This book lists a complete history of the corvair and covers all makes, years, and models. The yenko stingers were corvairs that were heavily modified by yenko chevrolet, a car dealer in cannonsburg, pa, to be very good race cars. Whether it is a performance street driven corvair, a restored show car, a regular daily driver, or a racing yenko stinger, we know how to make it perform, reliably and economically. If you can help, please contact him using this email address.
Depending on the source, as some differ in the facts, mr. In case you are unfamiliar, the first copy printing of this book was released in october 2011. Jay leno revisits chevy corvair legacy with 1966 yenko stinger. Latter day vendors offer disc brake conversion kits, fuel injection kits, closeratio transmissions, highstall torque converters and more. The book highlighted crashes related to the corvairs suspension and identified the chevrolet suspension. Charlie bud doerge is writing a book on the yenko stinger and is collecting information. Why the chevrolet corvair corsa is collectable petrolicious. Yenko ordered and built 100 stingers from late 19651966. The yenko stinger was based on the 19651969 chevrolet corvair platform. The corvair is not the first car that comes to mind when talking about racing, but there were actually some serious race corvairs built back in the day. And before he sold a single yenko camaro sc 427, he entered the fray with the stinger, a chevrolet corvairbased sports car that was designed to win races. Lenos stinger is a stage 2 model and is in fabulous shape, comprised of mostly original parts. Approximately 25 stingers were produced in 1967, with a couple of more produced in later years.
I feel that the direct drive corvair engine is an excellent choice for vfr sport aviation aircraft requiring a 100hp to 125hp engine. The view shows how compact the unit is, the starter motor itself is smaller than a 12 ounce. Reference and interest books here are some books that you can lay out on your coffee table or just read for fun. A restorers guide to authenticity authenticity series wayne and bruggen, bill machan on. Opgi carries thousands of classic gm restoration parts and accessories offered in 14 free catalogs. Above, the 2400l system atop my own personal corvair engine. There are more detailed books, and there are better illustrated books, but this one is the best combination of facts, illustration and writing on this topic. It was the moniker selected by don yenko to create a batch of sccalegal road racing corvairs in late 1965 for the 1966 season. The rear decklidengine cover was replaced with a yenko custom piece in fiberglass that included a builtin spoiler on the rear edge. Yenkos crew began by removing the rear seat and all chevrolet and corvair badging. The starter is powerful enough to crank any corvair dan weseman has one on his high compression 3. They are still available new, just make sure you get a supplement for your specific year if you need one for example a 67 needs both the 65 manual and 67 supplement. The yenko stinger was don yenkos first attempt at building a series of dealer prepped vehicles for the performance minded driver.
Don yenko who had been racing corvettes faced stiff competition and found it extremely difficult to compete. With kasey vandenbergs rare 67 example of copo stinger technology now restored to its prime. The chevrolet corvair is a compact car manufactured by chevrolet for model years 19601969. Not only could the corsa pack 180hp, but it also included larger brakes borrowed from the chevelle, a stronger differential ring gear, and significant chassis refinements were made. Silicone wire systems, the original company, now supplies ignition wiresets for all types of cars, but we still specialize in the corvair. The company started out supplying high performance ignition wires for racing corvairs. The chevrolet corvair was never recognized as a prominent performance machine, but that didnt stop don yenko from wanting to go racing with it. The story begins in the late 1950s and covers development and experimental designs. If you were going to only read one book on the corvair to get a feel for what this important historical automobile represents, this is the one to choose. They were often raced and this one is no exception. Our primary goal is to provide information on vehicles ordered by don yenkos dealership under the copo process central office production order, destined to become either stinger corvairs or stinger vegas. When completed, each car would get a yenko stinger serial number plate. He currently has at least some information on of the 185 stingers built and is seeking to complete his information archive before publishing.
