Car: 1964 El Camino
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In the Fall of 1963 I was an apprentice at a General Motors dealership in Vancouver BC. I was fortunate to attend a new car showing of the '64 models at the dealership and my infatuation with Chevelles began at this time. The all new for '64 Chevelles caught my attention and I was hooked on owning one someday!
The opportunity to have my '64 came about a year after I first laid eyes on one. I arrived at work one morning to see an overnight trade in white '64 El Camino sitting on the lot! This was the car/truck for me. An apprentice mechanic doesn't make the "big bucks" so a phone call to Mom and Dad to get their financial support was needed. By the end of my shift the '64 El Camino was mine! The purchase price was $1760.00 plus taxes and transfer documentation. I left work the proud owner of the car I knew one day I would have.
My ermine white El Camino served my family faithfully for nearly 10 years; holidays with its "Gem Top" canopy to sleep in, as a tow vehicle for my race car and as my daily driver to and from work. By 1973, however, my needs had changed and a larger vehicle was required. I couldn't part with my '64 so it was stored awaiting some much needed maintenance and clean up!
That was in 1973 and it is now 2004! A few storage garages later and only 400 or so miles in 30 years and I still have not got around to putting a plate on my El Camino and going for a drive!! I did sneak out a couple of times to participate in local shows but other than that and starting it up every so often it is much the same as when I parked it thirty years ago!
This past summer, the interior of British Columbia where I live was ravaged by forest fires. One of these blazes forced us to go on evacuation alert. Panic; the El Camino needed to be moved out of its storage. The "truck" along with some friends' cars were placed in a hay field near town where we set up sprinklers in an effort to keep the flames away. Thankfully the flames moved off in another direction and the cars were save from the forest fire. Seeing my El Camino sitting in that field made me realize that after nearly 40 years of faithful service my EL CAMINO deserves better than sitting in a storage garage!! This summer I plan on putting plates on it and going for a few drives and shows. Maybe I will see some of you on the road!