1964 Chevrolet El Camino - Car or Truck?

Research. It's always a good thing. Thanks to research, I've finally put to bed the age old question of whether an El Camino is a car or a truck. For the record, in the good state of O-H-I-O and all of Murica, these "coupe utility vehicles" are classified as trucks.

 

 

I know. Weird, right? Especially considering the El Camino was built off car platforms but (sounding like Captain Kirk) who-am-I-to-question-the-all-powerful-and-knowing-BMV? Yes. In Ohio it's the BMV. In New York State it's the DMV. Tomato? Tah-mah-toe?

 

 

 

Car, truck or coupe utility vehicle, an El Camino is whatever you want it to be. There's few vehicles ever made, save for Corvettes, that are as "cool" as a Chevrolet El Camino. BTW, "El Camino" means "the road" in Spanish. See? Research. Always good.

 

Josh Thompson stopped by the station this morning and his record label representation (and ride for the day) was driving Josh around in his this '64 Elkie. Suffice to say, y'all, today did not suck.

 

This black beauty (paint is not original) has lived most of its two passenger life (it has sweet, oh so sweet bucket seats so there's no chance for a third passenger unless you get dangerously creative) down south so despite a scratch or two here and there, there's not a spot of rust anywhere on her. Had she spent any time of up here you know what would've happened to her. Rust, unlike research, is bad. Very, very bad.

 

 

The original 327 V-8 and Powerglide are long gone. In the 327's place is an ample GM "Goodwrench 350" with a 2 barrel carburetor. I'd peg horsepower around 190 and torque peak a manly 275 pound feet at a low, low rpm. Tap the gas and she boot scoots like a jack rabbit. This car truck can move!  No telling what tranny is down there but I'd bet it's the butter smooth, Turbohydramatic 350. Power steering is over boosted but most cars, sorry, trucks back then were. It turns very easily. The brakes are "manual", no power assistance. Drums all around. But of course. Braking is deliberate but they work just fine.

 

 

Watch out, momma! Here I come! Yeeeeee-ha!