1969 Chevrolet Yenko Nova With Matching L72 Engine Sells for Record Price

Bidding started at an impressive $300,000, which was already higher than any other unmodified Nova ever auctioned. The second bid increased the sticker to $450,000, exceeding the previous 1969 Yenko Nova record, set at $418,000 in 2015. A half-million-dollar bid followed almost immediately.

Another minute of bidding saw the price increase to $750,000, and for a while it looked like the Nova will not sell. But a $775,000 bid prompted Mecum to lift the reserve, and the hammer fell, making the Yenko Nova the most expensive iteration of Chevrolet's classic compact. The remaining $77,500 difference to $852K is the buyer's 10% premium.

To my knowledge, this is the only 1969 Yenko Nova offered at public auction since 2015, so the record price is far from surprising. Of course, the fact that the vehicle is ultra-rare and in outstanding condition also played a role. 

Often described as the ultimate Chevy Nova, the Yenko Nova was created by Yenko Chevrolet, the same dealership that gave us the Yenko Camaro. The latter arrived in 1967 with a 427-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) L72 V8 engine under the hood. Why didn't Chevrolet offer an L72-equipped Camaro from the factory? Well, GM forbade any of its divisions from fitting engines larger than 400 cubic inches (6.6 liters) in mid-size and smaller cars at the time.

In 1969, Don Yenko persuaded Chevrolet to install the 427 V8 in the Camaro using the Central Office Production Order system. That is how the iconic COPO Camaro was born.

That same year, Yenko commissioned 99 Chevelles equipped with the same 450-horsepower engine. But Don also opted to produce a short-run version of the Nova with the same mill. Only 38 compacts rolled out from Yenko's shop, including this Fathom Green coupe.

It's unclear how many Yenko Novas are still around, but we are looking at one of "very few known to exist." Amazingly enough, this Yenko Nova also survived a few years of intense drag racing; it was campaigned as "My Piggy Bank" across Pennsylvania. 

Restored to original specifications, the Nova relies on a numbers-matching V8 engine and M21 four-speed manual transmission. It also has the correct heavy-duty suspension, "Yenko/SC" stripes, and looks downright spectacular inside and out.

Kissimmee 2026 also saw a trio of L78-equipped Novas go under the hammer. A 1969 version delivered in Canada failed to sell with a $75,000 high bid, while a 1970 coupe in rare Sunfire Yellow sold for $71,500. A blue 1969 Nova SS changed hands for $68,200.

You can see the Fathom Green Yenko going under the hammer in the video below. The Chevy hits the stage at the 3:50:23-minute mark.