Wow! I can't believe all the hard work that went into all of this for the internets viewing pleasure. You have my thanks. I've always loved old car commercials and the el camino holds a special place in my heart still today. My first car was an 85 el camino and I currently own a 77. Good Job!
Thank you for the compliment. Since projecting them to a local audience doesn’t bring much attention anymore, this is my way of sharing. In my area when I do a live show I will be lucky to get a dozen people to watch them.
"The tailgate latch is outside, can't be blocked by shifting cargo as it might if located inside." And what does the El Camino the next generation after this one feature? A latch inside the tailgate.
Based on the station wagon frame chassis. If you remove the bolted down access hatch in the bed you can see the rear passenger station wagon seatbelt bolt holes. The doors are the same as the 2 door Malibu / Chevelle with a window change out.
The Collonades are the best driving cars GM has manufactured, allthough the quality went out the Window... Used to own a 1973 Buick Century gran sport with Buicks fantastic 455 cui engine... Just awesome...
I really enjoyed this cool video. Those car-trucks were the predecessor to today's Honda Ridgeline, Ford Ranger, etc. Definitely vintage film. You could order one with a big block in this old era. The big 454
Another great blast from the past upload of yours! Fast forward to today, you just don't see many of them at Cruise Night's or Judged Shows. Technically, since it's only a two-seater, you might say that the El Camino was America's second Sports Car.😉 I didn't realize these later models also had air ride in the back. Cool!👍 On a trivia note, do you know what the first year of the El Camino was? 1959. THOSE you never see. I had a '67 back in the day with a "worked" 327. I sure do I wish I had it today. I actually sold it so that I could buy my first new C3. A 1971 Coupe. Wish I still had THAT today as well. Now I wish I had a C8! But as the saying goes, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. I'll just continue to enjoy my C6. Well done on this video! Save the Wave👋
thanks, glad you are enjoying my channel. I have a large collection of films of all types. not very many of these films have been uploaded yet. of these dealership films, I own about 200 so many more to come
Definitely cool! That engine, which I had in my '59 Impala, was known as the "Stone Crusher." And boy, when you kicked in those 3-2's, you could really hear the WHOOOOOMP!. Take off the air-cleaners and the noise was even louder. I ran D/S with my '59. Yeah, I'm older than dirt, but some of us ole guys still have a few tricks up our sleeves. As long as it's on nothing newer than maybe 1975 or so.😉Save the Wave👋
These were really well designed, better than I thought. A very neat design. I'd have bought one! I wonder why car-based pickups fell out of favor in the US? They remained popular in Australia, like the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon utes, and remained as two door regular cabs with seating for two. We're starting to see car (or Crossover based) pickups make a comeback, like the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick but with shorter beds and four door, five passenger cabs, making them more practical for families, though I don't think many of them will actually be used as trucks.
@@miguelcastaneda7236 Nice! Yeah I've seen car based pickups or just smaller unibody and I think FWD pickups popular in other countries too. Seems South America gets a lot of these cool little trucks too.
@@theemulsionalchemist5688 That would be a really cool ute! You've probably seen the Smyth ute conversion kits for VWs and several other vehicles. I wouldn't mind a Golf TDi ute myself!
The El Camino was a fairly easy and cost-effective way for Chevy to explore a new market. It's basically a modified Chevy wagon, so it cut development and build costs down. I've never actually seen anyone haul anything in the back of one, though. I'm sure it's happened, I just haven't seen it
My 86 is a daily driver with over 300,000 on the drivetrain. I routinely load up the back with mulch, and trash to take to the dump. I get head turns all the time. I'm not sure if they are surprised to see a 35 y/o truck doing daily chore work, or the fact that " I'm using " a 35 y/o truck to do daily chore work. Either way, I truly enjoy my daily ride.
I had a 1975 El Camino. I put a set of Moog progressive cargo coil springs in the back. They were nice. I liked that vehicle. In NY, the rust started getting at it too much. Sold it.
