I want a Chevelle. You may want a Chevelle. My wife wants a Chevelle. Everybody I know wants a Chevrolet Chevelle. There’s just one problem: there were only so many produced, only so many remain, and with the newest versions sitting smack-dab at forty years old and the desirable ones closer to fifty years old, finding one that won’t be a five-digit purchase is just about moot. But if you know where to look, occasionally you can find the Chevelle’s work-addict cousin, the El Camino, for a reasonable price. Why, we don’t know, but we aren’t looking a gift horse in the mouth either. The front end of a Chevelle, plus the usefulness of a truck…what isn’t to like? Ok, mullet jokes might get old, but grow some thicker skin if that’s the case.
This 1972 Chevelle is up for $5,000 and yes, that’s every last cent of the Rough Start budget. No, it’s not perfect…there’s some rust in the rear wheelwells and from past experiences with vinyl-topped A-bodies, we aren’t liking that either. But overall, this is a driver quality car, with a pretty decent interior, the typical 350/TH350 combination, air conditioning, and Rally wheels at all four corners. Yes, you’re shelling out big up front, but you’ll drive it away, and with a little work here and there, you aren’t far from a beauty. Save up for the patch panels, hope that under the vinyl roof isn’t too bad, and drive this Elky. The cost is too good to pass up in this case. Clean up, drive, and save your coins for the upcoming body shop time.
Craigslist Link: 1972 Chevrolet El Camino
For less money you could get a Ford Ranchero – probably even with a big block motor in it….
I have owned 2 El Caminos. A 70 and a 72….Both SS Big Block 4 speed cars. I miss having the car & truck combination. They are not for everybody and you either love them or hate them. I happen to love them. They are much easier to find than a Ranchero and much cheaper and easier to find parts for…I consider them the ” MULLET ” of the automotive world…lol
Yeah too bad about that. They really are good cars. Back when (’80s), any El Camino fetched 2-3x an equivalent Chevelle but that changed over time.
I had a buddy in high school who had a ’71. We had a lot of fun doing donuts and burnouts in that truck.
Look at the streaks on the body coming down out from under the vinyl top; too rusty. I want one, just a less rusty example.