BUILT TO DESTROY SHELBY 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger

BUILT TO DESTROY SHELBY 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger

Watch this article the car designed to destroy the Shelby GT 350 the Chevrolet Corvair Yenko stinger.

When you mention rear engine air cooled and Flat 6 in the same breath most car enthusiasts instinctively think of the Porsche 911.

However today we’re shifting gears to discuss a different model the Chevrolet Corvair.

Initially designed by Chevrolet as a compact car to rival the immensely popular Volkswagen Beetle the Corvair wasn’t conceived as a sports car.

Yet as the American Automotive landscape shows if something doesn’t exist we make it happen.

This is precisely what happened with the Corvair which underwent a remarkable Evolution thanks in large part to the Visionary Don Yenko.

Yenko was well known for his penchant for squeezing L88 Corvette engines into customer Camaros in the late 1960s.

The Corvair once labeled unsafe at any speed was transformed into a formidable Contender on the racetrack boasting nearly double the factory horsepower and a slew of modifications.

This iteration became known as the Yenko stinger.

In this article we’ll explore the history of the 1966 to 1969 Corvair Yenko Stinger often dubbed America’s Porsche 911.

The Visionary Don Yenko.

Don Yenko is a name that resonates with any Chevrolet enthusiaSt.
He is celebrated for his groundbreaking work in the 1960s notably for modifying vehicles to enhance their performance.

Before Yenko became famous for creating high-powered muscle cars he had another project in mind to create a performance oriented version of the Corvair.

Many Automotive enthusiasts including icons like Jay Leno have likened Yenko to Carol Shelby given their shared backgrounds as racing drivers who turned their passion into thriving performance shops.

Yenko’s aim was to develop a vehicle capable of competing with the dominant Shelby gt350s in SCCA racing.

At the time the Chevy Camaro was still just an idea and would not be introduced until 1966.

Most of General motors’s other offerings were either too large or required extensive modifications to be competitive.

The second generation Corvair had just been launched and represented a significant improvement over its predecessor making it an intriguing platform for Yenko’s ambitions.

The second generation Corvair.

The second generation Corvair introduced in 1965 boasted a lightweight body weighing around 2,400 to 2500 lb and a four-wheel independent suspension features that set it apart from many of its contemporaries in the American Automotive scene.

This unique configuration combined with a rear engine layout and a rear weight bias gave the Corvair handling characteristics reminiscent of the Porsche 911.

Yenko recognized this potential and saw it as an opportunity to create a serious competitor in the racing Arena.

He opted to use the sportier Corvair Corsa model as the base for his performance modifications.

The stock Corsa was equipped with a 140 cubic in Flat 6 engine that produced 140 horsepower in its naturally aspirated form.

For those seeking even more power a turbocharged version offered 180 horsepower but Yenko chose to stick with the naturally aspirated variant for his project.

Transforming the Corvair.

The Yenko Stinger to compete in the SCCA production racing class Yenko had to produce at least 100 versions of his modified Corvair.

He acquired a 1965 Corvair Corsa and began the transformation process.

First on the agenda was removing the back seats to meet the sports car eligibility requirements.

Then his team set about improving the suspension.

The Corvair’s factory setup was solid but it required enhancements to handle the rigors of track use.

Yenko installed new springs and shocks on all four corners to minimize body roll and improve stability during cornering.

Braking performance was another crucial aspect of the conversion.

Yenko sourced a larger Cadillac master cylinder to enhance the Corvair’s braking capabilities addressing the limitations of the stock system.

Every Yenko Stinger also featured a Posi-traction rear end ensuring better traction and handling.

Under the hood the stock Flat 6 engine served as the foundation for various performance upgrades.

The Yenko Stinger was offered in several stages each representing a different level of performance enhancement.

Stage one this base model included suspension modifications and an upgraded version of the Flat 6 engine producing 160 horsepower a 20 horsepower increase over stock.

The MSRP for these cars was $3,450.

Stage two featuring additional engine upgrades such as a new cam new pistons and a higher compression ratio of 10:1.

Stage 2 Stingers generated approximately 190 horsepower.

They also came with a full new instrument package priced at $350.

Stage three these models were even more powerful boasting ported heads forged pistons and a bump in output to around 220 horsepower.

The MSRP for stage three cars was $4,350.

Stage 4 this was the race ready version stripped down for competition use and fitted with further engine enhancements to achieve about 240 horsepower.

The cost for these models was $5,000.

There were even rumors of a stage five variant featuring a larger engine and fuel injection purportedly delivering around 250 horsepower although information on this version remains limited.

Design and racing Legacy.

All Yenko Stingers were finished in a striking combination of white with blue stripes featuring a custom rear spoiler and adjustable rear vents to enhance engine cooling.

Throughout their racing careers Yenko Stingers had a respectable performance record.

According to the SCCA database they competed in 22 races securing first place in three and third place in two others.

However with the introduction of the Chevrolet Camaro in 1967 the need for the Corvair as a racing platform diminished.

Most development efforts and resources shifted toward enhancing the performance of V8 engines leading to a significant drop in Corvair sales.

By 1969 production of the Corvair ceased which also marked the end of the Yenko Stinger era.

In total just over 100 Yenko Stingers were produced with a few dozen customer cars receiving Stinger packages as well.

Reflecting on the Legacy.

Fast forward to the present day the Porsche 911 has solidified its status as one of the greatest sports cars of all time continuing to utilize its rear engine Flat 6 layout.

One can’t help but speculate what might have transpired if Chevrolet and Yenko had continued to develop the Corvair and its stinger variant.

Would the United States have had another longlasting sports car in addition to the Corvette?

It’s a tantalizing thought that remains unanswered.

The price of a Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger varies depending on the year and condition of the car.

Nowadays auction prices reflect this variability with a 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger recently selling for $62,500 at a Mecum auction sale in May 2022.

The Yenko Stinger Corvair stands as a testament to American Ingenuity and the Relentless pursuit of performance.

Though it was born from a compact car aimed at the economy market its Evolution into a respected racer underscores the spirit of innovation that defines the automotive world.