Vehicle Description
Wow, this 1965 Chevrolet El Camino definitely hits all the right
buttons! Bright colors, flashy wheels, big block motor, and a
comfortably updated interior, what more do you need? We could
probably stop right there and the phone would still start ringing
immediately, because this is obviously a super nice Elky with a
whole lot going for it.
Just looking down the bright, shiny flanks of this El Camino, you
can see that the money was spent wisely, because the sheetmetal is
straight and the great driver-quality paint looks just right on the
50-year-old truck/car. These can be challenging vehicles to restore
if they've been used hard and put away wet, but this one sure looks
like it lived the good life someplace warm. Artesian Turquoise is a
bit of a daring color to choose for a tough and brawling Elky such
as this this, but we must say it absolutely works - capturing the
long-gone era of brightly colored cars while maintaining exciting
vintage appeal in the present for this rather rare car-truck. Panel
fit and body gaps are about what you would have gotten when it was
new back in 1965, if not slightly better, and it's always nice to
see a Chevrolet muscle car that hasn't been dressed up in fake SS
badges or gaudy stripes. Although, you do get a cowl hood to make
way for the big block underneath, and out back, it's still ready to
help out around the homestead with a black spray-in bedliner floor
that looks clean and can stand up to abuse. Chrome and trim is very
nice and supremely bright throughout, with newer bumpers and clean
stainless trim, particularly around the pickup bed where it usually
takes a beating, but this one remains quite nice.
A bench seat in an El Camino is the standard equipment that you'll
find in most of these car-trucks, although this comfortable unit
has been restored using a seat cover that matches the exterior
paint to give the cabin a very upscale look. A new black dash pad
sits atop the painted dash, and the original bezel inside it
surrounds a comprehensive set of factory instruments, augmented
with a big aftermarket Sunpro tachometer that was strapped to the
steering column. A sporty Grant GT steering wheel seems like the
right choice in this car, and matches the B&M shifter in the
floor, and a trio of auxiliary gauges under the dash help keep an
eye on the big block under the hood. Fresh black carpets, matching
door panels, and even the headliner are in great condition, all
thoroughly attended to during the restoration, and modern Pioneer
AM/FM/CD/AUX plays music through the speakers behind the seats.
Looking at this very nice interior, that price tag looks even more
appealing, doesn't it?
The big block 454 V8 powering this Elky was borrowed from a
later-model GM truck, but it looks right at home inside the El
Camino's engine bay. With good horsepower and loads of torque, the
454 is a massive upgrade, but it's still quite docile for everyday
use as well. Regardless, it looks quite right wearing its Chevy
Orange paint, chrome valve covers, open element air cleaner, and
polished and detailed pieces found throughout. What we know for
certain is that it runs superbly and moves the relatively
lightweight El Camino with genuine authority thanks to a Holley
carburetor, Edelbrock aluminum intake, MSD distributor and
ignition, giant aluminum radiator, billet serpentine belt system,
and long-tube headers for a nice, fat torque curve. Those headers
feed a recent dual exhaust system with throaty Flowmaster mufflers
underneath, and the system flanks a TH400 3-speed automatic
transmission and a 10-bolt rear end that's up for the task of
handling all that big block power. The undercarriage is very solid
and tidy, reinforcing the idea that this car came from someplace
warm, and with power steering and power brakes it has great road
manners. 18-inch IROC chrome wheels with 235/50/18 BFGoodrich
radials complete the killer look.
This is an awful lot of big block Chevy muscle for a bargain price.
Like so many other cars, it's always better to buy someone else's
finished project than undertake it yourself, and this Elky is
proof. Call today!
