Kissimmee, FL – Mecum Auction’s Kissimmee auction is heating up. The auctions are taking place January 6-18 in Kissimmee, Florida.

Here are a few of the standout vehicles going under the hammer.

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Studio Concept Split Window Coupe

THE STORY

Of all the legendary sports cars produced on either side of the Atlantic following World War II, the 1963-67 Corvette Sting Ray stands as an absolute landmark in the development of Chevrolet’s revolutionary fiberglass-bodied sports car. Design and development were lengthy, originating in 1957 with sketches that won an internal contest, penned by 21-year-old Peter Brock, GM’s youngest designer at the time.

Bill Mitchell, Harley Earl’s handpicked successor as head of GM’s famed styling studios, took things further by building a new racing car, using a repurposed frame from the canceled Corvette SS program. Designed and built with GM stylist Larry Shinoda, Mitchell’s “Stingray” racer took the C-Modified SCCA class championship in 1960 with Dick “The Flying Dentist” Thompson driving. Subsequently driven around Detroit by Mitchell, his electrifying Stingray racer was a major evolutionary step, followed by the XP-755 Mako Shark show car of 1961, which predicted the next-generation Corvette that entered production under Shinoda’s able guidance by mid-1962 for the 1963 model year.

The Cliff Ernst Collection

THE STORY

In the world of American muscle, certain names carry a weight far beyond horsepower ratings or quarter-mile times. Don Yenko is one of them, and so too is the late Cliff Ernst, a collector whose relentless pursuit of authenticity and passion for preservation helped keep Yenko’s legacy alive for a new generation.

At Mecum Kissimmee 2026, From the Cliff Ernst Collection will take center stage, offering bidders the chance to acquire some of the most significant cars ever to wear the Yenko name.

Chief among them is a machine of almost mythical status: the 1969 Yenko Camaro prototype, a gold-and-white supercar that stands as the very foundation of the 1969 Yenko program.

There is even a Yenko Nova up for grabs!

MoPar muscle represented with 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible

This is the very first of the five automatic 1971 Hemi Cuda convertibles produced by the Chrysler Corporation. The true pinnacle of American muscle car production, just 12 Hemi Cuda droptops of any sort came from the factory during that final year of production, each one unique in its own right. Indeed, these cars were the only factory Hemi-powered convertibles offered that year. This particular car, known as the “The White Elephant,” was constructed early in the ’71 model run, on September 9, 1970. It was likely not built with racing in mind, nor was it loaded for luxury.

Of course, the 426/425 HP Hemi engine is its calling card, hosting two Carter AFB 4-barrels under the Shaker hood scoop. Behind this went the A36 Performance Axle Package, which called for the 3.55 Sure Grip 8.75-inch differential behind the A727 TorqueFlite automatic transmission. Ordering any Hemi resulted in frame and suspension upgrades on the assembly line, and this car also came with power steering and brakes.

Mecum Kissimmee
January 6-19, 2026
Osceola Heritage Park
1875 Silver Spur Lane
Kissimmee, FL 34744
www.mecum.com/auctions/kissimmee-2026/

Check out all the action in the live feed – https://www.mecum.com/auctions/kissimmee-2026/live-feed/ 

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When Joe M sent us this shot of this gorgeous Nova we were floored. When we read that it was Yenko we were green with envy. Bitchin’ was the word that came to mind.

“Titles reveal the following Chevrolet sold to Yenko Chevrolet in 1970 title was signed by late Donna Mae Mims (Yenko racecar driver) to Scher Chevrolet in Brocton Mass (Yenko distributor).

“The Car was raced at New England Dragway in Epping NH. I acquired it in 1993 from a previous owner who had it for about 14yrs. I have all titles since it was born, and I am the 3rd or 4th owner depending on if you count the used car lots it was at. It has been featured in many National and local magazines, most notable in Collector Car, Hemmings, Super Chevy, Muscle Car review. It retains its original Motor LT1 350-360 H.P. and is painted in Fathom Blue with a Muncie 4-spd with 4:10 gears. It came with a  GM 3yr., 36000 miles warranty.”

