Unveiled Yenko Stinger YS017 Wins Matt Avery's Pick of the 2019 Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals

At this year's prestigious Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, held at the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center, in Rosemont, Illinois, a 1966 Yenko Stinger won author Matt Avery's Celebrity Pick Award.

The car, belonging to the Dennis Albaugh Collection, underwent a three-year restoration and was unveiled for the first time at the event. Not only was the original owner present for the momentous occasion, but the third owner, as well.

When new, this Stinger was picked up directly from Jim Spencer, one of Don Yenko's chief distributors. ,

Of the hundreds of vehicles on display, Avery selected the vehicle for the quality of its restoration, the impactful stories behind it and its milestone status as the vehicle that paved the way for future Yenko performance vehicles. "The Stinger sets the stage for the performance powerhouses that Don Yenko would go on to create through Chevy's Central Office,' explains Avery. "It's a legend in its own right and to see one at this top-tier event is wonderful. The only thing better than the presentation is the personal human connections behind it."

Avery featured the vehicle in his popular auto column, Classic Recollections, published in the Chicago Daily Herald.

On behalf of Dennis Albaugh, Andy Snetselaar accepts author Matt Avery's Celebrity Pick Award.

Old Dead Eye '69 COPO Camaro RS

The vehicle's hand-painted lettering is way cool and dates to the 1960s.

One of cool COPO racecars that has turned up in recent years is a 1969 Camaro RS, dubbed 'Old Deadeye II'. I first caught up with it while it was parked on display in the Barn Finds display area of the 2017 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals.

While displayed in the 2017 MCACN 'Barn Finds' area, the Camaro drews tons of attention.

It's untouched condition was striking, as was the plethora of vintage photographs (and even a newspaper clipping), showing it loaded up on a transport truck, parked with early owners and leaving the starting line, quite hard I might add, at the storied 75-80 dragstrip Monrovia, Maryland. The hand-painted artwork on the doors and cheeky trunk lid taunt also helped make it stand out, while for sure, garnering a few laughs, too.

Historical images courtesy of Arizona Muscle Cars

The Code 72 72 Hugger Orange coupe was sold new on August 15, 1969 at the Sport Chevrolet Company, in Silver Spring, Maryland. A family who owned the E.J. Heskett Construction Company in Jessep, MD, purchased it. (Note: the company's name painted on the passenger side quarter panel in the photos above). All told, the final price tag rang up at a healthy $4,158, thanks in large part to the Rally Sport equipment package. Very few COPO Camaros received this, as few owners deemed the extra cost worthwhile for a high-powered machine designed for straight-line performance.

After seeing the car up close in Chicago at the show, I tracked it down several months later, while out in the sunny American southwest conducting photoshoots for COPO the book. Arizona Muscle Cars granted access and I took a whole set and also dug a bit more into its backstory for research and context. After parting ways for a second time, the car moved again and then again, this latest time, crossing the block at Russo and Steele's Scottsdale, AZ auction .

Now, fate has brought this Camaro and I together again, with us meeting back in the Land of Lincoln. The crew at Custom Classics, in Island Lake, IL reached out to me this week, saying the car had just arrived and was about to begin a full multi-year restoration. They invited me out and I quickly headed to their facility to see the Chevy one last time as it sits now, before it begins the long process of being returned to gleaming showroom condition.

Custom Classics is no stranger to these legendary Central Office vehicles, having already completed another L72 427 1969 COPO Camaro, which, just like Old Dead Eye II, was raced heavily. The CC crew shared some of the exciting plans in the works to preserve the heritage of this vintage racecar and I can't wait to see those, as well as the final product. I'll be checking in many more times on their progress.

This for sure, isn't the last I'll be seeing of Old Dead Eye.

---

While visiting Custom Classics, I autographed a couple copies of COPO for their showroom.

No copy of COPO is complete with this John Hancock, which in this case, is more like 'Matt Avery'.

A Pedal to the Metal Racing COPO Family: Video

With only 69 examples of new COPO Camaros being built each year, the lucky few that get to own and drive them are a unique bunch. There's real camaraderie and Chevrolet Performance calls them the 'COPO Family'. This video introduces us to a few of them and allow us to hear in their own words what it's like to pilot a COPO Camaro. It's readily evident: they love their cars and the thrilling experience of getting them down the track.

As part of the research for my book, I toured the COPO Build Center and saw these track monsters get built.

---

Image courtesy of Chevrolet Performance