Can Do Camino

Was the 1957 Ford Ranchero the first “pickup car”, and was 1959 Chevrolet’s El Camino a copycat response? The truth lies “down under”. Watch as Steve explores the real origins of the “Ute” scene!

[@ReadTheBible8]

1976 I graduated high school. Now I’m 64 years old. Enjoy your life and slow down. Everything doesn’t have to be fast or in a hurry. Time passes quickly so often tell your family and friends you love them. Great video sir.

[@howardscott7521]

59 El Camino is one of the prettiest vehicles GM ever produced.

[@corvairjim1]

I have a few ElCaminos on my "100-car Bucket List" for after we win the lottery. A '59 with a 348, three 2-barrels and a 4-speed, a 1970 SS-454, also a 4-speed, and a '73-77 SS with a 454 and, you guessed it, a 4-speed. That one would get a 1974 Laguna Type S-3 nose (I like that style better than the 1975-77).

[@rctopfueler2841]

oh my god nooo. that thing was so disgusting as was the 73 - 77 rear ends 67 and 70 were prettiest

[@stewartspencer3714]

As an Aussie and a UTE owner, I really appreciate you bringing the information of what we have down under. Utes are a fantastic thing. I never understood why they weren't much bigger in the USA.

[@TomTom-qm4mq]

They were popular for a short time. But as Steve said they went out of favor for the full size truck or the station wagon. But I always thought you guys have some of the coolest cars made.

[@bad74maverick1]

If I ever get enough money I am going to have a 1972 Falcon XA GT brought here! I love those things, it's a right hand drive ford Torino!

[@stewartspencer3714]

@@bad74maverick1 you might need to win the lotto! Those things are worth a small fortune these days.

[@DScottDuncan]

Subaru Brats ran around here in Indy for a while in the 1980s but they too faded ... wait! What about the Avalanche and Escalade EXT? They are sorta Utes and I think I could go for one of those; LS power, heck you get a 6.2L with the EXT! Endless possibilities. Thanks Steve [AKA Magneto] and thanks Australia for your cool twists on anything automotive. DD

[@MechaFenris]

Greetings from the States! I often wondered the same, having loved the 70's Rancheros... (my scoutmaster had one and it was the bees-knees). He even bought a new one and sold his other Ranchero to his son, who promptly put really loud glasspacks on it and flames on the hood. Fun times. :) (The early 80's were great... except for car owners here in the States.) It was no coincidence that the front of the Ranchero looked like my dad's '73 Gran Torino Sport either. (another car I would give my eye teeth to have now...) :) I miss those days, I really do. I wonder if Australia didn't have the pickup craze like we did, thus having a market for a UTE? What was the pickup situation in Australia like? I'm just spitballing... I'm currently satisfying my UTE fever the best I can, not having one to restore, by driving a regular cab pickup. It's as close as I can get right now. :) 4-door trucks are for road crews. :-)

[@jeffreycarleton1535]

I spy Katie through the steering column hole in the firewall!😂❤

[@SuperOperator4]

Hi Katy!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, look. Steve's there too......

[@waynetaylor8082]

Soo glad to see Katie is back!!!

[@john_barnett]

Saying this as an aussie, I think the SSR was one of the coolest utes ever made

[@Fljeff7]

Until they have issues and you need parts.

[@jonathangehman4005]

Probably because you never drove one of those grossly overweight, soft centered poseurs.

[@paulwoodman5131]

I like it from the front, The rear needs some work. It looks like Chevy gave up after they got the cab done.

[@jamessimpson2674]

Holden in Australia stopped production in 2017 and Ford stopped in 2016... Now we only have imported shit boxes from Thailand to "replace" them.

[@xfactorautomotive1496]

Lol

[@frogwizard5637]

That is Katie's yard, and you are her guest. What a good girl. I hope you realize what a good friend you've made Steve.

[@TomTom-qm4mq]

The new show mascot. Remember in the earlier ones he tried to edit her out or not mention her. But he finally gave up and let her be in the video. I for one like it.

