This past week found me back in the beautiful, American Midwestern city of Omaha, Nebraska for business travel. Twenty-Nineteen marks my ninth, consecutive year of spending time in that city, and each time, I’ve found something new to like or love about it. During this trip, the College World Series (of baseball) was being held downtown at TD Ameritrade Park, which brought many tourists and energy into what is already a somewhat bustling, urban center. (Believe it.) I didn’t know about these sports events prior to booking this trip, and I’m not necessarily a sports fan, but I’m not at all anti-sports, either. I liked that there was a big deal like this one happening at the time, as a kind of “landmark” for my memory banks.
After a satisfying meatloaf dinner with local friends at one of the nice gastropubs in the historic Old Market district, I decided to walk around with my camera, when this ’68 El Camino pulled into a parking spot close to a row of nearby storefronts. Almost instinctively, I started walking toward the vehicle as soon as I saw the couple get out of it. “Nice truck,” I offered. They waved, smiled, and looked like they were in something of a hurry (for dinner reservations, perhaps?), so I quickly abandoned any thoughts of giving them a brief interview about their Elky. A little more on this super-cool truck in just a moment.
Many people suffer from some degree of social anxiety, and I self-identify as one of them. I’m personable, can make good conversation, and even approach strangers sometimes, as I just described. I very much enjoyed the CC meetup that some of us attended in Detroit almost exactly two years ago, but often, ease in these situations does not come innately to me. I consider myself more of a “practiced extrovert”. Business travel used to be a somewhat nerve-wracking experience for me, but acknowledging my own introverted tendencies has been a way to take back some of my own power in that regard. I’ve learned to relax, remember to be authentically me, understand my own “triggers”, and act accordingly.
I enjoyed my first ice cream at Ted & Wally’s this past Wednesday. I highly recommend it.
I’ve also found a way to combine these business trips with other things I enjoy, like spending time alone on foot with my camera. Doing so has enabled me to view these trips in advance as things to look forward to. I’ve also come to appreciate some of the genuine friendships with my clients that we’ve forged over the years. At the end of the day, we’re all just people, and we all need to work at something to earn a living. We might as well try to make it as enjoyable as we can.
I’ve heard it said of the El Camino, in general, that it is much like the automotive equivalent of the “mullet” hairstyle: “business up front, party in the back“. It is for this reason that I found the appearance of this El Camino to be extremely timely, occurring as it did during a business trip. My first day in Omaha started almost immediately with having to be “on” in front of some of my insurance agents (I’m an underwriter who represents my company), and ended with dinner, a couple of drinks, an ice cream waffle cone from local favorite Ted & Wally’s, and a fun walkabout with my trusty Canon.
I had photographed this El Camino with both my camera and my phone, and had initially mislabeled it as a ’69 when posting a picture of it on social media. This would have been a rookie mistake for an inexperienced classic car fan, with an easy ’68 identifier (from the rear, anyway) being the vent windows on the doors, but I really had no excuse, as I’ve loved classic Chevys for years. (The front grille with its fine mesh pattern is also an easy clue.) There were SS 396 badges on it, which would be in keeping with the throaty rumble of the engine / exhaust combo. (“You can take the man out of Flint, but you can’t take the ‘Flint’ out of the man.”) I’m a sucker for a classic American machine and the way they look, sound, smell and feel.
In ’68, the first year of this generation, there were about 41,800 El Caminos produced (a new sales record), of which 5,190 were SS396 models. There were three optional 396 V8s available, with 325, 350, or 375 horsepower on tap. Starting weight for the Super Sport would have been around 3,700 pounds. The El Camino sat on the same 116″ wheelbase as the sedan and wagon bodystyles of the midsized Chevelle, on which it was based, while the Chevelle coupe had a wheelbase of only 112″ – which aided the coupe’s slick proportions. (The ’69 Chevelle is one of my favorite cars of all time.)
For comparison’s sake, the same-year ’68 Ford Ranchero, which was also in the first year of its redesign, sold 16,700 copies. There was also a top-trim, high-performance Ranchero GT offered that year, with a 428-cubic inch “Cobra Jet” V8 engine available as an option, packing 340 horsepower. I found it interesting that in this year in which both Chevrolet and Ford offered new designs for their sport-trucks, the Chevy outsold the Ford by a factor of about two-and-a-half. (For the record, I like both vehicles.) It’s also funny now to realize that Chrysler Corporation never offered a similar coupe utility (“ute”) here in the United States until the ’80s, given the popularity of their B-Body midsizers in the late ’60s. The Pentastar brand would eventually take a (brief) stab at a ute with the 1982 introduction of the front-wheel-drive, L-Body-based Dodge Rampage and (’83-only) Plymouth Scamp.
As I had put pen to paper to draft this piece while sitting at Eppley International Airport in Omaha, waiting to board my flight back to Chicago, I thought about how nice it was going to be to sleep in my own bed that night. In a way, the sight of this ’68 El Camino (“the road” in Spanish, apt for this stretch of business travel) was almost like seeing an old friend, and a reminder that I’m never too far away from the comforts and sights of familiar people, places, and things, even while away on a company trip.
