Rare 1960 Chevy El Camino. Updated 327 with 3-speed manual transmission. Cold aftermarket A/C. New wheels and tires. Spray-in bedliner. Older repaint that still looks good. Runs and drives great! A cool vintage hauler that’s as practical as it is attractive.

The first-generation El Camino is kind of an anomaly—ostensibly designed to compete with the Ford Ranchero, it only managed to survive for two years. Of course, the Ford’s last year was 1959, so it only lasted three years. Perhaps the market just wasn’t quite ready for a car/truck hybrid. Only 14,163 El Caminos were built in 1960 and it would not reappear until 1964 on the smaller Malibu platform. But that same quirky blend of car styling and pickup truck practicality is what makes the El Camino so appealing today. With our current obsession with crossovers and trucks that drive like cars, perhaps it’s time to take a better look at this 1960 Chevrolet El Camino. It’s a southern car, er, truck, and has apparently lived a pretty good life as it hasn’t been worked to death and bashed into scrap. The styling is just as dramatic as it was in 1960, toned down a bit from 1959 but still pretty wild—those flattened tail fins that stretch across the bed’s quarter panels are still awesome to behold. Somewhere along the line, this Elky received a handsome pearl white paint job that’s a bit subtle, because it can almost pass for Ermine White. It’s a classic look that doesn’t really start to shine until the sun hits it just right. We like the way it looks. There are plenty of interesting features, too, including the unique jet-inspired side trim, the unique cantilevered roof, and the traditional round taillights that would become a Chevy trademark for years. You’ll note that the chrome and stainless trim is in good condition, the bumpers are straight, and even the stainless around the bed itself is in pretty good shape. Not perfect, but just right if you still want to use your El Camino for hauling stuff.

The bright red interior is the right choice to contrast with the white bodywork, giving the El Camino a traditional look. Chevy only offered base vinyl trim on the 1960 El Camino so this one wars a somewhat more dressy seat cover over the original upholstery, giving it the illusion of a more upscale model. You’ll also find newer carpets and door panels and a beautifully preserved original dash and steering wheel. The gauges are all operational, including a tachometer underneath and an aftermarket fuel gauge in the original dash pod. An aftermarket A/C unit hangs underneath, probably installed when the car was relatively new and still fully operational—nice! The factory AM radio is still in the dash, but it is sadly not working, although that represents an opportunity for an upgrade. There’s also a decent headliner overhead that was probably installed when the door panels were done. Again, it’s not perfect but it’s either ideal for driving or a great start on something spectacular.

The engine is a later 327 cubic inch V8, which tucks right into the engine bay as easily as the original 283 and looks very much the same. There’s a 4-barrel carburetor on top along with an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold, plus a set of shorty headers, so there’s a bit more punch on tap. It has also been upgraded with an alternator and a modern compressor for the A/C system, which are nice to see. There’s Chevy Orange on the block, a few chrome dress-up items to make it look shiny, and it sure runs well with easy starts, a nice idle, and decent power out on the road. The transmission is 3-speed manual with a column shifter, so that makes it a bit more fun to drive, and we believe there are 3.55 gears in the rear end, so it feels energetic around town but is quite usable on the highway. The suspension is completely stock, so it drives more like a car than a truck and the dual exhaust system uses glasspack-style mufflers for a traditional V8 sound. And the stance is exactly right thanks to brand new 15-inch chrome Torque Thrust style wheels and fresh 215/70/15 Michelin radials.

This is not a show car but we’ll admit that it draws a crowd like one wherever we take it. The combination of outrageous good looks, usable powertrain, and everyday practicality make this El Camino a favorite. These are incredibly difficult to find so if you’re looking for a good one to use as intended or to build something amazing, this is an excellent choice. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.