The folks behind Holley’s official YouTube channel had the chance to catch up with the owner of a lifted 1970 Chevy El Camino at the recent 19th Annual Holley National Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, Kentucky, who revealed some rather interesting details about the unique build, which he and a friend first started way back in the 1980s.
The owner of this attention-grabbing Chevy El Camino, Kentucky native Charlie Tatum, said he acquired it from a friend in the mid-1980s as a partially completed project. It rides on a half-ton Chevy truck frame that has been cut down to fit the shorter El Camino body and features working four-wheel-drive. Under the hood sits a 454 cubic inch Big Block lifted from a 1971 Chevelle, which is paired with a TH350 transmission. This combination may not make for the most powerful or most impressive powertrain, however Tatum says he wanted to retain the vehicle’s drivability.
“It is true 4×4, fully functional, take it in the mud, snow, wherever you want to take it,” he said. “I like something that you can drive, I don’t like having to put it on a trailer and having to take it everywhere.”
While this Chevy El Camino has no trouble turning heads at car shows, Tatum said that kids and younger car enthusiasts are naturally drawn to the bright yellow, monster truck-style two-door.
“The little ones really love it, because you know Monster Trucks got real popular when we were doing it,” he said. “To them it is a monster truck, so they get a real kick out of it.”
“It turns into a real conservation piece, kids are enjoying it, my grand kids are enjoying it.”
Hear what else Tatum had to say about his unique Chevy Chevelle in the video embedded below.
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Comments
GM should bring the El Camino back. I know a lot of people want the S10 to return and GM probably feels that it would eat into Colorado/ Canyon production. But a two door two seat El Camino would be a nice niche. I hate to say it but even if they have to make it an EV.
Doesn’t get any more Red neck then that. El Caminos probably would do good with All these different truck sizes coming back.
I’ve seen many Car coversions over the years. The El Camino, is the only one that looks almost natural. All the others look like crap. This one is done up pretty well. Including the Big Block. My ’69 Chevelle SS. is the exact same special order color. By the way, this is a “69 body, not a”70.
I thought so too, given the body lines but the builder / owner says in the video that it’s a ’70 body with a ’69 front end. I too had a ’69 Chevelle I dropped a 350 hp, 350 cid motor into and a well beefed up TH400 behind it. Mine came with the 307 boat achor motor. Should have hung onto that car.
Sorry. Not a 69 or 70. This is 1968 sheet metal.
Sheet metal body lines were identical for ’68 and ’69. The only tell tale difference to distinguish the 2 was the ’69 had the front marker lights inside the wide opening across the bumper’s centre whereas the ’68 had 2 little cut outs near the corner of the bumper that the marker lights were mounted into. Those holes were the same size as the marker lights.
Remember when year to year styling changes were like this and everyone knew exactly what model and year they were looking at. I don’t have a clue what any cars on the road are anymore. Trucks I do to a small amount but can’t tell you what specific year it is.
I agree that it’s likely not a ’70 as it doesn’t seem to have the right body lines. But you would think that guy that co-built it with his buddy would know for sure. ’70 to ’72 had the same lines with front fascia being different as was the rear bumper. ’73 is when they all got ugly and nobody cared anymore.