While I wouldn’t necessarily say I “partied” on this trip, the “party in the back” portion of the titular phrase entailed a successful integration of both business and pleasure. I feel I “passed” this personal test, yet again, with flying colors, and now also have the memory of the sight of this El Camino with which to mark this trip. For all of these things, I am thankful. Until next time, beautiful Omaha.
Old Market District, Omaha, Nebraska.
Wednesday, June 19, 2019.
A Chevy coupe ute invented by the Australians according to the propaganda, theres a few US models around here a couple of early full sizers some Chevelles like this and I saw a B body version only last week, I quite like em.
I wonder/suspect that Chrysler didn’t join the ute party because, by the time utes were a thing, they were already committed to building unibody passenger cars, and a unibody pickup didn’t seem like a good idea without a frame. At least until much later, when they cribbed the VW Caddy/Pickup idea and created the Rampage/Scamp, or the Comanche.
Proclaiming my ignorance… was the VW Type II pickup unibody? No, not really, but maybe I’m wrong. More ignorance… was there a unibody Chrysler ute in Australia?
“I wonder/suspect that Chrysler didn’t join the ute party because, by the time utes were a thing, they were already committed to building unibody passenger cars”
My suspicion would be that Chrysler didn’t see enough of a market there to get reasonable volume. When Chevrolet hit 40k units in a record year (30k in 1964) and Ford could only manage 18k, that would probably put Mopar at 10k in a good year?
One benefit of Lynn Townsend’s cautious approach to entering new segments was that he could see when one was just not worth the investment.
The Ranchero’s up until 1971 were unibody, based on the Falcon “platform”
Chrysler Australia began stamping out utes in the 30s and carried on until the later model Valiants which were all unibody, prior to the Valiant range BOF construction was used.
Omaha is a great city I’ve passed by many times but only visited a few….the Henry Doorly Zoo is a great place to visit while there. However, it sounds like you were committed to other things during normal business hours.
This is timely. Yesterday I stumbled upon a movie from 1977 called the “Black Oak Conspiracy”. While I’m only briefly into it, the hero of the movie drives a similar el Camino.
Joe, from a photography perspective, I have a question…on the few occasions I’ve used an iPhone for taking pictures, I’m never that excited with the result. Case in point is the lead picture of my brake job piece last week. The picture is generally too dark, too grainy, whatever. What advantages do you see with using a phone? Just curious.
Jason, I need to check out the zoo the next time I’m there – thanks for that suggestion!
These pictures were all taken with my actual Canon SLR. The only time I take pictures with my phone are when I want to post a picture immediately. My ZTE “Blade” smartphone takes good enough pictures, but in good weather, I usually have my camera with me.
I don’t make it to Omaha very often despite living only about 2 1/2 hours away.
About five years ago my buddy and I took a day trip over to pick up a decently priced ’75 Schwinn Paramount then spent the rest of the day walking around the Old Market area. That was fun!
Sam, Old Market is really something special and wonderful. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad time there. I also usually end up finding really cool t-shirts or other neat things… it has sometimes felt, legit, like a small vacation.
Everyone I have ever met who spent time in Omaha has said good things about it. You could eat out at a different place for a month in The Old Market and have a great experience every night.
I will serve once again as a counterbalance to the entire world when I say that the 68-69 Chevelle is maybe my least favorite Chevrolet of the 60s. They got the A body so right in 66-67 and again in 70-72, but these have always left me cold.
That said, the Elky would be at the top of my 69-69 Chevelle list of choices. And it was surely cool to find out in the big wide world. Did Chevrolet actually build these as an SS396?
I have never been to Omaha but I am well acquainted with getting drained after being “on” around others.
The SS 396 was a factory option on El Caminos through MY 1972 (for 1971-72 the “396” was actually the 402 CID version with the slightly larger bore). The big block 454, first available in MY 1970, lasted through the 1975 models. I’m not sure how many El Caminos were sold with the 396 or 454 but it was available. To my mind the 350 CID version of the SBC makes for a better balanced vehicle as there is less weight over the front wheels.
1968 was the first year for the SS396 El Camino. Prior to that, in 1966 and 1967 the 396 was available, but there was no actual SS 396 version of the El Camino until 1968.
On minor nit just plain Joe, the 396 became the 402 in 1970 not 1971.
I too don’t care for the 1968-69 Chevelle. The C pillar and rear side windows just look too weird, especially on the coupe. Strange, as the BOP A bodies of this vintage look so great.
The C-pillar and rear side window are some of my favorite design details of the ’68 & ’69 Chevelles. 🙂
Great looking Elky, Joseph. Of these two, I prefer the ’69. Even from the front the ’69 looks better than the ’68, even though they are very close in appearance.
I would argue though, considering the utility aspect of these, and with that 396, that the phase being applied in this application should be reversed: It’s all “Business in the back; Party in the front.”
You may not want to say, but considering the location of this frequent business trip for you, is the insurance company for which you work, a certain company that used to sponsor a documentary series on TV about the realm of wild animals?
