A lot of El Caminos have appeared at CC, but not many in SS guise. Here is a 1970 one, captured by nifticus392 at the Cohort. This generation of El Camino arrived in 1968, and its sharp new styling lasted all the way to 1972. A hood power bulge distinguished the SS from the lesser models, and its performance package was pretty similar to the one found in the Super Sport Chevelle. For 1970, that meant the 396 engine (actually with 402 in.) offered from 350 hp to 375 hp.
Styling for these started in late 1965 at the GM Tech Center in Warren, with George Camp serving as the main stylist. This was the first El Camino that didn’t share the B-pillar and quarter panels with the passenger cars. Thus, stylists had more leeway in creating a shape with a sportier and more unique feel. Period ads sold these as having ‘the look of a sports car and the toughness of a truck.’
El Caminos were models that left me perplexed as a kid in Puerto Rico. And my impressions have changed little since. When it comes to El Camino, two thoughts run simultaneously in my head: “Why would anyone buy such a thing?” Followed two seconds later by: “I want one.”
And people liked what they saw with the ’68-’72 generation. They sold in higher numbers than any prior, with the ’72 topping at a then-record 57,000 units.
Further reading:
Curbside Classic: 1968 Chevrolet El Camino SS396 – Business Up Front…
“….Period ads sold these as having ‘the look of a sports car and the toughness of a truck.’”
But underneath they were just regular Chevelles, right?
Mostly, I think the wheelbase is longer than a coupe.
I owned a 72 and had to… umm.. fix some front-end parts after a little mishap. The Chevelle wagon’s fenders fit, the Malibu did not. Either hood fit. So Chevelle yes, regular not so much.
I had always heard that they were built on a station wagon chassis. Or maybe that was the Ford Ranchero? I have no idea if that is correct.
I knew several people that owned this generation El C. A refrigerator or smaller motorcycle was doable, along with the ever-present rear air shocks.
I believe they were also available with a couple versions of the 454 “Rat Motor” too. I would think a El Camino with the 450 hp LS 6 would be the rarest Chevelle of all.
El Caminos, and Rancheros, for the Blue Oval guys, were very popular with twenty to thirty something males with long hair. A lot of these guys would carry their motorcycle in the back. The same function was later fulfilled by the imported mini truck, if you remember that craze. The El Camino was really more of a lifestyle vehicle than a utility vehicle, but these models were really attractive and very macho. I would imagine that a big block motor in front, combined with the light bed would result in a challenging handing during spirited driving.
The El Camino is the only “crossover” vehicle I could ever see myself in.
If you think about it the El Camino concept lives on in evolved form, and extremely successfully. Modern crewcab trucks pickups with their stubby little beds seemed to me more like a SUV/Truck than a true truck. Only difference between them and the El Camino really, besides the sedan format, is they’re family vehicles with limited truck beds rather than sport coupes with limited truck beds.
That’s a new one, my comment got eaten by Akismet, it came back, I tried to fix a grammar error since I still had a minute to edit it and it got eaten again when I finished! UGH!
That happens occasionally after folks edit comments. Very frustrating – but thanks for letting us know. If we know, we can fish it out of the Spam folder. It’s been restored now.
I lost a comment a few days ago in like manner. No, I can’t remember what I tried to say!
Good grief CC effect going strong on my last wander up our north island I saw 2 El Caminos and one looked like this model, utes were always popular here but often difficult to get and US imports are still popular but unless completely rust free and zero filler almost impossible or hellish expensive to comply