John Hustead owns the the '82 El Camino Conquistador at the far left, coated in metallic-parchment paint with gold-dust pinstriping. Its 3.8L V-6 engine is mated to a TH350 transmission, and it still includes all of the original packages along with a straight body. John's second vehicle is the two-tone gray '84 GMC Sprint Caballero (second from left) with a 383ci engine and a TH350 transmission. Oscar Jimenez purchased his one-owner black '78 El Camino Conquistador (center) 15 years ago for $800. Its 350ci crate small-block works with a 700-R4 transmission. After 411/42 years of hard work from family members, Oscar was proud to see his El Camino featured in the annual Bakersfield Christmas parade. Next up, second from right, is Ruben Gonzales' metallic midnight-blue '80 GMC Caballero, powered by a 305ci engine and a TH350 transmission. The Center Line rims are wrapped in P205/R60-15 rubber. Ruben's wife, Pat, drives it to the daycare where she works and enjoys the versatility the El Camino provides. Albert Lopez owns the desert tan '79 El Camino on the right. Like Hustead's Conquistador, it is also powered by a 3.8L and a TH350 transmission. The only modification is the Sirius satellite radio and a Flowmaster after-cat exhaust system. Rudy Maldenado rebuilt the nearly stock 454 engine in his garage, adding such items as an aluminum radiator and an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold as he reassembled the motor and installed it in his '59 El Camino.Rudy Maldenado rebuilt the nearly stock 454 engine in his garage, adding such items as an Betty Paulk came up with the idea of relocating the battery into a compartment in her truck's bed. It took husband Roger three weekends to make her idea a reality. He fitted a hatch with a stainless steel hinge, installed a gas shock salvaged from a camper shell, and actuated the setup with an electric trunk latch from a Ford Probe.Betty Paulk came up with the idea of relocating the battery into a compartment in her truc In 2004, Richard Lopez bought this primer-gray '73 El Camino for $500. When he ran the VIN, he discovered that it is a true 265hp, 454ci/TH400 SS Custom. Even the engine's numbers match. The engine has been cosmetically upgraded and now features ceramic-coated Hooker headers, a complete MSD Ignition system, and geardrive. The floorpan was cut out and new panels welded in as part of a full frame-off restoration. The original #74 dark metallic red paint will be restored and complemented with SS stripes. Being able to perform that kind of work in the group's garage is one of the benefits of being a Platinum member of The El Caminos Club of Bakersfield. « | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | View Full Article Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
