The object of this section
is to post items that are based on a "been there, done
that" philosophy. However, nothing can be perfect!!
Please keep this in mind as you read the following
sections.
Chevy Speed Shop
Envious of the success that Ford was having with its car/truck
Ranchero that debuted in 1957, Chevrolet struck back with its
new El Camino model in 1959.
Originally based on the Impala, the
half car, half truck El Camino survived for only two years, but
reappeared in 1964 based on the Chevelle.
This new El Camino
shared most of its underpinnings and powertrains (including high
performance engines) with the Chevelle. SS versions would debut
in 1968 and firmly establish the El Camino as a muscle car/truck.
1959 Chevrolet El Camino
Comments: The El Camino debuted in 1959 based on the Impala
platform to compete with Ford's Ranchero. The name meant "The
Road" in Spannish, and Chevrolet stressed its car like platform
and styling, which was combined with the functionality of a
truck bed.
The El Camino was based on the Impala, and shared the
Impala's wild styling, including its trademark "cat's eyes"
taillights and wings. The front end was all Impala, as was most
of the interior trim.
Production: 22,246
Engines:
Performance:
1960 Chevrolet El Camino
Comments: The El Camino underwent an extensive restyling in its
second year, which mirrored the changes to the Impala.
The wings
and taillights were toned down a bit (though still pretty wild)
and the body lines were a bit more angular.
Despite the relative
success of the El Camino, Chevrolet ceased production after
1960. It would reappear four years later on the new Chevelle
platform.
Production: 14,163
Engines:
Performance:
1964 Chevrolet El Camino
Comments: The 1964 El Camino was reborn and was now based on the
Chevelle platform.
This meant that the El Camino shared its
styling (including near flat front end) and most of its options
and powertrains with the Chevelle.
Unfortunately, true
performance was still unavailable as the Chevelle's top engine
options were not available on the El Camino.
Comments: The El Camino got a true boost of performance with the
addition of two powerful 327 engine options.
For a mere $140
extra, the buyer could trade the 250 bhp 327 for a 300 bhp
version. An extra $200 go you the 350 bhp version.
Comments: The 1966 El Camino saw the introduction of the mighty
396 engines, with either a 325 bhp or 350 bhp version available.
The 375 bhp version available in the Chevelle was, sadly,
unavailable in the El Camino. Standard equipment on all El
Camino's included specially calibrated high rate springs and
double acting shocks at each wheel.
The interior was all vinyl
and bucket seats, and special consoles were available. The
Synchro-Mesh three-speed transmission was standard, but a
four-speed wide or close ratio transmission or the two-speed
Powerglide automatic transmission could be ordered.
Comments: The 1967 El Camino received a few changes: a new
grille, a new front bumper, and the side trim was moved up the
side panels from the lower body molding.
The tailgate was now
trimmed with an attractive vinyl, wood-grained strip and new
taillights. A vinyl roof was now available as an option.
Interiors were all vinyl, and the Custom trim had more trim
detail and textured vinyl seats.
Air-adjustable shock absorbers
were introduced on the El Camino; they could be inflated or
deflated to provide proper support depending on the load. The
performance suspension was required for El Camino's equipped
with the 396 engine.
Comments: The 1968 El Camino received the same changes as the
Chevelle and was now based on the 116 inch wheelbase platform
used by the Chevelle sedan and wagon. The SS396 debuted as a new
model of the El Camino and, just like in the Chevelle, came only
with one of the 396 V8s.
The new El Camino featured a longer
hood, "vee" rear side windows, a recessed rear window (like the
Chevelle) and a rakish front end. The tailgate of the SS models
had a narrow band of black which framed the SS396 emblem.
The
front fenders also sported the new "396" emblem. Simulated
twin-domed hood scoops were included with louvered ports located
at the rear edge of the hood. The grille was accented in black
and featured the 396 emblem.
All SS also featured standard six
inch wheels with red line tires. The standard engine in the
SS396 remained the 325 bhp 396 engine. The 350bhp version was
still available and finally the 375bhp was available for the
first time.
