Sporting 400 ponies and 461 lb-ft at the wheels, the mid-12-second rips at the strip this Elky lays down aren't unexpected, either. Global West and QA1 suspension components nicely update the Elky's ride and handling.Lest we get too carried away talking about comfort and utility, let's not forget that a longtime racer built this car, so the stump-pulling big-block under the hood isn't entirely unexpected. Vintage Air A/C and a custom behind-seat box for the stereo are part of the entirely modern creature comforts. They contrast but also complement the Haneline gauges sitting in a custom engine-turned dash insert, a result of Conway's fascination with Lindbergh's Spirit of St. The interior digs are that-the Reno leather-covered Flofit bucket seats catch the eye right away. "Our club likes to drive, so we needed it to be comfy," Mike told us. That club involvement led to the creation of a classic Pro Tourer-loads of comfort and looks, loads of power and handling, and the ability to carry loads, to boot. People in the car hobby are part of the reason she's made the recovery she has." We can also thank Kathy for choosing the classy Merlot Red Metallic hues the Elky now wears instead of its original "Grey Poupon yellow" paint. The people we met at shows and in our club were so nice and kind to her. "They gave us no hope, but we weren't gonna settle. "Kathy has astounded her doctors," Mike proudly told us. A bit down the road, as part of her therapy, Mike and Kathy began to restore the El Camino, creating, according to Mike, "what GM should still be building today." We'll get to those particulars momentarily, but as a recuperation tool, the '67 has been an unqualified success. He redlighted, and I still beat him." Nice, but this Chevy's biggest victory would happen off the track.Ĭonway had been driving and racing his low-mile Elky for a while, "and then wham, my wife Kathy had a cycling accident that ended in a massive stroke," he confides. I went up against a '70 SS 396 four-speed car. It was built on a station wagon frame, so there's more weight on the back, and it had 4.10:1 gears. I think it's one of the best Chevelles made. "I drove this car and drag raced it for a while, running mid-14s. "I bought this car to have a classic runabout-to Home Depot, the nursery, carrying bicycles-as well as something I could run at the local dragstrip," he continued. It was also very straight, as Conway recalls, and only showed 53,000 miles on the clock. The car came fully loaded, complete with A/C, bucket seats, a center console, a Turbo 400 tranny, and a 325hp 396 under the hood. Conway found his own Elky in 1999 and became the third owner of this Fremont, California-built '67 El Camino. "It's very practical." These words left an impression. "It's like a car, but you can haul stuff in it," the older lady would exclaim. Conway also remembers that a wealthy client loved it. "We did." Conway eventually made his way in the real estate business, and clearly remembers an '84 El Camino he used for company business. "The dealers didn't know what to do with 409 and 427 Chevys and such," he recalls. Whatever they were doing, they doing something right, because the El Camino was outselling the Ford Ranchero, the vehicle that invented the segment and that the El Camino was built in response to, by more than two-to-one (the ’67 Ranchero found just 17,243 buyers).Conway continued in this vein through the late '50s and into the '60s, selling hot rods part-time while also going to school. Upgrades were the 350hp 元4 and the top-of-the-line 375hp L78.Ĭhevy sold a total of 34,830 1967 El Caminos. The base engine for the SS396 was the 元5 with 325hp. This was the second year for the 396 big block V8 option. The Turbo Hydromatic 400 (aka: Turbo 400, TH400 and T400) automatic transmission became available. Included were a new front grille, bumper, trim, and a set of handsome wrap-around tail lights.ġ967 brought several safety improvements including a collapsable steering column and optional front disk brakes. Of course there were the usual minor trim and detail changes. Stylistically and mechanically, it was mostly carried over from the ’66 model year, itself the recipient of a complete facelift. The ’67 model year came at the end of the 2nd-generation of El Camino, and the 1st-generation of Chevelle.
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