Choo Choo Convert: 1985 Chevrolet El Camino SS

The Chevy El Camino enjoyed a long and healthy run (1959-60 and again from 1964 to 1987). It was a car-based truck often referred to as a “gentlemen’s pickup.” In the last five years of production, Chevy commissioned Choo Choo Customs to modify as many as a couple of thousand Super Sports. The seller’s 1985 edition is an SS with Choo Choo mods and has also had $15,000 invested in upgrades to the drivetrain and more. Located with a dealer in Bradenton, Florida, this sharp pickup is available here on eBay for $24,997.

As General Motors was moving away from rear-wheel drive automobiles, the El Camino was retired in 1987 along with the RWD Malibu and Monte Carlo. But from 1983 to 1987, Chevy contracted with Choo Choo Customs out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, to do some mods to these pickups, with 2,200 being the estimated number of El Camino SS editions given that treatment. That works out to just 400-500 per model year (estimated). The Choo Choo mods included a Monte Carlo SS front clip.

The seller’s 1985 Choo Choo is said to have just 31,000 miles. Yet the upgrades to the truck, especially the 350 cubic inch V8, are extensive and likely do away with many of the emissions controls. The motor was returned to the glory days when it produced 300 horsepower. This Chevy began as a factory El Camino SS that was shipped off to Choo Choo to do their magic. Besides the switch in front ends, the pickup also has a custom hood and dashboard with instruments that weren’t included in factory El Caminos.

The 350 V8 has been rebuilt with Hooker Headers and a Flowmaster exhaust added. The automatic transmission has overdrive and a BOG converter lock-up control. A Kenwood stereo system belts out the tunes, and Corvette aluminum wheels sit at all four corners. The seller says all the mods, which we assume excludes the Choo Choo price tag back in the day, add up to $15,000. The truck looks beautiful and seems to want for nothing but a new home. Would you like to choo choo today?