This 1987 Chevrolet El Camino SS is a genuine Choo Choo Customs edition, of which a limited number were produced throughout the El Camino’s lifetime. While these conversions were seemingly big deals back in the day, they essentially amounted to a lot of cosmetic dress-up and no actual performance modifications. This one is presented as a nicely kept-up example that has been in storage for the last six years. Find it here on eBay with bids just over $5K and the reserve unmet.
While I can understand being passionate about a model and wanting to collect it in all of its forms, I always felt like the premium cost of a model like this wasn’t justified by what you got. The original owners had to have really wanted to own a slightly more aerodynamic El Camino, because all the conversion really amounted to was some special graphics, a plaque on the dash, and the smooth front fascia. Many of the El Caminos weren’t even genuine SSs, according to Autocool.com.
If you really want to split hairs about what makes one of the cars more desirable than the next, 1987 saw the second-lowest number of conversions “made.” Choo Choo cars were actually concocted in the company’s own factory, which seems like overkill for a sticker kit and a front nose panel. The only feature that even barely resembled a performance enhancement was the option to install side-exit exhausts, which very few Choo Choo cars came with and who know if it even increased performance all that much.
The engine is a factory 305 V8 that the seller says runs out well. No other details are offered, but the engine bay looks better than I’d expect for having 100,000 miles. The seller has installed a new battery but that’s it; the tires are noted as being worn, but that didn’t prompt the selling dealer to spend any money on installing new rubber. Overall, I’d say the clean, rust-free El Camino behind that Choo Choo conversion is what’s driving bids at the moment, but that may not be enough to move past the reserve.
Yes i like it .. I think its the Elcamino effect or disease gene carried.. with the early models best but this great color Cho Cho edition grows on me more each year…
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Wishing everyone a wonderful Holiday Season. Hoping to continue reading nice write ups on sweet rides from the BF staff, friends including past stories shared from readers 👍😎
Classic Steel AKA Jeff 👍
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This car was my daily driver in the early 90’s. A couple of things wrong with the sellers description, 1. I bought the car at auction so it’s had more then 2 owners, 2. I repainted the car when I bought it. 3. After looking at the car about a month ago (seller thought I might like it back) the floor under the drivers side has rust thru, might of been repaired? & paint bubbles in the usual spots. Like I said, this was my daily which means it was driven in the salty Michigan winter. While this is a fairly decent car the eBay seller is not entirely honest in their description. I suggest a in person inspection.
Appreciate the info – coming forward and setting the condition more accurate. I was watching this as i have a passion for these cars and sold all mine, now wanting another one.
Ill pass i believe on this……dont need any rust issues. will look for a nice low mileage orig one…
thanks again…..
Reality Bites.
Because some cars are uncommon enough, they can be follwed/identified more easily than the vanilla everyday variety.
Thanks for bringing in a dose of truth.
Bmac,
How long did you own truck, estimate, and did you buy it from original owner. Did you have entire truck painted, was it done well. Any rust done prior to repaint. Any issues with truck while you had it. Any engine work done while you owned it
I had the truck a few years, bought it at a dealer auction so I don’t know how many owners. It was painted during my ownership & wasn’t bad rust wise, (I wasn’t entirely happy with job)but as I said before it will need floor work. Oil changes, tune up & exhaust is all I did. It was my company car for the first two years, so it was driven year around in the Michigan, Ohio, & a lot of trips to Chatham Ontario. Needed a valve job when I sold it. Hope this helps.
I’d simply remove the too large SS and lower the front end some, I lowered my 87 Monte a couple of inches and it looked completely different, even with the stock wheels. Drive it daily and have it keep company with my 70 Elco SS 396.
I had removed all the decals on the car when I owned, it looked slick. Car dealer friend told me I ruined the value lol.
Yeah I’ve seen a few Monte SS’s lowered with stock wheels either the aluminum or steel wheels and i thought they looked pretty cool too different anyway
Woe, i am surprised to read that a car reseller would lie , what a let down …
Its pretty safe to call these guys scammers , stealerships are like vacuum salesmen …
They both suck………..?
Why would somebody make an SS Choo Choo without the buckets and console shift?
Not all choo choo car had the buckets and the console…..60/40 bench and auto on the column was common – standard on these….