Don’t be fooled by the appearance, because this 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS454 is a solid vehicle that could be a real stunner once restored. It does have some rust issues, but these are the type that could be readily addressed. With a 454ci V8 under the hood, it also holds the promise of being a pretty entertaining thing to drive, especially on wet roads. Located in Trenton, Florida, you will find the potent pickup listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding on the El Camino has reached $5,100 in what is a No Reserve auction.
Okay, so there is some rust present in the El Camino, but it doesn’t appear as though there are any structural issues with the car. The floors look good, as does the bed, while the owner says that there is no rust in the frame. The doors still open and close nicely, suggesting everything on the vehicle still lines up the way that it did when new. It has rust appearing in what are some pretty standard spots for an El Camino of this vintage, including in the lower quarter panels, lower corners of the doors, lower front fenders, and under the edges of the Black vinyl top. This isn’t the sort of stuff that is going to be addressed in a weekend but it should still be worth the effort in the end. The external trim and chrome generally look good, while there doesn’t appear to be any issues with the glass.
There’s no substitute for cubic inches, and you get plenty of those in the El Camino. What rests in the engine bay is believed to be the original LS5 454ci V8, pumping out a healthy 360hp. Those ponies find their way to the rear wheels via a 3-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission, with the vehicle also featuring power steering and power front disc brakes. While I’m not doubting the owner’s claim about the originality of that 454, it does raise some questions in my mind. Every motor that I have seen in a ’70 El Camino SS454 has worn chrome valve covers, and apart from the cars fitted with the rarer cowl induction, they have also had an open-style chrome air cleaner. This car doesn’t appear to have either of these features, which does raise a question in my mind. What do you think? While the owner states that the engine runs well, the buyer will have some mechanical issues to consider before the vehicle will be fit to hit the road once again. The first of these is the transmission. In the owner’s own words, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. It isn’t clear whether the transmission is original, but if it is, then I would probably be inclined to treat it to a rebuild rather than considering replacement. The original 12-bolt rear end was blown up at some point, and a 10-bolt has found its way under the El Camino as a replacement. Those 12-bolt units are pretty robust, so maybe whatever caused that to blow also accounts for the transmission issues. At around 3,750lbs, the SS454 is not the lightest car on the block, but it also isn’t a heavyweight by any stretch of the imagination. What makes these an interesting proposition is the weight distribution, with the vast majority towards the front of the vehicle. A light rear end and 360hp can make these a fairly lively thing to drive, especially in the wet or on loose surfaces. It either requires a delicate right foot or lightning-fast reflexes in those situations, or you’re likely to be looking back at where you’ve just come from very quickly.
Apart from a missing radio and some cloudiness to the lenses on the gauges, the dash of the El Camino looks to be in really good condition. An added bonus with this car is that it does feature air conditioning. The seat has a hole on the outer edge on the driver’s side, while the armrests are looking quite tatty. We can’t really see the state of the door trims themselves, while we also have no information on the state of the headliner. The carpet is gone, so this will need to be replaced. Interior trim kits are readily available if the buyer wants to bring the vehicle back to its best. Basic kits can be found for around $620. However, if you want the inside of the El Camino to look like it has just rolled off the showroom floor, I found a kit that has everything, including seat covers, door trim, a headliner, carpet, sound deadener, a new dome light, new sill plates, the box that fits behind the driver’s seat, armrests, in essence, the whole lot. This can be had for $1,075, which I don’t think is too bad.
If an investigation confirms that this 1970 El Camino is a numbers-matching SS454, that makes this a special and potentially quite potent vehicle. The beauty of these as a restoration project vehicle is that virtually every part that you are ever likely to need is readily available. Fully restored, it has the potential to be valued at in excess of $40,000. That seems to make it a project well worth considering.
Strange that the SS package and a 454 would not have a factory tach. Has me wondering if it’s the real deal as well.
I had a 70 SS 454 Chevelle. It had no factory tach. It was a year old, when I bought it. I traded a 70 SS Nova 350, bought new, that also had no factory tach.
Adam is correct, they all had chrome valve covers. Tach and gauge not required it was an extra cost option, but the round gauged dash with lights instead of gauges was standard with SS, instead of the Malibu’s “sweep” speedo. This one has the round gauged dash with lights. Also Elco SS does NOT have F41 suspension, so it has the small front sway bar and no rear bar unlike other Super Sports. El Camino’s had air shocks instead. I have the LS6 (450HP) version of this. They are very rare with probably only a few hundred of each, LS5 & LS6. No exact production figures exist for engine vs body style.
great car jeff keep it dont ewver sell it
Thanks Josh, definitely a keeper for now.
Driven’ hard, I wonder about the original LS5 having the same fate as the 12 bolt rear end. Replacing it with a 10 bolt makes loads of sense what with all the torque these made.
Silver and black works well, at least it’s not another red one.
Thanks, my LS6…….is Red
Lol…….Sigh.
how did u get urs jeff?
