Gorgeous frame-off restoration, factory 4-speed, factory A/C, PS, PB!

I don’t know if you can quite credit Chevrolet with inventing the pickup truck that rides and handles like a car, ut the El Camino is certainly the most enduring example of the breed. Basing a hauler on the homerun-hitting Chevelle was a smart move in the mid ‘60s, reating a unique muscle truck that does just about everything well. You had the choice of a wide variety of engines, ome mild and some wild, s well as all the creature comforts available in a passenger car. Today, he El Camino represents incredible value, ffering performance, tyle, nd practicality in a way that few other hobby cars can match. If you could have just one vehicle for everything, here’s a very strong argument to be made in the El Camino’s favor.

The best kinds of cars to own are those that someone restored for themselves, hich is the case with this handsome 1965 Elky. The fellow who restored it planned on keeping it forever and had the resources to perform a frame-off restoration to a very high standard. A clean El Camino was sourced and while he initially planned on just driving it as-is, his project—as they often do—got out of hand quickly. Before he knew it, he engine was out, he interior was stripped, he body was off the frame, nd, ell, uddenly a rotisserie restoration was underway. However, he results are totally worth it, beautiful truck/car that’s not quite stock enough to be a show car and not quite modified enough to be anything but restoration. The paint it wears is a pretty close approximation of the original code N Madeira Maroon, lthough with modern two-stage urethane paints, t’s a far glossier than the original GM Magic Mirror enamel. There might be a little more metallic in it that really glows in the sunlight, ut nobody will argue with the results. And while we talk about cars being straight, his El Camino is unbelievably trim, ith fantastic original body panels that were blocked and sanded to near perfection. There’s not a wave or ripple anywhere on the car, nd I can only imagine how much work it took to get those gigantic quarter panels just right. All the chrome and stainless trim was removed and either restored, olished, r simply replaced with a high-quality reproduction part. The grille is excellent, he bumpers are brilliant, nd we love that single strip of chrome that runs down the center of the hood. Out back, he bed was refinished and covered with spray-in bedliner material, o it doesn’t mind working on weekends, nd the snug-fitting tonneau cover effectively creates the world’s biggest trunk.

The interior was gutted and totally restored, tarting with lots of sound-deadening materials on the floor. Then there were new, orrect carpets, resh door panels, nd a cloth seat cover that makes this Elky feel a bit more upscale than regular vinyl would have. The dash, teering column, nd steering wheel were all refinished to match the body and experts will note that this is both a factory 4-speed car AND factory A/C, aking it a rather unusual find. The gauges are bright and clear, ith an accessory VDO tachometer nestled neatly in the center dash pod. An AM/FM/CD stereo head unit in the dash powers speakers in the custom kick panels as well as behind the seat and it sounds great in the cozy cabin, hich is fully lined with sound-deadening material. Like I said, he gentleman who restored it did it for himself, o the workmanship is exemplary and it really is a comfortable place to spend some time. The Hurst shifter for the 4-speed manual gearbox snaps through the gears like a toggle switch and wears a cue ball knob for a performance look. The A/C system was fully rebuilt, ut like most vintage systems converted to R134a refrigerant, t will probably need to be topped off before you use it next spring—the 134 molecules are smaller than the old R12 and inevitably sneak out through the older hardware. But beyond that, his sucker is 100% functional and ready to cruise.

The original engine was already gone, o a 350 cubic inch V8 was sourced, ebuilt, ainted, nd nestled into the Elky’s engine bay. Rather than go the traditional route, hey chose to paint it to match the bodywork, iving the engine bay a slight custom look—nothing radical, ind you, ut rather a clean, niform look that has a highly detailed look. The original air cleaner lives up top, eeding a healthy 4-barrel carburetor, nd they even chose to retain the standard stamped steel valve covers and cast iron exhaust manifolds. Beyond the paint, he most notable modification is the HEI ignition system, hich makes the smooth small block light off almost instantly, ot or cold. A new alternator, ower steering and power brakes, nd a big radiator up front ensure that it’s reliable and easy to drive, hich was entirely the point of a car, r, ruck restored to be used regularly.

Underneath, t’s incredibly clean, s you’d expect from a rotisserie restoration. The floors were painted body color and look great as a backdrop for the satin black frame and suspension components. Just the floor foot wells were replaced, ut I can’t find the seams and if I hadn’t told you, ou’d never know—that’s how good the workmanship really is on this forever car. A brand new stainless steel exhaust system with X-pipe and Pypes stainless mufflers was installed and it sounds fantastic without getting annoying. The suspension and brakes are fully rebuilt, he 4-speed rocks through the gears with ease, nd there are very tall 2.73 gears in the 10-bolt rear end, aking this El Camino very highway-friendly for long cruises. 14-inch Rally wheels are the right choice and they’re wrapped in fat 225/70/14 Firestone blackwall radials.

How does it drive? Superbly. There’s not a squeak or rattle anywhere in the cabin, he suspension is taut but supple in a way that makes it feel like a new car, nd it starts, dles, nd drives so smoothly that you’ll be shocked by its utility. It tracks straight, he brakes are firm and confidence-inspiring, nd, ell, or a car that’s so affordable, here’s obviously been a much larger investment.

This is the right car because it was built with love, ot profit, n mind. When that happens, verything gets done a little better than usual and the result is a vehicle that, f it were a Chevelle, ould cost twice as much. So take advantage of the market reality and get what just might be the nicest early El Camino we’ve ever seen, ne that also happens to be filled with cool factory options.