I come across a lot of Chevrolet El Caminos but most are either performance variants or standard versions that have undergone sporting intentions. Well, that’s not the case here as we have a 1970 El Camino Custom for your review and it’s still pretty much as it started life over a half-century ago. Located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, this Camino is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $7,200 with 35 bids tendered so far.

Owned by one family since new, the current seller acquired it from the original owner’s daughter and is now offering it for sale. The VIN indicates that this is a Custom version as opposed to a base model – the SS model was actually an option package on the Custom model. Externally, it’s in fair shape, the two-tone exterior with a third shade of blue in the form of a vinyl top presents a “busy” appearance. The lacquer finish is said to be faded, the passenger-side quarter is dented, and there is some rust apparent in the cargo bed. There’s some sort of an aluminum skirt bolted along the underside of the rocker panel – not sure what that’s for. The outside door mirrors, attached to the fenders are goofy looking – they’re like miniature trailer mirrors. And the driver’s door mirror mounting point has a script Chevrolet badge attached – covering up the mirror’s mounting holes perhaps? I’d rate this one a twenty-footer.

The interior is anything but welcoming with those hideous-looking furry seat covers. The seller says that he won’t remove them because they are probably covering damaged upholstery. He’s probably right but you have to wonder what’s incubating in those covers. Continuing with the weirdness is the tacked-on steering wheel horn ring – how totally strange! It also looks like an additional switch or two have been added to the instrument panel. Under the dash are an add-on A/C unit and auxillary engine gauges. Fortunately, an El Camino’s passenger compartment is small, so making improvements, or straightening out “issues” isn’t a large undertaking.

Power is delivered by a 250 gross HP, 350 CI V8 engine that appears to be mostly stock, save the chrome-plated valve covers and air cleaner lid. The seller states, “The car runs, drives, starts, and stops very well“.  The mileage is listed as being 100K, if it’s an accurate reading it’s not excessive for a small block that has been maintained and not abused. An automatic transmission is in place but I can’t get a close enough look at the shift quadrant to determine if it’s a Turbo-Hydramatic or a pesky Powerglide. Note the homemade fan shroud extension.

At the right price, this isn’t a bad example, I’d view it more for what it can be than what it currently is. As with many, I’d like to see the El Camino’s return but with fuel/emission/crash and a bunch of other bureaucratic government standards, that I’ll never fully grasp, I wouldn’t count on seeing its return. That being the case, one like this will have to do, right?