The SS versions were given six-inch wheels. The hood was stretched and could accommodate larger engines, such as the newly introduced Super Sport SS396. The El Camino now rode upon a 4-door station-wagon Chevelle wheelbase. The third generation of the El Camino, lasting from 1968 through 1972, brought about many mechanical and styling changes. This allowed the adjustment of the suspension depending on the cargo load. All other El Camino's were given air-adjustable shock absorbers.
A performance suspension was standard equipment for all El Camino's equipped with the powerful 396 cubic-inch engine. A vinyl roof could be ordered as optional equipment. A new grille and bumper adorned the front of the vehicle. The updates mimicked the changes that occurred on the Chevelle. Little was done, or needed, to improve upon the aesthetics of the vehicle. Just over 35,000 examples were produced during the 1966 model year.ġ967 was the final year for the second generation El Camino. Also standard was the Synchro-Mesh three-speed gearbox with the four-speed or two-speed Powerglide automatic available as optional equipment. To keep the vehicle stable at speeds, Chevrolet offered high performance shocks and springs as standard equipment. The horsepower rating skyrocketed to around 350 and gave the vehicle a mid 14 second quarter-mile time. The performance trend continued into 1966 when Chevrolet offered a 396 big-block cubic-inch engine on the El Camino. The small block engine was capable of producing an astonishing 350 horsepower. Performance was given a high priority in 1965 with the introduction of the L79 327 cubic-inch V8 to the El Camino. Horsepower ranged from just under 200 to 250.
Two engines were offered, a 283 and a 327 cubic-inch V8. This time is shared the Chevelle platform and styling. The Ranchero continued to sell well during the early 1960's so Chevrolet decided to reintroduce the El Camino in 1964. This had been unfortunate, especially since the El Camino had undergone extensive styling updates during its second year. The first generation did not achieve the success that the Ford Ranchero had accomplished. A year later sales slumped to 14,163 and Chevrolet made the decision to cancel production. During its introductory year, 22,246 examples were produced. The styling, both interior and exterior, and its platform were courtesy of the Impala. Two years after Ford introduced their Ranchero, Chevrolet introduced the El Camino. The name, El Camino, means 'The Road' in Spanish. The vehicle could be classified as a small car but with a pick-up truck bed. I practiced on my kids' Lowrider bicycles until I felt comfortable enough to try it on my own car.The Chevrolet El Camino was produced from 1959 through 1960 and again from 1964 through 1987.
59 EL CAMINO HORSEPOWER HOW TO
"I started watching YouTube videos and Googling how to use different painting techniques. Even more remarkable, his past experience was with pearl and metallic paint, not candy. "I had painted cars before but only as a hobby, never professionally," he says. His first task was to paint and pattern it a task he took on himself. The El Camino floated around from shop to shop until Ruben brought it home to do work on it. "I also started taking up as many side jobs as I could to be able to build it the way I wanted it," he explains. One day, Ruben decided to commit his whole time to finishing up the El Camino and he knew that the only way to do that was by getting rid of his other projects. I wasn't planning on going as far as I did I just wanted a cruiser." The work on the El Camino was put on hold for two years since he was working on a few other project cars. "I got it running, but only took it for one spin because I always had plans of restoring it. "The El Camino was just sitting on side of the street and my co-worker and I would always say, 'That's my dream car.' One day it had a 'for sale' sign on it, so I took down the number." Ruben called the owner about purchasing the project car, made the deal, and took the car home. "I found my '59 El Camino many years ago, as I would pass by it many times on my daily work route," explains Ruben.
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