Many arent aware that it was the corvair stinger that yenko built first prior to his. Yenko owner and driver charlie doerge has taken his 25 years of research and obsession with the stinger and compiled all his knowledge and stories into one 270page, black and white book that will surely stand as a definitive work on these unusual racecars. Charlie doerge wrote a book on the yenko stinger and some of dons escapades in 2011. The corvair is a natural match for anyone who understands this. It was originally a 1965 corvair coupe but was then later possibly in the 1970s stingerized and tagged with ys302. Visit wilsons site by clicking here or email them by clicking here. Worlds strongest 3,000cc corvair, built by greg crouchley. Below is a link to a video of gregs engine running a few nights ago. Chevrolet corvair corsa yenko stinger cars for sale.
It is a 1966 yenko stinger and it came from the factory as a race car. Ralph nader took aim at the car in his 1965 book unsafe at any speed, and its reputation has. Greg can you give us some info on the chevrolet corvair. The last stinger was a 1969 coupe, after which corvair production ceased for good at willow run, michigan.
Sep 29, 2016 the yenko stinger was don yenko s first attempt at building a series of dealer prepped vehicles for the performance minded driver. Dear experimental aircraft builder, thank you for your interest in my corvair conversion manual and components. And he went on to build an estimated 185 yenko stingers up until 1969 with the end of the second generation chevrolet corvair. Based on the corvair corsa or monza, and very popular in scca racing circles, the yenko stinger was available in four stages of tune with 160, 190, 220 and 240 horsepower engines built up from corvairs 164 cubic inch, flatsix. Chevrolet chevy corvair back seat in ofallon, 1964 chevrolet corvair in north andover, 1965 chevrolet corvair in fairfield, 1965 chevrolet corvair in pleasanton, 1963 chevrolet corvair in. The yenko stinger archives are intended to provide a central source of information on yenko stinger corvairs. Corvair yenko stinger, perfect backroad cruiser ebay motors. It is believed that only fourteen 1967 stingers were built, but dana chevrolet, who distributed stingers on the u.
I found an interesting insight into the yenko stingers 1966 racing capabilities on a web site that lists the lap records at virginia international raceway vir. If its cool, we race it, drive it, modify it and hoon it. The yenko stinger was tuned by legendary hotrodder don yenko, who was looking to beat carroll shelby and his mustangs in sports car club of america races. According to a yenko stinger enthusiast and the cars former owner, who shared his time with the car on a corvair forum, ys074 was originally sold in kansas and is an original stage iii. That vehicle name has special meaning to most supercar performance historians. The corvair was a little costly for its initial economycar market and too foreign for many americans. Bristow in the seventies and was restored by its second owner who held onto it for the last 25 years. Don yenko introduced the yenko stinger version of the corvair and took on factorysponsored racing teams at scca events.
This yenko corvair is a stinger and it hurts so good hagerty media. The corvair decade by fiore, tony and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The table below contains a list of resources for purchasing don yenko and the yenko stinger. Sadly, the corsa was shortlived, remaining in production for only two years. There is great debate as to which tools are best, and certainly if you have the. Description vehicle overviewphoto gallery vehicle imagesother additional informationprint this listing66 chevrolet yenko stinger corvair prototype six cylinder 168ci air cooledmasterpiece classic cars. Chevrolet chevy corvair back seat in ofallon, 1964 chevrolet corvair in north andover, 1965 chevrolet corvair in fairfield, 1965 chevrolet corvair in pleasanton, 1963 chevrolet corvair in apex. Yenko stinger ys095 the automotive archeologists, ltd. Chevrolet chassis shop manual this is the official guide to servicing corvairs used by the dealer mechanics.
When the camaro entered the pony car fray in 1967, yenko transplanted chevrolets 7 litre 427 cubic inch 425 horsepower 317 kw l72 engine along with other highperformance parts and created the yenko camaro. The key figure behind the yenko stinger was don yenko, who was very active in car racing at that time. The yenko stingers brought a certain amount of respect to the chevrolet corvairs, but the all of the negative press about the first generation corvairs created an impression about the corvair that even the yenko stinger could not repair. Jun 30, 2011 well maintained interior of a yenko stinger. Ys302 recently listed on ebay is a good example of this scenario. Actor ernie novak was killed in a corvair, and now the book went into much detail explaining how unsafe the chevrolet corvair was. We just competed this june at the svra indianapolis invitational, where the car place second in class, what a great event. Gto, lemans, tempest, grand prix, bonneville, catalina.