[@dkstudioart]

I actually saw one of those Chrysler Utes at a car show here (Utah), someone bought it from Australia and had it shipped over, it was equipped with a slant six and was fully restored, cool car, unfortunately it never showed up at a local car show again.

[@casamequite]

Back in the 90s I had a 77 el cam with the doggy 2bbl 305. Built an otherwise stock sb 400 with some flat top pistons and a Qjet. After the engine swap I blew the doors off an SHO Taurus from red light to red light. My little heart swelled with pride ❤

[@clarehennessey3653]

The Blue Heeler was an optional extra on utes.

[@vettekid3326]

The rendition of an early GM Ute attempt looked just like a 1950 Chevy sedan delivery with the roof behind the cab removed. Something we actually did in my high school autoshop class because my shop teacher wanted the roof for one of his projects. Back in 1976 myself and some friends went down to the train station in Peoria Illinois to watch the Bicentennial steam train pull into the station and then tour the train. I was 20 in 1976.

[@imabebebebe2496]

you must be the youngest steve mags subscriber

[@paulwoodman5131]

I came close to touring the bicentennial train when it was in northern California. The line was just outrageous.

[@killiam2868]

My dad had a 77 I can still remember Molly Hatchet playing on the 8 track on his beer cruised bad habits but fond memories

[@googleusergp]

Molly Hatchet had an album that was going to be produced by Ronnie Van Zant, who is no longer with us, but was the front man for the Lynyrd Skynyrd band. The founder of Molly Hatchet died in 2017.

[@genogeno6643]

Thanks for battling the humidity to bring us that one Steve.

[@Clappedoutgarbage]

What about the weird little dodge rampage? Made in the early 80s for I think 3 or 4 years front wheel drive 4 cylinder and supposedly had a better cargo capacity that the El Camino

[@golfy808]

Hi from Australia 🇦🇺... Ute is short for Utility.. as in utility vehicle...go to church on Sunday and take pig's to market Monday...love the channel..

[@tracyschmitz9192]

Those Chrysler Valiant Wayfarers are really cool. There was at least one at the Mopar Nationals in Carlisle last year, which was the first one I had ever seen. Interesting that those kinds of cars haven't been a mainstay in the U.S. but have been continually produced in Australia. You would think they would be really popular with a country that seems stuck on driving vehicles with an open bed. It's probably a size issue. Those smaller Utes don't have the capacity to hold the 25 bags of mulch all of us pick-up drivers buy once a year.

[@animestarlord9021]

Nice on the music. I love Canadian 90's dance music and still go to see 90's concerts in Canada. I drive up from DC and enjoy the heck out of it.

[@choochoo9436]

You forgot about the 82-84 Dodge Rampage

[@ScarlettFire341]

lol thats a good thing

[@charlesacker8552]

Great video. I loved the El Caminos, particularly the 1959 and 1960 model years. One could make the argument that it was neither Ford nor Chevrolet nor even the Australian Utes that introduced the concept of the car/truck. The one year 1937 Coupe-Express by Studebaker was perhaps the first iteration of the concept. Only 3,125 were produced and never repeated but were clearly a dual purpose vehicle offering passenger car comfort and light truck utility. I concede to a bit of prejudice as I am a Studebaker afficionado but the point is valid.

[@craigjones2878]

Sorry mate, Ford Australia released the coupe utility in 1934. Gotta love Studebakers though.

[@charlesacker8552]

Didn't realize they were that early. Probably a moot point on Studebaker's part anyway as the idea never went anywhere in the US until the 50s. But they were beautiful vehicles and now worth a bundle.

[@DougsMessyGarage]

Canada went metric in 1974. Supposedly, the Prime Minister and the US president were having a meeting and the PM told the president (Trudeau and Nixon) not to proceed with the switch-over as it caused way to many headaches in Canada. I find it interesting how much of the underlying measurements in the US are metric but the top level display values are still imperial. North American vehicles in the late '70s- early '80s were interesting because they were a mix of fasteners, you never knew whether a bolt would be metric or imperial.

