BangShifter Steve Dunning goes by the handle ElkyGuy, so you can imagine his level of enthusiasm for seeing this 1969 El Camino trailer for sale on Craigslist. Steve wasn’t into it….at all. Not that we want Steve to stroke out, but we’re wondering what your opinion is of the unit. It would probably help if we knew more of the backstory about where the back half of the Elky came from. Was the nose mangled in a wreck and the frame bent? Was there a rotting corpse inside the thing and the smell simply could not be defeated? Was it beers, a sawzall, and a need to just chop some junk up? That may go a long way into calming down guys like our pal Steve. Being that we’re personally not huge El Camino devotees, we kind of like the rough and hammered looks of this trailer. Think of this piece being towed behind a show worthy Elky and you can see what we’re seeing.
The axle under the trailer is a 1970s era Olds 12-bolt that is not a posi-traction unit according to the seller. The factory style coil springs are in place as well. The seller included a ton of photos of the trailer and the ones that show the bed pretty much bear out the fact that this was a rust free car that had never done much “work” in its life. The bed isn’t dented and squashed, the paint is barely scratched, and there is zero signs of abuse. The outside? That’s a different story. Both of the former quarter panels are pretty hammered and showing their age, there’s rust, and some primer spots, etc. WE LOVE THIS PART. Honestly, we think it is kind of cool to see the hammered bed sides. It gives the thing character. Clearly, the dude put the cap on the thing to get it the hell off of his property. That piece is totally junk and would head the scrap heap immediately.
So, that’s our take. We want you to scroll down, see the photos and then click the link for a ton MORE photos and the whole story of this Elky-trailer.
Sorry Steve, we know this thing pissed you off!
CL AD: 1969 EL CAMINO TRAILER
That’s a good Chevy…
I’m not a El Camino fan myself, but this just doesn’t sit right with me.
What’s the difference between this and using a trunk section from a sedan?
I’ve seen a few of them around.
Isn’t that the tail end of a finished El Camino in the garage in the first picture? Maybe the seller can’t bear to see the trailer like Steve.
Interesting idea, but I don’t like the end result. I’ve seen a really well done cut down car trailer made out of a Fiat X1/9, but this one’s got issues, both aesthetic and technical.
1. What’s with the foot or so of floor pan left on the front?
2. The front end needs paint. Even if just a rattle can job.
3. Seems like you’d have issues with negative tongue weight when fully loaded, unless there’s some ballast I can’t see.
4. The front end needs some crossbracing and gussets.
That said, it seems like you could fix my complaints in an afternoon if you had a MIG welder, spray cans, and Sawzall.
At least it is functional.I have seen nice parts just sitting and rusting.
If the front half of the car was wasted in an accident, why not? I would’ve done a better job on the front. Elco’s were always were 1/3 of a Chevelle anyways.
Maybe the front half of the vehicle was totaled so they salvaged a trailer out of it.
Interesting idea with poor execution. Assuming the front end was wiped out, hey, why not. But like a poster above said, the cab floor ? Gotta go, and the roof section also. Lose everything forward of the quarter and start the tongue there.
If the tongue is to short it will weave like a drunken sailor.
I’ve seen enough El Camino’s turned into TRAR’s so this was bound to happen.
Best use of a Chevy I’ve ever seen.
In ’78 it was not uncommon to go to wrecking yard & see Chevelles, Novas, muscle cars, etc. Coming from a family of “gearheads” on Saturdays would cruise local wrecking yards. One Saturday, I saw the ’69 it looked like had a head-on collision with a freight train. Surprised how straight the back 1/2 was, Had just purchased the Black 70 two yrs earlier & wanted to keep it nice. Then it hit me why not! Struck a deal with the yard owner, they cut it in 1/2 for me at the yard & with a couple of 4X4 posts somehow loaded it on back of Chevy PU & took home (would not recommend this today). Was 18-19 old at the time & friend helped stick weld the tongue. Front window left in so could run a canopy & secure my goods. I have cut down doors for the front, was going to have a space for spare tire, tools, etc. After 30 yrs & 1/2 dozen restorations & Chevelle bracket car, my dream was never finished.
PS – I think Freiburger & Finnegan need to buy this – I cringe every time I see them hauling stuff in the back of that “nice” ElCamino !
Haul your yard debris with style.Who knows this may save one that was dipped in the (salt) drink too many times towing a boat.
I wouldn’t drag that thing to a shit fight.
The guy who did that to an El Camino is just plain STUPID.
sacrilege
Good start to your 4 door ute project…