With time and patience, this ’74 El Camino SS could be a very sweet ride. Though to have its numbers matching 454 V8, this muscular pickup needs some attention, but has a lot going for it already. Also the price isn’t half bad either! How many times have you seen a $2,800 buy it now price for a SS 454 project? Take a look at this Chevy here on eBay out of Linden, New Jersey.
While there aren’t any photos of the engine compartment or the interior, the exterior is fairly impressive for a car of this age in the rust belt. The driver front fender looks to have been replaced, and the front edge of the driver door is rumpled. Not a totally worrying as there is a spare driver door in the bed. Although this is a 454 powered Chevy, remember that the gas squeeze darn near choked the life out of this engine, where it would be ripe for tuning more power out of it.
Surprisingly, this El Camino appears to be a rather solid project. There is no evidence of rot in the rockers, and only one of the wheel arches shows minimal rust. The passenger side of the car is decent, minus some rust around the wheel arch. Also there is a ripple that appears to be rust blistering. All in all not too shabby of a project based on what can be seen from the listing. Would you take the gamble on this 454 El Camino?
Shockingly solid body!
My first car/truck was a ‘76 Elky SS purchased in ‘84 for $900 & it was way rustier 35 years ago! Last year of Big block adds some value for sure although I doubt it would break into the 15’s stock & likely pulls down about 8mpg in town. Still fun & practical rides that handle pretty well (my 350 model did anyway) & are blessed with a low load height unseen on modern trucks. Worth $3k any day!
74 was NOT the last year of the in this series of vehicle. 1975 was, however the 75 had a different style of cylinder head, it had smaller intake ports and valves.
My ’81 Z/28 Camaro came out of Watchung, NJ. It did not have any rust except for the doors due to it being parked under White Pine trees for years and the needles getting down inside the doors at the beltline after the door squeegees rotted away.
No photo of the engine? And the car has been wrecked,obviously. But hey, Bondo fixes everything. Price sounds decent if your a good body man, otherwise this thing could your savings up really quickly. I myself would have to do a good inspection on this car before making a bid. GLWTS
My cousin ordered the newly redesigned ’73 SS El Camino before the release, sight unseen, because it came with the 454. It was a total dog. It was so bad he changed the emblems to 350.
Always liked these.This year in particular, big bumpers and all! I see regular versions once in awhile for sale. and always check them out. I think the SS stripe is reserved and classy in an era when that was not always the case . Id love to find a clean daily driver, add some Z/ 28 5 spoke road whees and a Phx Graphics decal kit, lower it a touch and drive it to the local coffee & cars event!
I do a lot of el Camino’s and there is usually people lined up to buy them but 73-77 you can’t give away this 454 SS will be lucky to get a 1000 bid only for the motor it won’t get to 2800 turn key and shiny
I owned one of these back in the late 80’s. 454 with a 400 turbo, huge gas sucker. Had swivel bucket seats. Used to cruise the streets of Anaheim.Less than 10 miles per gallon.