[@googleusergp]

Hence Sears (and other brands) selling combination sets of ratchets, wrenches and nut drivers. I have several sets like that.

[@Hitman-ds1ei]

Going waaaay Back to T400 the tail housing mount bolts were metric and soooo many times you see people try to use 7/16 unc bolts not realising they are metric threads in tail housing

[@johneckert1365]

Chevrolet kept SAE threads on thier V-8 blocks, I assume so it didn't interfere with the aftermarket/performance world. That's why we saw vehicles with SAE engine bolts but Metric body/chassis bolts. When Chevy introduced the new LS small block it was all metric.

[@xfactorautomotive1496]

I had a 75 El Crapino when I was a young adult. It wasn't an SS, but it had the swivel buckets. It was a nice looking and comfortable car, but with the emissions choked 350, it was super gutless.

[@davidpawson7393]

Not as gutless as my $75 Quadrabogg 305 equipped 79 Gutless Surprise. It did have T-tops and a flipped air cleaner lid for all three cool points.

[@googleusergp]

I parted one of those 305 Cutlass models out many years back. I should’ve kept it, but it was rougher than the one I had (mine was a 231 V6 and in good shape) and I used it for parts. After I did, the owner wanted it back and it was stripped to the bone. Lol it was hardly a “Quadra bog”. It was quite lively actually.

[@jeffrobodine8579]

@@davidpawson7393 Back in the early 90's I purchased a used 1978 Buick Regal with a Chevrolet 305 2 bbl and that thing was a freak. I always wondered if somebody cammed the motor or something but why would they have left the 2 bbl carb on it?

[@MrTheHillfolk]

​@@davidpawson7393 Haha my buddies 76 monte carlo couldn't pull on another buddies 68 nova with a straight 6. Whoever nailed it first got the jump and then it was dead even. Funny that the 6 was rated 5hp less than the smogged out monte

[@tumblelake63]

I hated this era of El Camino as a kid. But it has aged well, and they make a great resto mod.

[@nickjervis8123]

Hi Steve I have just binge watched all the Max Wedge videos up to the last update 3 months ago. I must say that is a fascinating project and the amount of detail is outstanding. I could spend the remainder of the day commenting on the different aspects you have raised in the series so far and make comparisons between my own experiences and yours. I too have an extensive library and, thanks to your good self, it is expanding further! I have just ordered the 1952 Truck and Tractor repair manual from the USA! As for my baptism into altered wheelbase cars...... All the best from Nick Jervis UK 🇬🇧

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! Morning guys ! ☕️☕️🍩🍩 Steve not so the GMC Sprint headlamps were same ! Sprint I have one of 5000 made , I love this it does what I need ! Very comfortable on long trip . My vehicle 400 cid, a/c, 8 track, rear air stocks, it had a year ago 60,000 now 67,000 !

[@johnkelly8525]

Good one for me today, and is your ute 2 or4 barrel carb?

[@debbiebermudez5890]

@@johnkelly8525 4 barrel , have not not done dual exhaust , the rest is stock ! Morning ☕️☕️🍩🍩👍👍

[@johnkelly8525]

Thanks mate,yes good evening

[@debbiebermudez5890]

@@johnkelly8525 🍺🍺🍤🍤👍👍

[@tomwesley7884]

Morning

[@craigjones2878]

Thanks for the Aussie references, I’ve got a ‘54 Ford Mainline Ute and a ‘09 Holden SS Ute with the L98 and six speed manual, lots of fun in the wet.

[@tonywestvirginia]

I started as a mechanic working on cars/trucks for a living in Flint, Michigan in 1983. Man, what a time that was with all of the emission hoses back then. Add the 9/16 and 15mm bolts on the same car. Ugg!!!

