Did anyone ever think of the "Amout of new friends or people" you meet only because you have your El Camino or Sprint?

I would be able to put that number at 10 or so close contacts and probably 50 or more on-line people I deal with just because I have an El Camino. I would probably not have ever met these people had I not owned an Elky.

This does not include the over two thousand or so members here and several on ChevyTalk, casual contacts & associates.

Being fairly new to the Elky scene...(i got the '80 in October) the only folks i've met have been online...but that's gonna change in the spring! But i CAN tell ya that I've literally met HUNDREDS of folks and friends only because the corvettes...and i see no reason that the Elky would be any different once we starts hit'n the cruises and shows! http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/alchemist/thumb.gif

i've met 4 people. 3 of which were old men who yelled at me for standing to close to their car :rolleyes:. but the fourth person i've met had a totally restored black 87. it looked real nice

Thanks to my Elky, I've met the Swedish Bikini Team...yeah right I wish! :lol:

I have alot of guys mostly older than I 8-) tell me their elky stories & how they wished they still had it. The elky is one of those hate it or love it things. I have never had someone come up to me to tell me they hate elkys, so far at least.

I don't know any of their names, but I get about one-half dozen offers to buy my truck every year. Most of the offers come at service stations when I stop to gas up. Many tell me stories of how they had one at one time, but made the msitake of selling it. I never have had anyone tell me they hated the truck.

I just turned 15 on the 23rd and i have wanted an El Camino for about 2-3 years and i finally bought a 1980 350 4-speed on the 17th and i cant wait to start driving it and meeting new people who also have the same passion as i do for this wonder gift that god gave us.

Happy cruisin',
Joe

I've had my '82 for 2 years and I have met people that hate my car and think all that holds my car together is rust. I've met others that want to buy my car. I tell them that I am not selling it and I will probably never get rid of it, then they get a hurt look on their face.

I think this is a really great topic to think about. the first and most important person I've met so far has been the former owner. we still keep in touch and talk elky talk. I keep him updated on my progress and such. Then there's all the curious people. they're always fun to talk to. strangely enough I have meet a couple of people that hate the Diablo. They seem to associate it with a less reputable class of person and they just can't shake that. of course after talking with me for 5 minutes they're cured but wow, they REALLY hate it.

The number of new friends or contacts are low at this point but I expect that will increase in the future...love em or hate em people love to talk about em.

They seem to associate it with a less reputable class of person and they just can't shake that.

you mean people like me? :eh:

highwaysignpost wrote
of course after talking with me for 5 minutes they're cured but wow, they REALLY hate it
Do they hate the car or talking to you. :)
The guys a the base give me a hard time with "the great pumpkin"

I've had my '69 since April of '97 and it didn't take me long to realize that if I had to be somewhere at a specific time, I better already have enough gas, drink, snack etc. to get me there. Reason being, if I had to stop for any of the above I was going to be late! Everybody wants to talk about the car. My stories would match all of yours, "My (insert relative or friend) had one of these and...
There doesn't seem to be any in between with Elky's. It's love 'em or hate'em.

Through the internet here, we insane car junkies can meet and share ideas and experiences where we could not before - it is a great thing. Sometimes we bicker about which is the right paint or headers, or whatever, but in the end, respect of our rides and the journey to that higher state brings us together like brothers (and sisters - I don't want to dis the few females who gather here).

I actually met another member last weekend who was looking at some Elky parts close to where I live in Jersey. He seems like a real decent guy. Just like the rest of us, he is struggling with the Elky, the job, the house and every other thing that we try to balance every day. That day, the Elky was winning - Go Joe!!

As for the Elky - I could not agree more - it is either loved or hated. I have met so many people who say "I just don't get it" - and they never will - you either do or you don't. It's utilitarian and it's stylish, car and truck. I have heard it called the "Gentleman's Pickup" and a "Redneck roach-coach", depending upon from where you are viewing it. I grew up working in body shops and in that arena, it has always been one of the most desired vehicles to own / restore / hot-rod. The El Camino is an image of what America was built on - loud, proud, V8, working class, get your hands dirty mentality. If you're not part of that or were not brought up into it, chances are you won't get it . . . .

The El Camino is an image of what America was built on - loud, proud, V8, working class, get your hands dirty mentality. If you're not part of that or were not brought up into it, chances are you won't get it . . . .

Amen brother and very well stated. It's kinda of like the Harley saying, "If you have to ask, then you wouldn't understand!".

