Renowned for his highly successful big-block engine swaps, Don Yenko recognized the impending challenges posed by insurance companies tightening premiums on high-displacement muscle cars. In a stroke of ingenuity, he convinced Chevrolet to equip his specially designated Novas with the same high-output LT1 350-cubic-inch small-block engines used in the Z28 Camaros and Corvettes. Through this clever adjustment, the Yenko Deuce was born.

Built upon a lightweight, base-trim Nova with bench seats and rubber floor mats, each Yenko Deuce was assembled at the factory with the impressive LT1 engine, dual exhaust, power front disc brakes, heavy duty springs, front and rear sway bars, and an upgraded cooling system. Power met the road through a robust 12-bolt Positraction rear differential with a unique 4.10:1 gear ratio, while discerning customers had the choice of either the Muncie M21 four-speed manual transmission or Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission, both fitted with special race shifters. Upon arrival at Yenko’s Canonsburg, Pennsylvania dealership, his team of mechanics finalized the metamorphosis from COPO Novas to Yenko Deuce by outfitting them with SS wheels, a Dixco hood tachometer, and Yenko’s wild array of distinctive badges, decals, and stripes.

The story of this authentic Yenko Deuce begins in 1970 at Ammon R. Smith Chevrolet of York, Pennsylvania, some 225 miles from Yenko’s dealership. After receiving an allotment of three Yenko Deuces—two with manual transmissions and one automatic—Smith quickly sold the manual-equipped cars, but the automatic model languished for over a year on his showroom floor until it caught the attention of local muscle car fanatics Alan and Brenda Baldwin. Already owners of several brutish “bowties,” including a high-performance Nova purchased from Ammon R. Smith, the Baldwins were drawn to the Yenko Deuce's automatic transmission—a welcome respite from Alan’s daily routine of driving manuals. Priced at $5,000, in the same stratosphere as new Cadillacs, the Baldwins drove a hard bargain and ultimately acquired the one-year-old new car for $4,600.

The Cranberry Red Yenko Deuce, one of just 175 built for 1970, quickly won Brenda’s affection and became her daily driver for nearly two decades. In the late 1980s, after 17 years and over 123,000 miles together, she retired the Deuce to dry storage at her home, where it remained unmodified until 2012, when it was acquired by local muscle car enthusiast Skip Lecates. His multi-year quest to secure the Baldwin Deuce was featured as the cover story in the September 2012 edition of Muscle Car Review.

After emerging from its slumber in exceedingly solid, original condition, the Baldwin Deuce was reportedly treated to a complete, nut-and-bolt restoration by the noted stars of Overhaulin’ at MASCAR Auto Body in Costa Mesa, California. Upon the restoration’s completion, the Nova earned 994 out of 1,000 points to win Concours Gold honors at the 2015 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, a testament to both MASCAR’s painstaking methods and the Baldwins’ decades of care.

The Nova joined Ron and Sarah Jury’s esteemed collection in 2018 and was shown at several Antique Automobile Club of America events in 2019, where it won a National First Prize and became a Grand National winner. Today, it presents wonderfully in its correct color combination of Cranberry Red over Black vinyl, retaining details specific to Nova Yenkos, such as the hood-mounted tachometer, exterior graphics, and badges. Further, it is equipped with a correct 350-cubic-inch LT1 V-8 engine, Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission, and 12-bolt Positraction rear differential, currently fitted with 3.50:1 gears; the original 4.10:1 gears are included in the sale, along with a 2024 Certificate of Authenticity issued by marque expert Jerry MacNeish.

Any authentic Yenko product is a rare find, especially given the hard lives high-performance cars often endure. This well-known Yenko Deuce, cherished for over four decades by its original owner and masterfully restored to correct specifications, presents a truly unique opportunity for automotive enthusiasts of every stripe.