[@charlesdalton985]

To me, these make sense now. I owned pickups for years, I finally got out of the game a few years back when they got so large. Today, the smaller size/comfort of a car with the ability to haul when needed would be a welcomed thing. Thank you and Super Shane as always ~ Chuck

[@djmtndew]

Ford maverick is the name of the game for us here now.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

​@@djmtndew Still too big and sounds like it can't handle a lot of weight. In fact, I bet the wife sold Passat would just smoke it in load carrying capabilities. That ol hoss would handle 30 bags of wood pellets(1200 pounds) and not even sweat much

[@djmtndew]

@@MrTheHillfolk Volkswagen is the king of underrated suspension =) next to Subaru. Find a Subaru Bratt. You'll thank me.

[@djmtndew]

It's a smaller awd elcamino from the 80s with removable rear jump seats. The seats were there because of the chicken tax supposedly

[@4runner510]

Our "utes" were all car-based if you remember the Ford Durango which was derivative of the Ford Fairmont Futura that pretty much failed and I believe it was in the early 80's. as well as the Chevrolet El Camino, GMC Caballero, and the Ford Ranchero. Chrysler never made a car based "ute" for the U.S. market. Not unless you count the Dodge Rampage which was a mini "ute"

[@Tony_in_AZ]

I worked a for a custom paint shop in mid to late 1970s.. We painted many El Caminos and vans with custom grafix for metro Phoenix AZ dealers

[@flashg67]

When I was stationed at Edwards AFB in 1990-91, I remember seeing quite a few El-Caminos and Rancheros on the road out in California. I would see them hauling dirt-bikes etc. My daily driver now is a 2021 Honda Ridgeline Sport. In a way it reminds me of a El-Camino with it’s car-like ride.

[@TheHelado36]

I just bought a Santa Cruz and is amazing ! Kudos to Hunday to be brave enough to launch it !

[@joshuagibson2520]

They should have an extended cab, but 4 doors is a bit much. Turns the bed into a box.

[@TheHelado36]

@@joshuagibson2520 precisely that is why I got a UTE and not a pick up !

[@mikem3695]

Amazing recovery by Katie.

[@IndridCool54]

When I first saw the thumbnail and read the description, I thought ‘what could Steve possibly do to make another El Camino video interesting’. Well, how about connecting the Bicentennial, the OPEC oil crisis, the adoption and subsequent abandonment of the metric system in the US and the band Metric… not to mention the history of the Australian UTE! Dude! 👍🏼👍🏼😎

[@clintonflynn815]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge Steve. I’m a little older than you and remember nearly all of these cars when they were nothing more than transportation. Keep up the great work.

[@fishgeralding9224]

I had 75 el Camino, 350 2bbl back in the early 80's. That thing had a smooth ride, and was dependable. I remember it kept blowing a fuse, linked into the wiring, along the firewall, for the ac. I finally got fed up and wired it directly, never had another problem. I worked with a guy that had a either a 77 or 78, I don't remember Ranchero. Somebody had run a 4 way stop and wasted the front Clip (from the doors forward) on it. We found a same year Thunderbird at the junkyard and it bolted on with very little modification. Man, that thing looked really good, like the factory built it. So many people wanted to buy it, he eventually got an offer he couldn't refuse.

[@michaelnazaruk4100]

I had a '74 Camino, and had the same A/C issues with the thermal limiter fuse blowing all the time. I did the same thing and bypassed with the wiring, and had no more problems! And then, the rust started.....

[@googleusergp]

Common problem on GM cars of that vintage.

[@fishgeralding9224]

@@michaelnazaruk4100 yes, mine had the typical rust when I bought it. I repaired and painted it. It began rusting elsewhere after about a year, from the inside out, being I was in Florida. I sold it to a neighbor who just had to have it, even after I warned him about the rust issues.

[@michaelnazaruk4100]

@@fishgeralding9224 - That's really weird, because I had a buddy who absolutely had to have my Camino! So I traded him even up for his beautiful, black 1961 Thunderbird! He was as happy as Katie running around the Junkyard!