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“This Deuce has been in my care since 1993 and has only had 3 owners. I have been in contact with the original owner whose name appeared on the first title well as the original Sales slip. Further all titles since birth accompany her of note the late Donna Mae Mims signed the title from Yenko Chevrolet to the now defunct Scher Chevrolet in Brocton Mass. Equipped with original LT1 and a Muncie M21 4-speed car was bought and brought to NH were she never left. She was drag raced in ’80 & ’81 at New England Dragway in Epping NH. Since 1993 she has been featured in many calendars including GM. Featured in Collector Car Magazine, Hemmings Muscle Machine any many others. I am lucky to be her caretaker.”

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KISSIMMEE, Fla. _ Mecum Auctions will return to Kissimmee, Fla., for the world’s largest annual collector car auction with more than 3,000 classic and collector cars set to cross the block Jan. 5-14.

The mega auction with its massive car-show-style layout will be complemented by thousands of road art offerings.

This year’s auction lineup includes an array of vehicles headlined by drag cars and top-shelf vintage American muscle. With nearly two months still left until the auction, the current roster is already loaded with an abundance of Porsches, Shelbys, Yenkos and Hemi-equipped MoPars. Hundreds of Corvettes, Chevelles, Camaros and Mustangs are also set to cross the auction block.

Bidder registration is available online in advance for $100, $200 after auction start, and includes admission for two to all 10 auction days. General admission tickets are available in advance online for $20 per person, per day, and for $30 at the door and online once the auction begins; children 12 and younger receive complimentary admission. Doors open daily at 8 a.m., with the vehicle auction beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 5 through Thursday, Jan. 11, at 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12-13, and at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14.

For information, visit www.mecum.comor call (262) 275-5050.

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by Denise L. Clumpner

Lynn Yenko is no stranger to speed and power. She is the next generation of a name every serious muscle car fan in the world associates with performance, and these days lofty prices on the auction block. Mention the name Yenko, and you get everyone’s attention.

Lynn is the daughter of Yenko Super Car creator Don Yenko.

During the early 1960s, Don raced Corvairs at the annual 12-hour Marlboro event and he knew that the Corvair was going to be redesigned in 1965. Yenko had made valuable contacts with GM administrators early on, participating in the GM dealer’s son program (which encouraged input and ideas from dealers’ sons) and he felt that the only way to remain loyal to Chevrolet was to build his own car. Chevrolet agreed to help, and the result was a high performance version of the 1966 Corvair named “Stinger,” which Don raced and sold.

Special features were offered through a little known program through GM called COPO (Central Office Production Order) normally used to satisfy special orders from non-performance fleet-buyers. Yenko used COPO to offer exclusive options, and Don’s then 11-year-old daughter Lynn remembers stuffing envelopes with promotional flyers that introduced the new Yenko Stinger to all Yenko authorized dealerships and also muscle car enthusiasts.

Excited performance fans snapped up the cars, painted in Encino white and sporting blue stripes. The Stinger was available through negotiations with Don’s dealership in Canonsburg, PA to a network of dealers including the famous Nicky Chevrolet in Chicago.

About the same time the Stinger was launched, so was a book which criticized the Corvair called “Unsafe At Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile” by Ralph Nader, a political activist, author and attorney. The book accused automobile manufacturers of offering comfort options over safety, and one entire chapter of the book was dedicated to bashing the Chevrolet Corvair.

Ralph Nader became a household name, but the Corvair was eventually discontinued.

During this time, Don Yenko realized he would need to redirect his talents, and focused his energies on the Camaro. 1967-68 Camaros were offered with 410 and 450 h.p. 427 c.i. big blocks installed at Yenko’s dealership. 1969 would bring about the COPO Camaros, with the 427 engines installed at the factory to save money. Lynn remembers being “promoted” to gassing up muscle cars, striping cars and applying the now-famous Yenko decals on the Camaros.

