Listing a classic for sale with No Reserve is guaranteed to catch attention, and such is the case with this 1966 Chevrolet El Camino. It presents respectably, but it hides a wonderful secret below the surface. The seller equipped this beast with a fuel-injected big-block, providing enough power to transform its rear tires into smoke. It needs work to present at its best, but the El Camino is a solid project base. The seller has listed this classic here on eBay in Artesia, California. Bidding has raced to $5,600, and with No Reserve in play, the El Camino is days away from finding a new home.
After a four-year absence, Chevrolet introduced the Second Generation El Camino in 1964, based on the Chevelle. As a result, the styling was more conservative and restrained than its predecessor, with the vehicle receiving annual updates mirroring those of the Chevelle. This 1966 example has led a literally colorful life. The tri-tone paint combination gracing its exterior isn’t original, because the Cowl Tag confirms that the first owner ordered it in Marina Blue. It is unclear when the change occurred, but I don’t view it as an improvement. That view is personal, and I respect you if yours differs from mine. The paint isn’t perfect, and with the collection of minor cosmetic imperfections, there is an opportunity to return the exterior to its factory form if the buyer plans a cosmetic restoration. They won’t have to spend hours welding to eliminate rust. It is confined to a small area below the windshield and a spot in the floor that could be repaired with the included replacement pan. The trim and glass look pretty good, and the Rally wheels suggest that this El Camino might be more than a pretty face.
Lifting the hood reveals what makes this El Camino special. The engine bay houses a 454ci V8, backed by a three-speed Turbo 350 automatic transmission and a 12-bolt Posi rear end. It is unclear whether the big-block features internal upgrades, but the FiTech fuel injection system and headers ensure that this beast breathes easily. The previous owner planned a manual transmission swap, and the seller includes the four-speed in the deal. They state that while this beauty runs and drives well, the EFI system may require tweaking and tuning. Still, I can think of worse ways to spend time in a garage than ensuring that this big-block performs at its best.
The El Camino’s interior is a mixed bag. It is undeniably serviceable, with no urgent problems requiring immediate attention. The door trims are new, while the Black vinyl seatcover and matching carpet are in good condition. The dash is where this interior stumbles. The aftermarket gauges set into the dash are mismatched, the pad has cracked and lifted on the driver’s side, and the fascia looks tired. The wheel center is missing, but none of these problems are insurmountable. Parts are readily available, allowing the new owner to place their mark on this interior.
The fact that this 1966 Chevrolet El Camino has attracted 24 bids confirms that potential buyers like what they see. The Listing View and Watch List tallies of 191 and 64, respectively, suggest that the bidding may intensify as the end draws near. I would typically speculate about a potential sale price, but I’m leaving the ball in your court on this beauty. What would you be prepared to pay, and are you tempted to join the bidding frenzy to give this beast a new home?
Someone went from one of GM’s best colors to this. I know they have good smoke in Cali, but you would have to be crazy high to think that was a good idea.
This has good potential.
Just Weld the pans in and paint it back a nice blue as a one color scheme.
The dash has had some gauges mounted and possibly radio hacking.
Fix carpet , interior, paint and remove gauges cut into dash and put a radio delete plate and remove antenna too.
I run blue tooth hidden systems and upgrade speakers and hide other speakers plus better music sent driven by cell phones with navigation as needed.
It’s unfortunate that previous owners went this direction with the El Camino. I guess someone liked the paint scheme. The bulk of this car’s value is probably in the drivetrain. The seller makes no mention of any suspension changes to get the power to the ground.
From the factory this would have had the 2-bbl 283 and the optional powerglide. Other than the transmission the only options were tinted windows and air conditioning. This was a nice El Camino at one time.