[@fishgeralding9224]

@@michaelnazaruk4100 nice, I'd have traded mine for a 61 thunderbird in a Chevrolet heartbeat! I did have a guy offer to trade a Kawasaki 500 2 stroke bike for mine. At the time I told him I wasn't interested in any Japanese junk. How times change, now I drive a Lexus, because I wanted rear wheel drive with a bit of luxury and performance. I sold a numbers matching 69 Dart gts I'd restored for myself. That was during some rough financial times and health issues. X block and heads too! Wish I could have been able to keep it, it was a ton of fun!

[@vehicleIDspecialists]

With that missing VIN, that's what we call a "Salvage Swap" in the business, the driver side door with the Federal Certification Label and the dash VIN were scavenged from this car and most likely put onto a stolen or scrap 76 Camino. Just fyi there is a stamped VIN derivative on firewall. Good stuff Mags!

[@tompaciga7386]

Had a 73 and a 87 always liked them

[@peterantonopoulos2572]

Morning Steve...always loved the full sized el Camino.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Boy those where everywhere back in the 70s early 80s! Great looking utes!

[@saddletramp6935]

Steve,I'm surprised you didn't mention the Dodge rampage and whatever the Plymouth version was called or the VW rabbit version.

[@artjones2498]

Years ago i was at a car show in plymouth pa. And a guy had a rampage with a blown 426 hemi...it was a tube chassis car,,,saw it twice that year,,,never again after that...

[@bryanvogt3371]

Plymouth Scamp

[@tomkrisel4493]

@artjones2498 Oaks car show. Saw it there 2 years.

[@paulrhodes8111]

Love this one, Steve, thanks for the mention on Aussie utes, I drive a 71 Vh valiant Ute as a daily, 3 speed column, no radio, no power steering, no worries! Keep ‘em coming! Thanks again

[@timstein3302]

I had a 77 in high school, and I hated how the front end looked .The grill was like a chain link fence, so I swapped a 73 Laguna nose on it and gave it a face lift.

[@johneckert1365]

I was just going to ask if the factory ever offered one with that Laguna front end?

[@sombra6153]

A guy down the street had one about that year; Cragars, N50s on the rear, obligatory air shocks. 250 six / automatic…

[@michaelruys5021]

Get well Steve

[@rosshodge333]

Even before us maple slurping Canadians converted to metric in the mid 70s there were cross border conversions to be made in the volume department. 1 imperial gallon = 4.45 [+/-] litres where as 1 US gallon = 3.79 [+/-] litres or liters in US speak.

[@17Onager]

"Look at the stacked headlights on that freak on the right hand side. What were they thinking?"...lol

[@sixinarow1]

I remember working at a Lincoln Mercury/ Toyota dealership in 1980. Ford announced that it was going all metric and a month later Toyota announced it was planning to go all SAE.

[@russelltripp9313]

Hi Steve, hope you're getting better. A couple of rumors about the El Camino. 1) the 71 marker light bezels were different from the chevelle. The screw holes were in different positions. You had to use El Camino or station wagon bezels. 2) if you remove the plate at the front of the bed floor, you will see the rear passenger foot well for the rear passengers of a station wagon. 3) the a/c unit was a station wagon unit. 4) it's rumored that the U.S.A.F has SS El Caminos as chase cars. They were used at bases where U2 planes were stationed. The U2 has landing gear that extends fron the belly of the narrow fuselage. Support wheels has to be locked onto the underside of the wings after it landed so it wouldn't fall over. Supposedly they used the El Camino, an airman would stand in the back as the El Camino chased the plane down the runway, he would lock the assembly under the wing and then climb on top of the wing to act as ballast until the plane was patked and the other support was attached.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon

[@grantlucas6678]

Steve I am glad you got your audio working, So I don't have to lip read,Well done you put on a good show ,From Australia

[@jasonfitch7977]

Check out the story of the Gimli Glider. After Canada moved to the metric system someone did the math wrong refueling an airliner. Pilot was able to land at an abandoned air force runway

[@earlrush]

Owned a 75 elcamino for a few years in the late eightys.Had the bass turned up on that one,straight six with a three on the tree.

