Also, opening that hood is like looking through a time portal---truly amazing to see an original in its natural state, and not all chromed up and spotless.
Let's change Jesse's name from "What Would Jesse Do" to "Jesse Makes Me Sick with Envy." #1969
What a beauty. One of the best looking Chevelles ever, in any format, but this black/white is really classy.
As for its identiy, if you were going to put this into a syllogism, it would be--
All 1969 El Caminos are Chevelles;
Some Chevelles are SSs, some are Malibus, which are only trim levels in 1969, and mean nothing about engines and such;
Therefore, it's perfectly possible that this is in fact an El Camino which is a Chevelle with the Malibu trim level.
This is only by memory. I shall arise now and Google "Malibu trim level." #1969
@Novaload: @Novaload: According to howstuffworks, for '69 it was the "SS" package that wasn't a trim level, it was just an extra option that could be affixed to either the 300 deluxe or the Malibu Chevelle. It would also seem that all El Caminos for '69 came Malibu spec'd, so my guess is that A. all '69 El Caminos are Malibus and B. if you ordered an SS package, that "Malibu" badge would have been replaced by "SS 396" or what-have-you. A quick image search of '69 El Camino interiors seems to confirm this. I could be way off base, of course, but either way, great, great car, and a rare treat to see one that hasn't been converted into an SS clone.
@Franzouse: I was just going to say the same thing. Yeah, bonus points for even having the original air cleaner. Not too many cars, trucks, or Caminos are this original. That Rochester 2G has held its own on that intake manifold for forty years, it would be a crime to replace it. #1969
i have seen people do the spray on "vinyl" top before... this one looks a lot nicer than others i've seen... but i would still prefer it not be there.. otherwise, that is one good looking camino #1969
the reason i've heard for putting that bed-liner stuff on the roof of an el camino is to carry long ladders/stuff that would end up resting on the roof instead of leaving the tailgate down/stuff hanging out the back.
Edited by günter macbeetle, codename: chrystlubitshi at 11/14/09 9:14 AM
günter macbeetle, codename: chrystlubitshi was starred
günter macbeetle, codename: chrystlubitshi was unstarred
I actually know where there is an X100 parked in San Diego. Cool old beast. Unfortunately it appears to have been attacked by the tin worm since it's not far from the beach. #1969
How does someone not realize the value of this car. They could have gotten way more for this car selling it at a discount on craigslist, then selling it for a little pocket change from the crusher #1969
The X-100 was theoretically available with matt-black finish on the trunk lid area. Don't remember ever seeing one on the road.
The Marauder was Mercury's on-the-cheap attempt at a big personal coupe similar to the pre-1969 Grand Prix. It looked better than its Ford counterpart, but 1969 production didn't top 15,000 and in 1970 it dwindled to 6,000.
I like the Chrysler 300 better. This year was arguably the high point for the big Chrysler styling-wise, and the 300 was the coolest model even though it didn't have the performance of the departed 300-letter series. #1969
Aw, man - this is so sad. Both cars are collector-worthy. They're amongst the last attempts by Detroit to make sporty full-size coupes before the malaise set in. I particularly like the 300 - long, lean lines with front-end styling that should be in an art museum. Worth a picture, I'd say. #1969
@Ralph Wiley Is Poised: Yeah, full-size muscle cars were on their way out beginning in 1965 or so. Ponycars and intermediates became the favorites for performance, with souped-up compacts becoming popular a little later. The very last of the hot full-size breed was the 1971 Plymouth Sport Fury GT (see picture) with only 375 produced. #1969
@tonyola: Your example illustrates how Chrysler kept a toehold in big performance cars longer than GM and Ford. In 1971 Plymouth's top-end big car was the Sport Fury -- they didn't even offer a luxury version fully on par with the LTD and Caprice.
In a way it made sense that the Big Three downsized their performance coupes -- smaller cars had a much better power-to-weight ratio. They also just plain looked the part better than increasingly baroque full-sized cars.
Exhibit A: The 1969 Marauder looks bipolar because designers attached Mercury's upright, Continentalesque front sheetmetal to a fastback bodystyle adorned with racy, bescooped hips.
The Marauder didn't work a whole lot better than the Sport Fury, whose pool table-sized hood and "donut" front bumper looked ungainly next to the taunt and curvy new mid-sized Road Runner. #1969
@DrLemming: Plymouth tried to offer a luxury version against the LTD and Caprice in 1966 with the VIP but it didn't had the success as the Caprice and LTD had and the VIP was retired after 1969 [jimgrey.wordpress.com]#1969
@DrLemming: As stephdumas says elsewhere in this thread, Plymouth had a VIP from 1966 through 1969. Plymouth may not have had a true luxury line for 1970 (though the Sport Fury somewhat made up for that role), but they did a very curious thing mid year. A low-line Fury II pillared coupe was given Sport Fury trim, had just about every option thrown at it, and was re-christened Gran Coupe with a price that was exceeded only by the Sport Fury GT. It sold pretty well and the experiment was repeated for 1971 as an option package for hardtop coupes. By 1972, a full line of luxury Gran Furys replaced the Sport Fury. #1969
Green and huge. I recall the A/C being positively frostbite cold. Plus it had turn signal indicators on the fenders. Bonus points for a very smart design which has gone away.
