A mild custom 1965 El Camino Hello, I bought a dealer optioned 1965 El Camino in 1964. I sat down with a couple of local Chevrolet dealers in the Long Beach area. I was destined to go to college in San Jose, California and I had just sold the Flathead 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery and my 58 Impala was the last standing hot rod cruiser from our beginnings. A young friend that I knew had expressed his liking for my Impala and said if I ever wanted to sell it, tell him first. So, not advertising the sale, I saw him and told him of the pending sale if he still wanted it. He still had a year to go for his senior year and I had known him for three years. His jaw dropped and when I explained to him that I needed a different car/truck/station wagon for my surfing and desert motorcycle racing, he understood. We towed the desert motorcycles in the Impala with a trailer hooked up to the trailer hitch we used for the Willys Coupe. That one time was all it took to start the search for a better way to transport our motorcycles. Plus, our mom said she would pitch in, if it was something she could drive when I was home from college. That was good…but I wanted a 4 speed and I remember trying to teach her to drive the Impala when it was a stick shift 3 speed. Wow! Jnaki My jaw dropped when I saw this orange 65 El Camino with a 4 speed lever coming out of the floor. Once I got over that addition, then the wheels made the El Camino looking rather exciting. The S&S wheels were within reach of purchase back then, but I wanted to save money for longer surf vacations and road trips to Baja, Mexico. The S&S wheels made this orange El Camino look cool and racy. But, as I was wandering around taking some photos, I noticed a different addition: A 350 65 El Camino? Well, since I could not order a 396 motor with a 4 speed and bucket seats from any Chevy dealer in So Cal, in the fall of 1964, this must have been a custom addition. It looked so good on the front fender! The 327 was the motor that came with my red 65 El Camino. My friend had purchased a 66 El Camino and was able to get a 396/4 speed/Positraction. We all know the 350 did not show up until 1967. But, not in an El Camino, until later...YRMV
I did find an old receipt for my badges. From Daisy Manufacturing, in Taiwan. 50 badges, for 700$. I guess that was the minimum, as I would never think I'd build 25 customs worthy of badging. This was in 1998, so prices have changed.
The Jalopy Journal