[@jeffshadow2407]

About three years ago Copart had a 1975 El Camino and a 1975 Buick Regal coupe at the same auction. The Chevy had a damaged front clip and the Buick had a crushed left rear. My goal was to combine the two and have a very cool El Regal!

[@Richie_the_Fixer]

Cool idea , but it doesn't bolt up . The character line in the Century/Regal door is quite different than the Chevelle/Malibu/El Camino door .

[@jeffshadow2407]

@@Richie_the_Fixer I would not have changed the doors, just the fenders, hood and front bumper/grille.

[@Richie_the_Fixer]

@@jeffshadow2407 the character line in the El Camino door does not align with the (very distinct) character line in the Century/Regal fender . The front clip of a 1973 Century is a caricature of a 1941 Willys coupe , including a long , sloping fender line . (Never realized that about a 73 Century , didja? ) The character line was not removed until the introduction of the 1976 Special , when they squared off the car

[@jeffshadow2407]

@@Richie_the_Fixer I know all of the "character lines" on all the GM Colonnades (1973 to 1977). Just thought it would be a cool construction. Both cars were otherwise 90% mint condition and this was before the recent crazy prices.

[@chriscarlson3700]

Metric! Yes, great band. I saw them open for Imagine Dragons awhile back. And I hope that GM someday brings over the Holden Maloo ute as the basis for a new El Camino, because that car is bananas. Thanks, Steve!

[@deanstevenson6527]

Yeah, The Metric!

[@warrickfraser9507]

Unfortunately Holden stopped making cars back in 2017 and by the end of 2020 GM had shutdown Holden as a company for good. 😡😡

[@chriscarlson3700]

@@warrickfraser9507 Oh I know, but I keep hoping GM kept the blueprints for the Maloo around, in case they ever wanted to reintroduce the El Camino.

[@cmcb7230]

I think the “ute” might be making a slight comeback with the Santa Cruz

[@samholdsworth420]

Thanks katy for another great video

[@mc3lizard]

Happy to see Katie back (assuming these posts are in order).

[@michaelmartin8031]

Dodge actually did make a sort of a ute in the early 80s, I believe it was the Rampage

[@paulwoodman5131]

So did Volkswagen, that was a rabbit truck ute.

[@tumblelake63]

Steve, thanks for the music tip.

[@gregoryrobinson1004]

Steve I heard at one point they were gonna bring the Pontiac g8 here as an ute named the Pontiac g8 gt S/T back in 2009.

[@landark1967]

Talk about out of left field, I never in a million years would have expected to hear you talking about Metric - especially not on one of these videos. I love it! What's your favorite song? "What Feels Like Eternity" is my favorite song form the new album, and my all time is "Gold Guns Girls."

[@holoholohaolenokaoi2299]

@7:35 those mudflaps nailed to to bed frame.

[@mikehudson6733]

Get well soon Steve,were pulling for you!

[@DK-sw6xx]

I think I better go help my old friend finish his Hell Camino project, before it too late.😕

[@timothyballinger6280]

I'm an elcamino fan! I have a 66 supersport that I've had since 94. I traded my 91 s10 for it. Anyway the 59 elcamino is my dream car! Some day I'll have one!

[@Hondadrifter01]

check out that wrecker in the background!

[@UberLummox]

I have an "El Rauncho" I made from a '68 Fury sedan. Very useful caruck.

[@66balsam]

There was a Valiant UTE in Crocodile Dundee!

[@tomm1109]

nice 53 studebaker hardtop in the background!

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

The last GM "Ute" that I can think of is the SSR. However, to me at least, they were more of a toy than a practical vehicle for hauling anything. It would be tough for most manufacturers to build anything like an El Camino or Ranchero today since everything except pickups, some SUVs and, some vans have gone front wheel drive. Chrysler did produce the front drive Rampage and whatever the other one was called back in the 80s but, I don't think they sold very well.

