Cars, Chevrolet

Trailer untouched since the '90s was opened and inside was an ultra-rare muscle car

  • A 1969 Yenko Camaro was found in a trailer in Illinois, US
  • It’s a rare muscle car that was largely untouched
  • However, it needed a little TLC

Published on Apr 09, 2025 at 5:03 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

Last updated on Apr 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

A genuine rare muscle car in the form of a 1969 Yenko Camaro has been found in a trailer in Illinois, US, after being stored away and untouched for 30 years.

The car had a unique paint job and many original features.

Camaro experts were able to verify its authenticity.

However, it needed a little TLC to bring it back to its former glory.

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Rare muscle car found in Illinois trailer

Self-proclaimed ‘Automotive Archaeologist‘, Ryan Brutt, is best known for finding all kinds of automotive gems in all sorts of unexpected places.

While Brutt and his team initially had their doubts, Camaro experts Stefano Bimbi from Nickey Performance were luckily able to verify the car’s authenticity.

The car had been owned by the same family for 40 years and remained largely unchanged.

Old trailer from the '90s was opened in Illinois and inside was a rare muscle car
Auto Archaeology

“Everything is covered in dust and grime,” Brutt said.

“The gas tank’s out of it, the car hasn’t run in decades.”

However, despite the engine not running and the interior showing signs of wear and tear, the YouTuber was still excited about his rare find.

Verifying its authenticity

The Camaro had non-traditionally placed Yenko emblems, murals, SST wheels, a 140mph speedometer, and a high redline tachometer with an all-original interior.

Multiple hidden VINs on the car match, confirming authenticity with the car’s tags and rivets untampered, and original yellow paint is visible under more recently applied layers.

The rear axle is coded ‘BE’, used only on Yenko and COPO Camaros.

The 9561 iron block, in addition to the 9737 sports car conversion packages, confirmed the car as a ‘double COPO’.

Old trailer from the '90s was opened in Illinois and inside was a rare muscle car
Auto Archaeology

Despite being mostly original, the rare muscle car has a swapped short spoiler, a non-original RS front end, and a modified hood for the tunnel ram intake.

It was sold through Jack Douglas Chevrolet in Hinsdale, IL, a dealer who ordered Yenko-spec cars directly from GM using insider COPO codes, bypassing Don Yenko.

Douglas discovered the secret COPO numbers and ordered at least 24-25 cars himself, customizing them with features like Endura bumpers and unique color combinations.

This Illinois Camaro was spotted at various events over the years, including Car Craft Nationals and Street Machine Nationals in the ’80s and ’90s.

However, from 1993 or 1994, it was stored away in a trailer until it was recently rediscovered.

Documentation and visual clues, including its fuel line, dual exhaust mounts, and rear-end codes, confirmed its status as a real Jack Douglas COPO/Yenko vehicle.

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With a dual English and French degree and NCTJ diploma, Amelia began her career doing award-winning writing and editing for titles and brands spanning Women's Health, the Telegraph, Boots, and Vitality. Amelia joined the SB Media family in September of 2023, bringing her expertise in SEO and reader takeaway. As Lead Editor, her superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a shareable story.