Jalopnik: Camino

Happy 50th Birthday Chevrolet El Camino

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:45:00 EDT

We nearly missed it, and we appreciate Hemmings Auto Blog for reminding us today is a most momentous day: The day, 50 years ago, when the 1959 Chevrolet El Camino was introduced to the public. That's right, today is the birthday of that most quintessential of truck-cars, the one which acts as the butt of half of all redneck jokes ever conceived, and which we maintain a preternatural love for.

Sure, there's no real El Camino on the market now, and anyone who wants a car-based pickup better live outside the US, until the Pontiac G8 ST of course. Nonetheless, happy birthday, El Camino. We'll raise a pitcher of PBR and pound down some grilled hot dogs in your honor. Photo credit from Super Chevy

HHRamino Makes Chevy HHR Seem Palatable

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:20:00 EDT

In any form other than the Chevy HHR SS, the too-retro, too-small station wagon "High Heritage Roofline" leaves a strange aftertaste. It borrows liberally from Chevrolet design themes of the fifties, and yet pays no respect to what made them timeless classics. It's a car with a stolen identity. And yet, somehow, when you lop the back end of it off, put a stainless steel bed and a tail gate in there, it looks damn good. Senor htrodblder found this shining example of caminoization at the HHR Club, and we are happy to pass on the coolness on to you — especially since it reminds us of the '51 Chevy 3100 we have back home, awaiting restoration and a fresh 350.

Our Lives Have Been Wasted: 1986 Cadillac DeVille Fleetwood Hot Tubamino

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EDT

Oh beautiful, for spacious hot tub, and amber folds of leather. For orange paint and landau top, above four comfy seats! Cadillac DeVille, sweet Cadillac DeVille! Jalopnik sheds its grace on thee. And crown thy continental kit, with loads of chrome, and bitchin' custom grille!

Sorry, we couldn't help but break into song. This might be the greatest custom Cadillac ever built. If it was just the hot tub, it would be a ride for plebes, but for God's sake, look at everything else! White walls, custom grille and hood, that top, those chrome accents, the continental kit (so much more fitting here than on the LeBaron) — the mind wonders, the heart races. And the bidding is only up to how much!? (Thanks Slimwhitman) [eBay listing]

Olympic Gold Medalist Hearts El Caminos

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Amanda Beard is one hell of a swimmer, racking up two gold medals at the Olympics and eight U.S. Championships. But she's also got a dirty little secret — she loves El Caminos. Even though she doesn't own one yet, she's plotting her next move and tells Autoweek all about it. The boys over at AW use the combination of athlete and car to make an argument for powered sport in the games, but we don't see that happening. Besides, the X-Games is already doing it, and you know how international organizations hate to look like copycats. (Thanks for the tip vwminispeedster)

[Autoweek]

Second Tandem Axle Rabbitamino Discovered, They're Breeding

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:00:00 EDT

While woefully lacking in the mid mounted 500 cubic inch Cadillac engine and scissor doors department the first tandem axle VW Caddy we discovered had, this one succeeds in another area - it's an actual Rabbitamino. If you look carefully at the hind end of this one, you can see the telltale signs pointing out this started life as a VW Rabbit and was chopped up into the masterpiece you see today. We're also digging the extra clean super-long wheel well and cool canvas bed cap. Unfortunately, this came from actual photographs in the Hemmings archives so you know all we know, still, this would make a kick-ass motorcycle carrier.

Corvettamino ZR-1 Is Pulling Our Leg, Still Awesome

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:20:00 EDT

Who needs a Pontiac G8 ST when you can have a bitchin' camino-ized C4 Corvette ZR-1? Nobody that's who. Fortunately for our still beating hearts, this is not really a ZR-1 turned truck/car — it's an '84 Vette smooshed together with a '91 with custom molds and bodywork to create that smooth Vettamino effect. According to ClassyAuto (misnomer?) this was the brainchild of the original owner of Bayliner Boats and took over $115K to create. Wow, that's camino love right there. We have no idea how up to date their website is, but the sale price at one time at least was a steal at $35,000... cough, cough, choke.... WHAT!

