Vehicle Description
We've made the case for the practical and stylish El Camino here
before, and with this bright yellow 1972 Chevrolet El Camino SS
Tribute, it remains as true as ever. There's a strong-running 350
V8 crate motor under the hood, a bright paint job that accentuates
the car's classic styling, and honestly, if you can find a muscle
car (or truck for that matter) at this price point more versatile
than this one, you should probably buy it.
Dressed in classic glowing yellow paint with black stripes, this is
the archetypal Elky, and personally, the '72s are my favorite with
their single headlamps and single piece side-mounted parking
lights. Finished several years ago, the yellow finish is average
driver quality - meaning it looks great going down the road but
likely won't be bringing home too many blue ribbons in its current
state. That's perfectly fine for us, Elkys were built to be driven
and enjoyed, not shown and put away, and despite some of the
imperfections that can be seen up close on this car/truck, this is
still a very good-looking hauler. And with black LeMans stripes, a
black lower-body, black tailgate panel, and that cool black tonneau
bed cover, the yellow paint is perfectly contrasted and doesn't
dominate into full Big Bird mode. The bodywork is solid, and it
still has a shine that'll make you want to get your detailing kit
out on weekends to restore some former glory. The doors fit well,
and the tailgate is in good shape with none of the rust or dings
that typically show up on these cars no matter how well-maintained
they are. Bumpers, both front and rear, appear to be reproduction
items or even very nice originals, and all the stainless trim is
all in fairly good condition as well. The blacked-out SS-style
grille, a cowl induction hood and hood pins, and all the subsequent
SS badging suggest performance is on tap, and they're not lying.
The bed makes this a practical piece of muscle, and thanks to a
black spray-in bedliner (complete with yellow Bowtie badges), that
means you shouldn't be afraid to put it to work now and then. I
promise it won't mind!
This El Camino carries a gorgeous black interior, which uses a
split-back bench seat to permit three-abreast seating. Most of the
interior appears new, including the luxurious yellow-stitched vinyl
on the seats and dash, the matching black door panels, headliner,
and the plush black carpets on the floor, all of which are very
close to correct reproductions. A bench seat is probably a smart
choice in an Elky, just to maximize passenger capacity, and the
column shifter means nobody's uncomfortable. The standard gauge
cluster is little more than a speedometer and fuel gauge plus some
idiot lights, so it's been augmented with a duo of auxiliary units
below, but the powertrain is so reliable, a full array of fresh
gauges aren't really necessary. There aren't a ton of options, but
you do get an SS steering wheel atop a tilt column, cruise control,
seatbelts, factory A/C, and an older JVC AM/FM/Cassette inside the
center of the dash.
The engine is a 350 cubic inch V8 Goodwrench crate motor that runs
very well, with good power up and down the throttle and a great
rumble from the stainless-steel dual exhaust system below. Wearing
the stock black Goodwrench valve covers and a bright Edelbrock
4-barrel carburetor atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake, the engine
bay look very clean and tidy, and it's been further dressed with an
open-element air cleaner, gloss black inner fenders, and a shiny
radiator shield to add some sparkle. Long-tube headers hug the
block for good service access and help the engine breathe, while
power steering and power front disc brakes vastly improve this
Elky's road manners. A stout TH350 3-speed automatic transmission
handles the gears, doling out torque to the 10-bolt rear end, which
is full of fairly tall gears so the Elky is easy-going on the
highway. Dark gray 5-spoke Ralley wheels look awesome and wear
235/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A white-letter radials that finish off the
look perfectly.
Properly sorted cars are hard to find, and when they've led hard
lives like most El Caminos, it's even more difficult. This is the
rare exception. Drive it, have fun, and don't forget that it still
might enjoy working once in awhile, too. Call today!
