Is it a truck? Or is it a car? Chevrolet’s El Camino—spanish for
“the path”—seems to have always had somewhat of a hard time finding its
own path, but for no real valid reason.
Despite always being based on a passenger-car platform, GM categorized the El Camino (and subsequent GMC Caballero) as a truck. And rightfully so—they’ve got beds … albeit, much like Australian Utes, integrated beds. But for many a die-hard classic truck enthusiast, the Elcos, and their model inspiration Ford Rancheros, don’t quite fit into their utilitarian cliques.
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A Line-X franchisee by day (probably a little obvious by the
images) in Wichita, Kansas, Yelveerton initially acquired the El Camino
via eBay. With the help of Pedigo Performance and Devlin’s Rod and
Custom, he was able to turn out quite the eye-catcher in the span of
three years.
“I can load my race tires, BBQ grill, and a cooler in the back and head to the track without needing a trailer. What more can you ask for? It looks cool, is fun to drive—more fun to drive ‘fast’ (the look on the face of the guy in his brand-new Mustang as you pass him in something older than he is, is priceless)—and it’s tax deductible!”
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Despite always being based on a passenger-car platform, GM categorized the El Camino (and subsequent GMC Caballero) as a truck. And rightfully so—they’ve got beds … albeit, much like Australian Utes, integrated beds. But for many a die-hard classic truck enthusiast, the Elcos, and their model inspiration Ford Rancheros, don’t quite fit into their utilitarian cliques.
Bottom line, and all that really matters, is that
for owners such as Bob Yelveerton, the El Camino is one of Chevy’s
highest achievements—in either category. Bob’s ’65 is a prime example of
a super clean restomod, with a heavy lean on the Pro Touring influence
underneath.
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“As a die-hard muscle car guy, I decided an El
Camino would allow me to build a multi-purpose car that could be a shop
truck, run the drags, or do the twists and turns (let me tell you—15
minutes on a road course is much more intense than 10 seconds at the
drags, and it will flat wear you out!). It had been a dedicated drag car
when I bought it and was undriveable on the street,” Bob recounted.
Subsequently, the ’65 was rebuilt three times. The first, obviously,
to make it streetable. The second time to replace and update a blown
transmission as well as redo the interior. The third, and final
go-around, however, was the full Monty. “I got the Pro Touring bug after
I shattered the 700-R4 trans. We completely tore it down, added the
touring suspension, new Moser rearend, a manual-reverse valvebody Turbo
400 backed by a Gear Vendors under/overdrive, big Baer brake system,
modern lighting, and lined the entire engine compartment with Line-X.
The engine was not producing enough vacuum for the brakes, so we
installed a CPP HydraStop system and a Lee power steering box. “I can load my race tires, BBQ grill, and a cooler in the back and head to the track without needing a trailer. What more can you ask for? It looks cool, is fun to drive—more fun to drive ‘fast’ (the look on the face of the guy in his brand-new Mustang as you pass him in something older than he is, is priceless)—and it’s tax deductible!”
We couldn’t agree more—what more can you ask for?!
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| Tech Check | |
| Owner: | Bob Yelveerton, Wichita, Kansas |
| Vehicle: | 1965 Chevy El Camino |
| Engine | |
| Type: | ’09 GM 502 by Pedigo Performance |
| Displacement: | 502 ci |
| Cylinder Heads: | GM aluminum, ported |
| Rotating Assembly: | GM |
| Valvetrain: | COMP Cams |
| Camshaft: | COMP Thumper |
| Induction: | Edelbrock Air-Gap manifold; ProForm 750-cfm carb |
| Ignition: | MSD electronic |
| Accessories: | Vintage Air FrontRunner accessory drive |
| Exhaust: | Ceramic-coated long-tube headers |
| Drivetrain | |
| Transmission: | GM TH400 manual-reverse valvebody; Gear Vendors under/overdrive |
| Rear Axle: | 12-bolt Posi, 3.73 limited-slip |
| Chassis | |
| Suspension Installer: | Savitsky Classics and Customs |
| Brakes: | Baer 13-inch rotors |
| Rear Suspension: | lowered coils, Bilstein shocks |
| Brakes: | Baer 10-inch rotors |
| Wheels & Tires | |
| Wheels: | Bonspeed; 18x8 front, 18x9.5 rear |
| Tires: | Falken; 245/40 front, 285/40 rear |
| Interior | |
| Upholstery: | By owner |
| Material: | Black vinyl |
| Seats: | ProCar |
| Dash/console: | Stock / Custom by owner |
| Steering wheel/column: | Grant / ididit |
| Instrumentation: | Auto Meter Carbon |
| Air conditioning: | Vintage Air |
| Exterior | |
| Paint: | PPG Yellow |
| Grille: | Stock |
| Hood: | Cowl induction |
| Bumpers: | Stock |
| Extras: | Line-X’d bed and engine compartment |
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