59 El Camino mild custom

[midnightprowler]

My first custom.

[406 Silverado]

Lee that turned out fabulous brother. These old AMT El Camino's were really ahead of their time back then with all the options and details. Your paint and detailing are to be admired. Love the six cylinder under the hood.

[70 STING]

Very cool build and great paint! Wouldn’t know it was an AMT kit.

[midnightprowler]

Thanks guys.

[jeaton01]

Really cool, Lee. I'm one of the few that was disappointed when the '58 body style was a one off, and the 59 and 60 Chevrolets look to me like the designers had run out of ideas so they just kept on adding stuff. We had a 66 Chevelle El Camino and though it had nice lines it was the most useless farm truck I ever drove.

[midnightprowler]

Thanks. I've always liked the 58 myself. Yeah car based pickups are pretty much useless lol.

[tcoat]

May 8, 2023 13:49:43 GMT -5 jeaton01 said:

Really cool, Lee. I'm one of the few that was disappointed when the '58 body style was a one off, and the 59 and 60 Chevrolets look to me like the designers had run out of ideas so they just kept on adding stuff. We had a 66 Chevelle El Camino and though it had nice lines it was the most useless farm truck I ever drove.

Coming someday!

[tcoat]

May 8, 2023 15:38:26 GMT -5 midnightprowler said:

Thanks. I've always liked the 58 myself. Yeah car based pickups are pretty much useless lol.

They may be useless but sure are purdy! I  love the convertible take on this one.


Oh and sticking the Blueflame

[Leon]

That is really sharp looking Lee!

[transammike]

Ineresting and cool build...who'd a thunk a straight six in a custom. Nice work!!

[406 Silverado]

May 8, 2023 16:17:03 GMT -5 tcoat said:

May 8, 2023 13:49:43 GMT -5 jeaton01 said:

Really cool, Lee. I'm one of the few that was disappointed when the '58 body style was a one off, and the 59 and 60 Chevrolets look to me like the designers had run out of ideas so they just kept on adding stuff. We had a 66 Chevelle El Camino and though it had nice lines it was the most useless farm truck I ever drove.

Coming someday!

Now THAT'LL be cool to watch come together.

[406 Silverado]

May 8, 2023 16:39:59 GMT -5 transammike said:

Ineresting and cool build...who'd a thunk a straight six in a custom. Nice work!!

I know right??!! But hey....it works!! Great to see you around Mike!!

[tcoat]

May 8, 2023 16:39:59 GMT -5 transammike said:

Ineresting and cool build...who'd a thunk a straight six in a custom. Nice work!!

Those old Stovebolt sixes were (are) nothing to sneeze at really. With very little work you could almost double the 150 rated HP to 300. Where they really shine though is torque. Stock was almost 250 ft-lbs but modified you could get nearly 500. I know in this age of 300+ HP 4 cylinders and seemingly almost infinity for 8s this doesn't seem like much but those poor old engines soldiered on on for over 70 years before being killed off. There were probably two or three thousand of them around for every Chev V8 at one point in time.
I have a total love hate relationship with the things. 

[jeaton01]

That was the first engine I ever worked on. I went to the parts house and asked for an overhaul set and the guy asked me whether it had insert bearings or poured bearings. Of course I had no idea what he was talking about. What 12 year old would? Now if you went to the parts house the average counter person wouldn't know what a Chevy 235 was unless you gave them a part number.

[midnightprowler]

Thanks guys. Yeah I love 6 bangers.

[406 Silverado]

May 8, 2023 18:44:27 GMT -5 jeaton01 said:

That was the first engine I ever worked on. I went to the parts house and asked for an overhaul set and the guy asked me whether it had insert bearings or poured bearings. Of course I had no idea what he was talking about. What 12 year old would? Now if you went to the parts house the average counter person wouldn't know what a Chevy 235 was unless you gave them a part number.

That or asked you how many litres it is. I've asked for something for a 350 before and they looked at me like I had an arm growing out of my head and said.....is that a 4.3 or 5.7 litre??

[tcoat]

May 8, 2023 19:01:55 GMT -5 midnightprowler said:

Thanks guys. Yeah I love 6 bangers.

[midnightprowler]

I'll take it 😁

[robbo]

Very nice car. Not done anything like this before but never say never

[406 Silverado]

May 9, 2023 13:56:03 GMT -5 robbo said:

Very nice car. Not done anything like this before but never say never

You should give it a try Ian.
Just to let the cat out of the bag a little.....you might be seeing an automotive group build coming up in June as well. Just sayin.....

[dannimal]

Nice job!

[midnightprowler]

Thanks.