’68-to-‘70 Chevy El Camino SS
source: Wikimedia
Like it or not, the Chevy El Camino car-truck-thing is a stunning muscle car… truck-thing. We never said that any of the vehicles on this list had to be just cars, ya know. But in all seriousness, the El Camino took a design that Ford basically botched (also see: Ranchero) and made it wildly popular. This utilitarian hybrid was rolled off Chevy’s factory floor in 1959, receiving positive acclaim.
Interestingly, the El Camino was built on one of Chevy’s station wagon platforms, so it technically was never a truck – unless you consider the open bed a qualifying attribute. Nonetheless, the El Camino provided the farm owner with a convenient workhorse that could also double as a family sedan for Sunday church. The El Camino won over buyers because of its long list of available options. Chevy made sure that prospective buyers could pick from any of the company’s available drivetrains.
That’s good news, because Chevy transformed the El Camino from a dual-purpose mover to a stunning muscle car in 1968, slapping that iconic “SS” badge on the rear end. Introduced as the third generation of the El Camino, the ’68 Super Sport boasted the classic 396 motor, which actually displaced 402 cubic inches.
source: Flickr
Outside, the third-gen El Camino had some sporty and fastback-inspired design elements. Chevy’s designers borrowed heavily from the Chevelle, knowing the muscle car craze would appeal to owners who still valued the Camino’s open cab access and truck-like utility. The SS396 received special attention, sporting a double-domed hood, a blacked out grille and plenty of chrome up front and in the rear. Power windows and locks were made optional, a luxury at the time.
Inside, the El Camino received cloth and vinyl or all-vinyl seats with deep carpeting. Bucket seats and a vinyl-adorned center console were made optional for $111, and performance-minded buyers could receive power front disc brakes and a Posi rear.
Perhaps what made the third-generation El Camino SS an amazing vehicle was the rarely-built by highly collectible (and insanely powerfully) LS6-equipped model, made available in 1970. The lucky few who got their hands on a 454 El Camino would enjoy well over 450 horses and over 500 torques, making the quarter mile with low 13’s, trapping around 108 mph.
In truth, not much more needs to be said. This pickup-muscle car, mated with the venerable 396 and monstrous 454 says enough. We’ll let the pictures do the talking. It’s avant-garde and frankly, strangely stunning.
