When you think of the heavy hitters from the classic muscle car era, few stand out more than 427 Camaros, Boss Mustangs and Hemis. Ryan Snyder has amassed a remarkable collection of the best of these cars, including 22 first-generation Camaros (11 of them Yenkos!).
Ryan Snyder’s collection consists of almost 50 cars (as of this writing). It was 45, but he recently added a 632-inch COPO race car and two more fourth-gens, and who knows what else. He does own one ’69 Yenko each of the six colors offered, though he has two Daytona Yellow 427 SC. (Photo by Jim Campisano)
But he’s not totally locked in on just pre-1972 iron. He’s got an amazing assemblage of fourth- , fifth- and sixth-gen Camaros that will stop you in your tracks. He has a spectacular Brittany Blue 2021 Shelby GT500, a 2025 Mustang GTD, and a “Last Call” 2023 Challenger Black Ghost.
This is only one building’s worth of cars. It is all Bowtie branded equipment here. The other goodies are in Ryan Snyder’s other warehouse. (Photos by Jim Campisano)
Ryan Snyder, who owns this incredible collection, found his love for automobiles — Camaros especially — thanks to his first car, a V6-powered fourth-gen. It’s been all uphill since then.
Each year first-gen Yenko is represented. The Royal Plum ’67 is the only one known to have been built in this color; only 10 ’67 Yenko Camaros are known to exist. The Grotto Blue ’68 had its roof replaced way back when when it caught fire when a previous owner was restoring it. The Olympic Gold ’69 is the Yenko prototype and is truly one-of-one, which unusual differences that didn’t make production, such as the 427 badges on the front fenders instead of the hood, placement of the Yenko badges on the front fenders, and the tail badging, among other things. This car was tested when new by Super Stock & Drag Illustrated magazine. (Photos by Jim Campisano)
You may say he’s slightly obsessed with first-gens. He has (at last count):
11 Yenko Camaros
3 Berger 427 Camaros
3 COPO Camaros
3 Z/28s
2 JL8 Z/28s
This ’69 Fathom Green COPO is ZL-1 number 65. When we photographed it, there was an iron block 427 under the hood. To the right is the car’s original all-aluminum 427; the car has since been sent out to reunite the engine and transmission. To bring a touch of modernity to the story, here is 2019 COPO number 65. These cars were certified to run 8s in the quarter-mile when new. (Photos by Jim Campisano)
He owns ’69 ZL1 Camaro number 65, which is being reunited with its original engine as we write this. But he also has a 2019 COPO Camaro that Chevrolet numbered #65. (It’s great to have a matching set!)
He owns one ’67 and one ’68 Yenko 427 Camaro, a spectacular Royal Plum first year version and an equally stunning Grotto Blue with blue interior second year example.
The Fathom Green COPO is rather unusual; it is triple green, has the green Endura front bumper, and is an RS car. to boot. The author’s personal favorite might be this spectacular Berger COPO in LeMans Blue with the white hockey stick stripe and interior. Another Endura bumper car. (Photos by Jim Campisano)
If you like Fathom Green ‘69 Camaros, he has a host of those, too, including a ZL-1, a Z/28, a Berger 427 RS and, naturally, a Yenko.
Ryan’s personal favorite is this “Carolina Blue” ’69 Z/28. It is one of two painted in this color and this was not a Chevy color. This was actually was a GMC fleet color. The other Z/28 is owned by Dana Mecum. This particular Z/28 was the first to garner a perfect score at the Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals. (Photos by Jim Campisano)
Ryan has one second-gen, but it is a reference restoration Z/28 in double green. His third gen is a 23-mile IROC. Fourth-gens are of particular interest, too, and their numbers keep multiplying. There are GMMG examples, a Dale Ernhart “Intimidator” edition, and one powered by a C5R race engine. Later-model fans will enjoy his Yenko and Nickey Performance editions, as well as the fifth-gen Z/28 and sixth-gen ZL1/1LE.
Ryan bought this IROC 1LE recently with just 20 miles on it. He has since increased that total by 15 percent. He said the reaction to the car at its last show was unreal. Speaking of unreal, this ’70 Z/28 got a perfect judging score at the Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals. The modern red Yenko was built by Special Vehicle Engineering. Ryan’s sixth-get Nickey Performance built ZL1/1LE is probably the fastest car in the collection. The blown LT4 now makes 1,031 rear-wheel horsepower on pump gas! (Photos by Jim Campisano)
If you like unusual Mustangs, Ryan has a ‘69 Shelby GT500, the original owner of which was none other than Carroll Shelby. Nicknamed “Ol’ Shel” by the legendary Texan, Shelby owned this GT500 for 39 years and rebuilt the engine himself, as well as adding personal touches (like the 1968 wheels). There’s also a Gen 3 Ford GT, the only car in Ryan’s collection that does not have a V8.
The Calypso Corral ’70 Boss 429 was originally sold new in British Columbia, Canada, which makes it a bit of an anomaly. It shares floor space with a gorgeous Grabber Blue Boss 302 and Carroll Shelby’s personal ’69 GT500. Shelby owned it for 39 years and it has some very odd touches he added, such as an electric fuel pump, the switch for which came out of an original Shelby Daytona Coupe. Originally triple white, Shelby changed the color to Candyapple Red; he rebuild the 428 CJ himself, adding Cobra LeMans valve covers and a non-stock air cleaner. He also painted the engine block red, perhaps as a middle finger to Ford after they ended his deal. Shelby owned this car for 39 years. (Photos by Jim Campisano)
In the Mopar department, there is the Last Call Black Ghost edition and he is waiting on the restoration of the original Black Ghost, that internet sensation that caused all kinds of heated wars of words online. He understands it was not the quickest street racer out of Detroit, but it is a triple-black Hemi four-speed ’70 Challenger with a gator grain top, so it is a rare, interesting car with an unusual back story.
This is the Dick Arons/Gordy Foust Berger-sponsored ’69 Camaro that cleaned house at the 1969 NHRA Springnationals in SS/E. It campaigned as a 427 car and retains that engine, but it was originally an L78 396 car that was converted. The fourth-gens are well represented and include a Dale Ernhardt Intimidator Edition, as well as several GMMP ZL1 and others. This fuel-injected split-window coupe is the only Corvette in Ryan’s collection. He happily reports it is the easiest car in his collection to start, firing first time, even if it has been sitting for a month. (Photos by Jim Campisano)
We’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.
