Inside the Collection That Preserved the Yenko Legacy

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In the world of American muscle, certain names carry a weight far beyond horsepower ratings or quarter-mile times. Don Yenko is one of them, and so too is the late Cliff Ernst, a collector whose relentless pursuit of authenticity and passion for preservation helped keep Yenko’s legacy alive for a new generation.

This January at Mecum Kissimmee 2026, From the Cliff Ernst Collection will take center stage, offering bidders the chance to acquire some of the most significant cars ever to wear the Yenko name.

Chief among them is a machine of almost mythical status: the 1969 Yenko Camaro prototype, a gold-and-white supercar that stands as the very foundation of the 1969 Yenko program.

The prototype is not just another COPO Camaro, nor is it merely one of the 201 Yenko Camaros built for 1969. It is the first: the pilot test car used to validate the formula that would become legendary. It is one of only two known Yenko Camaros finished in Olympic Gold with white stripes and the only example documented as being fitted with the optional Atlas wheels by Yenko Chevrolet.

Beneath the striking exterior lies the beating heart of Chevrolet’s most formidable factory offering: the COPO 9561 L72 427/425 HP big-block V-8, paired with the COPO 9737 Sports Car Conversion Package that added performance-minded features, including a heavy-duty suspension, 140 MPH speedometer, and larger wheels. Mated to an M21 4-speed manual transmission and BE-code 12-bolt Positraction rear axle, the prototype carried the full arsenal of performance hardware that Don Yenko demanded for his customers.

Adding to its importance is the fact that the car retains what may be one of the very first BE heavy-duty rear axles ever built by Chevrolet. Assembled on November 19, 1968, it is now recognized in the Jerry MacNeish databases as the earliest documented BE rear axle. Remarkably, that same date is shared with the rear assemblies installed in Camaro ZL1 No. 1 and ZL1 No. 2, underscoring the prototype’s position at the leading edge of Chevrolet’s COPO performance program.

This BE special-performance rear axle assembly was equipped with a No. 3916234 Positraction carrier featuring larger spider gears and axle gears, along with a special heat-treated ring and pinion designed for NHRA drag racing. For collectors, this detail alone elevates the prototype’s significance as a car that not only introduced the Yenko package but also incorporated Chevrolet’s very first wave of NHRA-spec hardware.

What sets this car apart is not only its specification but its role in history. Yenko drag racer Ed Hedrick was tasked with putting the prototype through its paces, and his work quickly confirmed the potency of the combination. On slicks and open headers, Hedrick clicked off a best pass of 11.94 seconds at 114 MPH, a staggering figure for the day. He later remarked that the car was capable of even more, but a rough clutch prevented him from making full-power shifts.

The test sessions were documented in period publications, including Drag Times and Super Stock & Drag Illustrated, cementing the prototype’s place as not just a showroom piece but a proven performer on the strip. Yenko himself referenced the results in an April 1969 press release, underscoring just how central this particular car was to the dealer’s marketing and sales strategy.

When its official testing duties concluded, the Camaro returned to Yenko Chevrolet, where it served as a demonstrator and continued to draw attention from enthusiasts and prospective buyers. Its unique prototype emblem placement, not seen on production models, further distinguished it as a one-of-one creation.

From there, the car was sold new to its original owner, Ronald Welsh, who wasted no time putting the prototype to work at his local Pennsylvania tracks. Outfitted with slicks, he actively campaigned the car in the regional drag racing scene, further validating the purpose-built nature of Yenko’s COPO formula. His efforts not only showcased the prototype’s capabilities in real-world competition but also helped spread Yenko’s package's reputation well beyond the dealership’s showroom walls.

Nearly two decades later, on March 3, 1987, longtime enthusiast Cliff Ernst acquired the Camaro directly from Welsh. In doing so, Ernst became only the second owner of the prototype and its most dedicated caretaker, safeguarding and preserving its unmatched history for future generations.

The prototype may be the star, but it is far from alone. The Cliff Ernst estate collection showcases a vibrant cross-section of 1969 Yenko Camaros, each carrying the same COPO foundation and Yenko pedigree that have cemented their place in automotive legend.

The Rallye Green example holds special significance as the very first Yenko Camaro Ernst purchased, acquiring it in 1986. One of only 21 in this hue, it boasts impeccable provenance, including Camaro Hi-Performance certification, a COPO Connection certificate, original paperwork, and even a 2007 feature on PowerBlock TV with Bill Goldberg.

Alongside it, a Le Mans Blue example, restored to factory specifications, offers a textbook presentation of the Yenko formula in one of the most iconic colors. A Hugger Orange car not only stands out visually but carries magazine provenance, having been featured in Hot Rod in 1989. A Daytona Yellow example embodies the bold presence that made Yenko Camaros instant icons, while a Fathom Green car captures the subtle menace sought by buyers desiring understated muscle.

Together, they showcase the full spectrum of Yenko’s vision—anchored by the very prototype that started it all.

Perhaps the most unusual Chevrolet in the group is Ernst’s 1969 Yenko Nova, a car that showcases Yenko’s willingness to experiment beyond the Camaro and Chevelle. Finished in Fathom Green with Supercar striping, it is powered by the 427/450 HP L72 engine and carries a colorful racing history under the nickname “My Piggy Bank.” Campaigned at Pennsylvania drag strips in-period, the Nova proved that Yenko’s vision of a lightweight, big-block terror was more than just a thought experiment. Later restored under Ernst’s care, the Nova today represents one of only a handful of surviving Yenko Novas and offers collectors both rarity and authentic motorsports provenance.

The Cliff Ernst estate collection also reflects Ernst’s appreciation for performance beyond the Yenko brand. Among the highlights is a 1969 Pontiac Trans Am, one of only 689 coupes built in the model’s inaugural year.

Finished in Cameo White with Tyrol Blue stripes and powered by a 400/335 HP Ram Air III engine, it captures the very beginning of Pontiac’s most celebrated performance line. That it also represents one of the last restorations personally overseen by Ernst adds a layer of significance.

No muscle car collection of this caliber would be complete without Shelbys, and Ernst’s estate delivers with two prime examples. The first is a 1968 Shelby GT500 KR, the famed “King of the Road,” finished in Raven Black and powered by the 428 Cobra Jet V-8. Its combination of Shelby styling, factory performance hardware, and limited production makes it one of the most desirable Mustangs of the era.

The second is a 1969 Shelby GT500 Convertible, pairing open-air driving with big-block power and Shelby exclusivity. Equipped with the 428 Police Interceptor V-8 and presented with the correct Shelby-specific details, it embodies the blend of style and substance that has made the GT500 convertible a blue-chip collectible for decades.

Taken together, these cars from the Cliff Ernst Collection offer a remarkable snapshot of late-1960s American performance at its peak. From Chevrolet’s COPO program to Pontiac’s debut Trans Am to Shelby’s big-block Mustangs, it reflects a golden era when horsepower wars raged on the street, the strip, and in the showroom.

What ties them all together is Ernst’s vision as a collector. Beginning in the late 1980s, he sought out the most significant examples he could find, long before the broader market recognized just how special these cars were. He prioritized documentation, authenticity, and preservation, building a collection that would stand the test of time.

Now, as the Cliff Ernst estate collection crosses the block at Mecum Kissimmee 2026, bidders have the rare chance not only to acquire extraordinary individual cars but also to carry forward the legacy of a collector who understood their importance better than most. At the heart of it all stands the Olympic Gold prototype Yenko Camaro, the car that launched a legend and remains singular in its history, specification, and provenance.

For those who have long dreamed of owning the ultimate Yenko, January in Kissimmee may be the moment when that dream can finally become reality.