1965 Chevrolet El Camino

Description

Wow, this 1965 Chevrolet El Camino definitely hits all the right buttons! Bright colors, flashy wheels, big block motor, and a comfortably updated interior, what more do you need? We could probably stop right there and the phone would still start ringing immediately, because this is obviously a super nice Elky with a whole lot going for it.

Just looking down the bright, shiny flanks of this El Camino, you can see that the money was spent wisely, because the sheetmetal is straight and the great driver-quality paint looks just right on the 50-year-old truck/car. These can be challenging vehicles to restore if they've been used hard and put away wet, but this one sure looks like it lived the good life someplace warm. Artesian Turquoise is a bit of a daring color to choose for a tough and brawling Elky such as this this, but we must say it absolutely works – capturing the long-gone era of brightly colored cars while maintaining exciting vintage appeal in the present for this rather rare car-truck. Panel fit and body gaps are about what you would have gotten when it was new back in 1965, if not slightly better, and it's always nice to see a Chevrolet muscle car that hasn't been dressed up in fake SS badges or gaudy stripes. Although, you do get a cowl hood to make way for the big block underneath, and out back, it's still ready to help out around the homestead with a black spray-in bedliner floor that looks clean and can stand up to abuse. Chrome and trim is very nice and supremely bright throughout, with newer bumpers and clean stainless trim, particularly around the pickup bed where it usually takes a beating, but this one remains quite nice.

A bench seat in an El Camino is the standard equipment that you'll find in most of these car-trucks, although this comfortable unit has been restored using a seat cover that matches the exterior paint to give the cabin a very upscale look. A new black dash pad sits atop the painted dash, and the original bezel inside it surrounds a comprehensive set of factory instruments, augmented with a big aftermarket Sunpro tachometer that was strapped to the steering column. A sporty Grant GT steering wheel seems like the right choice in this car, and matches the B&M shifter in the floor, and a trio of auxiliary gauges under the dash help keep an eye on the big block under the hood. Fresh black carpets, matching door panels, and even the headliner are in great condition, all thoroughly attended to during the restoration, and modern Pioneer AM/FM/CD/AUX plays music through the speakers behind the seats. Looking at this very nice interior, that price tag looks even more appealing, doesn't it?

The big block 454 V8 powering this Elky was borrowed from a later-model GM truck, but it looks right at home inside the El Camino's engine bay. With good horsepower and loads of torque, the 454 is a massive upgrade, but it's still quite docile for everyday use as well. Regardless, it looks quite right wearing its Chevy Orange paint, chrome valve covers, open element air cleaner, and polished and detailed pieces found throughout. What we know for certain is that it runs superbly and moves the relatively lightweight El Camino with genuine authority thanks to a Holley carburetor, Edelbrock aluminum intake, MSD distributor and ignition, giant aluminum radiator, billet serpentine belt system, and long-tube headers for a nice, fat torque curve. Those headers feed a recent dual exhaust system with throaty Flowmaster mufflers underneath, and the system flanks a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission and a 10-bolt rear end that's up for the task of handling all that big block power. The undercarriage is very solid and tidy, reinforcing the idea that this car came from someplace warm, and with power steering and power brakes it has great road manners. 18-inch IROC chrome wheels with 235/50/18 BFGoodrich radials complete the killer look.

This is an awful lot of big block Chevy muscle for a bargain price. Like so many other cars, it's always better to buy someone else's finished project than undertake it yourself, and this Elky is proof. Call today!