1966 Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger Information and History

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Coupe
Chassis Num: YS 086

Using the Corvair as his starting point, Don Yenko created his first 100 Yenko Stingers in 1966. This number was required for homologation in the SCCA D Sports Racing Class. Modifications included stiffened suspension and the customer's choice of four engine packages. This is serial number YS 086. It was produced as a race car, while most of the production were road going cars.

This car won the SCCA Central Division Championship in 1966, piloted by Jim Spencer. Its racing career spanned 23 years, as it was still being raced by Ron McConkey when the present owner purchased it in 1988.

Following a 13-year restoration effort, the car has been shown very successfully with the most recent recognition being: People's Choice - Yenko 40h Anniversary reunion
MI-Lion Award - Meadow Brook Concours.

The Mustangs that were modified by Carroll Shelby ruled the racing circuit. Don Yenko who had been racing Corvettes faced stiff competition and found it extremely difficult to compete. For 1966 he decided to race Corvairs which required many modifications to qualify for SCCA racing. He began by modifying four-carburetor Corsas adding performance improvements such as fiberglass engine covers, spoilers, heavy duty suspension, four speed transmissions, positraction differential, quick steering ratio and engine upgrades. Also, the rear seats were removed.

Homologation requirements called for at least 100 vehicles to be produced, which Yenko satisfied in about a month. Completing this task was monumental. All were white and given various modifications. For instance, some had the spoilers, fiberglass engine covers, etc. The Stingers qualified for Class D Production racing which was dominated by the Triumph TR4 at the time. At its inaugural appearance in January of 1966, the Stinger was able to achieve a respectable second place, just one second off of the leader.

At the conclusion of the 1966 season, Jerry Thompson was the champion of the Central Division. He placed fifth at the 1966 Nationals.

The following year Chevrolet did not offer the Corsa which left the Monza. The Monza required further modifications to prepare it for SCCA racing such as the addition of a four-carburetor engine and necessary instrumentation such as a tachometer.

In 1967 there were fourteen Stingers created with an additional three built to Stinger specifications with the AIR injection system. These three vehicles were compliant with California emission laws and ear-marked for Dana Chevrolet, the US West Coast Stinger distributor.

Total production for the Stinger cars is believed to have been 185 with the final vehicle being delivered to Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company as a tire test vehicle. It carried chassis number YS-9700.

Coupe
Chassis Num: 107376W130567

Chevrolet's Corvair was introduced initially as an economy car with a rear-mounted air-cooled engine, Chevrolet quickly moved to diversify the model line into all conceivable variants of passenger automobiles. As a result, the early Monza model offered superior handling and exceptional performance, Corsa and 500 sedans offered general transportation, while Greenbrier vans and Lakewood station wagons offered unusual utility and cargo room. An update to the styling in 1965 left the vehicle with a design that was very European but also saw major revisions to the suspension geometry from stem to stern. The resulting effect was a slightly wider and lower stance.

The Corsa and Spyder were now the top-of-the-line models in respects to performance and style, a title taken away from the Monza. The Corsa models were equipped with a 140 horsepower four-carbureted six-cylinder engine and fixed to a four-speed manual gearbox. It was offered in two configurations, a two-door coupe and power-top convertible. The interior featured a 140 mph speedometer, re-settable trip odometer, 6000 rpm tachometer, analog clock with second hand, and chromed gearshift boot. The exterior was adorned with badging, dual exhausts, and aluminum-finish taillight cove.

This 1966 Yenko Stinger, Yenko serial number YS-003, is likely the most original, best restored, documented, and most heavily optioned Stinger surviving. Number 3 of 100 homologation specials fleet-ordered and modified by Yenko Chevrolet for homologation into SCCA production racing, YS-003 was one of only 5 documented to be delivered as a 220hp Stage III car showroom-ready for D Production class road racing. In addition to all of the standard Stinger features, this Stage III Stinger still retains the factory rollbar, four big-bore high-flow carburetors, special Yenko exclusive 3.89 positraction transaxle and widened wheel options it was delivered with. YS-003 also has the rare distinction of being a production stripe delete car delivered and largely raced without stripes. With this in mind, it was restored to this condition.

