As we pay more and more attention to the Pro Touring scene we’re recognizing that for every mega-buxo, ocean trench deep pockets build there are 10 home built cars on reasonable budgets being put together that will go like hell, turn like hell, and provide tons of fun to the owner. In our eyes, this uncompleted 1966 El Camino is everything right about pro touring. Taking an old car, adding some nice modern parts and pieces and ending up with a driver that you can hammer on all day long with a smile on your face. To us, a pro touring car doesn’t need to be capable of knocking off a new Corvette, it needs to be a car that can be driven like a modern one across the country and can hold a candle damned close to a new one in a performance sense.
The owner of this car has done their homework and used a vast array of performance suspension components from several manufacturers to get the old Elky to turn. There are Hotckis sway bars up front and aft, with Hotchkis rear springs out back as well. Edelbrock adjustable upper and lower control arms round out the rear suspension. Up front there are Fatman Fabrications 2″ drop spindles, AFCO ball joints, stock but reinforced lower control arms with tubular uppers, QA1 coil over shocks, Corvette brakes, and a CPP quick ratio power steering box. The wheels are BMW pieces believe it or not and the tires are 225/45/18 Sumitomo rubber up front and we’re not sure the size of the tires in the rear.
The engine and trans are a tried and true combo. The motor is a 383ci small block Chevy that’s mated to a T56 six speed manual transmission. The 400hp engine is stout enough to be a riot and not wild enough to cause a bunch of issues with respect to driveability. The rear end if a Ford 9″ with 28 spline axles and a non-posi center chunk. We’d be swapping that stuff out pretty quick for more stout axles and a more aggressive gear set and posi unit. The interior is really nice and looks like you could spend all day in there without any issues.
Basically, we’d finish thing thing mechanically and leave it exactly how it sits with respect to paint. How much fun would that be!
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MORE PHOTOS AND THE EBAY AD LINK TO THIS TRICK 1966 PRO TOURING ELKY!
EBAY LINK: A COOL 1966 PRO TOURING EL CAMINO
I like the interior layout too.
That thing is perfect;do not screw with it!Add fuel ,thrash it; repeat ad nauseum.
And its a ute!!Parts chaser too!!
Gotta love these daily drivers!
I love the car and would drive it but some paint would do it some good i think.
Needs paint. Conflicting patina doesn’t work for me.
The car did not sell on eBay. I’d really like to move on to something else I’ve found though, will take $17,000 firm for it. Brakes and clutch should all be functioning well after tomorrow! [email protected]