El-co Loco: 1979 Chevrolet El Camino
by Cory — The Chevy half car/half pick truck has a pretty loyal following despite not being sold here since 1987. This 1979 Chevrolet El Camino has been given the full on resto-mod treatment for better or for worse and is listed in Jamestown, NY for $13,500. Everyone loves a good LS1 swap here at DT. Equally as many people probably feel the same about the El Camino. Is this a match made in heaven or hell?
The body work has been given Buick Grand National style all black
treatment. Custom touches include shaved door handles, custom C4 vette
tail lights, C5 vette exhaust pipes, and too many emblems to count. The
mix of staggered 18” and 20” inch chrome wheels are a lot more rolling
stock than the original 15”ers.
The most unique aspect to the build is the Ferrari 355 inspired plexiglass hood. Everyone gets a chance to view the Corvette valve covered
LS1 engine doing it thing under the see through hood…before you smoke them with the 300-400 horsepower that the alloy block V8 puts out.
The interior sports a handsome set of late model Cadillac leather seats
and integrated armrest. The rubber floor mats, oddly fabricated center
console, and ghastly billet steering wheel are all not quite as
successful as the seats.
See a more unique engine swap, email tips@dailyturismo.com
Cory is trying to finish off his project 1995 Mercedes E36 wagon
and figure out what to do with his hoard of rare w124 parts.
Stick shifts and safety belts, bucket seats have all got to go.
There's a bunch of reasons I'd never buy this, mostly because I think a truck with shiny paint is hedonistic and wrong. You never want to do anything to a utilitarian vehicle that might make you unwilling to slide an engine hoist in and out of the back. I never got the point of visible engine covers. "Here, take a look at the valve cover-cover". The least they could do is give you a view of some 4-2-1 headers or something.
It's cool though, clearly a lot of work went into it, and I'm sure it gets plenty of attention at whatever cruise-in it goes to. I really appreciate the effort that goes into custom jobs like this, even if it's not to my taste.