Video: Blueprint Engines-Powered ’69 Yenko Camaro Clone at SEMA 2011

Yeah, we know. You’re thinking, “Great, another ’69 Camaro.” (whether with or without the sarcasm is your choice) We’d like to argue that this wannabe Yenko is much more than just some big-dollar build by some soulless collector. This cool F-Body was the result of some serious passion. The brainchild of Michael Slone, we chatted with Mike and got the 411:

“I’ve always loved the ’69 Camaro. I came home from the hospital in a ’69 SS Camaro. My dad was a gearhead and had numerous muscle cars throughout my childhood but the Camaro was always my favorite. I always wanted a ’69 but the prices were just so high.

“Then in 2009, I got an opportunity to buy a ’69 Camaro that was undergoing a restoration when the market crashed. The owner needed out of the project so I bought it. The car’s full frame-off restoration was almost completed, all of it was done with the exception of the drivetrain and some interior parts. Since it was going to be a Yenko clone, I wanted to keep it close to what a Yenko was.

“We put a 12-bolt 4.10 posi rearend in and matted it to a M21 close-ratio Muncie 4-speed transmission. After lots of research, I decided to go with Blueprint’s 496 BBC. It just made sense to me; they used really good components and dyno’ed every engine. I know it’s not a 427…it’s better! And a with a couple valve cover and air cleaner decals, no one is ever the wiser. I worked with Dru and the Team and they delivered exactly what they promised and more, it actually made more horsepower than advertised!

“The Camaro draws a lot of attention and wins every show I enter. The car is a real time machine that instantly takes me back to a simpler time in life when I was a little kid at a stoplight feeling the big block vibrate through the seats.”