Car: 1964 El Camino
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Owning a Ranchero was a desire I have had for many years. I liked the1957 the best, but I never began to search for one in earnest until about 2 years ago. I didn’t realise there were so many of them around. I found several in Sask. (bought 3 hulks) and some in Alberta and Manitoba but they all had one thing in common, rust, and lots of it. I’ve restored several cars but the older I get the less desire I have to fight the rust demon.
Since I had two 64’s already, a 64 Malibu S.S. hardtop (I bought it new) and a 64 Beaumont S.D. Convert. I decided to expand my search to include a 64 El Camino. I’ve always liked them as well.
I vend at quite a few swap meets so I made up a wanted sign and put it on the swap table. Lo and behold, this spring at the Regina swap meet (April, 03) I was approached by a guy who said his father had a 64 El Camino, stored at his lakeside home, about an hour drive from my home. He wasn’t sure his father would sell it but said he would check and told me to call him back in a week or two.
I really wanted to see the car but trying not to get my hopes up yet, I waited two weeks and called back. I found out the decision on whether to sell the El Camino hinged on the father’s ability to buy a car that he wanted and that hadn’t happened yet. I patiently waited two more weeks then called back again. This time I was given a firm price and told that the engine and transmission that were in it would be pulled out but that the original 327 engine (that needed a rebuild) and Muncie 4 speed would go with it. At least now I could go look at the car.
My wife and I drove out to the lake at our earliest convenience, met the owner and finally got to see the car. After all the rust buckets I had looked at, this car looked soooo good. It didn’t take me long to decide to buy it. It was my favourite colour (red) as well. I left a deposit to cinch the deal but had to wait two more weeks for the engine and trans to be removed, before I picked it up.
During the summer I had the original engine rebuilt and installed it and the trans. A few original parts had strayed over the years and I am trying to round everything up to make it completely original (4 barrel air cleaner, rocker mouldings etc.) It is fun to drive and fits well into my stable of 64’s.
Cheers, Fred Sykes
Some information about this car :
- Vin number 45680K 200038
- Body plate numbers 07A
- Build date, 1st week July, 64-5680K
- 1964 Deluxe tudor sedan pickup, built in Kansas, EP
- Body number, 726B Trim
- Red bucket seats
- 922 Ember red paint