Joe bought this 1970 El Camino as a replacement for his Ford F150. He had gone to the dealership to take a look at new F150’s and got sticker shock at the $50k+ price tags.
He has always had a soft spot for 1970 El Caminos over his life and has many fond memories of El Caminos from his younger days. Ever since he first saw his best friend’s dad in a Forest Green 1970 El Camino loaded with a large redwood picnic table. He recalls cruising up and down Main street on Friday nights all summer long. He even took his then-girlfriend now-wife of 45+ years on one of their first dates in that very same El Camino.
Joe found this 1970 El Camino survivor is relatively good shape, wearing the original Sea Mist Green color and with a GM crate motor installed. He set to work beginning the restoration process with the interior and other minor commodities. He had all of the interior stripped from the 1970 El Camino and in the garage while the El Camino was in the driveway. Then disaster struck.
He was hit with a destructive house fire, which unfortunately laid claim to Joe’s 1970 El Camino pretty badly. While the house was being rebuilt the El Camino was stored at a friend’s body shop where the rest of the work could be performed. As the job got underway and various body panels were replaced, the decision was made to repaint the exterior in Cranberry Red. Now that the El Camino had a fresh coat of paint, it was too nice not to give it new chrome trim, bumpers, weatherstripping, the works.
Joe sourced a GM crate 350 small block and a new TH350 transmission for the rebuild, and of course a dual exhaust system to let everyone hear the new engine. Exterior mods include a tonneau cover and some classic Cragar wheels with T/A Radial tires. Inside the cabin sits a Dakota Digital SS dash gauge package.
“When she came home we took her out for a ride and people went wild, we could not drive down the street with out getting honked at thumb up, lights flashed. When we stopped people wanted to talk to us about her.”
Joe started to attend local car shows and cruises after getting the 1970 El Camino back in shape, something that he had never done before. On his first time at a local show n shine event, the El Camino took home the People’s Choice award. Joe’s wife was immediately hooked.
The pair plan to continue driving and showing the El Camino at various events around the country, and they will be driving it the whole way to wherever their destination may be.
“The car is 100% drivable. It is just not 100% parkable. It draws to much attention! You just can’t always keep and eye on it or find a good place to park it. We have good insurance so when we go on a trip we are not worried about it getting stolen but we want it to be safe.”