[ClassyAuto]

1970 Chevrolet El Camino 454 Super Sport

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:40:00 EDT

Though many have been entered and some have been trimmed, we have only one space left in the Jalopnik Fantasy Garage. One more bay into which we may slide any dream machine we can think of. To this point it has been a journey of discovery, history, humor, debate, outrage and delight, but still there remains only one spot. This final place has been reserved in our plans for a long time though. Despite the stereotypes held in the public eye about this car, we could choose no other to cap off this endeavor and we therefore humbly submit for your approval — the 1970 Chevrolet El Camino 454 Super Sport.

What is it about us and El Caminos? Since the early days when Davey G. gave us his musings on the car which held such a strong place in his heart, through the last few months, which have seen the scion of the El Camino debut, and countless chopped up and rebuilt cars in between, we are El aficionados. And despite the awesome spectacle that is the Porsche 928-amino and acres of El Caminos at the Woodward Dream Cruise, there is only one El Camino we can hold up as the king of the ring, a true fantasy with no peers and of course the most powerful production truck/car ever built for US shores.

The 1970 Chevrolet El Camino 454 SS is the pinnacle of Chevrolet's car based truck dynasty — but it took a long time to get there. The El Camino was initially introduced as a response to the strong selling Ford Ranchero and came out for a couple of years starting in 1959. The light pickup was initially based on the wild styling of the Chevrolet Impala, which, despite the unique and desirable nature of these early cars today, was not well received at the time. When the car was reintroduced in 1964, everything had changed. Now based on the Chevelle platform, the car was much more ready for work. Instead of flashy appendages flying everywhere, it was slab sided and lighter than the original. As styling progressed on the Chevelle through the years, so too was it mirrored in the El Camino.

Whereas styling was always up to date with the El Camino, it was left behind on power. All through its life, it saw every engine of its automotive brethren except the highest performance mill of the time. This changed in 1970. After two years of having the 396 V8 putting out a very respectable 375 HP sitting as the top of the options list, the mighty LS6 454 V8 was added. With a stated power rating of 450 HP and 500 lb/ft of torque, this legendary motor propelled the El Camino from a stop to 60 in only 6.6 seconds, it would make a quarter mile run in 13.4 seconds - remember, on 7" wide tires with a four speed manual.

Perhaps more important than the figures and the ridiculousness of this car is what it means. The 454 SS isn't a car you give to mom to drive to the grocery store. It is the simplest way to turn rubber into smoke. Hoonage personified. This is a car you get into trouble with. It's a leather-jacketed, chain-smoking, knife-wielding, hard-livin', "Screw you" to proper society. No other car makes less sense, but is so perfect at doing it.
It is the antithesis of business models based on a public bored to mediocrity by way of market research and ad campaigns touting air bags and child safety seats. Once upon a time you could go to the dealer, plunk down your hard earned scratch, fire up that 454 and hit the road, light up an unfiltered cigarette and crank out Led Zeppelin's Ramble On over the pushbutton AM/FM radio. We want the El Camino in the garage not just because it's a badass ride, but because it's a sucker punch to the flabby gut of political correctness.

photo and info sources: Muscle Car Club, Cardomain, Englewolf, cardomain

The Problem With The Pontiac G8 El Camino

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:30:00 EDT

We love the idea of the 2010 Pontiac G8 El Camino, this much goes without saying, but there's been a lot of hemming and hawing about the long term viability of the product from a business perspective. Motor City Blog Man Todd Lassa has a theory on the General's strategy and it kind of makes sense to us. Remember when we all went a little batty at the prospect of a G8 Wagon and then it got canned — kind of? Well Todd got to thinking about the wagon and the El Camino, and mixed in a little marketing strategy from GM's cross town rivals at Ford and came up with an idea:

What if the G8 El Camino was simply a Pontiac G8 variant, like Mustangs Bullitt and the California Special? Albeit on a more complex, but still platform produced scale. GM let everybody who wants one get a copy during a couple years of production, then phase it out when demand falls only to introduce a new variant — the G8 wagon. We see this as a brilliant theory, but we have some ideas to add here.

We can see the market for truck-cars going one of two ways, the direction Lassa points at — a complete niche for enthusiast buyers, or, breaking out like gangbusters. Why would we say that? Because of the economy. It's no secret the housing market is taking a dirt nap, some markets have seen a decline in home values as high as 20% in the last year. GM knows housing sales are the biggest indicator of light truck sales trends, and the sharp decline in that segment across the board in the last two quarters backs that up. The midsize trucks currently in place are as large as full size trucks two decades ago, and their fuel economy credentials are slipping badly. With gas prices on the rise, and environmental consciousness coming into vogue, there's a possibility, though admittedly small, that GM may actually be first to market with a hot new segment, efficient trucks.