(Ok, you’re probably too young to remember that show ;o)
RetroStang Rick, I used to love Mutual of Omaha’s “Wild Kingdom”! I was in elementary school when it went off the air. (RIP Jim Fowler, who passed away just last month.)
That’s not the company I work for, BTW (LOL), but there are a lot of insurers either present, or based in, Omaha.
I’m with you on the ’69, in that I like the horizontally-split grille and blackout treatment better.
Actually, I did a quick Wiki search on that show and just now realized that there were newer presenters.
I’m showing my age, but THIS is the guy I remember as the host of Mutual of Omaha’s “Wild Kingdom”:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlin_Perkins
http://lefthandutes.com/index.html
For you El Camino fans, and for the wagon livers, look closely at those available wagons!
Bruce
Great article & photos!
One minor nit… while the ‘69 to ‘72 hardtop Chevelles “lost” their vent windows, the El Caminos (and the post sedans?) kept them.
The main way I can tell a ‘68 from a ‘69 is by the grille. Even as a kid, I thought the 68 grille looked kinda flat. The ‘69 grille has a more attractive three-dimensional appearance.
PRNDL, thank you for the correction! I learned something new today (how do you like that?). And I also prefer the ’69 grille.
PRNDL, your right, in 1969 the 2-door hardtops lost the vent windows, but all 4-doors, station wagons and El Camainos kept them until 1972. 1969 Chevelle 2-door post coupes also had vent windows.
The advertising for these hybrid trucks always shows a construction manager or architect at an active construction site. Sometimes hard hats are worn. In real life I never saw one used as a beast of burden as a normal full sized truck would do a better job. In my younger days I always perceived these Utes as a lifestyle vehicle. Usually driven by younger males (always thought that they were probably single) that would carry around a dirt bike, auto parts, camping gear or even scuba diving tanks.
Later when I was in my 40’s I started noticing how many middle aged men drove these. The Caminos or Rancheros, were usually in immaculate shape with a nice set of wheels. I have a couple of older guys around my neighborhood that fit that demographic. One has a ’75 and the other has a smaller ’80’s model. Now fancy full size quad cab trucks seem to fill this niche. My Dad even had a ’59 Chevy Camino for awhile back in the late 70’s. He found that it just wasn’t as versatile as his station wagons, which he always preferred.
This kind of reminds me of the current preference for a SUV versus a minivan. The SUV, like the El Camino/Ranchero, is much more ‘sporty’ than a sensible-shoes minivan. But to anyone who really understands practicality, a minivan is infinitely preferable.
Unfortunately, unlike the El Camino, the SUV craze shows no sign of abating, and minivan sales are down.
El Camino does not mean ‘the road’, it means ‘she goes’
That would be “ella va”, if Google translator is correct.
Uhmmmm…. no (to seppi)
https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/el%20camino
That would mean that a LOT (all) of the ‘El Camino Real’ signs on California roads are wrong 🙂 California gets a lot wrong, but they’re right on this one.
Count me as one who prefers the ’68 grille. But I *adore* the canted ’68-69 Chevelle front end and would take one of either.
Tough call between the ice cream and the El Camino….but I’ll take this El Camino tonight. Always been a fan of the El Camino, because it was different and (confidently) American.
Nice post Joe, and interesting to hear your take on the business trip off-duty time options.
Great write-up, photos and find Joe. I always enjoy your posts, and this particular El Camino looks great. I always thought that the 68 grille was a nice evolution of the ’66 grille design. The ’67 seemed to be kind of a brief digression in grille designs, while the 66, 68 and 69 are all very evolutionary.
Glad you enjoy coming to our fair city, and thank you for the nice writeup! We do have quite a few great CCs, like this neat ’68 El Camino, here in Omaha and a thriving car scene. As our climate forces us, along with our fun cars, into virtual hibernation for about 5 months out of the year, we want to get them out and enjoy them during the warmer months. If you’re in Omaha over a weekend there are several good cars n’ coffee venues, too.
I absolutely love your city. You should be very proud. I had myself convinced a few years ago that I would visit Omaha for an extended weekend getaway versus just for business travel.
I have seen many CCs in Omaha out and about over the years. It’s funny, when I’ll be riding shotgun with the marketing guy and I’ll see a cool, classic car or truck and scramble to find my phone or camera to get some fleeting shot of it. 🙂
Love the phrase about the El Camino being an “automotive equivalent of a mullet”. There is a great episode of “King of the Hill” when the unbearable yuppie Laotian neighbor becomes a red neck – one of the first things he does is trade in his minivan for an El Camino.
One way to spot a ‘69 ‘A’ body Chevy El Camino or Wagon is the side marker light. While the wrap-around taillights didn’t change from ‘68 -‘72, for some reason the ‘69s features an addition of a redundant side marker light. The second advert you included in your article is interesting because it shows a side marker light for the all new ‘68 El Camino, even though the car sold lacked one in back.
Thanks, everyone! This essay may mark the shortest amount of time from between when I first photographed a vehicle and wrote it up for CC. Have a great rest of your week.