My wife is actually looking forward to taking mine for a spin after I get it road worthy. At first she was like "why didn't you get a 67-69 Camaro or something cool". But as it sits in the driveway, and she looks at it on a daily basis, she's starting to love it more and more. She's even challenged me to a friendly race against our 2002 Vette...hehehe

I agree with all of you intelligent owners of our fine road cars. I traded my 85 in for a beautiful 99 durango and never looked back. But all I need is a cup holder on the dash, that is what i'm going to pre-fab now that I took out the ashtry holder and find a pullout from somewhere? Any ideas?
I'm taking my time with my baby, I gave up golf to rebuild it. And your correct people love to look and talk about my car. :)

I've driven several different 5th generation El Caminos for the last 20 years. I can't begin to recall all of the great people I've met and complements my Elkys have gotten but there have been tons of them.

The most memorable encounter was about six years ago when I was at the AAA office getting a map. When I walked up to the counter the cute girl on the other side, who I'd guess was about 20 years younger than me, immediately said she wanted to buy my Elky. She told me that she always wanted one and was admiring my black 79 SS as I was parking it. I was a bit flabbergasted. I thanked her for the compliment and told her it was not for sale. She wrote down her name (Heidi) and phone number on a scrap of paper, handed it to me, and told me to call her whenever I was ready to sell. I politely stuffed the paper into my pocket, got my map and left. Later that week, when my wife was doing the laundry, she found the scrap of paper with the girls name and phone number on it still in my pocket. Over supper that night she slid the slip of paper onto the dining room table and asked me who "Heidi" was, and why did I have her phone number in my pocket?

Luckily, my wife is very trusting and accepted my explanation.

i have gotten many compliments on my 83. i have had 1 person i was looking at a fiero they had for sale. i told her i had an elcamino. she said she would rather have the fiero than an elky.

dont forget, Cowboy Cadillac.

HE he HE That must have brought a chuckle when you saw the piece of paper. Kudos to your wife. It's funny, people either love em, or they hate em. Oh well, I LOVE EM lmao

I have meet so many people I can't count them on my fingers and toes. :) It's great to have an Elky b/c just driving down the street many people wave or give thumbs up b/c of your sweet ride. In the summer I drove through a small town and people would yell "Nice Car"

Never really met anyone who didn't like my 66 Elky. They have all said it looked good and then would ask if it was for sale. I had one guy who kept bugging me to sell it to him every week. Finally told him if he had 25,000.00 cash I would sell it to him. Never saw him again. Going on 13 years that I've had mine and wouldn't sell it for any reason. I'm starting my one weeks vacation today..... off to the oral surgeon to have some teeth pulled and replaced with a partial. I restocked all the supplies last week to finish up stripping the paint off of the remainder of the body. Getting real close to doing the body lift then off to the paint shop. Have to place a couple more orders for the remainder of the interior parts.... new dash pad, carpet, and a couple of tubes of seam sealer to re-do the bed area and drip rails. :) Both sets of batteries for the digital camera are charged up and ready to start clicking.

That's great dude! Good to hear that you are going into such detail. Will need to see some pics of that, after you are feeling better. LOVE those old elkies!

In the summer I drove through a small town and people would yell "Nice Car"

i had that happen to me once last summer. i was driving to a friends house and a group of teenage girls yelled the same thing at me. they were probly late teens (16-19) i think there was 5 or more.

Cann't tell you the number of times I have been stopped on the road and asked if the car was for sale. Elkys are funny cars..... either you love them or you hate them. Only had 1 lady turn and ask her husband at a car show why a person wouldn't buy a full size truck instead. He did explain the facts of life to her after that comment.

Once I had an older woman (about 60) come up to me as I was parking my '81 Conquista at small restaurant up in Mt. Shasta, CA. She told me her husband, (who had died some years before) used to have a "Station Wagon" just like mine! I didn't have the heart to tell her it wasn't really a station wagon - just asked her what she did with it. Turns out she gave it to a son-in-law after the old guy died. She did remark that it was amazing how much they looked alike - I can only guess it was a Gen 5.

reading this stuff just makes me sad... i havn't been to the site in a long time but recently i came back just to hear everyones stories because i desire an elcamino more then anything in life right now... as i said in a few of my posts i am along way away from affording one but a friend of mine and i have been rebuilding his 84 monte with a 350 in it.. i guess that will just have to do for now... i would be one of te ones to yell nice car by the way.. and i think the yuonger people are really startign to get back into the muscle cars again... with all the ricers rolling around people are looking for that "different" thing again and that is the old muscle wich makes me ahppy to hear.. heres to the next generation of kick ass car owners... my generation

my camino is painted bright orange and it usuall gets lots of poitive remarks . although the other day when i was driving to work this lady i'd say in her late fifties pull up along side me and gives me the dirtiest look .it was as if i had wronged her in some way . oh well you can please some people and not others .anyway i drive the camino because its gotta be the coolest ride ever (next to my meyers manx that is ).

and to the guy looking to get an el camino check with the guys that have one because camino guys usually have 2 or more el camino's and might just want to sell one .

i had one sitting behind my shop for spare parts i offered to a guy for $40 and he said it was to much . the battery in it cost me $50 . go figure .anyway that guy lost out and i sold it to someone else with a brain and the camino itch .once you get it you never lose it .i'm on camino #9

(next to my meyers manx that is )

I was gonna ask what the heck a "meyers manx" was, until I did a quick search! Care to share some pix's? :cool:

My former boyfriend was a master auto mechanic, but he never could understand why I wanted an El Camino. He suggested I get a Dodge Rampage or a Subaru Brat. Good grief!

