Chevrolet’s mid-size Chevelle was quite popular when introduced in 1964 and it went on to sell 447,000 units in the 1966 model year alone. But none of them were like this one: either a 2-door station wagon or an El Camino pickup turned into a wagon – with a Toyota drivetrain for power! That’s what we have here, custom-built by the seller about 20 years ago. Said to run well, it can be found in Springerville, Arizona, and this one-off is available here on craigslist for $7,500. How does Barn Finder Tony Primo keep coming up with tips like this?!
As far as I can tell, Chevrolet had stopped making 2-door Chevelle station wagons after 1965. This may explain why the seller calls this one only an El Camino. Perhaps he/she took a ’66 El Camino and grafted the roof of a ’65 Chevelle wagon on top of it. That in its own right is interesting, but things do get a bit strange when you consider that the builder pulled the original inline-6 or V8 and replaced it with a Toyota 4-cylinder engine from at least two decades ago.
The seller talks about there being 38,000 “original Toyota miles on the chassis and drivetrain”. So does that mean the Chevrolet chassis was replaced, too, not just the engine and automatic transmission? And let’s suppose this Chevelle had a 327 V8 when new – wouldn’t that be more powerful than a Toyota I-4? Just trying to figure out the logic for this conversion.
The oddities here continue because inside the wagon a Toyota dashboard, steering wheel, and floor shifter were used (and probably the seats, too). Yet the door panels are pure Chevrolet. This machine is ready to roll and is equipped with power accessories for better handling and braking, as well as air conditioning. We’re told the vehicle is quite dependable and is a fun car to drive. But if you were to hang out with the crowd at Cars & Coffee, would you park the wagon in the Chevy camp or with the Japanese crotch rockets?
Well, those wheels are from a mid-2000 Ford Ranger – and have the same bolt pattern as a mid-2000 Tacoma – which is 20 years ago.
So, there you have it…
I agree!! No wipers I noticed a rear leaf spring in one photo and under the front bumper looks like a toyota frame section. I am guessing the whole under carriage in all Toyota right down to the brakes Even the brake booster is from a Toyota!!!!
Didn’t these have frame issues?
Primo has eyes from coast to coast.
We’ve seen these 2 team up before. 350ci Chevy motors are a somewhat popular swap in Toyota Landcruisers.
Freedom to do what we want, when it comes to vehicles, apparently. And a greater portal to these creations, I doubt you’ll find except here. Got to admit, some wacky things come through here. Thanks to all.
This is pretty darn wacky, I don’t think I’ve ever thought someone would do this to such a neat vehicle. As mentioned, Chevy never made a 1966 2 door Chevelle wagon, but images show it was a very popular custom. This rendition shouts blasphemy on both sides of the Pacific. I suppose I shot myself in the foot saying these older cars should be updated, but I never thought of this.
To be clear, I doubt this was ever an El Camino, but more like a ’65 2 door wagon with a ’66 front clip(?)
This is not based on a 65 Chevelle 2dr wagon, the 65 and 66’s have completely different contours. The data plate on the cowl will say what it started, that gives you the year and model, of which the El Camino and wagon are specific to each.
Steve R
First thing I heard in my head was John Cleeses voice from Monty Python saying,” And now…. For something completely different…”
I’m thinking along Howards lines, This was never an El Camino, it was a 2 door wagon, with a ’66 Front clip. Maybe it was a wrecked rotted Toyota body and a rotted Chevy frame and they said ,” Why not????”.
This is not for me, but have to admire that they went for something completely different.
With ’88 ChryCo side markers?
…’68…
I think ’68 Mopars all had round side marker lights. ’69-’70 were rectangular.
This is an interesting fabrication, with what appears to be a 1964-65 2dr wagon body with a ‘66 grill dropped on a 2004 era Tacoma but the gas door location and outside turn indicators make it a little more unusual. Too, with no underside or more extensive interior pix it’s even harder to figure out how it started off.
The first question-“what is it REALLY?” (Be interesting to see what it’s titled as thru DMV.)
The 2nd question to ask the seller-“WHY”..
I’d buy it. I love the body style, and seeing something quirky under the hood is fun. It would be like driving a metaphor for how I would like globalization to work. This car has a classic American design that I love, a bit more modern drivetrain, and a hell of a lot of creativity and know-how—good stuff in my book.
