Documented Restored Numbers Matching Concours Gold Yenko Nova Deuce LT1 350 V8

SUMMARY

Fully documented Yenko Deuce that was owned by the same family for over 41 years
Awarded Concours Gold honors at the 2015 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals
Featured on the cover of the September, 2012 issue of Muscle Car Review Magazine
The beneficiary of a fresh nut-and-bolt restoration
Original 350 cubic inch LT-1 V8 / Original Turbo-Hydramatic 400 3-speed automatic transmission
Sale includes: An original invoice / An original Instalment Sale Contract / An original Title copy
Sale includes: An original Protect-O-Plate / A copy of the car's magazine feature
Correct Cranberry Red paint / Correct Yenko markings / Correct Black vinyl interior
Correct F41 Sports Suspension / Correct power steering / Correct power front disc & rear drum brakes
Correct 12-bolt rear axle / Correct posi-traction differential / 3.50 gears / Original 4.10 gears included with sale
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At RK Motors Charlotte we pride ourselves in offering high caliber, one-of-a-kind collector cars that have amazing stories and unmatched pedigree. This authentic Yenko Deuce is a fully documented rarity that's 1 of only 175 1970 Yenko Novas produced, 1 of only 53 1970 Yenko Novas fitted with a Turbo-Hydramatic 400, and 1 of only 35 1970 Yenko Novas painted Cranberry Red. Presently, it's a numbers-matching, magazine-featured show car that recently earned Concours Gold honors at the 2015 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals. And, whether you're a hardcore Chevy connoisseur, or just a savvy enthusiast who's searching for a killer classic, it's an excellent opportunity for future investment!

HISTORY/APPEARANCE

The car's story begins at Ammon R. Smith Chevrolet of York, Pennsylvania, the firm made famous by Dave Strickler and his legendary Old Reliable drag cars. According to area muscle car historians, Ammon R. Smith received shipment of three 1970 Yenko Deuces and, as of the late 2000s, one of the cars was still unaccounted for. It made perfect sense for this particular dealer to have a nice portfolio of the super rare Novas, since it was only 225 miles from Yenko's garage. What didn't make sense was the fact that one of the cars had essentially vanished sometime in the previous two decades. After talking with local gearheads, a guy by the name of Skip Lecates made it his personal mission to track the mysterious third Deuce and, after following many leads, met a mechanic who recalled working on the Nova. According to the mechanic, the car was purchased by a couple who lived out in the sticks and, over decades of ownership, had never changed hands. With a combination of gut instinct and verbal directions, Skip located the family and asked the whereabouts of their storied Chevy.

That family, York residents Brenda Baldwin and her dearly departed husband, had purchased the car new in June of 1971. The Nova stickered for over $5,000 and, because that price put it firmly in Cadillac territory, had racked up 500 miles languishing in Smith's showroom. Brenda wanted the coupe, but she didn't really care for its automatic transmission. However, since the Baldwins were dyed-in-the-wool muscle car fans, and her husband was exhausted from shifting gears all day at his job, they offered the dealer $4,600 and eventually drove off in one of the coolest Chevrolets ever produced. For the next 17 years and 123K miles, the completely unmodified Deuce would serve as Brenda's fun daily driver. And in 1988, the car was retired to a semi-trailer on the Baldwins' property, not seeing the light of day since. Even though Skip made several offers, Brenda wasn't willing to part with her 1-owner gem. That is... Until May of 2012 when the car was rolled out of the trailer, snakes and all, in solid, original condition sporting faded Yenko paint, one-of-a-kind Yenko accessories and a numbers-matching, Yenko-spec drivetrain.

Fixing the Chevy's light rust and perfecting its unique Yenko aesthetics was a pretty easy challenge for Overhaulin' stars MASCAR Auto Body. And the Costa Mesa crew executed a professional, nut-and-bolt restoration that primed a smooth canvas for correct Cranberry Red 2-stage. Once that wet-looking pigment was buffed to an excellent shine, a full array of war paint tapped an aggressive demeanor that's both classic and fitting. And today, this Nova rolls as a revered collection of well-aligned panels and ridged character lines that recently earned 994 out of 1,000 points in MCACN Concours Gold judging.

Chevrolet did a particularly good job designing tasteful ornamentation for this generation of Nova, and the Yenko treatment invokes extreme excitement without resorting to extreme kitsch. At the front of the car, a standard Nova grille centers a small Chevrolet crest between a bright chrome bumper, clear parking lamps and familiar T3 headlights. Above that grille, a standard Nova hood anchors an 8,000 RPM, Yenko-spec tachometer in front of satin windshield wipers and fresh glass that's framed in painted and polished trim. At the sides of that hood, traditional door handles and black, bullet-style racing mirrors flank classy "Nova" scripts, bold "350 emblems and patriotic Yenko badging. And at the back of the car, a standard Nova valance founds simple tail lamps between a second chrome bumper and clean Yenko decklid ornamentation.

