Revell '69 Yenko 427 Nova is Out!

[Len Woodruff]

Looks like the Yenko 427 Nova out. Anybody got to shot some pics of the new pieces?

[george 53]

Len, thanks for the heads-up! Tomorrow is the Bi-yearly Macomb County Comm.Coll. Toy show/Model car show. Our club helps sponsor the swap meet,model show. You can BET I'll be lookin out for THAT bad boy! Maybe I can get Joy to download some pics! She says it easier to do them herself,than to show her ol dad how to!

[Rob Hall]

There are a bunch on ebay now..box art shows the 427 engine, the YSC decals on the seats, the striping and the 5-spoke wheels (like the AMT '69 Chevelle and R-M '70 BM Chevelle, Magnum 500 style). Nice that the box art is in red rather than blue like the preview photo was.. I have one on preorder from Evers Toy Store, looking forward to it.

[Willy Survive]

I got one on Saturday at an IPMS show in Pittsburgh. I think I paid $17. I'll post some pics tomorrow. Looks ok to me so far. The SS is noticable but I can live with it. One thing though, is a regular Nova SS hood correct for this car or should it have some type of cowl-induction hood? I wasn't sure. See you guys tomorrow.

[Len Woodruff]

Mine will be built using the MCG Nove Photo etch set which takes care of the front grill. A yenko badge goes over the rear SS that is done. The only thing I need is a bench seat for the from.

[Len Woodruff]

I am curious about the Big Bl;ock Parts too! Mostly did they do headers or cast iron exhaust manifolds.

[Rob Hall]

I am curious about the Big Bl;ock Parts too! Mostly did they do headers or cast iron exhaust manifolds.

It will be interesting to compare the engine parts to that of the Yenko Camaro kit. Can't tell much from this box art pic:

[george 53]

Guys I just got back from the toyshow, an I found the"Yenko" Nova. It's just the Nova with a BB Chev an Yenko decals! Not enough of a difference to me to buy it. I'll just put the Camaro's BB in it an use the Fred Cady decals I already have. I was really expecting more. Oh well, maybe next time.

[Willy Survive]

Here's the pics I promised guys.

Ok that's the whole kit guys. I've got some questions too. Do the Yenko fender badges seem small to you guys? Would it have really had a 427 designation next to the front marker lights? Bench seat? Still not sure about that hood too? The wheels that came in the kit are the same ones that came in the Baldwin-Motion Chevelle. That didn't seem correct to me either. I figured either ralleye or torque thrusts? And were these available in the same 6 factory colors as the Camaro or were there different color options for the Nova? But all in all it looks like a cool subject at least. I'd rather build this than a stock SS Nova. Of course I may be biased 'cause I grew up about 8 or 9 miles from Canonsburg and I've always loved the Camaros. I'll let you guys see this when it's built. Later.

[Rob Hall]

I've got some questions too. Do the Yenko fender badges seem small to you guys? Would it have really had a 427 designation next to the front marker lights? Bench seat? Still not sure about that hood too? The wheels that came in the kit are the same ones that came in the Baldwin-Motion Chevelle. That didn't seem correct to me either. I figured either ralleye or torque thrusts? And were these available in the same 6 factory colors as the Camaro or were there different color options for the Nova? But all in all it looks like a cool subject at least. I'd rather build this than a stock SS Nova. Of course I may be biased 'cause I grew up about 8 or 9 miles from Canonsburg and I've always loved the Camaros. I'll let you guys see this when it's built. Later.

Some pics I've found online of '69 Yenko Novas show the SS hood, but with the plain non-SS grille and taillight panel..those seem to be two noticeable parts Revell missed....supposedly, 10 were built, but that was 40 years ago, so who knows what is exactly 'correct'..

And a lot of the cars I've seen pics of online are clones...

I like the look of this clone, has a plain hood, bench seat and a plain grille, and the DD/steelies (available in resin from the Modelhaus and others):

Lot more pics of this clone here:

Super Chevy article on Yenko SC Nova clone

The four parts I'd like to see from Revell or the aftermarket to use w/ the '69 Nova kits are the plain hood, bench seat, plain grille, and plain taillight panel...would be useful for a lot of build styles.

Edited March 29, 2009 by Rob Hall

[Len Woodruff]

Sorry you are disapointed. I am elated they did the stock manifolds!! Beside use the headers from the 69 Big Block Camaros. They will fit pefect!

[Lyle Willits]

I said, months ago, I hope they don't reissue the SS grille which is incorrect for a 427 Yenko. No Yenko was ever built with the SS emblems remaining on the car.