...of course it's not like people use turn signals anymore, anyway. Hell, I feel like I should replace my rear bulbs because the amber is a little burned off the glass. #1969
@tonyola: The original Gran Coupe was an odd one for that time -- a pillared luxury coupe? As you note, Plymouth did get back on the luxury bus, but it was interesting that they steered more toward sportiness for awhile. #1969
11/15/09
11/14/09
11/14/09
Clearly, it's the exceedingly rare Malibino.
Or maybe an Elcamibu. #1969
11/14/09
El Camimalibumino. #1969
11/14/09
Let's change Jesse's name from "What Would Jesse Do" to "Jesse Makes Me Sick with Envy." #1969
11/15/09
11/14/09
As for its identiy, if you were going to put this into a syllogism, it would be--
All 1969 El Caminos are Chevelles;
Some Chevelles are SSs, some are Malibus, which are only trim levels in 1969, and mean nothing about engines and such;
Therefore, it's perfectly possible that this is in fact an El Camino which is a Chevelle with the Malibu trim level.
This is only by memory. I shall arise now and Google "Malibu trim level." #1969
11/14/09
11/14/09
11/14/09
11/14/09
11/14/09
11/14/09
11/14/09
Added points for -as Murilee pointed out- having kept the original powertrain #1969
11/14/09
11/14/09
the reason i've heard for putting that bed-liner stuff on the roof of an el camino is to carry long ladders/stuff that would end up resting on the roof instead of leaving the tailgate down/stuff hanging out the back.
10/25/09
I love big-block land-yachts. #1969
10/25/09
What the hell is wrong with you?! Do you take pleasure in making us cry!?!?
Love,
Tomsk #1969
10/25/09
10/25/09
10/25/09
The Marauder was Mercury's on-the-cheap attempt at a big personal coupe similar to the pre-1969 Grand Prix. It looked better than its Ford counterpart, but 1969 production didn't top 15,000 and in 1970 it dwindled to 6,000.
I like the Chrysler 300 better. This year was arguably the high point for the big Chrysler styling-wise, and the 300 was the coolest model even though it didn't have the performance of the departed 300-letter series. #1969
10/25/09
Aw, man - this is so sad. Both cars are collector-worthy. They're amongst the last attempts by Detroit to make sporty full-size coupes before the malaise set in. I particularly like the 300 - long, lean lines with front-end styling that should be in an art museum. Worth a picture, I'd say. #1969
10/25/09
10/25/09
@Ralph Wiley Is Poised: Yeah, full-size muscle cars were on their way out beginning in 1965 or so. Ponycars and intermediates became the favorites for performance, with souped-up compacts becoming popular a little later. The very last of the hot full-size breed was the 1971 Plymouth Sport Fury GT (see picture) with only 375 produced. #1969
10/25/09
In a way it made sense that the Big Three downsized their performance coupes -- smaller cars had a much better power-to-weight ratio. They also just plain looked the part better than increasingly baroque full-sized cars.
Exhibit A: The 1969 Marauder looks bipolar because designers attached Mercury's upright, Continentalesque front sheetmetal to a fastback bodystyle adorned with racy, bescooped hips.
The Marauder didn't work a whole lot better than the Sport Fury, whose pool table-sized hood and "donut" front bumper looked ungainly next to the taunt and curvy new mid-sized Road Runner. #1969
10/25/09
10/25/09
@DrLemming: As stephdumas says elsewhere in this thread, Plymouth had a VIP from 1966 through 1969. Plymouth may not have had a true luxury line for 1970 (though the Sport Fury somewhat made up for that role), but they did a very curious thing mid year. A low-line Fury II pillared coupe was given Sport Fury trim, had just about every option thrown at it, and was re-christened Gran Coupe with a price that was exceeded only by the Sport Fury GT. It sold pretty well and the experiment was repeated for 1971 as an option package for hardtop coupes. By 1972, a full line of luxury Gran Furys replaced the Sport Fury. #1969
10/25/09
I barely remember my folks' '70 four door sedan.
Green and huge. I recall the A/C being positively frostbite cold. Plus it had turn signal indicators on the fenders. Bonus points for a very smart design which has gone away.
...of course it's not like people use turn signals anymore, anyway. Hell, I feel like I should replace my rear bulbs because the amber is a little burned off the glass. #1969
10/26/09
10/25/09
...no, actually, there really isn't. Can't even blame it on smog, or CfCs, or the other usual culprits. #1969