Muscle Car Enthusiasts- Is a 60's El Camino a respectable muscle car?

If you have the time and passion, go for it. You'll never forget the experience. As I remember, some El Caminos at the end, had a big-block 396" engine. Even before, the small-block 327" was pretty impressive.

As far as a "Muscle Car"... it will certainly appear to be one. The problem was holding the rear end down (weight) with all them horses under the hood. Don't race it, (it'll still get up and go pretty good!); just watch the look on other people's faces when they see it.

On the plus side... 60's era Chevy parts (El Camino and Chevelle weren't all that different) are still pretty easy to come by at a good price; a local junk yard should be a good source for drivetrain and suspension parts. It will still be a heck-of-a-lot cheaper than trying to restore almost anything else.

When I was younger, I had a 1964 GTO convertible. Never forgot it. Neither will you.... GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One other thing I'd like to add. Your project will take some time. Be patient. Don't look back and get frustrated on your progress since yesterday... instead, look back at what you have accomplished since the day you started. Take a picture every day. The pics from yesterday may not look much different from today's but compare them to last week or month and I think you'll be surprised.

The muscle automobile era is many times defined via fact the Sixties and intensely early Nineteen Seventies and the muscle autos commonly had a minimum of a power-to-weight ratio of 12 kilos in keeping with rated HP yet a ten to a million ratio or extra valuable became into extra advantageous to qualify as being referred to as a muscle automobile. So a 3500 lb automobile, that's approximately what the 1985 El Camino weighs, could could desire to have in far extra than 290 HP to qualify as being referred to as a muscle automobile, that's plenty extra HP than the 1985 El Caminos had. Even 1985 El Caminos with the 5.7L 350 engine, the biggest production unit put in engine accessible interior the 1985 El Caminos, became into in simple terms rated at a hundred and seventy HP. So the quick answer to your question is not any! The 1985 El Camino isn't a muscle automobile.

Its a nice car... however 70's are generally faster with a more attractive body styles (in my opinion. the 70's was when most American cars went from the heavy doctor cars to a faster muscle car). But generally, if you like it and take good care of it, anyone who appreciates a muscle car will appreciate it too.

who cares what other people think,if u want to restore it,do it.its something u want to do.dont worry about who thinks its cool or not.more then likely it would be repsected with a big motor and alot of sound.good luck on it,just take ur time and do everything right the first time.

lot of money the question. you will own the car or your friend. time changes things. how much of a resto will satisfy being done. what to do with the end result.

worth it if it were mine not my friends and mine.

Definitely. Early Elky's are the most desirable by a long shot, and are getting rare.

well i would do it you like the car do it but it does cost some money and takes time