Comments: After its big changes for 1968, the 1969 El Camino was
basically carried over. The big change was that the SS396 was no
longer its own model (after just one year), but was now
technically an option on the regular El Camino.
Exterior changes
included a new grille and front bumper and rear back-up lights
now located on the tailgate. The SS396 option included the 325
bhp 396 V8, bright engine accents, power front disc brakes,
three-speed floor shift transmission, dual exhausts, black
painted grille, special hood, specific wheel house moldings,
14x7 inch Sport wheels, and GTO-14 red strip tires.
Two body
colors, named Monaco Orange and Daytona Yellow were exclusive to
the SS models.
Comments: The 1970 El Camino received the same changes as the
Chevelle including a new more blunted Vee front end and a new
grille, which was black accented on the SS.
The El Camino was
still available in either Base or Custom trims, but now the SS
option was only available on the Custom trim. The Custom Pickup
had bright trim, which ran from the front to rear bumper about a
quarter of the way up the side.
The wheelwells also sported
bright trim. The popular cowl induction hood was also optional
on the SS. The SS option included special patern and custom
vinyl seat trim, sport mirrors, striping, and badges, 15x7 Rally
rims, fat RWL tires, SS emblems, black out grille, and a choice
of three of the four high performance 402 cid V8 engines.
Interestingly, although the 396 engines now displaced 402 cubic
inches, they were either called "396" or "Turbo-Jet."
But the
key for performance buyers was the introduction of the new
corporate 454 engines, the LS5 rated at 360 bhp and the mighty
450 bhp LS6. The 454 engines came only with the Turbo-Hydramatic
or a close-ratio four speed manual transmission.
Comments: The 1971 was not immune from the general collapse of
muscle car performance. In response to GM's edict that all
engines ran on unleaded fuel and to meet ever restrictive
emission standards, Chevrolet detuned all its engines which
resulted in large drops in engine output. The 402 engine that
was previously still known as a 396 was renamed the "Turbo Jet
400" and offered only 300bhp, down from 3500bhp.
The 375bhp version was no longer available. The LS6 454 was also killed,
but the LS5 454 returned with 365bhp, an increase of 5bhp from
1970. All El Caminos got the new single headlight design from
the Monte Carlo and could be optioned with hood stripes and the
cowl induction hood.
The SS package was again only available on
the Custom Pickup and included a special instrumentation panel
with a black steering wheel and column and an "SS" hub emblem.
It also included 15x7 inch sport wheels, F60x15 white-lettered
bias ply tires, a sports-type remote control outside body
colored rearview mirror, power disc brakes, and high output
battery.
Interestingly, only the LS5 carried external engine ID;
they carried "SS 454" badges. All others only said "SS." That
was a pretty revealing sign of the times. As part of GM's brand
dilution strategy, GMC offered an identical version of the El
Camino that they called the "Sprint" with an "SP" option which
mirrored the SS package.
Comments: 1972 saw further dilution of the El Camino SS. GM
decreed that all engines had to be reported with their net
engine ratings, which resulted in several sharp decreases even
though engine power was not necessarily changed. The 350 V8
dropped to 175bhp, the 402 to 240bhp, and the 454 to 270bhp.
The
El Camino was basically unchanged from the year before, with
just new turn signal/marker lamp units and the deletion of the
Chevy bowtie from the grille. The new grille was black, but the
horizontal chrome divider piece was deleted.
Comments: The El Camino shared the new body of the Chevelle
Malibu. The 116 inch wheelbase was retained, but overall length
increased.
A new grille and front end still featured the
single-unit headlamps, but the wrap-around parking/turn signal
lights were gone and the lights were now inserted into the front
and rear bumpers.
The boxy look of the tailgate was replaced by
a more stylish curved design, at the expense of some cargo space.
The SS package featured a balck-accented grille with the SS
badge.
'71's are fairly easy to "clone".
So, I would go into any deal with a high degree
of skepticism.
