El Camino Central - HOME PLACE: Look! On the road! It's a car! It's a truck! It's an El Camino!

HAGAR

BY SHEILA HAGAR

I used to drive an El Camino and I'm not even sure it's a car.''
Those words come from a song by Scott Krippayne, ``I'm Not Cool,'' and the minute I heard them on my way to work, I knew this would be the day.

It's El Camino Day.

I've been dinking around with this topic for quite some time, beginning about two hours after the man in my house traded that pretty-boy, useless TransAm for a Caballero.

A Caballero, for those who've never had to think about it, is the GMC version of the Chevrolet El Camino.

And just what is an El Camino? An informal workplace poll revealed many wonder exactly that.

``It's not a car and it's not a truck,'' one colleague said. ``Why bother?''
When asked if he had ever wanted an El Camino, one smarty pants answered, ``No, but I want a Ranchero if I can have a sharp stick in the eye at the same time.''

But there must be something about El Caminos. I'm positive more are on local roads now than when my spouse got his a few years back.

I called my friend, Bob Miller. Bob and I have never actually met, but we first talked during Pendleton Round-Up where he manned the press office. Turned out he knew my granddad, my uncle dated his cousin - you know how it goes.

He was open to talking about men and cars. After explaining that country boys change spark plugs on the weekend for the entertainment factor, Bob said his son in Spokane wants an El Camino ``so bad he can taste it.''

``Why?'' I queried.

With the patient tone of a born teacher, Bob clarified the truck-car mutant is collectible, a prize to be sought. Many El Caminos were made before rust-proofing became standard, forcing today's owners to fully restore them, he claimed.

Or, there's the other theory behind glossy paint jobs and expensive rims. ``We just like them,'' said the self-procalimed car buff, speaking of males in general and, um, seasoned guys in particular.

There are certainly many who would agree El Caminos rule. Robert More of Round Rock, Texas, is the creator and site administrator for El Camino Central, ``a database-driven, dynamic content, virtual community for Chevrolet El Camino owners and enthusiasts.''

The online organization, started in 2002, has more than 10,000 members in 114 different countries, Robert said. He started it when he could find little information online to feed his own El Camino addiction.

The 46-year-old auto mechanic has owned as many as 10 of the vehicles at once, the Texan admitted, although he's presently weaned down to just three. ``I've had El Caminos all my life. I like that it has a bed like a pickup - you can haul things.''

El Camino production had a relatively long run, it seems to me. Introduced in 1959, there were five ``generations'' of the car, er, truck. Production ended 20 years ago, only 10 years later than it should have.

Most of the cars are ``classics,'' which apparently simply means older than 21 years and still running. By the same token, my Kitchenaid mixer is a classic. For that matter, I'm a classic twice over - plus.

A good percentage of El Camino owners race them, dropping a big block engine into their, er, car and taking advantage of a relatively light weight body to gain speed.

This had such a familiar ring, I can't tell you.

None of that comes cheap, Robert noted.

``No, it does not,'' I silently replied.

``A lot of guys will drag one out of the junk yard and totally restore it. Some put $25,000-$30,000 into them,'' he said.

Baby, if you're reading this, that will happen over my dead body. Just know that and we'll both be happy. Happier.

El Camino owners are not the stereotypical tattoo-branded, mullet-wearing rednecks, Robert assured me. His Web membership includes judges, doctors and attorneys.

About seven percent of El Camino drivers are women; Robert's wife swaps her Cadillac for his ride when she goes garage-sale shopping for the grandchildren, he added.

Jim Goodwin from Maine heads the New England Chevelle and El Camino Association and seconded the caruck (you like that? ) does have some image problems. ``People are mystified by it,'' he said of what was perhaps the first hybrid.

``Technically they are a truck. They do have an open bed, they can haul.''

He laughingly agreed with my observation that no matter who is driving the thing, every El Camino owner looks the same when sitting behind the wheel. I don't know if it's the way the seat holds the driver, or the slant of the windshield, but they all look like mid-life car jocks.

Indeed, I might be seeing the same driver, Jim said.

``It's not unusual for people to have more than one...the people who drive them are motorheads, but in a class all by themselves.''

Jim, an avid Chevelle nut, speculated that El Camino drivers might just be a little more sophisticated than Chevelle owners. ``Now, don't get me in trouble with that.''

Don't you worry, Jim. There's plenty of that on this side of the nation, particularly on the block where I live.

Originally Published Walla-Walla, WA Union-Bulletin, Nov 27, 2007
By Sheila Hagar

Link to original copy:
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/11/27/local_news/local06.txt