Certainly the current iteration with it's 361 HP V8 is not fuel sipper, but we're betting the V6 already for sale in Australia would be an easy option to incorporate if demand was there. Heck, the Solstice sourced Ecotec 4 cylinder would probably fit nicely in that car. So say what you will about GM's Pontiac G8 sport truck, you may feel that it's folly, but people have to haul stuff regardless of the price of gas, and GM knows this too. So in the end, GM can show it's enthusiasts the love as well as take the option to capitalize on a market should the opportunity arise. [Trends of the Motor Variety]

Rollsachero, Or, How To Put Grey Poupon On Your Hot Dog

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:45:00 EDT

We have covered the Rolls Royce that knows how to party before, but on this Maximum El Camino Day we have a new argument for naming it, and much better pictures. Though Rolls' are pretty cars with a lovely pedigree that leak oil on your garage floor, picking one from another in the malaise era is tough, so we're just going to call it a Rolls - but what about that suffix? Previously we called it a Rollsamino, but if you look back through the lineage, a strong case for -achero can be made.

Rolls Royce has been passed around in its history, the recent back and forth between BMW and VW was a bit of a drama, but before that the Rolls Royce brand was owned by the British company Vickers. Now, Vickers was a industrial company more in line with aero-engines, steel, and the Ministry of Defense, but they also acquired the Cosworth brand in 1990. Said brand has a well known affiliation with Ford, and was sold in part to none other than than Ford Motor Company. Rollsachero, now that's a twisted path to an inane naming convention if ever there was one.

Freakshow, The Custom Camino From Hello Kitty Hell

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:45:00 EDT

Freakshow has our noodle in a bind. There's not much left of the original '64 Chevy C-10, but it definitely says "1964 Chevy Pickup" on the placard. By all rights it should be the absolute baddest truck/car in the show hands down with a blown 354 cubic inch hemi, six Stromberg 97 carbs, the sickest custom headers we've ever seen all running through a four speed Muncie to a 9 inch Ford rear with 4:11 gears. It has a beer keg and an in-cabin tap coming out a skull mounted under a gun rack. And yet here we are torn - the car is pink, with white fur everywhere, and has a pink telephone on the dash. What. The. Hell?

Yes, we know, it doesn't look like any 1964C-10 we've ever seen either, that's because it's sporting a '61 Chrysler nose and a '57 Chrysler tail along with an incredibly schizophrenic paint scheme. But still, we circle back to this brutal dichotomy of total dominating badassity spitting in the face of convention. Sitting amidst this sea of flat black and rusty hot rods is a cotton candy monster waiting to eat your lunch, but it is nigh on invisible due to its fluffy persona. If Clint Eastwood dressed up like a lady and drove this car around, the world would end, of this we are certain.

Like the XR-3 Hybrid? How About a Suburba 3-wheel-amino

bwojdyla — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:45:00 EST

Travis brought news of the release of plans for Robert Q. Riley's very cool XR-3 diesel-electric hybrid, but how would you feel about a much earlier PopMech version that comes as a mini truck/car? Finkbuilt has dug up plans for the Suburba, a DIY three wheeled running chassis that can be bodied however you like. We dig this version that's got a hint of Ford Econoline missing a wheel inspiration. After the Peel P50, this may be the best possible candidate for some big stinky motorcycle engine transplant.

Match Made in Heaven: Skoda Delivery Fun

bwojdyla — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:45:00 EST

You didn't think we could actually make it through any trip without bringing you local Camino action did you? Here's a bitchin' Skoda Felicia Fun doing its duty as a pizza delivery truck/car in Schesslitz. Way more dignified than the last Fun we brought you. Could there be a better match? Pizza delivery, Camino-ness, fuel economy, plenty of room for cases of bier in the back... it's perfect! There's something so right about that missing hubcap too. Ristorante bei Peppo Skoda-camino driver, today's real Bavarian hero.

