Regardless of whether you’re a GM fan or not, Yenko is a name you’ve most likely heard of if you’re even remotely into American muscle cars. For decades, it’s been tied to outrageous Camaros and big-block Chevys, with its roots running straight through to Don Yenko and the Central Office Production Order (COPO) system that gave us legends like the original ZL-1 back in the late 1960s.
While we’ve seen the Yenko-name appear on modern Camaros, that same factory-backed dealer-driven performance didn’t appear on GM’s radically different C8 Corvette, until it was now. First announced in 2024, this is the 1,000-horsepower Stage I twin-turbo Yenko C8 Corvette, a limited-run mid-engined exotic being built by Specialty Vehicle Engineering (SVE), a second-stage manufacturer and Tier One supplier to both GM and dealers, who have delivered over 65,000 vehicles.
That headline horsepower figure puts it right in line with the upcoming ZR1X, which Chevrolet itself is positioning as a hypercar, because it produces 1,250 horsepower from its hybrid-assisted twin-turbo setup. The Yenko C8, however, doesn’t rely on electrification. Instead, it extracts four-figure power from its custom-built LT2’s 6.2-liter V8, which employs a pair of Garrett 58 mm ceramic ball-bearing turbos, forged internals, CNC-ported heads, and a proprietary camshaft. The headline 1,000 horsepower is on pump gas. With a stage II tune and flex fuel, you’re looking at 1,200 horsepower. Compared to the stock Stingray’s 495 horsepower, the potent Z06’s 670, or the 1,064 horsepower ZR1, the Yenko pushes the Corvette into territory you usually only see with top-tier hybrid supercars these days.
A forged steel crankshaft, H-beam rods, and 2618 aluminum pistons anchor the bottom end, while ARP studs keep it all together. Upgraded high- and low-pressure fuel systems ensure those turbos never starve. Even the valve covers have been reengineered to integrate oil separators, and the 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has also been beefed up to handle the additional load, with power going exclusively to the rear wheels.
Inside, every car will feature Yenko sYc embroidery on the headrests, unique floormats, and bespoke badging. While the car seen here is a vibrant blue with custom white stripes and wheels, you can also choose from 14 factory paint colors, nine graphic packages, optional carbon fiber elements, and even calipers painted to match the stripes. All graphics feature OE-quality UV-resistant vinyl to ensure they hold up over time.
So, does a 1,000-horsepower Corvette make sense in practice? The Stingray is already sub-three seconds to 60 mph, and the Z06 delivers track-ready performance without turbos. However, when you factor in the rarity, just 60 will be built (50 coupes and 10 convertibles), the COPO connection, and the Yenko name backed by GM dealer support/warranty, this limited-run special makes a compelling case as a future collectible.
Images: Specialty Vehicle Engineering
