![]() When Chris wants to go fast, there’s just no stopping him-well, with the exception of the same stuff that tends to slow us all down, like growing up and facing real life responsibilities. At this point, he only drove it to local car shows or to the dragstrip to race. To get there, he had Steve Schmidt Racing of Indianapolis build a 523 big-block race engine that made 900 hp, and was able to safely handle a 300 shot of nitrous. This held Chris over for a few more years until 2007 when he decided he needed even more power underhood. Next came a 427ci big-block that made 427 hp, and a Chris Alston’s Chassisworks ’cage kit to beef up the chassis. Not sure what Chris was making in allowance at whatever after-school job he was able to land, but he was serious about always taking his precious Elky to the next level. A new cam, intake, headers, and even a full-on nitrous system found their way into the mix. Needless to say, Chris was still a teenager and was always interested in blowing the doors off of his friends’ cars, so he started making some upgrades to the engine. It had a mild small-block, an automatic transmission, and posi rearend-nothing crazy but perfect for a new driver. I generally like having something that doesn’t blend in with the masses, so this car was perfect for me.”īack then, Chris’ El Camino was a solid car. A family friend had a 1960 Elco, and I absolutely fell in love with it when I was a kid, so when I had the chance to buy one, I didn’t hesitate. “My friends all had older muscle cars back in high school, but nobody had an El Camino. “I first bought the car in March of 1998- a couple months after turning 16,” Chris says. He actually took good care of his and has gone on to do some pretty cool things with it over the years. He didn’t crash or blow his car up like the rest of us probably ended up doing with ours. Chris Decker, of San Mateo, California, is among the lucky ones who held onto their very first vehicle. The torquey big-block makes great power and is shifted through a smooth 4-speed with nicely weighted clutch.While most car fiends can only dream about making progress to their first ride, there are a few who are experiencing the rare treat of still being able to wrench on them to this day. Completely stock in tune apart from headers, the seller says the car is a blast to drive. The seller says it is pristine and more impressive in person than the photos show.Ĭompletely rebuilt during restoration, the car runs a non-original but era-correct 396 sourced from another ‘68 SS 396 El Camino. Several additional lift shots are provided in the gallery and show a very clean underbody. A few period-style aftermarket gauges have been added below the standard AM radio, and both the interesting clock and oil pressure/coolant temp/fuel level/charge monitor are fully functional, as is cold blowing A/C. The interior matches the rest of the car for attention to detail and overall cleanliness. Factory correct wheels and ride height give this one a great stance. The fresh looking bed and chrome surround look great, and the seller says that both side windows and quarter vents open and close smoothly with a tight seal. The “38” sequence of the VIN tells us this is a factory SS396, and the “K” indicates it was built at the Kansas City, MO assembly plant. The seller likes the ‘69 OEM grille currently installed, and a ’68 grill is also included. Rather than the factory setup where exhaust pipes terminate at the rear quarters, the builder elected to run them out towards the rear of the car instead. It presents extremely well with excellent paint, chrome, trim and sheet metal. The car was restored in 1999-2000 and subsequently went in a private collection in Illinois. Everything works and it’s ready to drive anywhere.” Described as being in 9 to 10 out of 10 condition throughout, the seller adds that “it turns heads, elicits photos, rings ears and spins tires at will. According to the previous owner, the engine block is not original but sourced from another 1968 SS 396. Around 2,000 miles have been added since the restoration was completed in the year 2000, and the car had a comprehensive servicing by a Chevy specialist earlier this year. ![]() The restoration is photo-documented and included fully rebuilt mechanicals and the installation of A/C using period-correct GM parts. This 1968 Chevrolet El Camino is a factory SS 396 with 4-speed Muncie M22 that has been fully restored by the previous owner.
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