DAFamino Madness Grips Vermont By The Throat

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:15:00 EDT

The DAF Club of America held a Micro/Mini Madness event [Update: next to] the live free or die state over the weekend. And didn't invite us! Which would be like having a ~~Dead Kennedys reunion without Jello Biafra~~ Genesis reunion without Peter Gabriel. We wouldn't have been able to go anyhow, as we were tied up in North Cackalacky und Tennessee, but still. Turns out that we didn't miss that much as Daniel Strohl of Hemmings fame reports, "I bopped up there, only to see a grand total of three and a half DAFs." One of them however, was a DAFamino. So, obviously, the whole thing was worth it. More images and the full story over at Hemmings. Hmmm... hey Johnson, don't see any upcoming FAF events, now do I?

Now Available: Crosleyamino!

Murilee Martin — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:12:49 EST

You young punks these days gotcher Sierracheros and Aztekaminos and yer whatnot, but back in my day we had to drive 100 miles through a blizzard in a Crosleyamino just to get to the little one-room schoolhouse! And when we got there we could only learn multiplication tables up to 5 times 5, because we couldn't afford to buy all the numerals! Featuring the highly-susceptible-to-corrosion COBRA sheet-metal engine, this little Crosley-based truck should warm the hearts of fans of Cars That Only Desperate Post-WW2 Buyers Would Purchase. – Murilee Martin

1948 Crosley Pickup [eBay]

Barcelona: Come For the Food, Stay for the World's Cutest Garbage Trucks

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 02:21:19 EST

I don't know anything about this little cutey except that it sounded diesel. I do know that the super narrow yet well kempt streets of Barcelona demand mini-garbage trucks. Which to our way of thinking, makes these the very coolest garbage trucks of all. Plus, like, somebody (no doubt an Italian) actually took the time to sculpt the fenders! Why? For flavor. And the wheels appear to be forged from scrap-iron and coated with a ceramic glaze. Anyhow, knock off the trash bin and that's one suave looking mini-van camino. Oh, and if you are in Barcelona, eat at Cal Pep — thank me later. More cute after the jump. – Jonny Lieberman

Goggomobilimpressionen: Goggomobilamino!!!

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 19:45:00 EST

The Glas Goggomobil is yet another post-war German microcar from a sewing machine manufacturer with a puny engine in the butt. Besides its righteous name, the Goggonmobil had the distinction of being built in the town of Dingofling. Besides its funny name, Dingofling is the current location of BMW's biggest factory which employs 22,000 insanely precise individuals. And yes, BMW purchased Glas in 1960s. The Goggomobil also sported an electric pre-selective transmission with a manual clutch. Essentially, you pre-select the gear you want next, and when you need it, hit the clutch. Anyhow, someone made a mini-panel van out of the Goggomobil and then naturally Camino'd it. And we're in three-types of love. We're also starting to suspect that the European instinct to Camino is stronger then the American... just saying. More Glas-y Goggonmogoodness after the jump.

A pre-Camino GoggoMo panel van known as the Transporter TL.

All the Goggomobil money can buy, including a Camino. Jesus... how do you choose between suicide doors on a 1,100 lbs. convertible and a Camino?

'Sup, Fraulein?"

If we could get that trailer with the Goggomobilamino... – Jonny Lieberman

DAF vs. FAF: Storming the Beaches with the DAF Dune Buggy!!!

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST

Rubber bands, boxer engine, fiberglass body, retro-design and a inflatable dolphin! And yeah, it's a Camino. You cannot find a hotter and/or uglier ride anywhere. I checked. Davey, you have no victory. The Dutch karate is too strong. More topless, clutchless, eyesore-ness after the jump. – Jonny Lieberman

Related:
The DAF vs. FAF Jihad [Internal]

DAF vs. FAF: Nailing Shut Davey G's Coffin; The DAF 66 YA

www.jalopnik.com — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:15:45 EST

Around the time Nixon resigned, the Dutch military realized that they were wasting an awful lot of money for all-wheel drive Jeeps that never left the pavement. If Luxemburg should attack, something less potent would do just fine. So the brass commissioned the best (and only) clutch-thieving Dutch carmaker to create a comparable two-wheel drive Jeep-type thingy. While cheap and cute, the CVT and its infamous rubber bands proved to be the weak spot. Though was it the 66 YA's fault? Not totally, according to DAF Cars — make the jump for more.

"The soldiers in the Dutch army, largely made up of conscripts, lived up to their reputation of wrecking everything they laid their hands on, and the belts in the Variomatic transmission were the first to go"

Like the duality of light, the 66 YA exists in the form of both a convertible and a camino. Davey: it will only get worse for you from here. – Jonny Lieberman