ENGINE

A lot of car buffs rave about big block Yenkos and Chevrolet's legendary 427. But in reality, this Nova's 350 cubic inch small block is a more competent and well-rounded performer. Installed in all 1970 Yenko Novas as a shrewd way to skirt fresh EPA regulations, Chevrolet's impressive LT-1 created a spry 360 horsepower straight from the factory. At the top of the hot mill, a polished, painted and decaled air cleaner caps a big Holley 4-barrel, which rides on a familiar Winters intake. That intake feeds factory Chevrolet heads, which float finned valve covers above spotless exhaust manifolds and correct smog equipment. At the back of those heads, a traditional points distributor sequences spark through correct Packard TV R Suppression cables. At the front of those cables, factory power steering joins a stamped alternator to round out a roster of high quality ancillaries. In front of those ancillaries, a shrouded and decaled radiator frames requisite GM hoses and a reproduction Delco battery. And naturally, the numbers-matching powerplant wears a correct 3970010 casting number behind an LT-1/3-speed-specific (CTC) suffix stamp and matching partial VIN.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

As previously mentioned, this Deuce came factory-equipped with a tough Turbo-Hydramatic 400 3-speed. Predictably, that original gearbox hangs a correct "70 CW" assembly plate opposite a matching partial VIN. There's a correct 12-bolt axle that's equipped with a correct posi-traction differential that is currently spinning highway-friendly 3.50 gears. However, the original and rare 4.10 gear set is included with the sale. That driveline hangs in a correct F41 Sports Suspension, which combines correct power steering with correct power front disc and rear drum brakes. That suspension is dissected by wrinkle-bent pipes, which employ throaty turbo mufflers and a factory-spec resonator. That exhaust is framed by solid floors that, to the best of our knowledge, are original equipment. And those floors roll on 14-inch Super Sport Wheels, which spin E70-14 Goodyear Polyglas Custom Wide Treads around simple Yenko center caps.

INTERIOR

Open the car's light doors and you'll find a crisp Black interior that's been restored to a pristine state. There's a duo of vinyl benches that are as tight as the day they left the upholstery shop. In front of those seats, a silver-trimmed dash hangs a correct Delco radio under correct, sweeping telemetry. At the bottom of that dash, textured matting floats a Yenko-installed Hurst Slap Stick behind stainless-trimmed foot pedals. At the edges of that flooring, rare Yenko door panels frame traditional chrome handles. The driver keeps control through a bowtie-branded steering wheel. And passengers haul cargo next to a full-size spare tire in a fully restored trunk.

PROVENANCE

Since this Nova stayed with the same family for over 42 years, the car is impeccably documented. Here's a breakdown of the original Protect-O-Plate that's included with our sale.

114270W353566 The car's VIN
- 1: Chevrolet Motor Division
- 14: V8-powered Nova
- 27: 2-door sedan
- 0: 1970 model year
- W: Assembled at GM's Willow Run manufacturing facility
- 353566: Sequential production number
H - Equipped with a Holley carburetor
V0512CTC The car's LT-1-specific engine stamp
- V: Assembled in Flint, Michigan
- 0512: Assembled on May 12th, 1970
- CTC: 350 cubic inch LT-1 V8 that's paired to a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 3-speed transmission
CBW0513G The car's rear axle code
- CBW: 12-bolt posi-traction axle / 4.10 gears
- 0513: Assembled on May 13th, 1970
- G: Assembled at Detroit Gear & Axle
6 Assembled in June of 1970
- NOTE: This Nova's Cowl Tag is stamped with an 06A (first week of June) build date
70W447 The car's transmission code
- 70: 1970 model year
- W: Mated to a 402 cubic inch V8
- 447: Assembled on March 23rd, 1970
1133 Optional equipment
- 1: Power steering
- 1: Power brakes
- 3: Radio
- 3: Disc brakes

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES

The car's original Owner's Manual and factory booklets
The car's original invoice
An original Instalment Sale Contract
The car's original Warranty Booklet and Protect-O-Plate
An original Title copy
Vintage registration paperwork
An Ammon R. Smith Chevrolet dealer decal
A copy of the car's September, 2012 cover feature in Muscle Car Review Magazine
A display banner
Two Yenko Deuce tags complete with 1970 Yenko Performance brackets
The car's original 4.10 gears

In 1970, this Chevy represented some of the best performance your money could buy. Currently, it represents some of the best investment grade metal on the muscle car market. Significant third generation Novas are a rare find. Highly authentic, numbers-matching cars are rarer still. One-of-a-kind performance icons like this magazine-featured, Concours Gold Yenko are the opportunity of a lifetime! Don't miss your chance to own one of the coolest classics on the planet.