What Makes Yenko Corvettes Hit So Hard? (Torque Tuesday Presented by Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus)
What Makes Yenko Corvettes Hit So Hard? (Torque Tuesday Presented by Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus)
What Makes Yenko Corvettes Hit So Hard? (Torque Tuesday Presented by Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus)
Specialty Vehicle Engineering and Yenko drew inspiration from the dragstrip to build uniquely blistering Corvettes.
It is almost 68 years to the day that Chevrolet first began production on the first Corvettes. That small fleet of 300 cars was the beginning of an automotive revolution. And that legendary sports car just keeps going. Corvette’s endurance is due largely to its ability to adapt and evolve without losing its unique identity. Innovative builders were able to push the cars beyond its production specs into new, faster territory. One of the first and still one of the best examples of this was the YenkoCorvettes. By pushing and refining, Yenko took Corvettes in a more interesting and performance-driven direction.
In the 1960s, Don Yenko took his expertise from the drag racing circuit and used it to build powerful muscle cars at Yenko Chevrolet, his Pennsylvania-based dealership. Today, Specialty Vehicle Engineering (SVE) continues the tradition building high-performance cars and trucks. And possibly of of their greatest builds is the 1,000 HP 2019 Yenko Corvette Grand Sport.
Created as a tribute to the ultra-rare 1969 Corvette ZL-1 factory-built Corvettes; SVE built only 25 of the limited-edition 2019 C7 Yenko Corvettes. We spotted this one for sale at Luxe Automotive, and it is a sterling example of the wildly powerful beauty.
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What makes the 2019 Yenko Corvette so incredible? Well, the power is enough to make even the most seasoned enthusiast weak-kneed. But it starts with how Yenko and SVE mastered the art of getting big gains and output in small, sporty rides. Over the years, SVE has expanded their scope to a wide range of GM vehicles. Their innovative engineers have aped-up Corvettes, Camaros, and even the Silverado. As a result, SVE brings a range of knowledge that can all benefit the Corvette.
But that power. The 2019 Yenko/SC Stage II Chevy Corvettes makes 1,000 horsepower and 875 ft-lb of torque.
Seriously, how? SVE employs a two-stage engine upgrade which includes building a 6.8-liter, supercharged V8. They bore the LT1 V8 from 6.2-liter to 6.8-liter with an aluminum block, race quality forged steel 4340 crankshaft, and H-beam rods, forged aluminum positions, CNC ported LT4 cylinder heads with ARP high-strung head and main studs.
It is here where we see how SVE and Yenko use their lessons learned from the track to both make and take this kind of power. Additionally, it received a dedicated belt drive system, larger throttle body, upgraded higher flow exhaust system, and higher capacity high and low-pressure fuel system.
And, because too much is never enough, they top that off with a 2.9L supercharger.
Inside and out the 2019 Yenko Corvette has a lot of really cool visual elements: sYc side stripe graphics with matching painted hood, roof, and deckled stripes. Yenko name is found on the front and rear badges, brake calipers, and fender vents. This specific one is #15 out of 25 built, noted on the door sill plates and key tags. While all makes it feel unique and special; it still is all Corvette.
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The Yenko Corvette uses modern innovation and tech to meet and even surpass today’s expectations. Ultimately, the 2019 C7 Yenko Corvette Grand Sport is sports car with muscle, grace, and tenacity. And a enough fire under the hood to go full scorched earth on any road.
We’ve come a long way from the down-and-dirty drag strips of the ’50s and ’60s. But maybe what makes the SVE 2019 Yenko Corvette so special is how is still runs on that rebellious spirit.
Photos: Luxe Automotive; SVE/Yenko
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