I had a chance to buy one of these. It was only a year old. It was also a 75. Green with tan interior. Auto, air, am/fm. I don't think it had cruise but it had the 454 cu in engine and I was afraid of the poor gas mileage. I'm still sorry I didn't get it because I ended up getting an Olds Delta 88 Royal with the 455.
This was kind of neat, thank you for uploading. I own one, and let me tell you, that famous Chevrolet reliability... Is a total crock. But I enjoy driving it all the same.
That's one of the most unintentionally entertaining parts of these old car promos. They tout the anticorrosion measures used on the very same cars that seem incomplete and unfinished without rusty body panels. If a Malaise Era car model does not seem synonymous with rust, it's probably because it was so unreliable that it just didn't make it long enough for rust to become an issue. For example, I don't recall seeing that many rusted out early 1980s X body cars.
I never knew the air shocks were factory. way cool. those were good driving cars. the motor sat pretty far back in the frame. I'm sure a sb 400 was a option.
Not a fan of this particular bodystyle but I am a BIG fan of the coupe utility concept. Disgusting how the big two manipulated the market into killing it off. Life would be easier for lots of people if we could still purchase ElCaminos, Rancheros, BRATs, Rampage, Caddy, etc but the manufacturers, the ego of the American male, and the "free market" won't allow it. Maverick seems like a decent vehicle but it's a halfhearted gesture from my perspective
i wonder how was the price compared to the normal coupe? i bet it was more expensive because its based on the wagon. and honestly the wagon propably was the smarter purchase, with not much hauling capacity lost.
Mechanically they were a huge improvement over 1973-74. The catalytic converter and HEI were definitely a step in the right direction, but the engines were still emasculated by traditional standards. I much preferred the styling of the 70-72 El Camino to the bloated 73-77 models. I particularly disliked the rear end design of both the El Camino and the Malibu wagons. They were decent vehicles considering the times, though. TIP: Keep a spare HEI ignition module and some basic tools in the vehicle, based on my experience you are going to need them!
@@theemulsionalchemist5688 My 72’ built in Van Nuys, Ca Never left the state. Rust issues. Same with my 75 El Dorado convertible & 72 VW Fastback California has hot/cold=condensate=H20 👉🏽”Metal” RUSTS if not maintained, -OUT OF ELEMENTS💡
GM managed to combine the worst of both car and truck into one terrible vehicle. Minimal space and cargo capacity, ugly as sin, poor gas mileage and performance. Little wonder that Toyota and Honda owned the US car market ten years later.
Seeing this makes me happy I got my own 73 El Camino
72’ 😎
I have a 73 as well
Wow! I can't believe all the hard work that went into all of this for the internets viewing pleasure. You have my thanks. I've always loved old car commercials and the el camino holds a special place in my heart still today. My first car was an 85 el camino and I currently own a 77. Good Job!
Thank you for the compliment. Since projecting them to a local audience doesn’t bring much attention anymore, this is my way of sharing. In my area when I do a live show I will be lucky to get a dozen people to watch them.
When I was a kid, an old guy across the street had one. It was green with faux wood grain on the side. I thought it was so cool.
too bad most of these are now gone, a few still left
I had a 1977 El Camino
"The tailgate latch is outside, can't be blocked by shifting cargo as it might if located inside." And what does the El Camino the next generation after this one feature? A latch inside the tailgate.
Based on the station wagon frame chassis. If you remove the bolted down access hatch in the bed you can see the rear passenger station wagon seatbelt bolt holes. The doors are the same as the 2 door Malibu / Chevelle with a window change out.
they reused and adapted so many parts, same today
The Collonades are the best driving cars GM has manufactured, allthough the quality went out the Window...
Used to own a 1973 Buick Century gran sport with Buicks fantastic 455 cui engine...
Just awesome...
Buick GS!!!, on my list of cars I would love to have
I love them!
