I learned something new today! I didn’t know Don Yanko also made 400 Vega Stingers as well in 71 and 72. Thought I would share the listing for those interested. In this case they used a Buick 3.8 instead of the optional turbocharged 4 cylinder.

[www.ebay.com]

David North Idaho
1965 Corsa Turbo converted to 140
1971 Super Beetle with 2.5L Subaru engine
1965 Corsa mid engine project
1973 Mercedes 280 project

Here is a Hagarty article on the Yanko Vega.

[www.hagerty.com]

David North Idaho
1965 Corsa Turbo converted to 140
1971 Super Beetle with 2.5L Subaru engine
1965 Corsa mid engine project
1973 Mercedes 280 project

Yenko
Yenko
Yenko
Yenko
Yenko

Mike
YS-117

Point taken, thanks Mike

David North Idaho
1965 Corsa Turbo converted to 140
1971 Super Beetle with 2.5L Subaru engine
1965 Corsa mid engine project
1973 Mercedes 280 project

Interesting the Hagerty article says out of 400 cars built 11 survive today

_________________________________________
Ryan Counterman (Moderator)
1965 Corsa Kelmark V8 400 HP ///1965 Monza Sedan 110/PG /// Ultimate Corvair Hauler/// Don Eichstaedt's 1965 Corsa Racecar
West Michigan Corvair Club /// 1966 Corsa GTP Convertible Mid Engine 3.8L Supercharged project stalled

They rotted as fast as Fiats of the day!

MODERATOR
Sea Mountain, between Charleston Harbor and Coos Bay! SW Oregon Coast
Click HERE for My Website...Click HERE for My TechPages!
..............................110-PG.................................................Webered-Turbo

MattNall Wrote:
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> They rotted as fast as Fiats of the day!


No, faster, my bother bought a new Vega , rust was coming through behind the headlights in less the 3 years of Pa driving.

I thought I wanted a 240Z when they first came out. After waiting a few years and see them fall apart on the east coast I'm glad I resisted.

J.O.

65 Corsa Turbo Vert
79 Honda XL 500S
69 Honda CL 160 D
2010 BMW F 650 GS
2003 Bounder 36D
2013 KIA Optima SX turbo-AKA ZIPPY (wife,s car)
69 Newport Holiday Sailboat
Baja 150 dune buggy cart
Coleman HS 500 UTV
2016 KIA Sorento SXL Turbo

Bethlehem,Pa

Ed Cuneen has a Yenko Vega in restoration as I type this, unless it’s been finished since I last talked with him. I’ll give him a call soon and get updated info.

Rocco

I never heard of a Yenko Vega, that's interesting.

There's a guy in town with a Cosworth Vega. It's a little rusty now but still has original stripes and wheels.

It reminds me of the SHO Taurus with the Yamaha V6. A very interesting engine in a forgettable car.

Dale
Loveland, Colorado

1965 Monza 140 barn find

Ive got an old Yenko Cataloge from 71 that shows all his Vega Performance parts.
But never seen a Yanko !!!

1965 Crown V8 Racer
1964 Bill Thomas Monza Replica Racer
1964 Spyder Street Car
1979 Mazda RX7

Mike Levine

Well, we will call all Yenko tributes Yanko’s

David North Idaho
1965 Corsa Turbo converted to 140
1971 Super Beetle with 2.5L Subaru engine
1965 Corsa mid engine project
1973 Mercedes 280 project

I like it, well except for the beige/gold color. If it never left California, I wonder why it has an '80s license plate? Originally it would have had a blue plate and in CA the original plate usually stays with the car for it's entire life.

Craig N. Coeur d'Alene ID.
66 Black Monza 4dr, 4.2L V8 49k
61 Seamist Jade Rampside 140 PG
60 Monza coupe (sold, sniff sniff)
66 Sprint Corsa convt - First car! Re-purchased 43 years later
2+2 gnatsuM 5691

+17 Tons of parts

Eventually the Vega was improved, but that was the latter "ugly" Vega with the cow catcher front end.

Decades ago folks were installing the aluminum Buick/Olds V8's (weight almost the same as that boat anchor Vega engine) into Vegas.

Rover used that aluminum V8 for decades. I was going to buy an early Vega (the better looking one) and to do a Rover engine install. After three years I could not find a solid Vega for sale and gave up. The early Vegas in solid shape are scarcer than Corvairs.

cnicol Wrote:
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> If it never left California, I wonder why it has an '80s license plate? Originally it would have had a blue plate and in CA the original plate usually stays with the car for it's entire life.

Possible for a CA plate to stay with the car, but that is not necessarily true.

Do not know all the rules, but the previous owner can keep the plate (particularly personalized / special edition plates) or turn it in. I think most (all?) cars that go thru a used car dealership drop / turn in the previous plate.

California plates now have a starting number 8 - the past year or two.

I remember several Vegas with 307-2bbl / PGs at work in the parking lot. Reliable obviously..

MODERATOR
Sea Mountain, between Charleston Harbor and Coos Bay! SW Oregon Coast
Click HERE for My Website...Click HERE for My TechPages!
..............................110-PG.................................................Webered-Turbo

alphasud Wrote:
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> Well, we will call all Yenko tributes Yanko’s

Why? Because they're jerking us around.

Dan Stark
Hurricane, WV

1961 Lakewood 500, 80HP, PG
1964 Corvair 500 Coupe, 140HP, 4spd (Christine)
1965 Mustang Coupe, 6cyl, 3spd

All Yenko Vega were 4 cylinder cars...some were modified with other engines later by owners..yes , I was at Yenko at that time

Right. From what the Hagerty article said they wanted Chevy to install the turbo but could not due to emissions durability testing. So they made the turbo kit available over the counter along with a carb and intake manifold kit.

David North Idaho
1965 Corsa Turbo converted to 140
1971 Super Beetle with 2.5L Subaru engine
1965 Corsa mid engine project
1973 Mercedes 280 project

I definitely don't like that plastic dash panel. Never will. Reeks of cheapness IMO.