Before you embark on a Camaro restoration, you've got to own a Camaro, right? If you've already got a 1967-69 Camaro stashed in your garage, all the bet­ter, but if you're starting from scratch, you need to know the who's, what's, and where's of buying the right Camaro for your particular wants and needs. Camaro restora­tions can be fun and profitable, but if you dive into the project with the wrong car - rusted, faked or both - the restoration could turn into a personal and financial nightmare. Always re­member this golden rule of restoration: Don't buy a Camaro for restoration if the total cost of the car plus the total cost of the restoration will exceed the total current value of the Ca­maro when it is completed. 

There are muscle cars - and then there are moments in time cast in American steel. The 1969 COPO Yenko Camaro prototype is the latter. More than a rare vehicle, it is the genesis point of factory-built Yenko performance, the car that opened the door for Chevrolet’s most feared street-and-strip Camaros. On January 17, 2026, at the Mecum Auctions Kissimmee, Florida sale, that legacy was permanently cemented when the prototype crossed the block for $1.65 million, with buyer’s premium bringing the final transaction to $1,815,000 - officially making it the most expensive Chevrolet Camaro ever sold.

Yenko®, SYC®, and related logos, names, and trade dress are registered Trademarks of GMCI® - General Marketing Capital Incorporated and used under license.

If you're an auto-enthusiast, chances are you’ve heard of the legendary name Don Yenko — and his famous high-performance builds like the Yenko Camaro and the Yenko Stinger Corvair. What you may not know as well is how his legacy continues today through his daughter, Lynn Yenko, who carries forward the spirit, style, and horsepower of the Yenko name.

Here’s a deep dive into Lynn’s story — her roots, her role, her vision for the next generation of muscle-and-performance, and why every gearhead should keep an eye on what she’s doing.