When you hear the name Yenko, you immediately think of fire-breathing Central Office Production Order (COPO) Camaros, but before those legendary big-block monsters, Don Yenko was busy turning Chevrolet’s rear-engine underdog into a dominant road racer. A unique 1965 Chevrolet Corvair built as a tribute to those original Yenko Stingers is now heading to the auction block.

A Street-Legal Racer With A Winning Pedigree

The builder constructed this blue and white Corvair in the spirit of the cars Yenko created to compete in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) D-production class. While the owner never raced the car in that original series, it has proven its performance chops in the modern era. In 2016, it was the overall winner at the National Corvair Convention Autocross, showing that it’s far more than just a trailer queen. Although it was assembled for competition with a full suite of performance parts, the car is fully street legal, making it a versatile classic that any owner can drive and enjoy.

The Heart Of A Stinger: A Closer Look At This 1965 Chevrolet Corvair

The core of any Yenko is the engine, and this Corvair follows that tradition. The 166/180 horsepower flat-six was bored 0.020 over and rebuilt for high-performance use with forged pistons creating a 10.0:1 compression ratio. A pair of Zenith carburetors handles the fuel, while a baffled, deep sump oil pan, complete with a thermostatically controlled remote oil cooler, keeps the engine reliable under pressure.

The Rest Of The Racing Package

Naturally, the rest of the car was built to handle that upgraded mill. Power goes through a 1966 Saginaw four-speed manual transmission, a Clark’s steel flywheel, and a heavy-duty 1,500-pound clutch, all connected to a 3.27 rearend. The chassis features lightweight aluminum front brake drums for better performance and a dual-circuit master cylinder for improved safety. An iconic Stinger fiberglass decklid, a signature piece of the Yenko Corvair conversions, completes the car’s look. Overall, this Chevy is the complete package: style and performance.

A Chance To Own A Piece Of Yenko History

This Yenko Stinger tribute is a fantastic homage to a lesser-known but hugely important part of Don Yenko’s legacy. It captures the spirit of his initial efforts to turn a humble Chevy into a dominant force on the race track. The car will cross the block at Mecum’s Larry’s Legacy 2025 auction on Sunday, September 21, giving one enthusiast the chance to own a car that represents the very beginning of the Yenko legend.