By:  Jim Werching

I bought my first Chevelle project car in 1980 – a “66 El Camino, and have been restoring Chevelles and other GM cars in my spare time ever since.  I’ve had a lot of nice cars over the years but this I think is my favorite.  I can’t believe I’ve had it for over 27 years now!  It is my daily driver in the summer months and has logged over 350K miles, 117K miles on the rebuilt 327.  I just finished re-painting it last summer and now it is ready for another 26 years.  Some interesting things about it are that it was originally a big block 4 spd. with the Knee-Knocker tack.  Hot Rod magazine had an article and picture of it in the February 1982 issue after I first completed it.

One of the most memorable moments while owning this car was about a week after the one and only time I showed it at Spring ‘Vette Fest, I got a call from someone that happened to see it at the show.  Turns out the he worked for Revelle / Monogram and asked if he could take some “detailed” pictures of my car to help them out in finishing the plastic model of a ’66 El Camino.  He came out about a week later and was overjoyed to take the pictures.  He couldn’t pay me anything but could give me my pick of any plastic models along with 2 models of the ‘66 El Camino models when they came out.  I was happy to get the models but what thrilled me more was a letter from him on Revelle / Monogram letterhead thanking me for allowing him to use my El Camino in the design of their model kit.  This letter is now framed and hanging in my den.  You just never know whom you are going to meet in this great hobby. 

Here are the rest of the specs on my 1966 El Camino Custom:

             ENGINE:                    1966 327/275 HP  Hi-Performance heads (Rebuilt 1985, bored 030 over)

            CARBURETOR:          Holley 600 CFM

            TRANSMISSION:       Saginaw 3-speed manual (Rebuilt 1991)

            REAR END:                3.73/12 bolt posi.

   PAINT:                        1975 Corvette medium metallic blue- basecoat/clearcoat (Repainted July 2006)

            INTERIOR:                 CUSTOM (1980)

                                                     - Re-upholsetered seats

                                                      - “Fabricated” door panels.

                                                      - “Fabricated” headeliner

                                                      -  Replaced carpeting

              BED COVER:                  New 2001

              OPTIONS:                   Power steering, in-dash gauges, bucket seats and console.

            MISC.: - “HOT ROD” magazine article, February, 1982

-  Used in making of Revell / Monograms 1966 El Camino plastic model kit.

-  Replaced frame due to rust in 1995 and 2005

My wife Judy and I enjoy driving the cars we have.  We’ve met some wonderful (and strange) people over the years at Club meetings, cruise nights and shows.  We have made some good friends which I know we will have for a long time.  Where else can you meet wonderful people, improve your cars, show off your work, relieve your stress and have a wonderful time?