Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Chassis Number: 114270W353566

Built upon a lightweight, base-trim Nova with bench seats and rubber floor mats, each Yenko Deuce was assembled at the factory with the impressive LT-1 engine, dual exhaust, power brakes with front discs, heavy-duty springs, front and rear sway bars, and an upgraded cooling system. Power met the road through a robust 12-bolt Positraction rear differential with a unique 4.10:1 gear ratio, while discerning customers had the choice of either the Muncie M21 4-speed manual transmission or Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission, both fitted with special race shifters. Upon arrival at Yenko’s Canonsburg, PA, dealership, his team of mechanics finalized the metamorphosis from COPO Novas to Yenko Deuces by outfitting them with SS wheels, a Dixco hood tachometer and Yenko’s array of distinctive badges, decals and stripes.

The story of this authentic Yenko Deuce begins in 1970 at Ammon R. Smith Chevrolet of York, PA, some 225 miles from Yenko’s dealership. The automatic model languished for over a year on Smith’s showroom floor until it caught the attention of local muscle-car fanatics Alan and Brenda Baldwin. The Baldwins drove a hard bargain and ultimately acquired the one-year-old new car for $4,600.

The Cranberry Red Yenko Deuce, one of just 175 built for 1970, quickly won Brenda’s affection and became her daily driver for nearly two decades. In the late 1980s, after 17 years and over 123,000 miles together, she retired the Deuce to dry-storage at her home.

Today, it presents wonderfully in its correct color combination of Cranberry Red over black vinyl, retaining details specific to Nova Yenkos, such as the hood-mounted tachometer, exterior graphics and badges. Further, it is equipped with a correct 350-ci LT-1 V8 engine, Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission and 12-bolt Positraction rear differential, currently fitted with 3.50:1 gears. The original 4.10:1 gears are included in the sale, along with a 2024 Certificate of Authenticity issued by marque expert Jerry MacNeish.

(Introductory description courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.)

SCM Analysis

Detailing

Vehicle:1970 Chevrolet Nova Yenko Deuce
Years Produced:1970
Number Produced:175
SCM Valuation:$90,000–$160,000
Chassis Number Location:Base of driver’s side windshield
Engine Number Location:Stamped on pad on front right side of block
Club Info:The Supercar Registry
Website:http://www.yenko.net
Alternatives:1969–72 Chevrolet Nova SS, 1970 Plymouth Duster 340, 1970–71 Ford Fairlane 500 429
Investment Grade:B

This car, Lot 130, sold for $126,500, including buyer’s premium, at RM Sotheby’s online auction on November 6, 2024.

Pennsylvania Chevrolet dealer Don Yenko was well known for a string of enhanced performance Chevys, dating back to his Yenko Stinger Corvairs in 1966. For his 1970 line, Yenko had a problem. Increasing insurance costs were prompting a change in the traditional “bigger is better” world of performance cars. In 1969, his 427-ci “Super Novas” offered blistering performance — perhaps too much, with Motor Trend later quoting Yenko describing them as “lethal.” Switching to a small-block would tame the car and help resolve insurance issues.

Officially, the largest insurance-friendly small-block available for the Nova was the 300-hp variant of the ubiquitous Chevy 350. Using Yenko’s connections at Chevrolet, it was replaced with the 360-hp LT-1 under the guise of Central Office Production Order (COPO) code 9010. The Corvette engine was considered the most powerful factory-built small-block V8 available. True, it would cede a few horsepower to the 375-hp L78 big block available in the factory Nova SS but would offer better handling due to less weight.

Eschewing the previous year’s Super Nova name, the new version was branded the Deuce by Yenko. He thought of it as a latter-day deuce coupe, an early hot rod of Beach Boys song fame. Of course, that deuce coupe was a ’32 Ford, but never mind. With most muscle cars being based on the larger intermediate chassis, the compact Nova stood out, prompting it to be advertised as the “Mini Muscle Car.”

A survivor reborn

Sometimes a car gets lucky. As an entry-level performance car, this Nova could have fallen victim to over-enthusiastic driving, a routine accident or terminal rust, given its Northeast environment. Even with its limited-edition COPO provenance, it could have ended up parked in a succession of high-school parking lots, its past lost to history through ongoing repairs. Instead, it survived not only nearly two decades of regular use, but also a quarter-century of storage in a retired semi-truck trailer. We know this because the story of this Yenko is well documented, being the subject of a four-page feature and cover in the September 2012 issue of the since-discontinued Muscle Car Review magazine.

By the late 1980s, its odometer long since rolled over, the car was placed in the trailer. A decade later, a local muscle-car fan heard rumors of a Deuce in the area. With the help of a friend who had once worked for Yenko, he followed directions to a rural area, contacted the owners and was allowed to see the car. The owners weren’t ready to part with it for another 15 years, but eventually the persistent suitor got his reward.

Once freed from the trailer, the car was found to be complete and basically sound, with moderate rust in the quarter panels and driver’s side floor. The interior was worn and dusty. It had been repainted once (with the Yenko stripe) and the bumpers had surface rust, but the drivetrain was original and complete. Perhaps too complete, as the new owner found a large snake living under the hood.

RM Sotheby’s reports the car was sent to MASCAR Auto Body in Costa Mesa, CA, for a complete restoration. It was bought by the consignors in 2018 and entered in several Antique Automobile Club of America events, winning a Grand National Award and AACA National First Prize in 2019.

The real deal

With 175 built, the Yenko Deuce has always been a rare beast. A 2017 census reported 91 of these cars survive, and a recent check of a registry suggests a few more have turned up, so the model has a fairly high survival rate. Aside from the transmission option and power steering, the cars are similarly equipped, primarily differing in color. For the record, this is one of 35 in Cranberry Red, and one of 11 with the automatic. This example is particularly notable for staying with its original owners for 42 years and being a well-documented real-deal Yenko car.

The current auction photos show the car to be pristine — undoubtedly far better than it was new, with no signs of wear or use anywhere. The before and after photos of the interior match, but there is no indication of how many of the trim pieces are original.

Well bought

As you might guess, comps are hard to come by. The last sale in the SCM Platinum Auction Database shows a #2-condition blue 4-speed example bringing $118,250 at Leake Auctions’ Oklahoma City sale in 2017 (SCM# 6827774). A yellow 4-speed brought $102,500 at Mecum Auctions’ Dallas sale in 2023; it is currently listed for sale online with an asking price of $135,000.

The 2025 SCM Pocket Price Guide shows a Nova Yenko Deuce value range of $90k–$160k. Interestingly, the SCM price guide from 2014 showed a range of $87k to $129k for Deuces, so there hasn’t been much long-term appreciation at the top of the market range. While the factory-equipped big-block SS 396s have bragging rights for their larger engines, the Yenko Deuces sit at the top of the Nova world, prized for their rarity and their special COPO conception.

This Yenko Deuce sold for a market-correct price, but if you prize a fresh restoration over originality, you’ll see this one as well bought. ♦

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