Vehicle Description
The great thing about the El Camino is that just about anything
that fits a Chevelle also bolts on here. This 1969 El Camino SS
isn't just a pretty pickup, but it also packs 350 cubic inches of
street authority and an attractive build that borrows the best
features from its passenger car sibling.
Subtlety was not the purpose of this build, obviously, but that
also means that they had to get the little stuff right. Beautiful
silver paint means a lot of eyes are going to be sweeping over this
truck/car's sheetmetal, so the work was executed to a very high
level. The bodywork is super straight and looks rather fresh, so
it's ready to hit the cruise nights where it's sure to be a hit,
and the green stripe only helps. Fit and finish are quite good,
with excellent door gaps and a bed that doesn't look like it's been
abused and beat up over the years. Of course, it's now protected by
a diamond-plate floor and bulkhead so it's tough as well as
attractive. Nice chrome and stainless trim was either restored or
replaced when the Elky went back together, and the overall look is
a car that someone invested a lot of time and money into making it
right.
Bucket seats and a console are rather rare in an El Camino, but
dipping into the Chevelle parts bin is easy. Recent reproduction
seat covers on the factory buckets look great and the matching door
panels have a dressed-up look with bright stainless trim. A full SS
instrument panel with round instruments and an in-dash tach make it
easy to forget the bed out back when you're driving, and the center
console houses a trick Hurst shifter for the built TH350 3-speed
automatic transmission underneath. There is no radio, so that means
you won't have to fix someone else's work and it's ready for the
entertainment system of your choice. Black carpets are a little
faded, but they match the rest of the car's demeanor and look
better in person than in our photos. You'll also note it's a
factory A/C car, and while it's not hooked up, it wouldn't be hard
to install a modern system to make this a fantastic cruiser.
The badges on the front fenders say '350' and that's what lives
inside, although in this case, it's a fresh Vortec crate motor with
a full roller valve train from a late-model. Up top there's an
Edelbrock 4-barrel carb, an aluminum intake, and a set of long-tube
headers feeding a custom Flowmaster exhaust system. It's dressed to
look fairly OEM with some flash, offering an open-element air
cleaner and chrome valve covers to match. A big radiator keeps it
cool without making you nervous, and a late-model serpentine belt
drive system for the accessories offers a neat slot just waiting
for an A/C compressor. Power steering and power front disc brakes
are welcome upgrades and there are boxed control arms out back, so
this pickup hooks up a lot better than you'd expect. Tallish gears
in the 12-bolt rear are great for cruising and the big block
doesn't need a lot of gear to deliver neck-snapping acceleration.
Original-style Rally wheels look right and wear staggered 235/60/15
front and 275/60/15 rear Firestone radials.
Finished just a few years ago, this slick El Camino offers power,
style, and practicality that no other car has ever been able to
match. Call today!
