Bowing for the 1959 model year, the Chevy El Camino was the Bowtie brand’s response to the Ford Ranchero. The El Camino shared General Motors’ B-Body Safety Girder X-frame platform with the full-size Chevy station wagon. The El Camino would last only two model years before leaving the Chevy lineup, but would return for the 1964 model year, based on the Chevy Chevelle wagon. It continued to be based on Chevelle architecture, mirroring changes in the line until it was discontinued after the 1977 model year. With the advent of the 1978 models, the El Camino was based on the Chevy Malibu/Monte Carlo A-Body platform. The El Camino soldiered on through the 1987 model year.
In 1970, the Chevy El Camino was based on the Chevelle, and as such it shared most of the Chevelle options and packages. When GM lifted their internal rule limiting displacement in mid-size passenger cars to 400 cubic inches, the Chevy boys decided to shoot the moon and drop the Godzilla of Big Blocks into the Chevelle. The LS6 454 became an available option for both the Chevelle and El Camino.
The Chevy LS6 454 was a monstrous engine. The iron-block, iron-head 454 came with 11.25:1 compression, a Holley four-barrel carb that would inhale 800 CFM, a Winters aluminum intake, an aggressive camshaft, solid lifters, and a host of other performance goodies. The LS6 was laughingly underrated at 450 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of asphalt wrinkling torque. One could order a Chevy El Camino with the LS6 backed by either a three-speed Turbo Hydramatic automatic transmission, or with a Muncie four-speed manual gearbox. A cowl induction hood was also available, allowing the Big Block to breathe in a steady diet of cool air. With the advent of federal emissions regulations, economy regulations, and insurance companies that were wary to insure big power factory hot rods, the LS6 454 would last a single production year.
Our feature 1970 Chevy El Camino SS was the subject of a full restoration completed in 2020. Finished in Fathom Blue Metallic over a blue vinyl bench seat interior, it is powered by a 454 cubic-inch LS6 Big Block backed by a Muncie M22 four-speed manual transmission. The El Camino is equipped with a 3.31 Positraction rear end, power brakes with front discs, an AM radio, chrome Muncie floor shifter, SS dash cluster with tachometer and clock, SS steering wheel, SS badging, blacked-out grille, fourteen-inch SS wheels shod in raised white-letter Firestone Wide Oval tires. Unlike most of the El Caminos with the SS package, this one was ordered without the SS stripe package. Included in the sale is the NCRS Shipping Report, build sheet, casting number images, and listing in the LS6 Registry.
This handsome 1970 Chevy El Camino SS LS6 will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their 38th Annual Indy Spring Classic Saturday, May 17th.
Comments
So cool.
Day 1 modification is just screaming for at least a mini-tub. It’s comical what wheels and tires came with some of the beasts.
Such a clean, elegant, and tasteful design and it’s a truck; those words shouldn’t be applied to such a vehicle.
I so miss the days of beautiful vehicles with true choices of color and equipment. In this era one didn’t have to be wealthy to be able to custom-spec a car of their dreams.
Awesome car, and 3:31 gears. How perfect. Most were ordered with much taller gears and, as I well know, scream on the highway. Yes. You would need to put 500lbs. in the back to make any use of that power. I agree that those Goodyears would get peeled off, even with those gears, in about a week. I wouldn’t tub it but a pair of 265 tires would make a world of difference. Yee! Haa! Smoke ’em if ya got em!
This brings back great memories . I had a red on red one in 1973 paid $1750.00 for it but as we know gas was at a all time high and it got 7 mpg on a good day. Traction was nonexistent with tires I had but once you were going nothing could touch it. Wish I had it now.
It will take a serious 6 digit bid to get this truck. Wish that I had it to spend on this.
Bought a 1972 Camino in 1977 to pull a car trailer. Found it comfortable but squirrelly in the rain. Rear quarter and bed rust issues bugged me to the point of unloading it.
Would look great towing a wooden Chris-Craft.