Car: Yenko Chevrolet Super Camaro Coupe

Year: 1968

What makes it special:  The Yenko Super Camaro was a modified Chevrolet Camaro prepared by Yenko Chevrolet, developed by the dealership owner and racer, Don Yenko. When the Camaro debuted, a General Motors corporate edict prevented it from carrying an engine larger than 400 cu in V8. Don Yenko and others knew there was a market for a more powerful Camaro and found ways around the GM limit. Yenko ordered L78 equipped SS Camaros and swapped in the Chevrolet Corvette’s L72 427 V8. The cars came with a 4.10 rear end and heavy-duty suspension. The approximate number of cars produced is 106. Yenko also installed a fiberglass replacement hood similar to the “Stinger” hood featured on 1967 big-block Corvettes. 

What made it famous: Encouraged by the success of the 1967 model, Yenko continued to produce his Yenko Super Camaros for 1968. The 1968 Yenko Super Camaros started life as Super Sports with L78 396 cu in 375 hp hp engine and close ratio 4-speed Muncie transmission. Yenko also ordered the cars with COPO 9737 which included a 140 mph speedometer, a larger 1 1/8th inch front anti-sway bar, and a special trim tag. Yenko swapped out the factory 396 short-block for the L72 427 cu in 450 hp short-block reusing the rest of the 396 engine’s components including the heads, carburetor, intake manifold, etc. He swapped the stock hood for a twin-snorkel fiberglass hood and added Pontiac’s 14″x6″ steel wheels with special Yenko caps, Yenko emblems gracing the front grill, front fenders and tail panel. 427 emblems were added to the tail panel and front fenders as well. The cars had a Yenko Super Camaro serial-numbered tag in the driver’s side door jamb and Stewart Warner pedestal-mounted tachometer and gauges were installed in the interior. Early cars got a rear spoiler made for Yenko and later cars all got the factory spoilers front and rear. The recognized production number for these cars is approximately 64 cars converted, with well less than half of that number known to exist today.

Why I would want one: Let’s see. Rare, 427 V8…Yenko. Do the math.

Fun fact: A new Yenko Camaro based on the new 2010 Camaro platform was introduced at SEMA 2009.
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Car: AMC Rambler Rebel SST Convertible

Year: 1967

What makes it special: The AMC Rambler Rebel was a midsized car produced by the American Motors Corporation from 1967 to 1970, replacing the Rambler Classic. The Rebel was replaced by the similar AMC Matador for the 1971 model year. The Rebel was positioned as the high-volume seller in the independent automaker’s line of models. The Rebel was available in several specialty models that included limited numbers of station wagons with special-themed trim and luxury equipment that were offered only in certain geographical areas.

What made it famous:The 1967 Rambler Rebel was a completely new design from its predecessor, the Rambler Classic. Now a larger car riding on a longer wheelbase, the width was also increased to enlarge interior passenger space and cargo capacity. The new body design was in sharp contrast to its predecessor’s “straight-edge” design, featuring a smooth, rounded appearance with sweeping rooflines, “Coke-bottle” body with a shorter rear deck, and greater glass area for increased visibility. Offering traditional Rambler economy with six-cylinder engines and overdrive transmissions, the Rebel could also be turned “into a decent budget-priced muscle car” with the 343 cu in, the largest available engine from AMC in 1967. A road test by Car Life magazine of a Rebel SST hardtop equipped with the 343 V8 and automatic transmission turned in a 0-60 mph time of nine seconds, and reached a top speed of 110 miles per hour. 

Why I would want one: I love the AMC Rebel model. Very handsome design, and love the low-budget muscle car appeal with the 343 V8. Of course, my “Holy Grail, Bucket List To Own #1 Car” happened to arrive 3 years later, known as the 1970 AMC Rebel “The Machine.”

Fun fact: A high-performance, low-priced muscle car version was produced in 1970, “The Machine,” that is most recognized in its flamboyant white, red, and blue trim.
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Car: Pontiac Safari Wagon

Year: 1956

What makes it special: The Safari was a station wagon that was produced by Pontiac. The name was first applied to Pontiac’s version of the 2-door Chevrolet Nomad station wagon. The body style, originally exhibited as a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Motorama concept car, was shifted to Chevrolet and Pontiac full-size 1955 production vehicles because of the perceived greater sales potential. During its run, the Safari would be sold as its own station wagon model as well as a designation applied to Pontiac’s various other station wagon vehicles.

What made it famous: Safari was built using the Pontiac Chieftain, and shared body components with the Chevrolet Nomad station wagon, which would also allow both divisions to share in the tooling costs for the special bodied wagons. The Safari was fitted with Pontiac’s unique front-end bumper/grille assembly and sheet metal and rear tail light design, both created by Pontiac stylist Paul Gillan, who received a United States patent for the bumper/grille design. The Safari featured sport-coupe front doors, extra chrome adorning the tailgate and interior, and sliding rear-seat windows. Like the Nomad, the “B” pillar of the station wagon was raked forward, a flourish not shared with other GM two-door station wagons from that era.

Why I would want one: I am a huge fan of two-door wagons, love the Chevrolet Nomad and would take one in a heartbeat, but love the style and rarity of the Pontiac Safari wagon.

Fun fact: The name “safari” is derived from the Swahili word safari, which means journey, originally from the Arabic safar meaning a journey; the verb for “to travel” in Swahili is kusafiri.
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