6/15/2023 0 Comments Blown 1968 el camino for sale![]() With the 1983-88 Monte Carlo SS, a winning body style in NASCAR racing, the El Camino benefited from a racing halo effect to go along with its utility as a small pickup. Its signature feature was its aerodynamic, body colored polyurethane front end, similar to the front end of the 1983 Monte Carlo SS. This iteration of the El Camino SS was a semi-factory custom built for GM by Choo Choo Customs in Chattanooga, Tennessee (hence the “Choo Choo” name). The El Camino SS name returned in 1983 after having disappeared with the introduction of the downsized 1978 Malibu and El Camino. Somehow, I have never met this neighbor, and it is unfortunate, because his choice of vehicles–the El Camino SS and a W126 Mercedes 500SEL–indicates that we have similar tastes in cars and possibly other things. With the El Camino SS logo on its tailgate, gleaming black paint with pinstripes, and wide rubber on American Racing wheels, it is clearly different from the average working El Camino. The 1983-87 El Camino SS is a model whose existence I notice every day, because one of my neighbors has owned this example for many years. It probably can take credit for a considerable number of the survivors of the 1978-87 generation. The SS396 and SS454 of 1968-72 are the most famous and have inspired the most survivors and clones, but the little-known El Camino SS of 1983-87 has its own following and movement of imitators. The El Camino SS has been the inspiration for the survival of many of these El Caminos. In areas of the country with snow and salt, the story is different, however, and El Caminos survive in some numbers but often with more than utility as the motivation for the effort of keeping them alive. Southern California being the land that rust forgot, almost any car can be kept on the road indefinitely as long as its owner finds it useful and is willing to keep it functioning mechanically, so large numbers of the highly useful and cheap to repair El Camino have survived as work vehicles. Due to continuing failing health, I am placing my Cordovan Maroon Metallic '68 SS for sale.A feature last year on The El Caminos of Los Angeles depicted the fleet of Chevrolet El Caminos of every generation from 1964 to 1987 on the streets of L.A. This car is close to immaculate, and has won repeated Best of Show at national shows both in judged and peer voting, not to mention the dozens of Show and Class winner trophies that the car amassed back in the years I was able to drive and show her. The car is mostly original, with matching numbers of all mechanical and drive line parts. The engine has been internally balanced and has roller rockers for mechanical long life. Although it was not measured by dynamometer, the building mechanic estimated that the engine was now capable of approximately 420 HP at the crank. And that power is very evident while driving. ![]() The transmission is also very strong, as the original restorer was a transmission specialist. And the system, converted properly to 134 Freon, still works blowing cold air! This A/C makes the car pretty rare, because how many factory A/C cars are left on the road after 53 years, and the fact that it still works well is just more gravy!? The car is one of only 519 SS El Caminos that came with factory air conditioning for 1968. The El Camino underwent a complete rotisserie restoration in 2007 & 2008, and it's first 40 years of life in the high desert climate of Oregon left the metal without any sign of rust or decay. I had the car stripped down to the bare metal in 2010, and there were zero signs of any rust anywhere on the interior structure or the exterior body. The interior, including the smuggler's compartment, has been liberally coated with POR-15, which some say is the foremost rust inhibitor on todays market. After the POR-15, the entire interior, again including the smuggler's compartment, was layered with Dynamat for sound and vibration management. In fact, I recently offered 3 classic car specialists $5.00 for each paint flaw they could find on the exterior surfaces - so far they haven't collected! Bothe the interior and exterior paint surfaces are practically flawless, and the exterior still has the balance of the 4 coats of clearcoat that was applied over the beautiful Cordovan Maroon Metallic base paint by the House of Hot Rods in Mansfield, Texas. Goodrich T/A Radials on the car - 245.60.15 on the rear, and 235.60.15 on the front. This combination gives the car an unbelievably muscular stance, and the wheel wells are filled very nicely by the wheels and tires.
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