TireKicker Time Machine: 1971 Chevrolet El Camino

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Now here's a genuine survivor....a 1971 Chevy El Camino that hasn't been jacked up, painted metallic whatever or any other attempts to make it look "bad".

                          

In fact, these delicate paint accents, hand-done and signed by the artist, are the only appearance mods to this 39-year old El Camino. And from the looks of them, they were probably done in the 1970s.

                          

Aftermarket wheels? Nope...this ElCam has what it wore rolling off the assembly line.

                          

In fact, the only modification is a non-cosmetic one...the addition of a spray-in bedliner. Extra points for the single crushed beer can.

                           

And this particular vehicle is packing the second most potent powerplant offered in '71...the 400 (formerly known as the 396). As with all 1971 cars, some detuning had taken place...the engine that made 350 horsepower in '70 was only good for 300 this time around, but waiting until '72 would have been a mistake. It dropped to 240 (as the 402) then.

    

As with this week's '55 Chevy Two-Ten and '62 Chrysler 300, this one could use a little TLC (in fact, it could use it more than the others) but it's complete and honest...just how we like our TireKicker Time Machines.

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TireKicker Time Machine: 1962 Chrysler 300

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No, not a 300H...just a 300. But who's complaining?

                           

Judging by the temporary plate, this '62 recently found a new home and it appears the new owner was having some work done at this local shop.

Like yesterday's '55 Chevy Two-Ten, this big Chrysler appears to be all original and mostly all there.

                          

The single missing hubcap (right front) actually adds a bit of menace to this mean machine.

                       

Apart from the aftermarket steering wheel wrapper, the interior seems to be original and in very good shape, as well. If this one's been in Arizona for more than a couple of years, it must have been garaged or at least tucked away in a carport.

                       

And those canted headlights? Always loved 'em. A one-year deal for the big Mopar...and much more nicely done, in my opinion, than the 1960 Lincoln.

                        

So what's the difference between the 300 and the legendary 300 "letter cars" (the 300H in 1962)? Get the facts here.

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TireKicker Time Machine: 1955 Chevy

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Welcome to a new feature...TireKicker Time Machine. And what better way to start than the car widely credited with beginning the "modern" era of post-war cars...the 1955 Chevy.

                          

You usually see these either customized or over-restored, and in a higher trim level, at Saturday cruise nights and classic car auctions. But this one appears to be a well, but not obsessively preserved original...parked in a downtown Phoenix parking lot on a weekday afternoon.

                          

This one's all there...right down to the original hubcaps...an accomplishment after 55 years.

                          

If you cropped this photo to eliminate the contemporary cars and the historic license plate and told me it was from the late 50s or early 60s, I'd see no reason to doubt it. This is what these cars looked like back in the day.

The side trim tells me that it's a Two-Ten 2-door sedan...the middle model between the top-of-the-line Bel Air and the base One-Fifty.

                         

                                                    (graphic from 55classicchevy.com)

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