Lynn has many great memories of working at her father’s dealership, traveling with him to races, acting as his timing crew, and attending other GM and dealership events. Don raced in the U.S. and internationally, and one story Lynn shared was about being in Le Mans, France, with her father for a race.

After spending hours on a Corvette trying to make it race-ready, the track was not open and they were forced to test the car (which wasn’t street legal) in the traffic. Lynn was on the passenger side, unrestrained, and they were stuck in a long line of traffic. Don was worried that the car was overheating, and took a quick left. They were struck by a car, and the front of the fiberglass Corvette was destroyed. Don rushed over to help the family in the other car, noting they had a baby with them and not realizing Lynn had been injured. Lynn remembers being loaded into a French ambulance (she had a head injury resulting in stitches) while her father was detained for a time by French police until they could retain an interpreter. Once it was determined he was a race car driver, no charges were pressed and he was released to participate in the race. The car was fixed in time, but due to politics, he was not allowed to run.

Some of Don’s famous co-racers included comedian Dick Smothers and actor Paul Newman. Don also had special publicity visits from astronaut Alan Shepard and actor James Garner; Garner took a victory lap with Don after a race in Oklahoma, after which Garner had dinner with Yenko and his racing crew.

An unknown fact to many is that Don was also a professional jazz pianist. Lynn says he enjoyed entertaining in the hotel lounge before and after races, and in the early days of racing for Gulf Oil, a piano was flown into the paddock for Don to play in between races. He said it helped him to relax.

Sadly, Don Yenko perished while piloting his own airplane on March 5, 1987, at Charleston, W.Va., airport. The man who brought performance fans the Yenko Super Cars was gone.

Lynn Yenko has vowed to continue the Yenko legacy, and was instrumental in planning a special Yenko Reunion of all Yenko muscle cars at the Mecum Corvette Nationals at Rosemont, Ill.. It was there that the decision was made to design a commemorative Yenko to honor Don’s contributions to racing and muscle car conversions. With the help of Nicky Chicago, a Yenko prototype was built to honor the 45th anniversary of the Camaro and the 25th anniversary of Don Yenko’s passing.

The car was built from a 2012 stock Camaro SS 45th anniversary edition platform, and boasts an LS3 6L V-8 engine, custom dyno tuned to 427 h.p. at the crank and features Yenko billet valve covers and lines, Roto Fab cold air intake/ported intake manifold, custom chambered exhaust, 160-degree thermostat, high performance spark plugs, with super-conductor spark plug wires, and a six-speed manual transmission with a 3.45 ratio rear axle rated to achieve 0-60 mph acceleration in 4.6 seconds.

Other performance features include Peddlers lowering coils to help maneuver tight curves on the road or track, and sublet aligned wheels and tires. Visual pleasures include custom painted Torque Thrust wheels with Yenko center caps, Yenko door sill plates, black custom Yenko stripes on hood, Yenko 25th anniversary badges on rear fenders, chrome-plated tail fin inserts, and custom leather interior with Yenko design headrests.

And now for the exciting part of the story… Lynn Yenko will be offering the 2012 45th Anniversary SS Yenko Super Camaro Prototype to be sold at Mecum Auto Auction in Indianapolis on May 17.

The proceeds of the sale will be used to launch the next generation of Yenko Camaros, and Lynn’s focus is to offer exciting high-performance and quality muscle. She has spent a great deal of time traveling with the car and her team, reaching out to Yenko fans and enthusiasts, and doing professional market research and surveys that show there is great demand for affordable muscle cars with proven road and track performance. Lynn promises to do just that, and deliver a car that would make her father proud.

Want to get excited about the new Yenko? Visit their website at: www.yenko-enterprizes.com for specs, videos of Lynn racing the Camaro at Road America and the Joliet Autobahn Racing Club, upcoming special interview with Lou Gramm of Foreigner, and other great Yenko events.

Plan to be at Mecum (www.mecumauction.com) in Indianapolis on May 17 to see this magnificent prototype and place your bid on the next generation of Yenko history!

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