Introduced for the 1959 model year, the Chevy El Camino was the Bow Tie’s response to the Ford Ranchero. The El Camino was built on General Motors’ B-body platform, utilizing the Safety-Girder X-Frame from the Chevy station wagons. The El Camino would only be produced for a couple of years before being put on hiatus until the 1964 model year. When it returned, the El Camino would utilize the same underpinnings and front body panels as the mid-size Chevelle station wagon. El Caminos would continue to be based on Chevelles through the 1977 model year.
The Chevy Chevelle and Chevy El Camino were completely redesigned for 1973, with a more flowing fastback roofline and reinforced B-pillars for the Chevelle in preparation to meet coming federal rollover guidelines. Thinner A-pillars made for better outward vision. The El Camino got its own unique roofline, the new sculpted fenders front and rear, new grille, more rounded bodywork and tailgate. Front bumpers had impact-absorbing hydraulics behind them. Wheel track was an inch wider in both the front and rear, and front disc brakes were standard equipment. The frame was stiffer, wheels were wider, and the rear axle was beefier. The base El Camino and SS trims shared appointments with the Chevelle Malibu. Released for 1974, the El Camino Classic would share its interior and exterior trim with the Malibu Classic. Swivel bucket seats were an available option.
The base engine for the 1973 Chevy El Camino was a 370 cubic-inch V8 fed by a two-barrel carb and making 115 horsepower. Optional engines included a 145-horsepower, 350 cube Small Block with a two-barrel carb, a 350 with a four-barrel carb that made 175 horsepower, or a 454 Big Block with a four-barrel that put out 245 ponies. The standard gearbox was a three-speed manual, although a four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic could be had.
The 1975 Chevy El Camino received a new grille, a quieter ride courtesy of suspension upgrades, and standard radial tires. The options list included cruise control, intermittent wipers, and dual remote mirrors. The throes of emissions standards hit the 1975 El Camino hard. The standard powerplant was the 250 cubic-inch inline six that made just 105 horsepower. The mighty 454 Big Block had been neutered to just 215 horsepower, and was not offered in California due to emissions. The four-speed manual transmission left the options list.
Our feature 1975 Chevy El Camino has been the subject of a recently completed restoration with some modifications performed. It is finished in Emerald Green Metallic with a green vinyl roof and SS stripes. The truck bed is covered with a spray-on bedliner. The headlights have been converted to LEDs. The interior is finished in Buckskin vinyl, and features factory air conditioning, power steering, power brakes with front discs, Dakota Digital dash, tilt steering column, and an upgraded Bluetooth sound system with Kicker amplifier and speakers. The El Camino is powered by a 350 cubic-inch Small Block with a four-barrel carb, exhaust headers, dual exhaust, and is backed by a three-speed automatic transmission. Service records, owner’s manual, warranty booklet, and build documentation are included in the sale.
This freshly restored El Camino will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Kansas City event taking place November 30th to December 2nd.
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Comments
Nice machine.
Base 370 cid motor?
307 cid
I believe the 307 ended production in 71 or 72
According to Wikipedia, (and my own recollection)
“The 307 2-barrel V8 with 115 hp (86 kW) was the base engine. Options included a 350 2-barrel V8 with 145 hp (108 kW), a 350 4-barrel V8 with 175 hp (130 kW), and a 454 4-barrel V8 with 245 hp (183 kW).”
I think the 370 was just a typo that decent editing should have caught before publishing.
They didn’t mention the 400 small block. I had a 76 with that motor. It came factory installed. The 400 was more tourqe than the 350 but the 350 would eventually out rev the 400. It came with the 4bbl Quadrajet and would offer much better torque and fuel milage. Mine with a fresh tune up offered 24 highway if you behaved yourself.
According to elcaminos.com the last year the 307 was available was 1973.
This one has a 350 C I D engine in it. “The El Camino is powered by a 350 cubic-inch Small Block with a four-barrel carb, exhaust headers, dual exhaust, ” This is very nice , I wouldn’t mind calling it mine .
Looks OK but I’ll keep the one I have.
These cars also had re-enforcing support bars located in the engine bay… were they removed?
I’ve seen that happen a number of times. They pulled when the engine is removed and who ever did it was too lazy to put them back. They are there for a reason.
Absolutely a typo on the 370 ….. still a real nice ride….. the color combo is sweet. I really like the magnum style wheels. I would be more than happy to drive it to the local cruise night. A head Turner at minimum. I’m sure there will be 1000 people that disagree.
OK gentlemen. Look at this logically.
Pretty simple. There were only three years that proclaimed the El Camino a member of the solid hard body “Hot Rods”.
This is not one of those.
Speak for yourself, Billy. Any one of them is what you make it into. Hot Rodding is taking something that is not necessarily at the peak of it’s performance and then making it so. I currently have a 75 factory 454 Elky, that I bought new, and a 1985 SS Elky with a built 350. Neither one is anything to sneeze at. And one of the other Elkys that I no longer have was another 1975 Conquista with a built 400 sbc but I had an L82 Corvette motor in it while building the 400. It ran very strong with either of those.
I like the motor it looks like my lowrider 1977 pontic grand prix