[@TechTimeWithEric]

I was in school in the 90s and there was a brief time in the early to mid 90s when they started teaching us metric, then it abruptly stopped. I still think a true Australian style UTE would do well here, at least in my little farmland area of southern NJ

[@googleusergp]

Like Hammonton, New Jersey, the blueberry capital of the world. Lol.

[@jasonwaltrowski2315]

Love El caminos, how about that dodge rampage , half dodge charger/omni and pick up those were cool to

[@michaelnazaruk4100]

I'm surprised Steve did mention the Dodge Rampage too! Especially with him being the Mopar man that he is. I guess Katie forgot to remind him.....

[@reversemaxxus]

Ute-likes trying to make a comeback in the US but we need a REAL El Camino 2 dr sport (muscle) truck for daily commuting and light hauling from Home Depot, ect. Prototype of '59 El Camino with center stacks and two outboards kind of looks Edsel-ish and makes you know what they were smoking in the design studio. I bought a 1984 Dodge Rampage 2.2 new back in the day and, for the past 14 years, have been "restoring" 2 El Camino big blocks ('69 and '70). Fun performing mutations LESS COSTLY than their Chevelle counterparts. Backed in garage and looking face on, they are easily mistaken for Chevelles if you squint while driving by at 60 mph during a blinding snowstorm. Thanks for bringing back the history in the US as well as from the land down under

[@davidpawson7393]

As an American with 30 plus years in the automotive repair industry it wasn't so bad having to buy two sets of tools for fasteners as it was for those cars that used both. Now i find myself buying a third set from restoring Raleigh bicycles of which the hoarder I work with occasionally has many. Steve, you need to see what this guy has as they're gonna get crushed, harley trail bikes, Maicos, Bultacos, Square body checys, Power Wagons, Panel vans of all makes, all kinds of go carts, minibikes and so on. Its freaking sad. Definitely has mental problems untreated as I have some of the same and recognize them. Seriously, Milton New Hampshire, we're both on 125 and I'm where the machine shop was on the curve. HMU

[@rescuedandrestoredgarage]

Great video, and I will always love these.

[@savedin87ify]

Think you posted this one before. Like I said always loved them. Only because Dodge or Plymouth didn't make one

[@Elmo_Fuddleputt]

Good info as always, Steve. Katy, ftw.

[@danfarris135]

Dont forget the Chrysler Charger/Omni “Utes” from the 80’s.

[@johneckert1365]

And VW

[@jeffrobodine8579]

Same El Camino used in the show "My Name is Earl."

[@randyauer7303]

Looking good Steve

[@johnkelly8525]

Brilliant Steve thanks mate ripper 😅

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Steve the first utes in the USA were the Cadillac flower cars, and the studebaker coupe express even before the caddy’s.. I’ve wanted an el Camino my whole life. I’ve owned 3 Chevelle’s , a nova, a Camaro, a trans am, and a gto but still haven’t gotten my el Camino

[@rightlanehog3151]

Steve, I am an optimist. From what I can see, this El Camino's best years are still ahead of it. 😉

[@JamesHyde-tb8os]

Man I love your videos!! Thanks so much.

[@terrencegiordan2775]

Those are best with the swivel bucket seats and console with a 454.

[@kevinhenry7273]

How about the '55/'56 Cameo Carriers. They were one of the 1st "Dressed" pickups designed for everyday driving . To nice for a "work truck".

[@MuniTechnology]

I was 11 in 1976. We all painted our mailboxes red, white and blue.

[@shudarschway9479]

amazing how every car has all the brochures and magazines in the cab and trunk. lol wish my local junkyard had all the matching articles. lol

[@steelwheels327]

I'd love to have a LS Holden

[@TomTom-qm4mq]

Hell yea. Those things are cool as sh*t. If they sold them here I'd go to the dealership and buy one tomorrow.

[@NorthernChev]

Ahhh, the good ole days of removable VIN plates, lol.

[@googleusergp]

They’re still fastened in basically the same way.

[@NorthernChev]

@@googleusergp Although you can still find the occasional riveted VIN, the vast majority now are stickers.

[@lefttea]

4:54 Front end styling prolly borrowed from the 1951 Buick LeSabre concept.

[@Richie_the_Fixer]

You mis-spoke when you called the 1976 a "full-size" El Camino . Only the 1959/1960 El Camino were full size . All other El Caminos were mid size , even though the 1973-1977 did seem to dwarf the 78-up models and

[@jimrohrer2751]

Steve!!! You leak about as much as I do... Drink plenty of water and not just the flavored kind with hops and barley. Love the vid. Keep up the good work.

[@googleusergp]

I think he stated in a previous video that he does not drink any longer. I’ve never been a drinker and I don’t drink today.

[@Memorandum7]

This was the first car with a truck bed. 1936 Chevrolet Standard series FC coupe pickup.

[@GreyRockOne]

Thanks Steve!

[@nathanbarden9709]

The Honda Ridgeline and Hyundai Santa Cruz fill this niche today.

[@googleusergp]

Why someone would take the VIN Is beyond me. I assume that the trim tag was gone too? If not, time to bring a cordless yard blower (or gloves) to remove the debris to get to it. No VIN, can't win, but easy to figure out, no doubt: 1 for Chevrolet, C for El Camino or D for El Camino Classic, 80 for pickup/delivery style body, possible D for 250 CID straight six with one barrel, Q for 305 V8 with two barrel, H for 350 V8 with two barrel, L for 350 V8 with four barrel, or U for 400 V8 with four barrel, 6 for 1976 model year, possible R for Arlington, TX assembly (still operates), B for Baltimore, MD assembly (closed in 2005), K for Kansas City, MO (Leeds, closed in 1988), D for Doraville, GA assembly (closed in 2008), or Z for Fremont, CA (aka "Freaky Fremont", closed in 1982), assembly and the rest is the production sequence. A little-known fact on these cars was that option 6H1 (via COPO) got you the Laguna S-3 front end. I've seen a few over the years, but they are rare due to very little to no information on them and consequently, dealers not knowing about it either. No tag, can't brag, but can be figured out, no doubt: ST76 for 1976 model year, 1AC80 for Chevrolet El Camino or 1AD80 for Chevrolet El Camino Classic, possible code 28 for Blue Poly exterior paint, maybe code 22 for Blue interior trim, A52 for bench seat, among other codes. The pick ups of today even have built in scales and an onboard display to tell you the weight you're carrying. The Fords of today "light up" the tail light (like it's filling with fluid) to show you where you are on the weight scale and the display inside gives you the numbers. Yes, I remember 1976 well. There was a renewed spirit in the country during a time of malaise and things like painting telephone poles and fire hydrants red white and blue were the thing (I still see some that are that way, even close to 50 years later). I also remember "metric is coming". Older Sears catalogs advertised that Sears had metric tools to service the "growing numbers of foreign vehicles on American roads". The first socket and wrench set I bought at Sears (which I still have and it's 95% original, with only a few pieces being replaced under warranty) was a dual metric/SAE set. I now have at least ten of them. You had to have this type of set to work on many cars of that era, because accessory fasteners were often metric, but those that went through into the block were still SAE. Unique times indeed. BTW, I still have the Sears register receipt for that socket set. It's from August 1990 and I just used it last week.

[@LongIslandMopars]

I remember when metric started finding it's way into cars. Oh was my dad mad. Now he had to buy more sockets. Our '84 Celebrity infuriated him "Why do I need two sets of sockets to work on this thing?" 😅

[@googleusergp]

@@LongIslandMopars My 1979 Cutlass was like that. I had to do a water pump on it and that was the reason for buying the Craftsman tools. Fortunately, they were on sale at the time I bought that set. I've since expanded that set up probably 100 fold over the years. LOL.

[@DanKirchner5150]

yeah my dad had a 75 coronet same as this elco except for the bed and it being a chrysler product