Back in ’69, the muscle car wars were at full boil. GM, Ford, and Chrysler were throwing haymakers at each other with tire-smoking, big-block bruisers built to dominate both Woodward Avenue and the local dragstrip. Chevrolet answered the call through its Central Office Production Order (COPO) system, slipping the all-aluminum ZL-1 big-block into a limited run of Camaros — and just two factory-built Corvettes. Those ZL-1 Corvettes became instant legends, symbols of factory-backed rebellion and no-compromise performance.
Fast forward to today, and that same outlaw spirit lives on.
In tribute to those mythical ZL-1 Corvettes, Specialty Vehicle Engineering (SVE) is rolling out a limited run of 2026 C8 YENKO/SC® Corvettes - 50 Stage I models packing 1,000 horsepower and 50 Stage II monsters cranking out a pavement-wrinkling 1,250 horsepower. And yes - they’re built to go very fast. Literally.
Built by the Best in the Business
Specialty Vehicle Engineering isn’t new to this game. For more than 30 years, SVE has operated as a Second Stage Vehicle Manufacturer and Tier One Supplier to GM and its dealer network, building over 65,000 specialty cars, trucks, and SUVs. That track record makes them the #1 GM Specialty Vehicle Manufacturer in the U.S. - and the exclusive builder of today’s YENKO® Supercars.
This isn’t a tuner package. It’s factory-backed firepower.
Twin-Turbo American Muscle - Reimagined
The heart of the 2026 YENKO/SC® C8 is a twin-turbocharged 6.2L LT2 that blends precision engineering with show-quality craftsmanship. The symmetrical twin-turbo layout isn’t just functional - it’s downright intimidating when you pop the hatch.
Here’s what feeds the beast:
- Dual Garrett 58mm ceramic ball-bearing, water-cooled turbos
- Blueprinted LT2 with forged steel crankshaft
- Forged H-beam rods
- Forged 2618 aluminum pistons
- ARP high-strength head and main studs
- CNC-ported high-flow cylinder heads with upgraded valvetrain
- Proprietary ground camshaft
- Custom intercooled intake manifold
- Custom valve covers with integrated oil separators
- Upgraded transmission
- Enhanced high- and low-pressure fuel systems
- Auxiliary port injection
- E85 capability
- Custom calibration
- Exclusive YENKO® exhaust tips
Stage I lays down 1,000 horsepower.
Stage II cranks it to a brutal 1,250 horsepower.
Add in SVE’s Boost-By-Gear control system to help harness the power, and the result is a modern American supercar that delivers both neck-snapping acceleration and real-world drivability.
Available in both coupe and convertible form, these C8s are engineered to dominate - whether you’re hunting apexes or just rolling into Cars & Coffee with something nobody else has.
Limited Production, Maximum Impact
The 2026 YENKO/SC® Stage I and Stage II Corvettes are available exclusively through GM dealers across the U.S. and Canada. Each one starts as a factory C8 and is transformed into a serialized piece of modern muscle history.
Inside, the cabin reminds you this is no ordinary Corvette. sYc® logos are embroidered into the front headrests and floormats, reinforcing the legacy every time you slide behind the wheel.
Built to Be Seen — And Collected
With 10 factory Corvette paint options and nine available graphic colors - plus optional carbon fiber and reflective white - owners can spec their YENKO/SC® to match their personality. Custom graphic colors are also available, and the same color can even be added to the brake calipers for a cohesive, show-ready look.
The OE-quality, UV-resistant vinyl graphics are designed to stand the test of time — no fading, cracking, or peeling.
Three graphics configurations are offered:
- Side and hood graphics
- Hood, roof, and decklid graphics
- Full package: side, hood, roof, and decklid
However you spec it, each build becomes a unique, highly collectible piece of modern American performance.
From the COPO ZL-1 legends of ’69 to today’s twin-turbo YENKO/SC® C8, the formula remains the same: limited production, factory credibility, and outrageous horsepower. The muscle car wars may have evolved, but the fight for ultimate street and strip supremacy is alive and well.
The 1,000 horsepower Stage I Yenko C8 Corvette and the Stage II 1,250 horsepower Yenko Corvettes are rewriting the rules of American muscle car and indeed American super car rules of engagement and dominance.
Above: All Yenko/SC Corvette images above are provided courtesy of Specialty Vehicle Engineering.
Classic Industries and the Chevrolet Corvette - Quite the Match
For every generation of the Corvette, from the C1 all the way to the current mid-engine C8, the Corvette has always offered the world an amazingly great value proposition, with plenty of style, high performance, technology, handling, and a great deal of All American Hutzpah!
Get your C1 to C6 Corvette Components & Accessories @ Classic Industries
By clicking on the link just above or at the end of this sentence, you'll go directly to the Classic Industries 1953-2013 Chevrolet Corvette shopping page. On the page you can either shop by year, by product category, or by featured brands. You can also click on the school bus yellow button below.
Above: You'll find automotive designer, Peter Brock's interpretation of what the C2 Corvette should look like, penned in 1957! Below: What the 1963 C2 Corvette split-window Sting Ray coupe wound up looking like...