My current honey loves me and my Elky too. He keeps doing nice things for it and it's running very well for a 1980 229 V-6.

I dunno about you guys, but I meet alot of cops in my el camino! :lol:

Have to admit I've met lots of people because of my 1970 Camino. I spent lots of cash on a black paint job and most people are amazed at, how stright the body is, and that starts a long converstion. Man its one thing I love to do when I have the time, and that's drive and show off my Camino, can't wait till my 1970 Chevelle SS 396 is restored love jaming those gears! :cool:

Yea, I even got alot of looks when mine wasn't in very good shape. Now that it's about finished, I can't wait to get back out there. Like what was said before, "as long as I have time" I'll talk to anybody. This is one of the best topics on here. I just re-read all the posts, starting with the first and it is SO true. They are DEFINATELY one of a kind! And I guess, so are we 8)

I BOUTHT MY ELKY ABOUT ONE YEARY AGO. EVER SINCE THEN, THERE ARE ABOUT TWO A MONTH WANTING TO BUY MY EL CAMINO.

WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR, IT NEEDED PAINT AND TIRES. SO, I HAD THE CAR REPAINTED FACTORY COLOR CODE 73. WHEN I GOT IT BACK WITH FRESH PAINT AND NEW TIRES, MOST EVERYONE THAT TAKES THE TIIME TO LOOK AT IT, SAY'S "DUDE, COOL CAR, WANT TO SEE IT"

THAT JUST MAKES MY DAY WHEN THAT HAPPENS. THIS I MY FIRST ELKY BUT IT WON'T BE MY LAST !! i AM LOOKING ALL THE TIME FOR ANOHTHER , BUT THIS TIME IT WILL BE OLDER, WHIY OLDER ??? BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE AFTER MARKET PARTS FOR IT. DON'T GET ME WRONG, i LOBE MY 84, BUT THE NEXT ONE WILL BE AROUND 69, TO 73 BECAUSE IN CALIFORNIA, THE SMOG LAWS STATE THAT I CAN'T PUT ANYTHING EXPECT THE FACTORY PARTS ON TO MAKE IT GO FASTER. BUT FACTORY PARTS ARE STOCH, AND THAT MEANS STOCK PERFROMANCE WITH LITTLE OR NO GO TO IT WHEN IT COMES TO CALIFORNIA SMOG LAW. I WISH I COULD PUT A NEW MOTOR IN LIKE A HOT 350 BUILT TO THE HILT, BUT I LEGALY CAN'T SO, WHAT DO I DO, ANYONE GOT AN ANSWER........

I really love my car :D . My wife kinda likes my car :? ( but hell , she said I should buy it ). My mother thinks its a piece of S*** 8) . It hasnt left my house yet for anyone to say anything about it, but my freinds all think its cool, but would never have taken on such a wasted project car. ( dopes) But all in all, its such a cool, fun project so far.............well, kinda, those floorboards i have to replace arent so cool. And I cant wait to fire up the new 327, and haul ass somewhere. I'm proud to be an El Camino owner! :) My car is in the member cars area. ( dont look at the mess in the driveway, its in transition too! )

When I first went to buy my car, the wife and I traveled from Jacksonville about 5 hours south to Coral Springs to meet the owner. Since I had only seen it in pictures, and had sent a deposit, I naturally wanted to test drive it before finalizing the deal, and within 5 minutes I had 2 guys give me thumbs up at the sight of it, and another rolled down the window and asked about it.

That was all it took, and I returned and bought Black Beauty. :thumbsup: :mrgreen:

In the 2 years since then I have never failed to get a lot of looks and now and then someone wanting to 'try me' when they see the 454 and Cowl Induction badges. Since it only has a 350 (and that with a not-so-good-running carb on it) I never really get to unwind it, but instead I just give em one of those 'Dont even think about it looks'!!! :lol:

Even at small local cruise in/shows, my car (being about a 3-1/2 on the 1 to 5 car condition code chart) is far from the class of the restored beauties around me (usually high 3's or even 2's) but it still gets its share of admirers.

Now to get it ready for the Old Town cruise for Region 6..... more looks a comin' :cool:

Personally, I am not looking for looks. Today, after washing my '83, I took it to the Grocery Outlet Store, on its weekly outing, and some old guys glanced at it. The younger guys, like my son probably wonder why this straight Elky has an ugly canopy on it, but I don't care. When I die, pay my wife what it is worth, and soup it up anyway you like!
Eric