Only 175 Chevy Nova Yenko Deuces were ever produced, 122 four-speeds, and 53 automatics. A black vinyl bench seat was the sole interior choice. Color choices were Fathom Blue, Forest Green, Citrus Green, Gobi Beige, Hugger Orange, Sunflower Yellow, Cranberry Red, or Cortez Silver. The Chevy Nova Yenko Deuce LT1 had a solid lifter cam, aluminum intake manifold, finned aluminum valve covers, F41 Sport suspension, a 12-bolt Posi-Traction rear end with 4.10 gears, Rallye wheels without trim rings, and could be had with either the Muncie M21 four-speed manual or the Turbo Hydramatic 400 three-speed auto.

They were advertised as “mini muscle cars.” Even with the high-compression 350 cubic-inch LT1 engine, producing 360 horsepower, the Yenko Deuce managed to skate under the performance car insurance premium. It would be ordered through the Central Office Production Order, or COPO, program. The new Yenko Chevy Novas would be known as the Yenko Deuce.

To live up to the standard of the models that came before it, the Yenko Chevy Nova for 1970 would have to use the LT1 found in the Corvette LT1 and Camaro Z/28. Despite utilizing the Mouse Motor, the Nova still had to be worthy of the Yenko name. Yenko decided to build a somewhat tamer Nova for the 1970 model year, using a Small Block 350. Emissions regulations were on the way courtesy of the Clean Air Act. Insurance companies balked at insuring such a beast.

He was quoted as saying he knew the cars were “lethal,” with the brawny 450-horsepower 427 Big Block stuffed into what was otherwise considered a lightweight economy car. The 1969 Chevy Nova Yenko SC 427 may have been a step too far, and Don Yenko knew it.

1970 yenko nova