I'm new here. I'm looking for some ideas for what to do with my 80 Elky.
The latest suggestion from friends is to chop it. Does anyone have any pics of a chopped fifth gen Elky? Or if you've seen one, how'd it look?

Um...is there anything major wrong with it? If not, don't chop it.

Nothing is wrong with it. It's fairly straight, just my personality to be different. I have a 53 studebaker that I chopped and it looks great! I've never seen a chopped Fifth Gen Elky and want to know if it would look good.
I've always had unusual cars and always made them different than the norm in one way or another. Just wondering if it would look good chopped. If so I may do it.

You already ruined a Studebaker why pick an Elky next???

Nonononononononononononononononononononononononono nononononononononononononono! Would you "chop" anything of yours just to be different. Think about it. 8O

It's not a sex change, just a car. I guess this site is more for the OEM guys. Sorry to bother ya.
One question. Why put a Monte Carlo front end on a perfectly good El Camino? Like the way it looks?

You guys are being too harsh! A chopped Elky done right would look killer 8) 2.5-3 inch chop, lowered 3-4 inch suspension, 18" wheels... ooo yeah! :thumbsup:

I haven't seen one chopped but I did see a picture of one with the roof completely removed. From the pics it looked good. Not sure how a chopped one would looked. I think there is a fine line where it would look killer and anywhere else on that line it would look stupid. The problem would be trying to get the killer look the first time.

Don't worry about some of the guys around here. I'm sure I'm upsetting a few with the bumpers and some of the other things I'm doing to mine. Some of what I've seen here I would never do...but then it's everyone's option to do what they want with their vehicals.

I think it would look great. But, I wouldn't want to do it to my 87. This third gen Elky looks killer.

http://autohobbypage.com/show/01/cuse/nat034.jpg

:mrgreen:

It is just opinions and you asked for them!... to each their own!

I think it would look great. But, I wouldn't want to do it to my 87. This third gen Elky looks killer.

I like that look also. That is a really nice "looking" job. I wouldn't mind doing that with the 72 I have. Now that I see it, it does look nice. Headroom, that would be my concern. I am a moderately tall person with long legs and I just wouldn't be able to drive something if I had to duck while doing so. Sitting on the floorboard is out of the question. :D

I had some thoughts on extending a cab in one and I would do it to a Fifth Gen because they're easier to get parts for. I didn't want to do it with my 80 I had that project already planned when I thought about it. Not a lot of extension just about a foot or two maybe and making the Rear Wing Windows functional like the vent windows on third gens.

I bet it would be pretty nice chopping a 5th gen.

Hey go for it and by the way.....

Welcome to El Camino Central! Always nice to have new ideas and things to ponder!

Hey, might look pretty cool! Know anyone that can draw an artists concept? I like that 3rd generation pic, but only if the car was set up as a Pro-Streeter. If your good at attempting something like that, than I say go for it. I myself wouldn't, I'd be too afraid I'd turn my Elky into a heap of scrape. Headroom? Not much headroom in a 5th generation to begin with and I'm only 5'8". You might have to do a chop job on your legs too, unless of course your currently working as a circus midget! :lol:

Hi Bob -- Plan it out carefully and go for it! Express your individuality and don't worry about some of the verbal abuse here. Cars are for fun and we don't see enough customized Elkys (or other later model cars, for that matter). In the Fifties, we wouldn't dream of being seen on the streets in any car exactly as it came from the factory. Good luck. John

I saw the chopped black Elky that Ernie showed. I have some other pics of at http://levitanj.home.mindspring.com/carshow03/summernats/page2/page2.html

I didn't find the owner to talk to, but pictures don't do it justice. It looks fantastic. If I had the talent to do it right, I would love a chopped Elky.

Not sure of how the lines on a fifth gen would look, but I would suggest you follow up with "artist concept" sketch idea.

Go for it (hell, thats easy for someone NOT chopping his Elky to say)!

I did a search and found one chopped. It looks good, but I think I'll lay the A pillars and bed side pillars back more so the roofline doesn't have to be stretched.
here's a look at it real nice. just needs a different color for me.
http://www.bluemoongear.com/Delsons78ElCaminoPage.htm

With all of this talk about chopping a 5th gen Elky I decided to do it to my 87 this afternoon. (Slow day at work) I guess it's about a 3-4 inch chop. Hardly took much time either. Here's a picture. :-D

http://elcaminocentral.com/users/elcamino/pics/87elky.jpg

:mrgreen:

Hey Ernie, looks good, but it would look even better if you dropped the suspension a couple of inches. See if you can take care of that right after supper tonight! :lol:

Hey Ernie;

Could you add t-tops too so I could sit up straight? :P

How much time did you waste today Ernie?

for me no chop at 6'2" i have trouble already...

T-tops? Drop the suspension? They're both good ideas but there's no more time today...the work day is over and I've got to go home. :-D I'll put it on the schedule for tomorrows work.

:mrgreen:

Well then, if your gonna wait till tomorrow you might as well channel it too! 8) By the time we're finished giving Ernie these ideas, he might have to sell his Elky to Mini Me. :lol:

Hey Ernie - It's 10:30 a.m. already!! Where are the photos of the completed channelling and lowering job?? Are you slacking off because its Labor Day Weekend?

Ok, it's lowered 2 inches. While I was at it, I shaved the door handles and removed the front marker lights and rear quarter El Camino emblems. Check out the picture in my previous post. I kinda like it.

:mrgreen:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6153&item=2431168061


heres a chopped 5th gen on ebay...

i think it would look cool! helluva lot of work it looks like though..

i think it would look good as long as you don't go too far. and do things to your elco like lowering to really set it off.

The pic of that 5th gen Elky does look pretty cool...does that car have a name? How bout "Banana Split" :lol:

Hey guys, check out this mino I found on ebay. It has the top chopped as well. Its not drastic but enough that you notice. It looks pretty sweet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2431168061&category=6153

Hey guys, check out this mino I found on ebay. It has the top chopped as well. Its not drastic but enough that you notice. It looks pretty sweet.

4 posts up :P

woops!