That sound absorbing insulation really works! Drowns his wife right out. Beautiful.
i can use some to block all the noise from my kinds
I really enjoyed this cool video. Those car-trucks were the predecessor to today's Honda Ridgeline, Ford Ranger, etc. Definitely vintage film. You could order one with a big block in this old era. The big 454
Another great blast from the past upload of yours! Fast forward to today, you just don't see many of them at Cruise Night's or Judged Shows. Technically, since it's only a two-seater, you might say that the El Camino was America's second Sports Car.😉 I didn't realize these later models also had air ride in the back. Cool!👍 On a trivia note, do you know what the first year of the El Camino was? 1959. THOSE you never see. I had a '67 back in the day with a "worked" 327. I sure do I wish I had it today. I actually sold it so that I could buy my first new C3. A 1971 Coupe. Wish I still had THAT today as well. Now I wish I had a C8! But as the saying goes, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. I'll just continue to enjoy my C6. Well done on this video! Save the Wave👋
How dare they not put down a blanket first! This is abuse.
@@wheelie642 🤣🤣 Agreed!
thanks, glad you are enjoying my channel. I have a large collection of films of all types. not very many of these films have been uploaded yet. of these dealership films, I own about 200 so many more to come
My Dad ran a '59 El Camino 4 speed with a 348 and 3 2bbl in Super Stock in 1959.
Definitely cool! That engine, which I had in my '59 Impala, was known as the "Stone Crusher." And boy, when you kicked in those 3-2's, you could really hear the WHOOOOOMP!. Take off the air-cleaners and the noise was even louder. I ran D/S with my '59. Yeah, I'm older than dirt, but some of us ole guys still have a few tricks up our sleeves. As long as it's on nothing newer than maybe 1975 or so.😉Save the Wave👋
Never knew there was a swivel seat option
you and me both
Yup. It was also optional on the Chevelle and the Monte Carlo.
These were really well designed, better than I thought. A very neat design. I'd have bought one! I wonder why car-based pickups fell out of favor in the US? They remained popular in Australia, like the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon utes, and remained as two door regular cabs with seating for two. We're starting to see car (or Crossover based) pickups make a comeback, like the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick but with shorter beds and four door, five passenger cabs, making them more practical for families, though I don't think many of them will actually be used as trucks.
Right on
Right now in mexico companies use it for proveing grounds dodge..chevy nissan..all are running a mini truck version of el camino right now
@@miguelcastaneda7236 Nice! Yeah I've seen car based pickups or just smaller unibody and I think FWD pickups popular in other countries too. Seems South America gets a lot of these cool little trucks too.
there are many ute conversions. i want a tdi golf ute.
@@theemulsionalchemist5688 That would be a really cool ute! You've probably seen the Smyth ute conversion kits for VWs and several other vehicles. I wouldn't mind a Golf TDi ute myself!
Stuntman from neutraldrop stopped by @ 6:07 to demonstrate a no mercy Reversie
It's good that it was drunk tested because that was the intended market.
The El Camino was a fairly easy and cost-effective way for Chevy to explore a new market. It's basically a modified Chevy wagon, so it cut development and build costs down. I've never actually seen anyone haul anything in the back of one, though. I'm sure it's happened, I just haven't seen it
Hauled a upright grand piano
I’m sure many a keg of beer has been hauled in the beds of El Caminos
My 86 is a daily driver with over 300,000 on the drivetrain. I routinely load up the back with mulch, and trash to take to the dump.
I get head turns all the time.
I'm not sure if they are surprised to see a 35 y/o truck doing daily chore work,
or the fact that " I'm using " a 35 y/o truck to do daily chore work.
Either way, I truly enjoy my daily ride.
I had a 1975 El Camino. I put a set of Moog progressive cargo coil springs in the back. They were nice. I liked that vehicle. In NY, the rust started getting at it too much. Sold it.
I had a chance to buy one of these. It was only a year old. It was also a 75. Green with tan interior. Auto, air, am/fm. I don't think it had cruise but it had the 454 cu in engine and I was afraid of the poor gas mileage. I'm still sorry I didn't get it because I ended up getting an Olds Delta 88 Royal with the 455.