I just did the Trim tag decode and the car and interior were color changed. Code 63 paint is Desert Sand ( looks like it sounds), and 770 was a Saddle vinyl interior. There is some good news. The tag has the L code in the third line. All SS cars seem to have this, but some base Malibu’s have been found with it also. This is a Kansas City plant deal so don’t apply this to every 1970 SS. Just means it probably was one. Find the build sheet in the interior and check the numbers on that block on the deck pad under the alternator!!!!
There are a few things that would bother me. The rust is repairable. On these, frame and floor rust is the big worry, especially the bed. Somebody did do a few things when color changed, like add Cowl Induction emblems which don’t belong on a raised hood SS. Also missing the back mouldings on the tailgate. These were blacked out there between the mouldings, and where is the SS emblems there for over the 454? Also, on the eBay pics, it has a SS emblem on the door panels in the center. This is wrong as SS Elco did not have ANY door panel emblems as the spot it belonged was where the wing window crank is, so the factory just left them off. Again, I know, I have one. Doubt you find a build sheet either, KC cars are usually in the seats, and this one has the wrong grain vinyl in the wrong color. That engine code is going to be very important, or you will have nothing to hang your SS hat on other than the L code, and that has been proven not a guarantee. It could be an SS, either that or somebody went to a lot of trouble, but hey, it was popular to SS emblem them even in the 80’s.
Vin starts with 136??????
In 1970 the VIN will not help identify in SS as long as it originally came with a V8.
Steve R
I wouldn’t be surprised if the current engine isn’t original to the car. The original rear end was blown out and the trans sounds like it’s shot, so it seems that perhaps this El Camino was hammered on so hard that the original engine could have been blown, too. The wrong valve covers and air cleaner also indicate it’s not the original engine. I’d base my bidding on the assumption that the drivetrain isn’t original or just look for another El Camino that doesn’t raise so many questions about originality.
Trim tag indicates a real SS by build location and coresponding L . Floor near door jamb shows red paint overspray . 63 paint code shows desert sand . With many parts replaced over the years and multiple color changes , I would suspect not much originality left on this Elco .
Call Quick Draw McGraw and ask to verify if the block in the El Kabong is a 512 casting.
Did Chevy and GMC offer the big block in pickup trucks? If so, driveline might be a truck salvage transplant.
The L in the trim tag does not denote the SS package, but as mentioned, most have it. Regarding the dash, it appears this was switched at some point also. The chrome trim, or accents around the turn signal lights, as well as the matching small bezels below them were not chrome from the factory, they were black. The repo’s are chrome. There are a number of things on this car that are incorrect. There is no photo behind the seats, no photo’s of the bed, but in one you can see rust in it. With the amount of rust you can see, there is likely 5 times more you can’t see.
The rust seems extensive on the side of the car! Looks like a repaint to me with some shotty body work!! I’d be cautious on this one!! Might be chunks of bondo ready to fall out!!!
My first car was a 1970 El Camino. Worst piece of junk for a 16 year old. Only 7 years old when I bought it. Spent damn near all all my life savings. First thing I did was fill it up. Brought it home and parked it in the driveway. We lived on a hill. Next morning for school I was out of gas…it leaked out. Needed a tank. Not the same as a Chevelle. Many things on it I learned wasn’t going to work from a Chevelle. Had to buy the tank at the dealer. Ouch.
A week later I was stranded at the local teen hangout. Wouldn’t start. One of the older guys who was unimpressed with my Chevelle El Camino hit the starter with a hammer. So I just kept a tool bag with a BFH until I had the money to buy a starter. In less then a week the starter was no longer was threatned with a hammer. It passed away. Was walking until needed funds arrived.
I week later the starter replacement a brake line blew out. Fixed that. Shortly after a friend noticed the rear bumper was loose. It was….because the rear of the frame was broke. Then the tail gate gave way because the mounting hinges rusted from the body. By this time I am car shopping again. I traded this heap for a 1970 AMC Javelin 390 4 speed and have never looked back.
About this car. The writer of this post must be friends by trying to give the seller a bump. He clearly didn’t LOOK or read the eBay ad very well or looked at the pics.
The owner/flipper says the quarters need replaced. The writer states it is a solid project. No El Camino is a solid prolect. This car has to be on it’s fourts time around. It looks like another old 1990’s catalog restored color changed SS clone. It is showing it’s true colors needing restored again. It will always need restored.
I clearly wouldn’t take the sellers word on condition. It is a fresh flip. Stating I may or may not be getting paper work/docs from the original owners is a flashing red light. He may know a little more about this heap after only having it a short time and doesn’t want to get romantic with it. Only selling the faded SS sizzle. No thanks
This color combo really works and I’m sure it looked sweet when it was refurbished many years back. In current condition it’s a crusty heap with SS identity. I’m pretty sure someone can make a car out of it again with truckloads of repops, however its desirability lays in its SS heritage rather than its condition and probably appeals more to the SS purists.
Much better non-SS examples are out there that can be just as cool when finished
Ordered a LS6 Chevelle in Feb 70. All BB had chrome valve covers.Dual snorkel air cleaners appeared late in the run. Tach came with the extra cost gauge package.
SOLD for $8,619.99