For information,
If you have the VIN and the cowl tag numbers,
please post them. We can probably get some more
info from that. The '68 was the only true year
you could identify a SS from the VIN. Although,
a '72 with a "W" in the VIN indicated a 454
motor and you could only get that motor with a
SS.
there were two SS packages. One was the SS-454,
and the other was simply the "SS" (available
with either the 402, 350-4, or 350-2 engine).
The unusual "Malibu 400" package was also
available on the non-SS Chevelle and El Camino.
It utilized the LS3 402 motor.
New for '71 was a "Heavy Chevy" package which
featured special decals and some SS equipment.
While the SS was based upon the Malibu, the
Heavy Chevy was based upon the base Chevelle
model, which had less trim.
The Heavy Chevy could be ordered with any V8
engine except a 454. Like the Malibu 400 cars,
many Heavy Chevys have been converted to SS
clones.
The VIN on a '71 Heavy Chevy starts with 13437,
while the VIN on a V8 Malibu or SS coupe starts
with 13637.
The compression ratio on all GM engines was
lowered to 8.5:1. 188 Corvettes were built with
the 425 horsepower LS6 motor in '71. There have
been rumors that a few LS6 Chevelles were built
in '71, but these have all been proven to be
false.
The LS5 454 motor in the '71 Chevelle and El
Camino was now rated 5 horsepower more than it
was a year earlier, even though the compression
ratio was lowered.
This was accomplished partly by redesigning the
heads.
The increase was also a result of the overly
conservative rating (in the Chevelle) of the
previous year's LS5.
If the SS-454 package was ordered, the fenders
(and tailgate on El Caminos) would sport
"SS/454" emblems. If the 402 or 350 engine was
ordered with the SS package, then there would
simply be "SS" emblems all the way around (but
no external engine size designation).
The El Camino SS generally did NOT have any "SS"
emblems on the door panels.
The SS hood was the same as in '70. The Cowl
Induction package was still available.
It was, however, not promoted as much as in '70.
As a result, far fewer Cowl Induction equipped
vehicles were produced in '71 than in '70.
There is some conflicting information, but it
appears that that the Cowl Induction package was
only available with the 454 in '71.
The '71 SS came with 15" five-spoke rally
wheels.
These wheels were painted silver, with trim
rings and center caps.
These wheels are similar to those found on
mid-70s Z28 Camaros.
The latter 70's Z28 wheels were very similar,
but the spokes were a bit flatter.
Another unusual vehicle was introduced in 1971.
It was the GMC version of the El Camino called
the GMC "Sprint".
There were about 5600 Sprints produced in '71.
Compared to the '71 El Camino production of over
40,000 the '71 Sprint is fairly rare in any form.
There was an "SP" package available for the
Sprint that had the same basic equipment as the
El Camino SS. Only 249 '71 SPs were built.
There was even an "SP-454" package available. In
fact, it was also possible to order the Sprint
with Cowl Induction, tachometer, bucket seats,
positraction, etc. It is estimated that about 25
were ordered with the 454 and about 16 with Cowl
Induction.
Location – The VIN number is
stamped on a plate on top of the instrument
panel and visible through the windshield on
the (Driver’s Side). It is composed of 13
letters and numbers.
A sample 1972 El Camino VIN would look like
this: 1D80J2R100001
1 – Chevrolet Division
D – This is the Model Series Number
C = Chevelle, El Camino
D = Malibu, Custom El Camino
80 – This is the Body Style
80 = El Camino (2dr Sedan Pickup)
J – Identifies the engine
D = L-6, 250cid
F = V-8, 307cid
H = V-8, 350cid, 2-bbl
J = V-8, 350cid, 4-bbl
U = V-8, 402cid
W= V-8, 454cid
2 – Model Year (1972)
R – This is the Assembly Plant code
B = Baltimore, MD
K = Kansas City, MO
L = Los Angeles/Van Nuys, CA
R = Arlington, TX
1 = Oshawa, Canada
100001 – Sequential Production Number"
Corvette ZR1
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