This was kind of neat, thank you for uploading. I own one, and let me tell you, that famous Chevrolet reliability... Is a total crock. But I enjoy driving it all the same.
glad you are enjoying these films
Anybody else thought that was Meadow Soprano in the thumbnail too? 😂
doppelganger
I love El Caminos. Can not understand why GM stopped making them.
Because GM has had idiot CEOS for decades now. Since the late 80s.
All Chevy nice !!!!
Sure is!
They all dip the vehicles in the solution for rust protection but it don't really work because they still rust
That's one of the most unintentionally entertaining parts of these old car promos. They tout the anticorrosion measures used on the very same cars that seem incomplete and unfinished without rusty body panels. If a Malaise Era car model does not seem synonymous with rust, it's probably because it was so unreliable that it just didn't make it long enough for rust to become an issue. For example, I don't recall seeing that many rusted out early 1980s X body cars.
I never knew the air shocks were factory. way cool. those were good driving cars. the motor sat pretty far back in the frame. I'm sure a sb 400 was a option.
Me neither.
My 1975 El Camino had the 400 small block. Good snappy engine. Some people were surprised how quick that car was.
Very cool
I own a 76
glad you enjoyed
Not a fan of this particular bodystyle but I am a BIG fan of the coupe utility concept. Disgusting how the big two manipulated the market into killing it off. Life would be easier for lots of people if we could still purchase ElCaminos, Rancheros, BRATs, Rampage, Caddy, etc but the manufacturers, the ego of the American male, and the "free market" won't allow it. Maverick seems like a decent vehicle but it's a halfhearted gesture from my perspective
there are ute conversions for many modern vehicles outside of the US.
I had a Rampage lol.
Open rear dif for sure in the Camino doing a burnout
i wonder how was the price compared to the normal coupe? i bet it was more expensive because its based on the wagon. and honestly the wagon propably was the smarter purchase, with not much hauling capacity lost.
Me gusta la camioneta
That's Spanish for .. "The Camino."
Its actually Spanish for The Way!
El burrito
Imagine an SS El Camino in 1970 - with a Copo ordered 454 LS6
and they were built
Now thats a High 6 figure car $$
with the classic car market what it is today, I wish I had a time machine and a boat load of cash
It was a RPO no COPO's by 1970.
Rather have my normal Ole 72’ Elco Custom
I can do whatever I want.
Currently looking for a big block 472.
SS, COPO, YENKO?
They won’t want my smoke.
6:10 WHATS IT GOT STUNTMAN
Mechanically they were a huge improvement over 1973-74. The catalytic converter and HEI were definitely a step in the right direction, but the engines were still emasculated by traditional standards. I much preferred the styling of the 70-72 El Camino to the bloated 73-77 models. I particularly disliked the rear end design of both the El Camino and the Malibu wagons. They were decent vehicles considering the times, though.
TIP: Keep a spare HEI ignition module and some basic tools in the vehicle, based on my experience you are going to need them!
I like the earlier years too. I am sure they had a hard time deciding on how to improve the looks
Rather have a 72 and before Don't really care for this style
Same here mate.
Mine is 72’😎
these were heavy........
Power steering is standard...on most models 😂 What does that mean..
the base model with a 6 had power steering optional
Bought 1 in 77 It was a year old by 1978 it was all rusted out
you must not live in California
@@theemulsionalchemist5688
My 72’ built in Van Nuys, Ca
Never left the state.
Rust issues.
Same with my 75 El Dorado convertible
&
72 VW Fastback
California has hot/cold=condensate=H20
👉🏽”Metal” RUSTS if not maintained,
-OUT OF ELEMENTS💡
اللهم صل وسلم وبارك على عبدك ورسولك محمدﷺ
GM managed to combine the worst of both car and truck into one terrible vehicle. Minimal space and cargo capacity, ugly as sin, poor gas mileage and performance. Little wonder that Toyota and Honda owned the US car market ten years later.
Boy are you wrong about that.