The most expensive Chevrolet Camaro ever sold just crossed the auction block at Mecum Kissimmee. The 1969 Yenko Camaro from the Cliff Ernst collection fittingly wears an Olympic Gold paint job, like the trophy piece it is. As rare and desirable as Yenko Camaros are, this isn’t any of the 201 built that year. It’s the very first of its kind. Anyone following this car knew it’d bring in a mint when the gavel fell, but setting a new world record still managed to blow every gearhead’s mind.
The Yenko That Stole Mecum
The legendary 1969 Yenko Camaro prototype headed to Mecum Kissimmee to be auctioned off from the Cliff Ernst collection. Ernst acquired the car in 1987 from its original owner and restored it back to its original condition. As someone who got to see it in person at the latest Mecum event, it’s drop-dead gorgeous in every regard, looking as good as a 57-year-old car possibly could without being overdone and sterile—it’s perfect.
The auctioning of this car took place on January 17th. Being the first of its kind, it naturally brought in some serious collectors, and everyone knew it’d sell for big money. Still, a sale price of $1.8 million is hard to believe. Not only was this a record for Mecum auctions, but the whole world. That officially makes this the most expensive Camaro ever sold.
The Birth Of The Yenko Camaro Legend
Only 201 Yenko Camaros left the Yenko dealership in 1969. Despite being so rare, these are legendary muscle cars known all around the world for being ridiculously fast for their time. These cars are what’s called dealer specials, which were specially configured and ordered by Don Yenko using Chevrolet’s Central Office Production Order, or COPO, program.
What makes this one especially important is that it was the first one ever built. It was the prototype used as a proof of concept to show the world how good a Yenko Camaro was. With a conservatively-rated 427 V8 producing 425 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, drag racer Ed Hedrick drove this Camaro through the quarter-mile in 11.9 seconds. For perspective, the fastest factory-equipped muscle car of the 1960s was the 1969-1/2 A12 Road Runner, which cleared the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds with a 390-horsepower 440 Six-Barrel under the hood.
More than being the prototype, this car left the Yenko dealership with a very rare package. It’s one of 10 cars to wear the Olympic Gold paint job. Of those ten, it’s one of two to feature white graphics. It’s also the only one to have left the dealer with the iconic Atlast wheels.
Just One Of Six
The Yenko prototype spent the last 39 years in the Cliff Ernst Collection. On top of being restored, its prior owner took meticulous care of it alongside other Yenko legends. Ernst, who was a diehard fan of these legendary muscle cars, collected a total of six of them—one in every color. They were proudly displayed at Mecum Kissimmee alongside one of the rarest muscle cars ever built, a real Yenko Nova with the same vicious 427 under the hood.
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As sad as it is to see these cars being sold off and separated, it’s what Ernst wanted. Before he passed, Ernst told his family that when the time came to sell off his collection, he wanted Mecum to handle it. These Yenkos are just a handful of his cars that have officially been sold to new owners.
Speaking of which, the prototype Camaro is headed to a private collection with an owner who will show it the love it deserves. Ryan Snyder, a die-hard Camaro fan and car collector placed the winning bid, taking home a piece of automotive history that can only appreciate in value. The car joins an expansive fleet alongside seven other Yenkos, making for 41 Camaros in total. While he plans to hold onto the Yenko prototype for as long as possible, surely, this isn’t the last time this beauty will make headlines.
