Not-so-Grassroots, but a lot of fun!

OK, so this is not my cheapest ride, but it sure is a blast to drive!

Way past cool!!! Lucky dog. That thing is a real head turner!

I just sold my 57 Chevy wagon and I already miss it.

Those are my favorite El Camino's. I like the early El's - 59 & 60 models - better than the one that came later although I like those too. I think they look better than the 59/60 sedans/wagons, although the wagons are cool. Always wanted one but never found one I could afford in decent shape.

That one is very nice!!!

You gotta add that one to Readers Rides. Maybe on Classic too.

It's in reader's rides.

Is it wind powered

And a question: Why is that not "grassroots?" I think it is. Plus it's cool as hell. I love those late-'50s, early-'60s Chevys. I'm also going to assume that it sounds awesome.

America

David, you are right. I stand corrected.

While the car is certainly not Challenge budget, it is VERY grassroots. Lots of blood, sweat, and tears in it, used as a daily driver, some great family stories, and I've got less than half the money that some people dump into a street rod. So, I'll agree, it's grassroots. Too bad I can't change my title!

Regarding the sound, it kicks! The 327 loves to rev, and it dumps through a set of ceramic coated headers through a pair of flowmasters before it exits the side pipes. With straight cut timing gears, it couples a gutteral roar with a whine like a blower. 1500w of stereo pumping through 12 speakers (including 2 subs) bounces off the curved glass and focuses all that sound on the passenger's chest cavity.

So, yes, the sound is DEFINITELY part of the fun of the experience (along with young girls going gaga at every gas station I pull into!)

12 speakers? Good Lord!

Getting it to begin to handle was a bit of a challenge. It tips the scales at 4008 lbs.

I put huge anti-sway bars on it (something like 1 1/4"), poly bushings and links, and very stiff truck springs. I slow it down with 4 wheel disks from a later model Monte Carlo with an oversized booster pushing them.

I did the interior myself too- custom tweed and blue leather. I chromed the gauge pods for a bit more punch.

There's a lot of "show" in this car. Pearl paint, with blue neon tastefully tucked up tight under the car, the dash, and in the engine compartment give it a great look at those night cruise-ins too.

NYG95GA wrote: 12 speakers? Good Lord!

Yeah, and the best part is that they are almost entirely hidden.

I left the non-working factory push button AM radio in the dash (it looked too cool to mess with). I installed the performance head unit in the glove box, and converted the flip down ashtray to a compartment to hold a remote control to work the new head unit. I built a frame to hold 2 speakers under the dash below the original metal speaker grill, which angle to bounce off the windshield for good stereo. 2 subs and 2 amps behind the seat, a 12 disk CD changer under the passenger seat where it can be easily reached from the driver's seat. The tweaters are included in the dash, a pair of mids in the doors (down low, where they can't be seen), and 4 remaining mids under the rear deck, behind the driver's seat.

Post up more pics, this car is close to my Aussie heart, after all it is a "ute"

nice! i was just drooling over one of those about two weeks ago, a 59 with the flower bed conversion.. hats off!

GhiaMonster wrote: America

berkeley Yea?

Sorry, just had to

HiTempguy wrote:

GhiaMonster wrote: America

berkeley Yea? Sorry, just had to

D'oh! Beat me to it

Hey aussie:

There's a few more pics of my "ute" in my profile. Somehow, I managed to erase the lead picture, but it's printed in this thread, so I guess its OK.

I will check her out, nice ute mate