quarters on, still in primer. He wanted $1900!! I bought a cowl induction hood and a rear SS bumper off him, I was turning my malibu into a clone. I wish I had had the money back then!!
 
#14 ·
Well as of today I talked with my friend on the car and I have first chance for purchase, The car is being bought for believe it or not $2000. It has been in a chicken barn since 1978 and has the bicentenial plate still attached. It is covered with numerous items that have been accumulating in the barn over the years and only portions are visable. The hood has not been opened yet. The interior is visable through one of the door windows and the bucket seats have the yenko lettering on the backs. It is a four speed car and my friend said it also has the counsole and gauges. It is an orangy red as described to me. It is located almost a day's travel from me and my friend said he will obtain ownership of the car within two weeks. The original purchaser's widow does have the title to the car. My friend had no idea what this car could possibly be worth and originally had considered it for parts. I did inform him of the potential value and also of my interest in the car, we'll see what happens. We may end up restoring this for resale as partners. The widow is 88 years old placing her at the age of 60 when it was parked so I highly doubt her husband would have made a clone in 1978. She told my friend that the car was fast but was parked because of poor fuel mileage. The barn has doors on both ends with no windows so I bet this thing rarely got a glimps of sunlight in the last 28years. I should have photos of it in about two weeks if all goes well and I will post them here. My friend now knows the potential value of this car, we'll see if he still includes me in the deal. I will post info on this car as recieved.
 
#15 ·
Originally posted by baddbob71:
The car is being bought for believe it or not $2000.
That is unreal. At that price, that is almost laughable...For that price, its almost ridiculous to restore it solely for resale, because its already worth thousands more than you are going to pay for it; that is of course, IMHO. Its not like you were paying 20K for it, and looking to break even with it. I wish one day I could find one of these cars. Id buy it, keep it, restore it, and proceed to run the hell out of it.
 
#17 ·
Yes, I told my friend to start taking photos while the car is still in the barn to document how it has been stored for the past 28 years. I hope everything goes well and I'm included in the future of this car. I will provide VIN and all information and photos after the transaction from the current/original owner is completed.
 
#18 ·
Id buy it, keep it, restore it, and proceed to run the hell out of it.
I like your style, Buzz! Just remember this simple phrase: Pure Stock is the way to Rock!


Keep me updated, Bob, and good luck!
 
#19 ·
Damn, I thought you were going to be the sole owner of that beast. Oh well, at least you have one, or what appears to be one. Good luck with it regardless. Post the pix as soon as you get a chance, post them here and in BENCH RACING, you will get alot of responses over there as well.
 
#20 ·
Just some FYI, and a word of advice.

In your recent description of the car, you mentioned the hood - try to see if there is a hood tach, or at least 3 holes from where there was a hood tach (1 large hole 1" diameter, and a small hole on either side for locating pins).

All 175 Yenko Deuce Novas had black standard interiors, rubber mat floor covering, and bench seats - no buckets, so no consoles/guages. Try to get a look at the speedo in the dash, console/guage Novas had a tach dash. If this car has a console/guage package, but no tach dash - then the console/guage was added which would be a good sign. If there is a tach dash, that could be added too, so check the underdash heater box, real console cars get a special box under there which is rarely swapped out when adding a console - if it has the non-console box, that's a good sign. Also, no Yenko Deuce Novas had any Yenko lettering on the seats. It may have been added later by an owner though.

The Yenko Deuce Novas had Hurst Competition Plus shifters installed at GM, the only Nova to come so equipped. This shifter is very unique, has a sharp bend towards the seat, and will be round stock - not flat stock. It could have been changed at some point, but try to get a look.

Yenko Deuce Novas came in both Orange (10 produced, 7 found) and Red (35 produced, 17 found). So, either color is possible, however red is more likely because there are more unfound red cars. (If you name the state where this chicken coop is, I will be able to eliminate or include orange as a possibility).

As for the possibility of a clone in '78, it is indeed possible. Yenko SportsCars sold the stripe kits for both '69 and '70 versions in their parts catalog, including all of the Yenko installed items like tachs, wheels, emblems, steering wheels, sport mirrors, hood scoops, etc... Not likely that somebody would clone one in the '70's, but possible.

The most important piece of information that you need to obtain, even before you or your friend make a drive, is to obtain the information from the trim tag. The trim tag information is more important than the vin number. I can tell you almost anything you will want to know from one # off of that trim tag. So, try to get the owner, friend, somebody, to get that info before you spend a lot of time attempting to acquire the car.

Best of luck! More than one Yenko Deuce Nova has been found wasting away!

http://www.yenko.net/features/2001/field.jpg
Marlin
 
#21 ·
#22 ·
Hi Marlin,

Nice to see you checking in at Team Chevelle. Your extensive knowledge on the Yenko Deuces is certainly welcome here


It will be great if this indeed turns out to be one of the as-yet-undiscovered Deuces
 
#23 ·
That would be excellent news if this car is indeed the real deal!

The # of Yenko Deuces found is at 84, 2 new deuces just found within the last 2 months - both owned since '72.

Keep digging Bob, get some pics or info. They are still out there to be found.
 
#25 ·
Man thats makes me feel sick to my stomach reading that he was thinking about using it for a parts car! :( Im sure that has happened in the past. That is so cool that you found a Yenko, I bet you can sell it right now as a complete pile of junk for like $20,000 or some rediculous amount of money. I personally should not ever be allowed to own a Yenko because I like custom, modifying things is my favorite. But I can really respect a bone stock high performance rare machine like that. Im one of those people that thinks building a car and not driving it is ridiculous, but I just couldnt put to many miles on a Yenko. It's a piece of car guy history hehe. Don't forget to take like 10 rolls of pictures before its disturbed, those are the ones people will enjoy seeing forever. :D It's kinda like when an archeaologist discover's some ancient pharos tomb full of diamonds and jewelry hehe.
 
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