Hear us out! The Chevrolet El Camino may not be a pure pickup truck, but it’s close enough for our purposes. The distinctive Chevy is easy to spot, and the beloved muscle car/pickup hybrid may represent the best of both worlds for those who cannot decide which genre they want to resto-mod.
Older El Caminos have begun to demand premium prices on the market, but Chevy’s fourth generation remains the least expensive option if the muscle car pickup is in your sights. In production from 1973 to 1977, the El Camino was built on a station wagon chassis and came with one of four engine options, including Chevrolet’s 350 and 454 motors. Crate motors can be expensive, so if an entirely new motor isn’t in your budget, these engines make a great base for a performance rebuild, with tons of aftermarket parts and modifications available.
Both the fourth- and fifth-generation El Camino remain relatively affordable; the fourth retains more of the vintage look popular amongst resto-modders, while the fifth takes inspiration from 1980s car design. Additionally, the fifth generation reduced engine size, replacing the V8s with V6s; only a 305 and 350 diesel were available as V8s. With prior generations demanding premium prices and the final generation underpowered, the fourth-generation El Camino is the sweet spot of affordability, style, and aftermarket part availability.
[Featured image by Sicnag via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 3.0]