There were, in fact, 38 Yenko 427 Novas produced according to Don Yenko, himself. The last 3 went out with the factory-installed 396 and only had the Yenko stripes. The wheels provided in the kit are correct optional wheels for a Nova in '69, but, of the few remaining 427 Novas, I've never seen those wheels on one. Part of the Yenko package was to upgrade the wheels and tires with Torque-Thrust wheels and wide tires. To my knowledge, the 427 Novas could be had in any available factory color in '69. The '69 Camaros were COPO cars and the factory limited those to 6 colors. Headers were an option and were often shipped in the trunk, to be installed by the buyer "if they chose to race the car". They all had the SS hood with the dual fake "grilles". They all had bench seats with headrests and rubber flooring material. (Put your flocking away.)

Hope this helps.

I've been a "student" of Yenko cars for 40 years. I, of course, am fully capable of making mistakes, but I have tons of documentation to verify what I wrote above.

[Willy Survive]

I said, months ago, I hope they don't reissue the SS grille which is incorrect for a 427 Yenko. No Yenko was ever built with the SS emblems remaining on the car.

There were, in fact, 38 Yenko 427 Novas produced according to Don Yenko, himself. The last 3 went out with the factory-installed 396 and only had the Yenko stripes. The wheels provided in the kit are correct optional wheels for a Nova in '69, but, of the few remaining 427 Novas, I've never seen those wheels on one. Part of the Yenko package was to upgrade the wheels and tires with Torque-Thrust wheels and wide tires. To my knowledge, the 427 Novas could be had in any available factory color in '69. The '69 Camaros were COPO cars and the factory limited those to 6 colors. Headers were an option and were often shipped in the trunk, to be installed by the buyer "if they chose to race the car". They all had the SS hood with the dual fake "grilles". They all had bench seats with headrests and rubber flooring material. (Put your flocking away.)

Hope this helps.

I've been a "student" of Yenko cars for 40 years. I, of course, am fully capable of making mistakes, but I have tons of documentation to verify what I wrote above.

Awesome info Lyle. Thanks for answering all of my questions. With your info I should be able to create a pretty nice Yenko Nova. Thanks again. BTW all interiors were black correct?

[Lyle Willits]

Yep. All interiors were black.

[Rob Hall]

Speaking of a Nova bench seat, does the AMT '72 have a bench or buckets? I have 1/2 dozen of them, but haven't looked at one in years, and mine are in storage now.

[Lyle Willits]

Speaking of a Nova bench seat, does the AMT '72 have a bench or buckets? I have 1/2 dozen of them, but haven't looked at one in years, and mine are in storage now.

No. The AMT '72 Novas have bucket seats also. I've been told that the bench seat in the AMT '70 Impala is a good starting point for a Nova bench seat, but I haven't tried it myself.

[Rob Hall]

No. The AMT '72 Novas have bucket seats also. I've been told that the bench seat in the AMT '70 Impala is a good starting point for a Nova bench seat, but I haven't tried it myself.

Thanks..I couldn't remember how the AMT Nova was equipped. The Impala sounds like a good starting point, it's the only GM bench seat of that era in a kit I can think of right now...

[Rob Hall]

It's kind of surprising to me that Revell decided to do the kit as a Yenko, as opposed to an SS396, if it wasn't going to provide the correct grill and taillight panel for the Yenko. Guess the company felt it needed to have pics of the flashier Yenko car on the box in order to sell the kit.

Well, since they previously did a '69 Yenko Camaro and not an SS Camaro, I assumed they would be consistent.. And a B-M Nova will probably follow eventually, since they've done 3 other B-Ms.

[Rob Hall]

Makes sense, but actually, Revell DID do an SS Camaro, albeit in convertible form.

Ah, I forgot about that..I never thought of it as an SS, since it didn't have an SS hood. Though they now have an SS hood on the snap kit.

[RyanSilva]

I almost bought this, but decided to just get the 2 in 1 -more parts!

[Slim Louis]

I will probably get yelled at from someone for saying this, but I see some real short track potential in this one! (Of course I say that about most all kits! ) That seperate platform and interior floor has a Hamilton Chassis all over it. Not sure which version to buy, though!

[RyanSilva]

Slim I agree..its perfect!

Id grab the first version -2 n 1.

You get a pair of slicks, a set of drag wheels, drag racing goodies, and a way cool decal sheet..that could help you or..use as trading fodder for more roundy round parts

[BigGary]

I have several '66 Chevelle wagons and I've sent two of the front seats to various parts of the world to people who used it in the '69 Nova. It fits right and looks good. The picky among us may say the upolstery pattern is not correct, but it can be fixed.

Gary

[Willy Survive]

Good thinkin' Gary. I've got a ton of those Chevelle wagons too. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Len Woodruff]

I took a look at bench seats last night. I agree that the Revell 66 Chevelle wagon & 70 AMT Impala could be used but they both have pleats. What about the 62 Chevy like the Hayden Profit stocker?

The seats in the 69 Nova were base interior and had no ribbing.