Few names in the Chevy hobby elicit as much respect as the late Don Yenko. This Chevy dealer/racecar driver/car builder was to the Bow Tie brand what Carroll Shelby was to Ford. Now for the first time in one book is the complete story of the man, his automobiles and passion for life. Written by longtime automotive journalist Bob McClurg, it's called, "Yenko: The Man, The Machines, The Legend," and it's available now from Cartech Auto Books and Manuals (www.cartechbooks.com; $39.95).

Anything with a Yenko badge from the '60s is worth a ton of money today, but McClurg, who was shooting for Super Stock & Drag Illustrated magazine back in the day, tells the story from a more human angle. He interviews family members, friends, former employees and others in order to give you a history that's more than just torque specs, road test times and hyperbole.

What I found most fascinating was the insider information about the cars and how the entire Yenko program got started. "Yenko" also puts in black and white how the whole Supercar program started going downhill after the infamous 1969 model year. There were no 454-powered ’70 Camaro Yenkos to be had and the factory was offering the LS6 Chevelle; that really limited Yenko's options. The lone bright spot was the LT-1-powered Yenko Deuce program.

We say buy this book now. It's a bargain at $40.