1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS Tribute

Description

When I was a kid, I called Chevy's cool El Camino the "truck-car," because even my 4-year-old eyes knew it was way cool. This El Camino is actually a 1972 model with a 1970 front clip for that iconic double headlight look and it's like a Chevelle with a bed which is great news for muscle car fans because it puts you behind the wheel of one of GM's great machines with a trunk that'll carry anything you can buy at Home Depot.

With so many of these being work trucks when they were new, finding a clean, straight, unabused example like this is no easy task. It wears shiny Green Metallic paint that looks great, especially when combined with shiny chrome bumpers and accent trim. As previously mentioned this one wears a 1970 front clip, combining the most desirable year with an affordable price tag, but most folks will never know the difference. The work was finished not too long ago, and you definitely won't need to make excuses at the next cruise night where everyone will be digging the fantastic look. Those massive rear quarters are not so easy to get lined up and flat, so you know someone really cared about this Elky while it was being resurrected. The SS badge on the tailgate is the only indication that a monster may live under the hood, but by the time someone sees it, it's too late and the horsepower has already left them behind. Note that the bed has nicely been finished with matching green paint, so nice in fact that you'll think twice before you throw any dirty gear back there. First Elky tip is on the house: buy a rubber mat for the bed.

A flashy and custom leather interior makes this El Camino as sporty as its Chevelle sibling and every bit as fun to drive. The seats are a unique bench-bucket hybrid, wrapped in two-tone saddle and tan interior that is continued into the door panels, dash, and headliner. Nicely detailed, the leather-wrapped dash is presented with original gauges surrounded by a wood applique and flanked to the right by auxiliary gauges installed in the factory idiot-light locations, and to the left by an aftermarket tachometer integrated into the A-pillar. This Elky comes complete with a woodgrain Grant GT steering wheel that rests atop a tilt column, an AM/FM stereo in the dash, and upgraded R134a A/C refrigerant that flows through the vents and freezes-out the cab. When you want fresh air instead, the old GM-standard vent windows do a fine job of funneling air into the passenger compartment (something sorely missed on today's cars) and more modern options like power windows and locks work great. In addition, the headliner, carpet, dash pad, and window weather stripping are all in great shape, so it feels like a new car inside with a notable lack of major squeaks and rattles. Nice design and even better execution in the cab of this Elky make the driving experience an absolute treat.

The engine is a built-up, numbers matching 355 cubic inch small block V8, a strong runner that provides more than enough "oomph" for this "truck-car" to adequately scare the neighbors. Fitted with a few hot-rod parts like roller rockers, forged rods, a QuickFuel 4-barrel carburetor, a ProComp intake, and a set of long-tube headers. Dress-up is limited to a low-profile triangular air cleaner and finned valve covers, but it runs well and pulls the relatively lightweight Elky around with a real authority. The chassis is solid, the floors are clean, and the Flowmaster dual exhaust system has turn-downs that exit on both sides of the car before the rear wheels and sounds great. It's cool to see the Chevelle's coil springs under a pickup truck, but they endow the El Camino with wonderful road manners and a pleasant ride, and all the upgrades available for Chevelles are virtual bolt-ons. A 700R4 automatic transmission spins the 12-bolt rear-end, 4-wheel disc brakes bring the Elky to an abrupt stop, and power steering means you can sit back and leisurely cruise whenever you want. Finally, a set of American Racing "Old-Style" wheels wear a set of staggered 245/50/16 performance radials.

Old or young, El Caminos are just plain cool. Performance, style, comfort and plenty of practicality make them as popular today as when they were new. Call today!