Chevrolet is apparently ready to launch a comeback of the iconic El Camino in 2017. If this is indeed true, and it appears to be, there are two versions, the “stock” version pictured here, and the SS version, which is a variation of the SS Camaro. The engines available are reported to be a 3.2 liter V6 300 HP or a 6.0 liter, V8 360 BHP. Pricing will start at $20,000.
The El Camino is a legendary, one of a kind vehicle. Introduced by Chevrolet in 1959, the car/trucks were built in 1959 and 1960, then re-introduced in ’64 and ran through 1987. The ’59 and ’60 models are highly sought after today, as are the ’68 through ’72 models, which are true muscle cars in their own right. Notice I referred to the El Camino earlier as a “car/truck”. Allow me to illustrate the popularity and reputation of these vehicles. Recently, Jackie picked up our 7 year old nephew at school and was giving him a ride home. At the four-way stop by his school, the vehicle across from her rolled through a California Stop and cut her off from making a left hand turn. “Oh, you stupid car, I mean truck!” she exclaimed. Jason looked at her very calmly and said, “Aunt Jackie… it’s an El Camino.” A seven year old kid, and he knows what an El Camino is. Cool stuff.
And the El Camino was and is, beyond any shadow of a doubt, cool. I owned one once, a black 1974 Classic model. It belonged to my father, and I inherited it when he passed away. I loved it and drove it for six years, eventually selling it to buy a Porsche. And, though both technically and realistically a pickup truck, the El Camino was never intended for hauling anything other than light duty. I learned this the hard way. When I was 19 years old, a friend of my father’s gave him a load of firewood, and I was sent to pick it up. The fourth generation models came from the factory with air shocks. This was to raise the rear end to compensate for a load. The caveat was, however, you were to raise the rear end before loading the bed. I didn’t realize this, and after loading a cord of wood in the back, I stopped at the gas station to pump up the air shocks and head home. Needless to say, the rear end didn’t budge. Driving down I-285 and beyond, the front tires were barely on the ground. The front end kept drifting, and my stomach was knotted up like a persimmon the whole way home.
A friend’s dad owned one in the mid-70s that was, quite simply and honestly, badass. It was a ’72 red SS 454 with black panel stripes, Cragar mags and Thrush side pipes. ‘Nuff said. He drove it for about five years and sold it to another friend of ours, who owned it for about three months before falling asleep at the wheel on the way home from working the night shift. He ran up an embankment and totaled the car. When told about it, Mr. Holmes said, “I don’t even want to hear about it.”
A buddy owned a gorgeous yellow ’72 SS Chevelle, and belonged to a Chevelle club. I tried to join, but was rejected. I was told that the only El Caminos they accepted were either the 60’s or up to the ’72 models. Some people simply do not belong…
However, I did have the pleasure of driving it with my daughter’s softball team in the back during the Opening Day parade for a couple of years. Full circle from my childhood days in the back of my father’s Chevy Apache on Opening Day… Still Cruisin’! –J.
Great addition to “stillcruisincarart”!!
Thanks, Jimmy!!