Based on the corvair corsa or monza, and very popular in scca racing circles, the yenko stinger was available in four stages of tune with 160, 190, 220 and 240 horsepower engines built up from corvair s 164 cubic inch, flatsix. Oct 10, 2011 the corvair is not the first car that comes to mind when talking about racing, but there were actually some serious race corvairs built back in the day. Yenko stinger 1965 in a classic race at watkins glen international. Supported by jeff moore story of its past and current racing and event plans with svra and cvar. Near the turn of the millennium, the car was offered for sale by wilson motor company of washington, missouri. Yenko stinger ys095 this is a wonderful and rare vintage racing car. This 1966 corvair is said to be an original canadian market yenko stinger prototype, and though the listings description leaves a lot to be desired the car seems legitimately fantastic. Originally a stage i car raced by gm canadas director of motorsport martin chenhall, its now been converted to full on 240 hp stage iii spec after a. Using dealership connections, yenko set about creating a chevrolet just for road racing. The table below contains a list of resources for purchasing the yenko stinger tech manual. The chevrolet corvair is a compact car manufactured by chevrolet for model years 19601969 in two generations.
Performance corvairs is a company that supplies many performance parts built specifically for the corvair. It is still the only americandesigned, massproduced passenger car with a rearmounted, aircooled engine. While you watch this, understand that greg is a man who has worked for and earned his share of success in life, but building and running your own engine is still a triumphant moment. The corvair mechanics at yenko chevrolet probably never put their hands on any of these cars as they would have done with the copo stingers. For 1966 he decided to race corvairs which required many modifications to qualify for scca racing. The yenko stinger was a hot competitor in d production as you can see from reading the tech manual pages. Jan 28, 2017 above, the 2400l system atop my own personal corvair engine. Needless to say, this bad publicity would eventually lead to the end of the yenko stinger and the corvair program. Few probably even knew that yenko got ahold of a few corvairs to build these track machines. Pictures and info on the team chris langely ys199 russ rosenburg ys320 john gresham.
Corvair book detail don yenko and the yenko stinger. Having a tool break in the middle of a job is irritating at least, and good tools wont slip off the fasteners as easily. The yenko stinger is a super sports car, which was built in 19651969 by the yenko sports cars, inc. This 250 horsepower combination was illegal for scca racing and was recommended for the customer interested in ultimate horsepower for offstreet driving. This yenko corvair is a stinger and it hurts so good. Clarks corvair parts clarks corvair fuel injection. While we strive to be as accurate as possible, is not responsible for the content or accuracy of the information presented in this site. The last stinger was a 1969 coupe, after which corvair production ceased at willow run, michigan. In january of 1966, yenko announced the availability of a stage v version of the stinger, modified to 176 cubic inch displacement and individual ram fuel injection. For 1966 he decided to race corvairs which required many modifications to. This is a real yenko stinger and that means that it was the ultimate corvair money could buy. It is still the only americandesigned, massproduced passenger car with a.
But a relatively short production run coupled with the most powerful engine for the model means that it is the most collectable model. The corvair stinger was the car that started it all for don yenko unable to compete successfully against carroll shelbys new gt350 in scca production racing, corvette racer don yenko decided to race using a modified version of chevrolets corvair. Don yenko and the yenko stinger is one of those labors of love by a dyedinthewool enthusiast. Nov 14, 20 the yenko stinger was based on the 19651969 chevrolet corvair platform. Charlie doerge wrote a book on the yenko stinger and. If the book is available at a particular seller, click the corvair icon to open a customized order form andor a listing of used books on the book sellers website. Don hoped to do with the corvair, what carroll shelby did with.
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