Chevrolet El Camino - El Camino Today

El Camino Today

El Caminos can usually be found at car shows in the muscle car category. Early models can be found as restored originals or hot rods with modified engines, mag wheels and custom paint. Some are used in various racing venues, and more can be spotted being used as daily drivers. The late 60s versions command the highest prices and inspire the most replicas from Hot Wheels, Matchbox and Johnny Lightning. The Discovery Channel program Monster Garage once turned an El Camino into a Figure-8 racer (dubbed the "Hell-Camino"). The drift team Bubba Drift uses a 1986 El Camino as the only drifting truck.

Like its Chevelle counterpart, the El Camino SS models with big-block V8s are prized by collectors. Of particular interest (and with correspondingly high collector value) is the 1970 SS454 model with the optional 450-bhp, 454 cubic-inch LS6 V8.

For years, GM has been rumored to be considering bringing back the El Camino. GM already has a vehicle ready in Australia in the form of the Holden Ute (a Chevrolet-badged version of which, known as the Lumina Ute, is sold in South Africa and Middle East), save for some minor changes necessary to make it available in the U.S.

This may have been backtracked within the past couple of years, however, as the Subaru Baja, the only "pickup car" recently available in the US, did not sell well at all and was dropped after the 2006 model year. On the other hand, the Baja's slow sales probably had less to do with the body style, and more to do with the poor fuel economy offered by its AWD layout: fuel prices had increased dramatically around the same time it was discontinued.

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