This is an example of something being less than the sum of its parts. Take an El Camino, a Chevelle 2-door wagon, and a Tacoma, put them together, and create something less desirable and less valuable than any of them.
Worth it simply for the troll factor.
Nobody mentioned the 64 GTO hood?
What an odd combination of parts, American ingenuity.
To each his/her own.
Those scoops are most likely from a 77-81 Firebird Formula hood.
Too bad the builder isn’t into the Radwood scene, he could’ve just bought a Geo Prizm.
Was it conceived by a former worker at the NUMMI plant?
I’m putting this comment in for Keith’s amusement. “Crush it.” Enjoy!
Steve R – not much chance of a trim tag telling you anything, since the entire firewall is from the Toyota.
But regardless, this is a 66 elcamino body with a station wagon roof grafted on. Probably from a 4-door wagon roof, as the side glass is not factory 64-65 two-door side glass. There are a fair number of 66’s and 67’s floating around out there that were done that way.
The 64-65 2-dr wagon upper door jamb, and the B-pillars, and the window frames on the doors, are not shaped like what is on this car. These are elcamino parts, curved at the top rear corner of the door glass. The 64-65 2-dr wagon has a sharp corner there.
Thank you for sharing your expertise.
Steve R
Definitely some very good fabrication skills on display. Is it too late to swap in a 350?
I can’t think of anything to say but “Johnny Cash” comes to mind…”One Piece at a Time”
Yeah, Shuttle Guy, you could use the one rear tail fin for an air deflector over the back window!
I would love to have a 2 door wagon from any American manufacture. This is something I wouldn’t want.
Some say “Why?”, some say “Why not?”. Some “artists” make big money welding together miscellaneous metal junk. This, at least, is useful. Small block Chevy’s are fine, but so are Toyota 4’s. And the full sized Chevy pickup I rented this fall had a very hard working 4, but, it did the job.
Suppose the Elcamino could’ve been a gutted out old drag car body. Totally weird. Fairly impressive. Bet the builder is a real character.
If it wasn’t for the vintage (too new) I’d opine that it was smuggled out of Cuba.
It would be a great item to open trade talks with, Bob!
After you get into so many cars it shouldn’t be a shock to nestle your butt into something like this and take it for a drive. Just smile, turn down that expectation knob and judge the thing on it’s merits and demerits.
I’m not the seller BTW!
Absolute junk in every way.
This is one mash-up I am unable to get my head around. But I sure would like to shake the hand of the builder.
If you looked up the definition of the word “conundrum” you might very well see a picture of this thing. If anything screams “just because you can doesn’t mean you should”, it is whatever thing is. The only thing that I can definitely say about this abomination is that the creator has some mad skills.
Who would want that of junk Toyota motor in and i say junk it
j
That Toyota steering wheel is a real shock when you walk up to get a better look!
The interior is more wrenching than under the hood. Nice execution.
While I give the builder of this oddity points for effort and fabrication skills, the whole effort conjures up images of Nancy Kerrigan screaming after Tonya Harding’s goon squad tried to break her kneecaps! Why, Why? Uh, no, not for me, thank you.
I bet that it is on a Toyota chassis. (because of the 5 on 4.5 wheel bolt circle) Soooo, I’m guessing leaf spring rear suspension instead of the factory coil rear springs! Strange combo for sure, BUT, If I had a wrecked Toyota pick-up and a worn out El Camino/Chevelle 2 door wagon, I might be tempted to do the same thing. I’M WEIRD TOO????????
Builder took cues from Cuban car-guys.
I’d rather see a good american engine in a toyota.
There are American engines as good as Toyota’s, but there are plenty of Toyota designs that go 400,000 miles with 5000 mile oil and oil filter changes, 4’s, V6’s, and V8’s. Not a lot of American engine designs can say as much, especially ones built before 1960. My father’s ’50 Studebaker needed aa new enigne at 40,000 miles. VW Beetles valve jobs at 40,000 miles. If you got 100,000 miles out of a 1950’s or earlier car you were doing well. But then, if you own this, you are not going to drive it 100,000 miles anyway.