When the El Camino rejoined the Chevrolet lineup in 1964, it was based on a Chevelle 2-door station wagon. And with the styling refresh the cars got in 1966, the El Camino benefited as well. The seller’s ’66 was once an ordinary “pickup”, but it began a modern transformation after the seller acquired it eight years ago. That work has slowed to a trickle, so the seller has decided it’s time for someone else to take over. Located in Roseburg, Oregon, this unfinished project is available here on craigslist for $11,500. A salute goes to “Curvette” for another Chevy tip.
When this El Camino was new, it had a 327 cubic inch V8 with a Powerglide automatic. They are gone, and a low-mileage 383 Stroker is there along with a TH-400 that was fresh a few years ago. The 10-bolt rear end has also been gone through, as have the brakes. New (er) parts include the front suspension, radiator, and headers. The seller’s photos include before, after, and during, so you’ll have to estimate what is when.
A plus is that the car was in the same family for 50 years before the seller came along. The last dozen or so years of that ownership were spent in storage under a cover. As a result, the body is said to have little or no rust damage, though we see evidence of some repairs, such as the floorboards. The seller says most of the body work is out of the way, but you’re going to need to see the car in person to determine if you agree.
This sale is not treated to the best of photos. All of the interior pieces are new and are waiting for the buyer to install them. The wiring is in a state of incompletion. The seller has quite a few spare parts to go along with the truck, including a hood, both bumpers, a tilt steering column, and more. “Most parts are there to finish this project.” The seller will entertain a trade as long as it doesn’t involve a boat, trailer, or motorcycle. The seller also prefers phone calls, but doesn’t post one. So, he’s probably wondering why the phone isn’t ringing off the hook.
Not a fan of the price since it’s an unfinished project, but it’s worth a look if you are in the market for a mid-60’s El Camino project. If the body is straight and rust free, the sum of the parts makes of breaks the deal.
Steve R
My dad had a Ranchero in ’59 but my uncle bought an El Camino, which Dad really liked. When Dad regained the urge to own another car/truck he picked an El Camino. That was a 1964 model, with a 283 and a 2-speed Powerglide. Knowing that the numerous dirt and gravel roads plus prairie trails would shorten the life of that car/truck he decided to lease it.
Well, he liked it so much that he decided to get another one in ’66. Equipped almost identical, except that Dad liked bucket seats (found out that if you didn’t specify a column shift, you automatically got a floor shift with console when you ordered buckets). He drove the wheels off that one and, finally convinced that a car/truck would never amount to a truck, he bought a ’68 Chevy Custom Camper pickup and let someone else be the cartaker of the El Camino.
A few months later, I saw the red beast on the street in Great Falls. There were some witness marks,such as a telltale ding in the driver’s side fender below the rear view mirror where a rock richochetted off the mirror (it wrecked the mirror necessitating its replacement) and putting that tiny dent in there that occured during the two years that Dad drove it. Anyways, the odometer showed about 52K miles on it.
Interesting that it had almost 60K miles when Dad traded it in.
Next thing I knew, here’s that same El Camino traded into the local Chevy dealer in the hometown. The speedo showed around 61K by then. A friend of my brother’s bought the car and drove and drove it until he sideswiped a car during a blizzard. I remember looking at the odometer while the car was sitting at the body shop and seeing 49K miles on the clock.
A few years later, after seeing the movie, USED CARS, I wondered if they hired Kurt Russell to roll the odometer back.
I understand that the friend (moved across the country now) still has the car…
How about that? I thought there was a picture of an almost identical twin to Dad’s truck some place. Take away the 327 signs on the fender badges and you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart…