Mike's Garage: 1960 Chevy El Camino Impala

[@Joy-Riding]

Thanks everyone! This was a build 50+ years in the dreaming and planning, then 2 years bringing those dreams to life. I don't think I've owned a car or truck that has drawn so much interest when we take it out for a ride or to shows.

[@big_fat_hen]

Could you hollow out and bevel the third tail light and just put it on with sticky tape for car shows? Love your story and an excellent looking El Camino.

[@MrMustangrick]

Cool Mike! Subscribed after you called out you channel at Barett Jackson Scottsdale.

[@DavesClassicCars]

What a wonderful story about your El Camino Mike. It's great to see you enjoying the cars of your youth.

[@josephrapoza6453]

Nice dad. I was able to make my kids dream come to. His dream was a 1964 L79 4 Speed EL CAMINO. He dailied that car and still does 8 years later..

[@danforaker1867]

Very beautiful El Camino

[@Kevin-li3nf]

Hey Mike, Cool story, Beautiful car!!! 😮

[@andrewmarshall360]

A few of my friends have lost arguments with telephone poles or large trees . Beautiful car !

[@timtompkins150]

My forth grade teacher drove a Jaguar XK120 for most of the school year. I admired it while out for recess every day. I really loved it but then one morning she parked a blue and white 1960 Impala convertible. Her husband had traded in my dream car for a brand new car. You brought back the memories. Thank you sir.

[@erickriebel4366]

That's a car that anybody would love to have especially in that condition if it was mine I would never sell it either

[@dave-uf8ir]

Excellent working on 64 Rancharo v8 car sweet cheers 😊

[@timmyperry5864]

Beautiful elco I love classic cars cause they have better style today's cars don't have the style like the classic cars I'm 26 years old and I love cars from 1924-1992

[@archstanton9206]

Very cool, Mike. Cars are more than just machines in many ways, but for those of us who really love them, they are repositories of stories, memories, and in some cases, tributes to those we have lost along the way. In those cases, they cease to just be a car, and become part of our lives.

[@Joy-Riding]

Well said

[@charlesdalton985]

So glad I found your channel from your work on Mr Magnante's. I've no doubt this car creates so many reactions, what an absolute stunner. The details are just incredible. This is the kind of car that would cause my sons and I to stop at a car show, question our recollection of what was available from Chevy in 1960 and lead to hours of discussion. Thank you for sharing. I very sorry for you loss as well. ~ Chuck

[@EricHodges-b2s]

Hi Mike, I too had the indeterminate handling in my 1960 El Camino and learned to hate it. I've owned it since '81 and have rebuilt it several times. One of the rebuilds included an upgrade to the ancient power steering, to a pump/box combo from a late '80s Z28. It went from 3 1/2 turns, lock to lock, to 2 1/2 turns. With the addition of a big sway bar in the front, it now handles like the biggest sports car you ever drove. And it doesn't scrape the door handles on the ground in the turns!

[@davebarron5939]

Amazing car, wonderful story. Thanks!

[@JimFar-uv4td]

Thanks for sharing as it brought back memories of my parents’ white 1960 2 door hardtop with a 3 on-the-tree. While my father was the regular driver, there were rare times when my mother went shopping, which required her to sit on a telephone book.

[@marklynders613]

Great episode, thanks … Mike!😎

[@south_carolina_man]

I'm proud of y'all. The production value has come a long way from the beginning.

[@CarlSwanson-e7f]

What a great story, of how you got to make it the way you wanted,and enjoy driving it. Thanks for sharing Mike!

[@michaelholmes8350]

We used to do that too. When I was 17 my friends and I went to the Dodge dealership. In 1970 you can imagine what the dealership looked like! I dreamed a lot there.

[@dave-uf8ir]

Just sweet cheers 🥂 😊

[@randyoberholtz7490]

Great video and story Mike. I always enjoy watching and listening to you on barrett jackson and with nascar. And nice 60 el camino..

[@stephenroman9015]

WOW! As I'm sitting here, I realized this story takes place right here in Connecticut. Great story! I

[@CurtisCooper-ws5jr]

I am not a big G.M fan .but I have to say the 1960 and 61s are the best looking ever thanks 😊

[@johnwinter9722]

Wonderful story! My Grandpa had a ‘60 Belair two door 283 power glide for about 10 years. I remember going with him to pick it up. I was always playing in it, listening to the radio, waxing it for him, and later drove it many times. Great memories on your ride along. My good buddy’s family had a ‘59 Impala convertible the same time my dad had a ‘57 Belair convertible (283 power pack). Just wonderful memories. Thank you! We are close in age, so I get it. I have had a Chevy in my garage of one sort or another since 1974. A couple of Buicks and a handful of Cadillacs also came along, but always a Chevy as well. Now a ‘22 Silverado LTZ. Best one yet. The hood has sculptures that remind me of the power bars on the ‘60 Chevy. As I drive along looking out over the hood I often think of my Grandpa and that old Belair.

[@deanreutter3101]

Cool story Mike. And beautiful El Co.

[@rlh4331]

Thanks Mike. Your drive is similar to my 57, a little slop in the steering with better acceleration and brakes than orginal. Great story telling !

[@neilbenoit7042]

Great looking El Camino Mike!Enjoy the ride.

[@jimfrattaroli6222]

Lots of great memories in my buddy’s’70 El Camino cruising around Manchester Connecticut in the early ‘80s. Love the channel

[@s3hooligan]

This video was an absolute joy to watch. I’ve never owned an El Camino but have always wanted one. Thanks for sharing…

[@George-on3zm]

Great story! Thanks Mike.

[@steveconnolly7129]

Its the new years coming up and if drinking DONT be driving,just sit down and admire the artwork,you're the coolest,see you on race day daytona❤🎅✌️

[@dannydobbs669]

Man I’ve enjoyed listening to you call races and talking about them on the red carpet for a long time but you my friend have found a new and best calling in my book I could listen to you talk about your cars all day I really appreciate and have enjoyed your videos please keep them coming GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!!!!!!! ✌🏻from Ga.

[@JimOsterfeld]

Great story!! Beautiful El Camino!! I hope you can enjoy it for many many years.

[@scubatrucker6806]

Great looking ElCamino ❤❤❤

[@Slimjim260]

Nice Mike, well done!

[@donsailing1356]

Owned a Horizon Blue ‘60 Bel Air from ‘67 -‘75. I bought the creampuff from my grandparents when it only had 42k on it. 283….3sp column shift with factory overdrive……A/C……no power brakes or power steering….I kept it flawless during my eight years of ownership….. many cross country cruises. I performed all repairs and maintenance… I too, think the ‘60 styling is the best. When I see any model of a ‘60 Chevy in Horizon Blue today….my heart skips! ❤

[@kevinreagan9541]

What a wonderful story

[@mauricesilva6177]

Beautiful 60' El Camino Mike😁👍The 348 W motor would look awesome and period perfect under the hood.Everthing is perfect about that car.

[@walterbrob]

I have seen those emblems removed and air brushed back on. That is a pretty cool look also.

[@oldblueshhrchannel1847]

Dad’s are great that way, my Dad sadly passed away and left me a 1967 GMC pickup when I was 16, it was white with blue interior with a 327 4 bbl TH350 automatic transmission and 4:11 posi rear axle. Happy to see you sharing your story, see you at Daytona!

[@richardkaufman1643]

Wow! My father had a 60 impala flat top 4 door and this brings back many memories for a kid of 12 in 1960. It made me a Chevy fan all through the 80’s.

[@geedubb-q1u]

Beauty. Nice clean and not overdone.

[@davevan8864]

What a great looking car!! This from a Ford guy! I like the 59-60 Chevys with the lay down fins!!! I bought my 1966 Mustang 2+2 in 1975 while in high school. It was on the old Young Ford used lot in downtown Charlotte. In 2019 we did a complete restore and took it to the Mustang 55th show, returning it to Charlotte! We too will never sell ours!! Thanks!!!

[@pathtopeaceministry6777]

Beautiful car I love it, I love all the older cars with so much shape and configuration to them,

[@normsweet1710]

Thanks for the “drive” down memory lane. I owned 3 60 chevys, a 4 dr 235 PGL, a black 2 dr wt top, and a 2 dr HT biscayne w a 283 carter 4 bbl 3 spd, After swapping the bench seat for buckets from a 64 SS and a hurst “mystery shifter……. I had the Chevy I wanted. Oh yea, it was marina blue code F from 67 Impala . Wish I had it now 🥹

[@DILIGENTASSET7]

Love the car, a time machine.

[@stevenrose472]

I was a younger classman at Milford High School and sat next to you in study hall. I remember you getting me interested in cars. At that time you had purchased a AMC Javalin. It is so awesome your love of cars rewarded you so well. Great to hear from you in these videos. Bè well and thanks!

[@ralphbillick1210]

Thanks for sharing your story about your 60 Impala and showing off your own personal car. I think it would be nice to see the other guys from Barrett-Jackson collections also. I think everyone who has commented would really appreciate seeing their collections too! If you do get the three taillights make sure to show it again or bring a picture to the next auction. It really is a great looking El Camino , much luck with it ❗️🇺🇸Have some fun and start up the old question - better gas mileage, tailgate up or tailgate down lol ❗️🇺🇸

[@z06doc86]

Just found Mike’s channel and subscribed for sure. Very excited. Mike is a Joy! Very neat El Camino.

[@ClassicChrome86]

That's a great story about your original Impala. Wish you much luck with your El Camino. Looks good!

[@jimedge8301]

Nice ride 👍 let me rephrase that a beautiful car.😍

[@wymple09]

U had a 1960 Olds convertible, blue, when I was in HS in 1965. Cost me 1500. Never got over that car. My best friend Bobby got a 1960 Chevy a year later in 1966. Sort of a turquoise blue. 450 bucks.

[@petejoy6328]

Hey cousin Mike! ( just kidding) My first car was also a 60’ Impala. Nice to see you here!

[@steveconnolly7129]

Cool ride,i have a couple ranchros,its imposible to tell if they are extinct models yuh know,cool old cars for cool old dudes,drive safe ✌️😎👍

[@nickhoffman5524]

Mike great story, video and car. Have been a fan for many many years.

[@JohnSmith-vc4yg]

What a Great car!

[@tfjack97]

Great story Mike, my dad had a 59 with the same paint when he bought it, down the road he had some rust repair done on the quarter panels and had it painted all blue with a white bed cover made for it, his was a 283 engine and a power glide. He taught me how to drive in that truck, I was 13 years old and thought I was on top of the world driving that truck and I wanted it so bad when I got old enough to get my license. But that never happened, I'm 67 years old now and I'm still looking for one and redo like dad's and the one I learned to drive in. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@leeroberts925]

I owned a 1960s El Camino and it was powered by a 235 ci inline 6 cylinder engine and was surprisingly a strong little engine many times running a 100 +MPH and it handled great.

[@rancherodan5152]

Your El Camino is just beautiful! Love the color combo and your impala upgrade. I have a 74 ranchero that I have owned for 41 years now I understand why he will never sell this El Camino.

[@jsrroadrash3663]

What a beautiful El Camino thanks you Mike for sharing your story.

[@donkeyboy585]

Just came over from Steve’s channel… subscribed and loving it

[@clifffoltz651]

Mike , thanks so much for sharing your story and dream car ! Very nice ride and excellent presentation !😊

[@charlesherron8193]

Great memories Mike. I learned to drive on a 1960 impala 2 door coupe that was the same color as your El Camino. It had a 283 , was 2 speed auto and had the blue interior. Could put 8 teens in it and sometimes 2 in the trunk if a trip to the drive in was in order! Great cruiser and if you learned to parallel park the Impala you could park anything.

[@Joy-Riding]

I guess you and I (and like-minded teens) were why drive-ins started charging by the carload !

[@henrynevins]

Mike, if you're considering going to a 348, why not take it up a notch to a 409, its really the same engine with W valve covers, then you could sing "She's so fine my 409"? I'm from the same generation as you. When I think back on the cars friends in high school drove, Artie a Dodge Superbee with the large spoiler, Bob a 1968 GTO, Bill a 1963 Corvette split window and me driving my father's 1965 Buick Riviera that could lay rubber just by tapping the gas pedal. Good luck with the El Camino, beautiful car and color.

[@DavidGavinETC]

I’m loving the story!! I can picture it in my head🙏🏽 this man’s voice is so awesome too! I love the “older” people cause legit idk if it’s just me, but I feel like the older generations had cooler voices than my current gen. 😅❤ either way, awesome video

[@kevinkinney5445]

My dream car has always been a 59 El Camino, and to Restomod it.

[@wabash4095]

Mike, I love the 1960's; but have a soft spot in my heart (or is that head?) for the 1959 El Camino. I've wanted one since, well.....1959 when I saw them at the age of 9. I vote for you to put a 348 in it. I'm sure you could find some heavier springs to put in the front to compensate for the extra weight. Love your videos!

[@kevinsmith7697]

Dad and I used to go to the dealerships in the fall every year, just to see the new designs ! Waist of time these days with all the cars looking like a bar of soap ! Wish to someday find my first car 1965 1/5 Ford Ltd 390 four barrel with 2 speed fmx trans ! What a great car that was!!! Nice ride Mike!!!! 🫡✌️😎🇺🇸

[@kirks1959]

Nice Job brother! I have a 1960 Biscayne and I agree with you these are the most beautiful cars ever made. If my garage was on fire I would get her out first. Kirk-Bristol Ct.

[@christownsend7602]

Here, I was getting ready to jump on the El Camino/Impala title because there never was one, but after seeing your beautiful El Camino, I stand corrected. I am very impressed. What a nice job you have done with it. I owned 9 different Impalas plus a few Belairs and Biscaynes, so I get a little defensive about people throwing that name around. Great job, enjoy it.

[@jonathanolsen7254]

very cool Mike.

[@StephenViola-ib8dq]

I love what you did with this car! My dad bought a 1960 Nomad, Horizon Blue, new. We had that car for 25 years until the body rotted away. I gave those tailgate panels to my cousin who had an El Camino and was going to use them on it. The project never got off the ground and he got rid of them. You should get the 61 impala backup lenses with the red trim, you already have the 61 trim on them. I used them on my 60 Impala and they look great!

[@ThomasSlodzinski]

Love that vehicle

[@53doowopbill]

OK I'm jealous. Mine was 59 biscayne 2dr red over white straight six. Always wanted what you have though .❤

[@highway445]

My Grandad had a 59. He loved that thing. One Christmas kids were shooting bottle rockets and one landed in the front seat of his El Camino catching it on fire. It burned to a crisp. My Grandpa cried like a baby.

[@willyhwang1059]

Love your videos and stories Keep them coming! From Vancouver Canada

[@dw6506]

I thought with the large steering wheel it wouldn’t have power steering but I believe I saw power steering pump when you lifted the hood. This is a beautiful Elcamino I’m sure you get a lot of smiles from it. Thanks for sharing

[@robstephens]

Great car. I saw one once with the "smugglers box" converted into a lockable compartment by reinforcing it and adding internal hinges and a GM trunk type lock.

[@rustyrobinson8027]

Nice thanks for the upload 👍

[@screwytube]

Late to the show Mike. Big fan and your history knowledge on all cars and details. I too did "car shopping" in grade/high school to the local Buick dealer in Mt View Ca. of the late 60's and early 70's. I still own my 1955 Buick Special Riviera 2dr hard top I bought from my Aunt with my first drivers license at 16 in 1971. I drooled when my older next door neighbor drove home his new 1969 El Camino. His wife drove a 1968 Old's Cutlass. Surrounded by GM's my dad drove a '67 Pontiac Catalina.

[@Joy-Riding]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing

[@charliekretschmar2058]

Mike my first car was a 1961 Chevy convertible and it was Red and White with red and white interior and it was a 283 with a power glide and it was really good on gas but back in the day gas was only depending on where you got it was 19 to 26 sents a gallon so I'm a bout your age I'm just about to be 77 years old on Thanksgiving Day and now I have a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer and I like it but I still miss my old convertible but now it will cost me about a 100 dollars just to get gas when I was a kid it was only about 5 dollars to fill it up big difference from then and now I love the look of your truck/car very much Charlie kretschmar Phoenix Arizona

[@Daniel-wd4jg]

My Grandpa was a tradesman and worked out of a '60 sedan delivery. Inline 6 3 tree.

[@williamdarico2369]

Yes those S turns on Burnsde Ave are sharp I live in Vernon Ct there was Performance Centers of America on Burnside Ave we used to go to in the 70s You must know Big Al Anderson from the Wild Weeds back in the 70s he was from Windsor Ct.

[@odfarmboy]

I had a 1967 with the L79 motor, four speed, buckets with console. Sold it when I started farming cause I needed the cash.

[@wyattoneable]

That's a great story Mike. A lot of us can relate to your story. What a great car. Happy Thanksgiving.

[@Joy-Riding]

Thanks, you too!

[@charliekretschmar2058]

Just to let you know the Impala wagon only has the two lights on the back because of the way the tail gate opens so I think that your Elcamano really looks like it came out of the factory and in my opinion it is a very good looking truck/car and it is a really good idea that you have period Charlie kretschmar Phoenix Arizona

[@scottwheaton9689]

Mike,great car & story! Put eddelbrock al heads on the 348(maybe paint the Al heads engine color so not as noticeable) to reduce the w motor wt enough as to not affect front suspension & or overall handling of the car too. Install a mild street cam & good carb or efi and you will have a great running 348 powered elky. Scott

[@rayisland23]

Love the old El Camino's

[@johnperkins6432]

I had a 60 El Camino. Loved it! I'm with you on the 60 is better looking than the 59. For me it is the tail lights that do it for me. I hope to have another one someday. The big question is, what is getting sold to make room for it?

[@StevenTripp-e2v]

Very cool the 50 models are awesome also.

[@TerryFlynn-df2gy]

I've always thought those 59-60 El Camino's were sooo cool!

[@VernDotson-z9t]

Mike. Glad to see you still have her. Hope the carb is still good for starting. Did you get the water leak fixed at the bed? This is Gary

[@scottwhite6848]

Great car and Great video Mike!! I love watching you on NASCAR, you’re an inspiration to me and everyone, perhaps you should call in an “ImpalaMino”?

[@michaeljones7085]

Very cool car, Just found your page and 1st video I’ve watched. Sitting out back is my 1961. Jewel blue ermine white top nomad in need of restore. How I wished I could take it to your guys. Keep up great work Mike I’ve always been a fan👍

[@Joy-Riding]

Thanks, enjoy!

[@JohnSmith-vc4yg]

Good story too

[@ianrowe9337]

I WANT ONE !!!

[@kenwatts5410]

Great Vid Mike, say hi to Steve, wish him well, Ken

[@michaelpauley125]

Awesome thanks for sharing.

[@dave3156]

Beautiful ride!!! I would have to switch the wheels to chromes with the baby moons--always liked that look. Enjoy listening to you on NASCAR--keep up the good work!!! Thanks for sharing!

[@dave-uf8ir]

Ausum very nice 😊