Never wrecked or rusted, this is an original body Yenko with correct date coded engine and documented ownership history since new. Provided documentation includes the original invoice signed by Don Yenko listing all options. The original title, correspondence from early owners, and period race photos are also included with the sale. All three original body tags unique to Stingers are present and original including the Yenko serial number and special fleet ordered option tags. Hidden chassis stamped serial number was confirmed during restoration. YS-003's ownership has been documented in the Stinger Registry since its inception. The car was rented early on by Walt Disney Pictures for race scenes in the movie 'Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo' and can be seen driven by Max Balchowski beside the Love Bug in that movie. YS-003's second owner, noted automotive author Richard Finch, featured photos of this Stinger throughout his book 'How to keep your Corvair Alive'.

A component level professional, mechanical, and cosmetic restoration to as delivered from Yenko Chevrolet, and as raced in its 1966 condition was completed in early 2008. Great effort was made to insure that YS-003 is historically accurate down to the correct original Yenko oil pan, Yenko headers. Yenko air cleaners, as ordered GM quick steering, even the 3.S9 ratio posi that was a special GM code only available to Yenko. In an effort to return the car to exactly 'new' condition, the vast majority of the chrome, trim, rubber boots, grommets, interior suspension, etc used in the restoration were NOS GM. This Stinger is as nice on the bottom as it is on top.

This vehicle was offered for sale at the 2008 Russo & Steele Auction in Monterey, California.

Source - Russo & Steele

The Corvair came on the scene in 1959 and featured a flat-six engine mounted in mid-ship. Even with putting the engine in the middle of the vehicle, the weight distribution was not evenly distributed. The engine sat behind the rear axle and this actually caused handling problems. The vehicles main competition was the VW Bug and the Porsche 911. It was originally built to compete with the Bug, but with the flat-six engine, it was more in the Porsche 911 league. But with the poor handling, it was in an undesirable class of its own. The handling issues were addressed in 1965 when new suspensions with upper and lower control arms were added. But when comedian Eddie Kovacs was killed due to over-steer, public confidence and sales plummeted. Chevrolet tried to save the Corvairs by introducing media campaigns that focused on the new suspension. Race drivers were used to demonstrate the cars ability. However, it was not enough and Chevrolet finally ended production of the Corvair in 1969.
The front of the vehicle did not have a grill. This was because the engine was air-cooled, so a grill was not needed.

The car came with fifteen different color options on the outside and eight on the inside. The retractable room was foldable, and an automatic option available for an additional charge. In 1962, a turbocharged version was added to the line-up in attempt to boost sales and improve the image of the vehicle as a sports car. A top speed of 115 mph could be ascertained with the turbocharger with a zero-to-sixty time of about 10.8. In 1966, the vehicle received styling updates and was named the Corvair Corsa. Drum brakes were always used. The vehicle came in a variety of gearboxes such as a three-speed manual, four-speed manual or an optional two-speed automatic. The body was integral chassis with two-door steel body.

The name Corvair came about by breeding the Corvette and Bel Air together, two trademark names of Chevrolet.

The Chevrolet Corvair was introduced in 1959 and remained in production for ten years. It was an economy car that had its engine mounted in the rear which offered superior handling and exceptional performance, especially for the Monza model. An update to the styling in 1965 left the vehicle with a design that was very European. It was slightly wider and sat lower to the ground. Its body was described as a 'Coke bottle'. The Corsa and Spyder were now the top-of-the-line models in respects to performance and style, a title taken away from the Monza.

The Corsa models were equipped with a 140 horsepower four-carbureted six-cylinder engine and fixed to a four-speed manual gearbox. It was offered in two configurations, a two-door coupe and power-top convertible. The interior featured a 140 mph speedometer, re-settable trip odometer, 6000 rpm tachometer, analog clock with second hand, and chromed gearshift boot. The exterior was adorned with badging, dual exhausts, and aluminum-finish taillight cove.

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